An ode to my Father at the occassion of his 10th death anniversary!

Ariyasena Kiribandara or Engineer K.M.A. Ariyasena as most might know in a professional sphere, “Ari” for his close friends for us his children simply known as “Thathi” was a most unique character.

Today as we mark the 10th anniversary of his passing, I wanted to remember him not for just being my father or my earliest mentor but as someone who served this country much and perhaps has been forgotten by some albeit the ones who still benefit from his life work.

So supported by my younger sibling here are some of the information I’d like to share with you…I’m not a writer but I am writing from my heart, gathering and collating information from my mom and his CV which is rather extensive given his years of serving Sri Lanka as one of the earliest most qualified and experienced of his time.

Prior to him leaving for his higher education he worked as an English proof reader for the national paper after completing his A/Levels.

Then he went onto Study Civil Engineering and obtained a Master of Science in Structural Civil Engineering with a specialization on Dams and Bridges from Lumumba Friendship University, Russia. He was the 1st secretary of the Student Club at Lumumba and one of the founding Members of the ASLGSC ( Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist Countries) in Sri Lanka.

He was a non political commercially focused person who believed in poverty alleviation and helping the masses.

Back in Sri Lanka after graduation some of his work included:

#Assistant Civil Engineer — RVDB ( River Valleys Development Board)- based at head office at Colombo 7

Projects included — technical work of Gal oya project & Uda Walawe project,Designing of Timbulketiya bridge at Uda Walawe, Contract supervision of building at head office at Colombo 7, Restoration of Mahagama weva, Supervise buidling of culverts and all buildings in teh suriyaweva area,

#Project Civil Engineer at RVDB — Uda Walawe Thanamalwila road. ( the one we all use today) — had 300 permanent employees under his supervision.

#Project Civil Engineer New hospital building Kandy Main hospital

#Designs Engineer at Engineering Consultants (ECL) 1970— building and designing a 44ft. diameter concrete dome for the Grand Mosque at Old Moor Street, Colombo 12., Designing and structural drawing of 16 storeyed ( tallest building in Colombo then) National Lotteries Board Headquaters Building ( later where LTTE plane fell but the building was not damaged due to strong structural integrity) this included end bearing concrete board piles, 33ft.span pre stressed concrete T beam floors, post tension concrete beams.
Artchitect for this project was Edward Reid and Begg amd Rathnavibhushana was the project artchitect.

Contract supervision and administration of People’s Bank headquaters Building constructed on end bearing piles.Designed with spiral type pre stressed concrete floor and post tension beams.Artchitect was the late Frank Peiris. SEC of Sri Lanka carried our structural designs.

Involved in designing economical buildings for Eductaion Department with Asian Regional Institute for School Building Research and designed storeyed Kompanna Veediya Maha Vidyalaya Building.

Among other work he did as Designs Engineer of Engineering Consultants were:

• Structural design of worker welfare centre for teh Ceylon Oils and Fats corporation at Seeduwa.
• Preperation of working drawings for the 21storeyed secratariat Building for the Co-operative wholesale establishment at Vauxhall Street Colombo 2.
• Organisation and direction of foundation investigations for Power Transmission Towers constructed by Sumitomo.

#Senior Designs Engineer — Industrial Development Board ( IDB) — Designing and overlooking the project of a workshop building with in-situ concrete supporting structure within a very short time. Casting and erection of pre-stressed concrete strcuture was given to the SEC. Within 6 months this structure was completed and shifting of workers was completed.

Project Engineer & works manager— building of Spinning mill project worth Rs.70,000,000.00 aided by East Germany in 1974 in Mattegama, Kurunagala.

• building of parallel unit to design and construct ancilliary buildings and housing schemes for employees
• Mill was commissioned fully within 3 years under his supervision and co-ordination of all activities
• All Civil Engineering design work of the other 4 textile mills was also entrusted to him.

#Deputy General Manager (Engineering) of National Textile Corporation — 1st June 1979 onwards -

• Overlook all designing and construction of civil engineering works in all 5 textile mills at Veyangoda, Tulhiriya, Mattegama, Minneriya, Pugoda was entrusted to him.
• National Textile Corporation embarked on growing cotton in Hambantota district.
• A factory was designed by him and constructed to gin cotton.machinery was imported from India. During JVP insurgency in the 80’s this was burnt unfortunately.

After 15 years in the government he resigned and started his own private engineering firm in the 80's.

#Established CAMT Engineers and Gopitha Engineers and was Managing Partner.

• For a period of 20 years some of the key projects include:
• General auto work new building at Hyde Park Corner
• Food store ( warehouse complex) Orugodawatte
• Fertilizer warehouse complex at Anuradhapura
• Renovation of Old Superior Courts complex at Hulsdorp.
• Piliyandala Super Market Stage 2.
• Officers quaters for Sinha Regiment at Nuwara Eliya.

#Chief Civil Engineer ( consultant) — Nirmana Consultants -

• Construction of Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Childrens hospital at Peradeniya — Stage 1 ( contract sum RS.185,808,637.80)
• Construction of Sirimavo Bandaranayake Specialized Childrens Hospital Peradeniya — Stage 2 ( Engineers estimate over RS.500 million)
• Construction of administrative office complex for Sri Lanka Beureu of Foreign Employment at Battaramulla. (Contract sum RS.275,000,000.00)
• Renovation and refurbishment pf existing building for National Institute of Plantation Management at Agalawatte.
• Construction of building for the National Institute of Nephralogy, dialysis and transplantation at Maligawatte, Colombo 10.( Piling work was awarded to SEC)

Just a summery of some of his work… a chartered Civil Enginner… big shoes to fill.. a dad who went through his ups and downs .. but I wanted share this… a life of service when he could have easily jumped overseas for a better even life! God has been good! I celebrate his legacy along with my mom and my sister today! Dad you were truly blessed by God even before you knew Him because He knew you! Love you and miss you loads!