One of the goals of Sri Lankan government’s development policy framework is to establish a knowledge-based economy with the enhancement of the knowledge and skills of Sri Lanka’s workforce within recognized priority areas by increasing the country’s productivity and competitiveness in the global context. With the strategic location of the country in Maritime Silk Route, shipping and boat & ship building are such recognized priority areas to be developed to achieve the Sri Lankan government’s prime vision to be the maritime hub of the Asia. One of key issues that are hindering to achieve above Sri Lanka’s vision is that lack of competent human resources in the key areas, Marine Engineering, Boat & Ship Building, Offshore Engineering and Shipping. Therefore, the main role of the new department is to provide human and infrastructure facilities to run the degree programme of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture , and also associated certificate courses as per the STCW convention of IMO for the graduates and potential external applicants to be the qualified and competent workforce in shipping and related industries, which includes Chief Engineer, 2^nd Engineer, 3^rd Engineer, Cargo Engineer, Project Manager, Chartering Manager, Technical Superintendent, Service Engineer, Safety Manager, etc..

The boat and ship building sector is highly depend on the workforce who has strong technical skills and rich and complex yacht building process needs a long supply chain, involving  naval engineers, interior designers, marine machinery design engineers, marine operational engineers, materials workers (composite, aluminium, wood, etc), painters and coating applicators, mechanics, sail makers, IT technicians, etc. Managing entire product life cycle requires competencies and resources “from order placed by the customer to delivery”, but in the Sri Lankan context, as the country does not has the required human resources competency, now the boat and ship building sector is mainly depended on technology and designs, which are imported specially form Japan, Singapore and several design offices located in the Middles East. Industry Capability Report, Boat & Ship Building Industry published by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, also highlighted the slow technological transfer as a key barrier for development of Boat and Ship Building industry. Therefore, the graduates will be able to get gain-full job opportunities within the boat and ship building sector as naval architects, marine engineers, design engineers, operational engineers, material engineers, service engineers, etc.

This programme is mainly designed to train onshore and offshore marine engineers at the highest standard. To fulfil the requirements needed for the graduates to work as onshore and offshore marine engineers /sea going engineers, the programme should undergo double tier accreditation/approval: As a marine engineering license programme – by the STCW associated Government body, Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Sri Lanka and as an engineering programme – by a non-Government Accreditation institution, Institutions of Engineers Sri Lanka according to the Washington Accord.
I wish students a very pleasant stay in the Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture. The staff will take every effort to provide a sound education environment within the department and will guide them to be a competent Marine Engineer and Naval Architect with significant knowledge and skills in design and operation, analysis, synthesis, application, management, etc. who will be able to serve as the Maritime profession within and outside Sri Lanka with confidence and distinction.

The Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna was established on 1^st July 1999 at Hapugala, Galle. First batch of students was admitted on 27^th March 2000. It is the third state Faculty of Engineering in Sri Lanka after those at University of Peradeniya and University of Moratuwa.

The infrastructure for the faculty was well supported and driven by one of the former Minister of Education (the late) Honorable Richard Pathirana. As a result, within a short period of time (in 3 years), a large scale infrastructure complex was built at Hapugala, including three Department Buildings with Laboratories, an Administration Building, a Computer Centre, a Guest House, a Lecture Theater Complex with two large Drawing Offices, three Student Hostels, a Canteen with Medical Unit and Student Center, a Library; twenty Staff Quarters, internal roads and a Security Building. All of these facilities were designed for quick and easy access, and ample provision was made for future expansion.

The newest addition to the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna is the building complex at Megalle, Galle for the Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture. This building was fully equipped with all facilities including 4 laboratories and officially opened on 08.02.2024.

The Faculty consists of five Academic Departments, namely Civil and Environmental Engineering (DCEE), Electrical and Information Engineering (DEIE), Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (DMME), Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture (DMENA) and Interdisciplinary Studies (DIS). At the commencement, the faculty offered three (03) General Engineering Degree Programs specialized in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Information Engineering, and Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies was established mainly to extend the support for other three department by delivering courses in Mathematics, Management, Engineering Economics, Communication, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, Professional Ethics and other similar multi-disciplinary areas.

Recently, another two (02) fields of specializations; Computer Engineering, and Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture have been introduced to facilitate more preferences for undergraduate students. As a result, the present student intake to the faculty from A/L Mathematical stream is recorded as 545.

From the inception, the faculty introduced a semester-based system for Engineering Education of students. In this system, a year is divided into two semesters, and a semester continues for a period of nineteen weeks in total. The time allocation for a semester is further divided as; First Half (7 weeks), Recess (1 week), Second Half (7 weeks), Study Period (1 week), Examination (2 weeks) and Vacation (1 week). The two other Engineering Faculties at Peradeniya and Moratuwa have adopted a similar semester-based system two years thereafter, replacing their old style British system of year-end examinations.

The DMENA aims is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, construct, operate, and maintain ships, marine vessels, and offshore structures, while ensuring their safety, efficiency, and sustainability in a wide variety of maritime environments.

To be a globally recognized top-tier department in the field of marine engineering and naval architecture, dedicated to excellence in education and Research and Development.

To provide high-quality education and training in the fields of marine engineering, naval architecture, and maritime safety, while contributing to the advancement of knowledge in these areas through research, innovation, and the development of new technologies.

The Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna is committed to fulfill quality standards in education, training and services that satisfy or exceed the requirements and expectations of our stakeholders to in compliance with internationally
and locally accepted standards.
The department strives for continual improvement of the quality management system through effective communication, establishing and monitoring quality objectives, risk mitigation and  periodical evaluations. Our staff is committed to comply with the requirements and exercise individual responsibilities to achieve excellence in providing services
professionally.

State of the art Laboratory Facilities will be provided to develop skills and competencies required to produce Marine Engineers and Naval Architects who will be employable globally. The following laboratories will be provided,

• Naval Architecture Laboratory
• Marine Engineering Laboratory
• Marine Engine Simulation Laboratory
• Thermodynamics and Automobile Laboratory
• Marine Engineering Instrumentation and Control Systems Laboratory
• Ship Design and Construction Laboratory
• Engineering Workshop
• Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
• Engineering Materials Laboratory
• Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
• Applied Mechanics and Mechatronics Laboratory
• Computer Aided Design Laboratory

DMENA Computer Center has 26 latest computers and provide a specialized space for the study, simulation, and research related to marine engineering.  Specialized software tools to assist in various aspects of marine engineering, including ship design, propulsion systems, environmental impact analysis, and other marine-related topics. Marine Simulation Software: Software used for ship design, marine operations, navigation, propulsion system analysis, etc. Examples include: ANSYS (for structural analysis, fluid dynamics simulations)and Rhino with Orca3D (for hull design and stability analysis)

The Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna consists of five (05) departments and
offers five (05) specialization areas at present. The Faculty admits 545 students from
Advanced Level (A/L) Mathematics stream from the last year.

Faculty Webpage

http://www.eng.ruh.ac.lk/

Other Departments and Units

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Engineering Library

The University of Ruhuna is one of the leading universities in Sri Lanka. It was established by a Special Presidential Decree on 1^st September, 1978 as Ruhuna University College to fulfil a long cherished desire of the people in Southern Province, Sri Lanka.  Hence, the University of Ruhuna has a proud history of more than 40 years and with extending its service to the motherland having 10 Faculties with 57 Departments at present.

University Webpage

University of Ruhuna

Faculties

1. Faculty of Agriculture
2. Faculty of Allied Health Science
3. Faculty of Engineering
4. Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science and Technology
5. Faculty of Graduate Studies
6. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
7. Faculty of Management and Finance
8. Faculty of Medicine
9. Faculty of Science
10. Faculty of Technology