The full Daily Mirror story (Feb 04 2005): Sent in to Serving SL blog by Mano Philips,
Engineers to discuss post-tsunami challenge. A team of senior engineers from the Sri Lanka Association of Civil Engineering (SLAICE) , and the American Society of Civil Engineers recently visited tsunami affected areas in the South and East of SriLanka SLAICE Secretary Ranjit Thabrew said that following the fact finding tour to the tsunami affected areas the visiting engineers from UK and USA are scheduled to meet the officers of the Institution of Engineer, Sri Lanka (IESL) and The Sri Lanka Association of the Institute of Civil Engineers, UK (SLAICE) today(February 4) at 5.00 p.m. at IESL Head Office. Topics for Discussion with ICE & ASCE Delegation by SLAICE/IESL include the proposal to set up a DisasterManagement Centre (For evaluation and mitigating Landslides, Cyclones, Monsoons and Tsunami); seek ICE and ASCE support to set up such center and provide training; ICE & ASCE to provide Honorary Consultancy/Construction Support (Ideally from Sri Lankan Professionals living abroad) to work with SriLankan Professionals; ICE & ASCE to provide the services of experienced and skilled Trainers to train craftsmen and mid-level engineers. Mr. Thabrew said Vocational Skills Ministry under theguidance of SLAICE, Chairman, Prof. Dayantha Wijeyesekera has already launched a scheme to train 1000 craftsmen in masonry, plumbing and electrical installations, providing one month’s intensive training followed by three months on-the-job training. Preference to be given to applicants from tsunamiaffected areas. The meeting will also discuss provision of free technology transfer as and when requested; assisting to develop a Code of Practice to cope with ‘Disaster Mitigation” Since there is a shortage of building materials for reconstruction work, ICE & ASCE will explore assistance on De-Salination Equipment for harvestings and from the Sea, suggest new and cheap Technologyfor construction materials (As alternative for traditional materials such as bricks etc) and arrange to supply of construction Equipment & Materials onconcessionary basis.
