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Prof. (Mrs.) Chitra Weddikkara
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Professor (Mrs.) Chitra Weddikkara, who took over the Department of Building Economics after the untimely demise of Prof. Siri Caldera, is an internationally renowned personality in the construction sector.
Qualified in Architecture in the year 1975, she consequently obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science in Quantity Surveying from Curtain University of Technology, M.Sc in Building Studies, and Ph.D. in Dispute Resolution from College of Law, Murdoch University.
In 1983, she joined the Department of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa as a part time lecturer and in 1985 she was a full time lecturer at the department of Architecture. She was invited to take over the position of Head of Department of Building Economics with the demise of Prof. Siri Caldera in 1987. In this critical period of time, despite the lack of funds, staff and studentships to support the uninterrupted functioning of the newfound Department, Prof. (Mrs.) Weddikkara was successful in establishing the Department of Building Economics to an exceptional standard under her headship. She executed a five year strategic plan to function the B.Sc. (Hons) Quantity Surveying degree course, the formation of the BSC in Facilities Management and in the establishment of the Masters in project management and Masters Dispute Resolution and Law and included lobbying professors and lecturers specialized in the field of Quantity Surveying and other professions through various universities and funding.
She is a frequent guest speaker at construction related professional venues, including the University of Western Sydney in New South Wales, Australia, the Department of Geometrics Engineering and Land Management, Faculty of Engineering, St Augustine, Trinidad. Prof. (Mrs.) Weddikkara, in her distinguished career, held many administrative positions. She is the former Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. She has been a Member of the Senate, By-Laws committee, the Library Committee, Faculty Board, Faculty of Architecture, the Engineering and Architectural Council of University Grants Commission, Curriculum and Evaluation Committee of the Faculty of Architecture, the Board of Higher Degrees at the Faculty of Architecture, and the standing committee on examination offences. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) UK, Fellow Member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (F. A.I.Q.S), Fellow of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Sri Lanka (IQSSL), Fellow of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (F.I.A SL), Fellow Member of the Institute of Project Managers (FIPMSL), Member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (R.A.I.A), Associate Member of the Australian Institute of Builders (A.I.O.B), and an Associate Member of the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators, a Board Member of the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) former Board member of Institute of Construction, Training and Development (ICTAD), Chairperson of the RICS chapter in Sri Lanka, and Member of Constitution Board of RICS, Advisor for the Council of the Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIOB), a Director of the Green Building Council in Sri Lanka and the Vice President of the international chapter of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. She is also the immediate past president of the Commonwealth Association Surveyors and Land Economists (CASLE) and the Immediate past President of the Sri-Lanka Institute of Architects. She is the past president of the Institute of Quantity Surveyors in Sri-Lanka and held the post for more than 10 years in its formative years and was instrumental in getting the institute incorporated by an Act of Parliament.
Professor (Mrs.) Chitra Weddikkara contributed to the Sri Lankan construction industry and to the Quantity Surveying profession significantly throughout her years. Her achievements over the last 35 years are enormous and priceless and bestowed upon a generation yet to be born.