Touring USQ’s Centre for Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites are (from left) Mechanical Engineering lecturer Dr Jayantha Epaarachchi, visiting dignitary Professor Dayantha Wijeyesekera and centre director Professor Alan Lau

Professor Wijeyesekera is the Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology, as well as being a member of the National Education Commission and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Civil Engineers.

He presented a talk at USQ on the 2004 tsunami that devastated his home country and said that disaster-resilient yet environmentally friendly materials and fibres were the way forward in construction.

“The future of construction will need strong and resilient materials that still consider the environment,” Professor Wijeyesekera said.

“The CEEFC is working on new technologies and I think both Australia and Sri Lanka have a lot to learn from each other.

“A collaboration and professional understanding between both countries will bring so much potential for new and environmentally conscious technologies.”

Professor Wijeyesekera said both Australia and Sri Lanka had different natural resources (using Sri Lanka’s significant rubber industry as an example), further highlighting the benefits of collaboration programs.

“The Sri Lankans are very resourceful and don’t let anything go to waste,” he said.

“When we use a rubber tree, we use the whole thing. We use the leaves for thatching, the bark to make timber and the coconut husks to make ropes.”

Professor Wijeyesekera and Professor Lau are in discussions about the possible creation of an Education and Technology Environment Centre to promote alternative sources of energy and environmentally conscious technologies.

“Environmentally-conscious technology and research into alternative energy are very important subjects, but how do you get the youth to understand how important they are?” Professor Lau said.

“A centre to raise awareness and also provide visitors with some hands-on, interesting experience would help promote a greener and more efficient future.”

Professor Lau said a partnership and sharing of research between USQ and the University of Vocational Technology, as well as other Sri Lankan organisations, would be beneficial to both countries as they work together at finding the latest breakthroughs in material science.