The 15th session of the “INSPIRE” Webinar Series, organized by the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, was successfully held on December 7, 2024, via Zoom. The session, titled “Your Only Limit is You,” aimed to guide engineering undergraduates and took place from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, with active participation from faculty undergraduates. The resource person for the session was Eng. Dr. Tilak Siyabalapitiya, the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board. With 40 years of experience in the energy sector across Sri Lanka, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa, Dr. Siyabalapitiya is a highly respected figure in the industry. He is also the co-founder of Resource Management Associates Pvt Ltd. As an electric utility planner, Dr. Siyabalapitiya has extensive experience in planning power generation systems and tariff determination for embedded generation. His work also spans studies on electricity pricing, grid interconnection, and the regulation of small to medium-scale grid-connected power plants. Since 1999, he has led numerous consulting studies for project developers, national and international banks, international financial institutions, and electric utilities. In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Siyabalapitiya teaches energy systems, renewable energy, and power systems to undergraduates, while also lecturing on energy efficiency, demand management, and conservation at the Master’s Degree level.
During the webinar, Eng. Dr. Tilak Siyabalapitiya shared invaluable life experiences and lessons from both his academic and professional journey, offering guidance to engineering undergraduates on how to excel in their careers. He emphasized the importance of being an ethical engineer and the responsibilities engineers have toward the public, drawing from his own experiences. Dr. Siyabalapitiya stressed that no one can limit one’s path and encouraged students to set their own goals and choose their own direction. He highlighted the importance of staying connected with the world and suggested several methods for doing so, such as attending webinars, visiting exhibitions, and reading. Dr. Siyabalapitiya also discussed the significance of language proficiency, particularly English, for leadership. He advised students to improve their language skills through listening, reading, and writing. Additionally, he underscored the need for undergraduates to focus on enhancing their soft skills and management abilities as future leaders. He also provided useful insights on how to approach interviews as fresh graduates.
Overall, the session was highly productive, providing students with the opportunity to learn from one of Sri Lanka’s leading experts. The webinar served as a valuable resource for students to shape their professional journeys toward success. Six talented second-year engineering undergraduates played key roles in organizing the event, contributing to its success.
Moderator: Nimesh D Halpegama & Tiyanie Sahabandu
Zoom Masters: Chamodi Ranawaka
Flyer Designs: Sanjula Thilakarathne
Content Writer: Irushi Sewmini
PR Manager: Anupama Thilina
