The first guest lecture for the year 2023, organized by General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University Student Chapter of Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) was successfully conducted on the 11th of January 2023 with the virtual participation of over 50 participants from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Along with the undergraduates several academic staff too joined the virtual meeting. The lecture was conducted virtually via the Zoom platform. The Executive Committee member, Day Scholar SS Gamage welcomed the gathering.
Dr. Chandika Wickramathilake who is the Director-Innovation at MAS Intimates and a prominent figure in the apparel industry of Sri Lanka, delivered the guest lecture on the topic "Factory Autonomation". He discussed the levels of factory autonomation, the need for factory autonomation for developing countries and how factory autonomation is related to the apparel industry. He also enlightened us on the difference between automation and autonomation. After the guest lecture, Dr Chandika Wickramathilake encouraged the participants to come up with questions and he answered plenty of queries that were asked by the participants with patience.
The token of appreciation to the guest was presented by TUO MSM Marshad, the president of KDU Student Chapter of IMechE. The event was concluded with closing remarks delivered by the Executive Committee member, Day Scholar M.Vidurka.
