Russel De Zilwa

Permanent Address
2/2 Pedris Road
Colombo 3
Sri Lanka

Telephone Nos. :

94 1 2577295, 94 1 2301729
0712 252580

Email Address :

russel1@sltnet.lk

Thirty Eight years in the Engineering profession, including, research &

development, education, project management, supervising, planning,
forecasting, budgeting,
problem solving, administration

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE :
11/2001 to date: Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka [IESL]
Joined the IESL in November 2001 as the Executive Secretary responsible for
the administration of the affairs of the Institution, which is the apex body for the
engineering profession in Sri Lanka. In the period spent up to-date at the IESL, I
have been responsible for the following over and above the routine membership,
educational and continuing professional development (CPD) activities :

Actively involved in working towards IESL Corporate Plan goal of

achieving international recognition by achieving membership of the
Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF) and Washington Accord, and was
instrumental in the IESL getting Provisional Membership of the EMF in
June 2005, and Full Membership in June 2007. Also preparation of IESLs
successful application for Provisional membership of the Washington
Accord in June 2007.
Preparation of the IESL Accreditation Manual to Washington Accord
guidelines and being actively involved in the accreditation of the Civil
Engineering programmes at Universities of Peradeniya and Moratuwa,
and the Mechanical Engineering programme at the University of
Moratuwa. .
Revision of IESL Part I, II & III Course curriculum to ensure that the syllabi
are in line with corresponding engineering courses taught by the
Engineering Faculties of the Sri Lankan universities.
Comparison of current Engineering Council (UK) course with IESL course
for purpose of acceptance for Corporate Membership.
Revision of IESL Management Development Course to increase relevance
through inclusion of current management trends..
Functioned as Local Co-ordinator for Loughborough Universitys 32nd
Water Engineering Development Centre International Conference held in
Sri Lanka in November 2006.
Implementation of the new IESL logo and getting it registered by the
Registrar of patents & Trade Marks.
Obtaining COC from Colombo Municipal Council for IESL second building
opened in 1992.
Implementation of the IESL Corporate Plan for 2001 2005 and also in
the preparation of that for 2006 - 2010.
For the organizing and smooth running of the Annual Sessions from 2002
to 2007 inclusive of the Seminars on Sustainable Development (2002),
Economic advancement based on the Knowledge Society (2003),
Transportation (2004), the Sethusamudram Canal Project (2005), Future

Technologies (2006) and Current Trends and Future Directions in

Engineering Education (2007).
Involved in planning and execution of activities connected with the IESLs
Centenary 2006
Co-ordinated revision for the strengthening of the IESL Act and also
reactivation of the Engineering Act of Sri Lanka..
Council Member of the Open University of Sri Lanka from 2005

06/1995 08/2001 : Unilever Ceylon Ltd [UCL], Sri Lanka

Chief Engineer (07/1998 08/2001) responsible
For the asset maintenance of plant, equipment and infrastructure at the
UCL Grandpass site.
For overall engineering policy and decisions on all UCL production sites,
namely the Home & Personal Care and Edible Fats manufacturing
facilities at Grandpass, the Liptons Value Added Tea facility at Mabole,
the Instant Tea facility at Agrapatana, the Walls Ice Cream facility at
Banduragoda and the Chemical Detergent plant and Warehouse
complex at Lindel.
Successfully coordinating all Y2K related activities at all Unilever Ceylon
Ltd. manufacturing sites ensuring that production continued smoothly
through the critical roll-over period
Implementing safety and environmental procedures and practices to
international standards on all sites.
Senior Maintenance Engineer (05/1995 06/1998) responsible
For the asset maintenance of plant, equipment and infrastructure at the
UCL Grandpass site.
For the provision of all utilities (steam, water, electricity, ammonia,
hydrogen, compressed air)
Planning and managing all activities in connection with the setting up of
a NSD chemical detergent powder manufacturing plant, involving
finalizing of process, selection and purchase of equipment, and total
project management for the erection of the building, installation of plant,
commissioning of process and handover for production.
02/ 1994 - 05/1995 : Al Tuwaijri Establishment, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Production Manager in charge of Armourglass KSA factory responsible
For developing and improving a range of architectural, anti-bandit and
bullet-proof glazing.
For identifying new processes and sourcing and purchasing equipment.
Traveled to Germany in this connection.

10/ 1988 - 01/1994 : Saudi Scales & Equipment Co.Ltd. [SASA], Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia
Factory Manager responsible
Prepared for Government funding, detailed feasibility study for SASA
factory complex : implemented in 1995-96.
For preparing detailed feasibility study and implementing a factory
complex to manufacture weighing equipment, physical security equipment,
armoured cash-in-transit vehicles and airport ground support equipment
Prepared for Government funding, detailed feasibility study for SASA
factory complex to manufacture weighing equipment, physical security
equipment, airport ground support equipment and armoured cash-intransit vehicles
For setting up in 01/1989, a 720m2 production facility to manufacture
industrial weighing equipment
For setting up in 01/1990, a 4000m2 factory to manufacture an expanded
range of industrial weighing equipment and physical security equipment.
For adding range of airport ground support equipment to the production
portfolio.
For sourcing and selection of all materials, recruitment of staff and
workers and sourcing and selection of all equipment. Traveled extensively
to Europe, the USA and the East in this connection.
01/ 1987 - 09/1988 : Rowlands Ltd., Sri Lanka
Technical Director with change in ownership, involved in corporate management
of Company.
Prepared development bank funded project for up-grading tyre rebuilding
facility and got it underway prior to leaving.
Co-ordinator Industries when Rowlands Ltd. was acquired by the Finco Group,
responsible for
For all technical and operational aspects on manufacturing facilities for
refrigerators, aluminium fabrications, tyre rebuilding and extruded wheat
products.
10/1982 - 12/1986 : Finco Group of Companies, Sri Lanka
Alpha Industries Ltd.
Technical Director (04/1983 12/1986) responsible
For complete production facility at Mattegoda.
For setting up with assistance from National Development Bank (NDB)
three sub-contract factories for manufacture of steel office furniture.
For setting up with assistance from National Development Bank (NDB) a
mechanical engineering complex comprising a foundry, machine shop and

fabrication shop to manufacture agricultural machinery and steel

fabrications.
General Manager (10/1982 03/1983) responsible for
For complete production facility at Mattegoda with mandate to streamline
existing production process to optimize production and also to upgrade
range of physical security equipment to conform to international
standards.
Resource Development Consultants Ltd.
Served of panel of consultants as Mechanical Engineering and Tea
Processing Expert.
Acted as General Manager for eight month period.
Main projects undertaken :
i Report on rehabilitation of seven tea factories in Uganda 1984
ii Report on rehabilitation of tea industry in Peru for UNFDAC and
USAID 1986
iii Report on Oils & Fats Corporation for Ministry of Rural Industries
1987
09/1969 09/1982 : Colombo Commercial Co. (Engineering) Ltd., Sri Lanka
Senior Research & Development Engineer (10/1980 09/1982) responsible
For technical and administrative operations of R&D department, Drawing
Office and Apprentice Training School.
For Tender Committee as chairman and also served as member of
Tender Board
Associated with development and trials of the TRI/CCC Fuidized Bed
Dryer for tea and its subsequent adaptation for DC. Also responsible for
establishing international patents for the Fuidized Bed Dryer.
Designed a multi-fuel tubeless heat exchanger for the tea industry and
obtained patent for this unit.
Research & Development Engineer (04/1971 - 10/1980) responsible For design, costing, testing, installation and commissioning of special
purpose or custom built machinery.
For performance monitoring and upgrading of tea, rubber and desiccated
coconut machinery.
For preparation of factory development schemes, carrying out machinery
inspections and valuations.
For electro-mechanical projects involving distillation plants for alcohol and
essential oils, tobacco processing and paddy processing and storage
complex.
Associated with design and development of post-harvest paddy
equipment; followed training course at IRRI, Philippines in 1975 in this
connection.

Visited Indonesia (1979), India & Bangladesh (1980) and Nigeria (1982)
for commissioning and handing over of CCC tea machinery.

Trainee Mechanical Engineer (09/1969 03/1971)

Underwent training in all workshops and support departments.
MAJOR INDEPENDENT ASSIGNMENTS

Consultant to the National Procurement Agency on the World Bank pilot

project to assess the national procurement performance against
internationally accepted indicators 2007

Industry representative in Assessment team for accreditation of the

Kingston University courses conducted in Sri Lanka - 2004

Team Leader for the USAID funded project under the Competitiveness
Initiative for the Tea sector on the Support sector analysis (Engineering)
for the Sri Lankan Tea Industry - 2003

As Consultant for RDC Ltd. undertook studies on i Rehabilitation of seven tea factories in Uganda 1984
ii Rehabilitation of tea industry in Peru for UNFDAC and USAID 1986
iii Report on Oils & Fats Corporation for Ministry of Rural Industries
1987

SEMINARS & CPD COURSES ATTENDED

Have attended a number of Seminars, Courses, etc. in both technical and
management subjects. Some of these were :
WEDC 32nd International Conference BMICH, Colombo 11/2006
Quality Assurance for Open and Distance Learning in Sri Lanka 03/2006
Vehicle Emission Monitoring Project - USAID / ISB 06/2005
Post Tsunami Housing and Infrastructure Construction - ICTAD 07/2005
ADB Human Resource Investment Project 02/2004
IRQUE Project Launch Ministry of Tertiary Education & Training
08/2003
Solid Waste (Garbage) Disposal IESL 10/2002
Sri Lanka India Land Bridge IESL/IE(India) 08/2002
Integrated Approach to Cleaner Production CP Centre, UNIDO, IESL
08/2002
Strengthening Institute Industry Partnership Ministry of S&T 06/2002
Conference on Bamboo Awareness IESL/SSE 06/2002

Cleaner Production for Universities & Higher Technology Institutes

06/2002
Environmental Training Course Unilever, Sri Lanka 11/2000
Total Maintenance Management Mgruppen Partners 02/1997
Project Management Course Unilever, Gulita, India 12/1996
Regional Management Resources Course - Unilever, Gulita, India
09/1996
National Seminar on Involvment of Workers in Enterprose Management
ILO/EFC 05/1987
Towards an Energy Policy for Sri Lanka - IESL 07/1980
How to reduce Energy cost Prod. Asso. SL & APO 06/1978
RHP Course in Bearing Technology 07/1978
IRRI Engineering Course Los Banos, Philippines 09/1975

PERSONAL DATA :
Date of Birth :

28th January 1947

Civil Status :

Married

Tertiary Education :

Bachelor of the Science of Engineering [BSc.Eng],September 1969

University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Professional
Fellow - Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka [FIE (SL)], October
1987
Qualifications :
Fellow - Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK
[FIMechE], March 1994