Priyanga Ambanwala: "Focus on getting the basics right"
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in a central part of Sri Lanka closer to the beautiful city of Kandy, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical importance.
When did you know you wanted to be an engineer, and why?
I used to accompany my mom, who was a secondary school maths teacher, when she took her students on excursions. One such visit, when I was four years old, was to a large hydro power station where I first met an engineer, and was fascinated by how cool the word engineer sounded. From that day, I wanted to become an engineer. Years passed and the dream became a reality.
What were the biggest challenges for you when studying engineering at university and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was the fast pace of the system where you had to absorb a huge amount of knowledge to get past frequent exams. It was intimidating for me.
Looking back at your uni days, what advice would you give those about to start their undergrad engineering degrees?
I’d say focus on getting the basics right in whatever discipline you are studying. As long as you have a strong base things can never go wrong.
What is your favourite engineering task or type of project, and why do you enjoy it so much?
I had the opportunity to be a part of the engineering team that had the task of installing a dam gate system in Castlereagh Dam in Sri Lanka. I was responsible for the electrical, instrumentation and control systems scope and it was a challenging project to execute in a race against the looming monsoon season. The successful completion of that project was a highlight in my career.
What’s the most striking or impactful piece of engineering and/or career advice you have ever heard, and how did you apply it?
One of my uni lecturers once mentioned a quote about unlearning. I don’t remember it exactly, but it was along the lines of “Half of wisdom is learning what to unlearn.” This changed my perception about learning and helped me become a better engineer.
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