Eng. Rohan J Fernando

Bio-Data as submitted & certified by the candidate

Eng. Rohan Fernando obtained BSc. Eng. Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and later a PG Diploma in Construction Management from the Open University of Sri Lanka.With his passion to pursue into diversified disciplines, he proceeded to obtain a PG Diploma in International Relations.

He extended academic excellence into Masters Degree in Business Management from Wayamba University and along with his exposure to Adjudication and Arbitration he received the opportunity to pursue a Masters Degree in Law in International Business Law from the Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK with specialization in E-commerce and International Trade.

He joined the IESL as an Associate Member in April, 1990 and thereafter gained the status of Chartered Engineer and Corporate Member in April, 1994. He was awarded the Membership of the American Society of Civil Engineers in May, 1994 and the Chartered Professional Engineer status in the Institution of Engineers, Australia in January, 1996.

Eng. Rohan Fernando commenced his career as a Trainee Engineer in the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) in May 1987 and served as a Shift Engineer at the Power Tunnel of the Samanalaweva Hydro-Electricity Project. Afterwards he joined the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) as a Geo-Technical Engineer in February 1991 and was involved in Landslide Hazard Mapping Project.

Eng. Rohan Fernando’s major part of employment carrier was in the National Water Supply & Drainage Board since his joining in October, 1994. He served in the positions of Engineer, Senior Engineer, Chief Engineer, Assistant General Manager and Deputy General Manager. He served as the Project Director-Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project and Kalu Ganga Water Supply Expansion Project.

Eng. Rohan Fernando has always developed new concepts and appropriate technical solutions to serve beyond his regular duties, when there have been critical issues in the water & sanitation sector.

After Tsunami Tidal Waves hit the Coastal areas in the country in December, 2004, he performed the task of collaborating with many European and US Multi Donors to bring Tsunami Aide Grant assistance. He was instrumental in designing and assembling the first fully-equipped Mobile Water Testing Laboratory with Italian Grant Assistance under Tsunami Aide program.

In the Arbitration conducted in the Greater Colombo Wastewater Management Project with an International contractor, he had to take the entire workload as the Project Director and endured a full-blown Arbitration and finally clinched the benefits for the NWSDB.

He took over the Presidency of the Engineers Union of the NWSDB at a time when nobody was prepared to accept that role due to many controversies.  He never stepped back in fighting for the betterment of the Engineering fraternity. He successfully led the Engineer’s Union, NWS&DB as the President for 4 sessions and eventually became the longest-served President.

Eng. Rohan Fernando has been enlisted in the IES Directory of Arbitrators and Adjudicators since 2019. He was awarded Fellow in the IESL in March, 2020. In the IESL he has been serving as a By-Law Revision Committee member over a long period. He also served as a Judge in the selection of Contractors for Excellence Awards organized by the National Construction Contractors Association in 2025.

Election Statement as submitted & certified by the candidate

I became a Corporate Member of the IESL in April, 1994 and was awarded Fellow Membership in March 2020 and was elected to the Council as Representative Fellow in 2021. I also realized that quite a lot of professional standards were needed for the Engineers to practice in the Water Supply & Sanitation sector since my employment was in the NWS&DB. I really stood up in emphasizing the maintaining the professional standards in par with the diversification of the engineering discipline into present-day context. As Engineers we should endeavour to achieve due recognition to the IESL as a professional body that can advise decision-making authorities in whatever the development programs implemented in the country.

I sincerely feel that as Engineers, we should build the image of the IESL in the society at large and to create a passion among the general public to entrench in their minds as a society-friendly professional institution.

I honestly think the Engineers should concentrate more on addressing national issues rather than working in narrow spectrums. In case the Policy Makers need to be advised on certain areas, the IESL should not hesitate to do that as a professional body. I would certainly focus on that dimension if I will be again elected to the Council of the IESL for the 2025-2026 session.