SLIIT Civil Engineering Honours Degree Secures IESL Full Recognition: A Milestone in Engineering Excellence

The Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) has reached a significant national milestone with the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) granting a full recognition for a five-year cycle to its Civil Engineering honours degree programme, a development that underscores the institute’s commitment to excellence in engineering education and its growing stature within Sri Lanka’s higher education landscape. This achievement marks an important transition from the conditional recognition previously granted, reflecting sustained quality improvements and adherence to the highest academic and professional standards.

The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) is the apex professional body for engineers in the country, responsible for setting and maintaining rigorous standards in engineering education and professional practice. IESL recognition confirms that an engineering degree programme meets prescribed academic and professional requirements for engineering education.

SLIIT’s journey toward full recognition reflects a thoughtful and robust approach to programme development. That conditional status was a major milestone at the time, the first non-state HEI to achieve in Sri Lanka, validating the programme’s academic structure, faculty expertise, infrastructure, and quality assurance mechanisms against IESL’s stringent evaluation process.

Since then, the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at SLIIT has intensified efforts to refine curriculum alignment, strengthen faculty and research capabilities, and ensure sustained improvements in laboratory and learning facilities. These concerted efforts have culminated in IESL’s decision to confer full recognition, a testament to SLIIT’s dedication to delivering engineering education that meets both national expectations and international standards.

For students and alumni alike, this full recognition carries tangible benefits. Graduates of the recognised cycle of the programme will enjoy enhanced opportunities for professional advancement, including a streamlined pathway toward Chartered Engineer status with IESL, a credential highly valued across industry sectors. Such professional recognition not only elevates employability within Sri Lanka but also supports wider career mobility across the globe.

Moreover, this achievement reinforces the value proposition of choosing SLIIT for engineering studies. Prospective students can be confident that the Civil Engineering programme now stands on par with recognised engineering degrees across the globe, backed by quality assurance practices and academic rigour. The recognition also reflects positively on SLIIT’s broader academic ecosystem, which has been expanding its research output, strengthening industry partnerships, and fostering holistic student development.

The broader engineering community in Sri Lanka has taken note of this milestone. It reflects a growing trend of non–state higher education institutions meeting professional standards traditionally maintained by state universities, which is an evolution that broadens access to high-quality engineering education and supports the country’s economic and infrastructural growth.

Prof Ayantha Gomes, Dean FOE shares his thoughts on this remarkable achievement .    

“Honestly, we are proud to be identified as the first non-state HEI to obtain recognition from IESL, thus setting a standard. Special thanks for the dedicated staff, headed by Dr. Janaka Perera. The department is proactive in responding to changes in the civil engineering industry and has already integrated modern technologies, such as AI, BIM, and IoT, into its curriculum. Also, its assignments adopt problem-based learning with real-world projects with the incorporation of essential practical and digital skills”.

This achievement further reinforces the strength and credibility of FOE at SLIIT, which continues to earn multiple academic and professional recognitions while delivering industry-relevant, internationally benchmarked engineering education. Driven by the unwavering dedication of its highly qualified academic and professional staff, and the determination and excellence of its students, FOE has built a culture of quality, innovation, and continuous improvement. The IESL full recognition of the Civil Engineering programme stands as a collective triumph for the Faculty—affirming SLIIT’s position as a leading engineering education provider in Sri Lanka and its commitment to shaping future-ready engineers who will confidently contribute to national development and the global engineering community.