Level 2 Quantity Surveying students recently participated in an educational site visit to several nationally significant locations, including the Moragahakanda Dam, the northern portal of the Upper Elahera Canal Project, and the ancient city of Sigiriya. The visit was designed to complement classroom learning by providing practical exposure to large-scale infrastructure development and Sri Lanka’s rich engineering heritage.
At the Moragahakanda Dam and the Upper Elahera Canal Project, students gained valuable insights into modern dam construction, integrated water management systems, and hydropower generation. A key highlight of the visit was observing the deployment of state-of-the-art tunnel boring machines at the Upper Elahera Canal Project, which hosts South Asia’s longest irrigation tunnel. This experience enabled students to appreciate advanced underground construction techniques, project scale, and the complexities associated with managing major civil engineering works.
The visit to Sigiriya offered a contrasting yet equally valuable learning experience. Students explored the architectural and engineering ingenuity of ancient Sri Lankan civilisation, gaining an understanding of how complex city design and planning principles were applied centuries ago and continue to inspire contemporary architectural and design practices.
Beyond its academic value, the site visit provided students with an opportunity to engage in learning outside the formal classroom setting. It also fostered a strong sense of togetherness, peer interaction, and collective learning, enriching the overall student experience.
