Eng. Nipuni Karunaratne, Model Factory Manager, Digital Technology of Rolls Royce PLC, UK currently working with the NSF through its Global Digital Platform which has been established to harness Sri Lankan expatriates for national development. In recognition of her outstanding accomplishments in the realm of S&T, she was felicitated at a national event themed “Wise Women” held under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the 04th January 2022 at the BMICH. This is a laudable initiative of Dr Seetha Arambepola, Hon. Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Innovation with a view to harnessing the hitherto underexploited potential of women for national development who account for over 51% of the population of the country, yet contribute only about 34% of its workforce. Highlights of the above mentioned event are given in the following link:
https://www.ft.lk/ft_tv/Meritorious-deed-by-betel-vendor/10520-728708
Eng. Nipuni Karunaratne is passionately committed to promoting the STEM education in Sri Lanka and has been engaged in several programmes conducted by the NSF in this regard. For instance, she was a key resource person of the webinar organized by the NSF on 29 October 2021 to create interest in and ignite passion for STEM education in school children, undergraduates, vocational technology students and the youth of the country. She has been recognized as one of the finalists for the prestigious Young Women Engineer award by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), UK in 2021. While providing technical leadership to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Department of the Rolls Royce PLC, UK, she was instrumental in setting up the world largest aircraft repair facility in Atlanta, USA, which is yet another remarkable achievement by this young Sri Lankan expatriate.
Eng. Nipuni Karunaratne is currently holding discussions with the NSF in order to start a model project in agriculture deploying the state-of-the-art technology which could provide know-how and show-how to those engaged in conventional agriculture.
