Filtered Press Release : 2019 Jul
Tokyo Cement inaugurates state-of-the-art Center for Technical Excellence
A cutting-edge Centre for Technical Excellence of Tokyo Cement Group, was inaugurated recently in Trincomalee. The Centre of Excellence will house the technical operations, R&D facilities and quality control operations of the entire local manufacturing process of Tokyo Cement Group, solidifying the company’s commitment towards maintaining superior quality. The Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence …
A cutting-edge Centre for Technical Excellence of Tokyo Cement Group, was inaugurated recently in Trincomalee. The Centre of Excellence will house the technical operations, R&D facilities and quality control operations of the entire local manufacturing process of Tokyo Cement Group, solidifying the company’s commitment towards maintaining superior quality.
The Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence was declared open by Mr. Mitsuo Ono, Executive Officer of UBE Industries Ltd., Japan together with Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman, of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC. Representing the decades old bridge of friendship and partnering between Sri Lanka and Japan, Mr. Kenichi Kakeya, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka attended the opening ceremony as a guest of honour. Lead by Mr. S.R. Gnanam – Managing Director of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC. all members of the Board of Directors, Senior Executives, Management and staff of the company were present at this key milestone event. UBE Industries Ltd., Japan, the technology partner of Tokyo Cement Group, was actively involved in providing technical and engineering guidance to set up The Centre of Technical Excellence, with latest technology inputs, to make it future-ready and fully geared with hi-tech laboratory and quality assurance facilities, to support Tokyo Cement’s cutting-edge manufacturing operation.
Inauguration of The Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence, by Mr. Mitsuo Ono, Executive Officer of UBE Industries Ltd., Japan and Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Chairman, of Tokyo Cement Company (Lanka) PLC.
The Technical Building was ideated to provide greater management efficiency by providing a centralized overview of the company’s fully automated production process. To enable this unified view, a modern Central Command Room is installed at the heart of the facility. The four cement production mills at Tokyo Eastern Cement Factory are monitored via the Central Command, enabling smarter management of its operations and output efficiency. In addition, the two Biomass power plants of Tokyo Cement Group, which supplies renewable green electricity to run its entire manufacturing process, are also monitored and managed through the Central Command operations. The central command room, installed under technical supervision of Scientists and Engineers of Ube Industries, Japan, is connected to a modern management information system equipped with latest software and hardware infrastructure, for improved flexibility and agility to respond faster with informed decision making. This also minimize human dependencies to assure a higher level of precision in the manufacturing process.
The Centre for Technical Excellence will house the technical operations, R&D and quality control facilities of Tokyo Cement Group’s manufacturing process
The Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence also houses the company’s R&D laboratories and the quality control units of concrete and cement manufacturing process. Being Sri Lanka’s first cement and concrete testing laboratory to win the prestigious ISO17025 accreditation, the state-of-the-art facility is well equipped with modern testing apparatus and analyzers to guarantee the superior quality of all Tokyo Cement Group products being manufactured at the Trincomalee factory.
Environmental friendliness is at the heart of the Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence. Designed with a minimal environmental footprint, The Centre has multiple features built in to its structural footprint that has significantly enhanced it environmental performance. The architectural design of the building has allowed it to use its position within close proximity to the Cod Bay, to maximize its energy efficiency. Designed to harvest day-light for its activities while insulating the indoors against heat gain, the building is entirely powered by 75KW of Solar energy.
In addition, The Building has the capability to store 20m3 of harvested rainwater, further improving its environmental footprint. Designed to reduce and reuse its water consumption, The Centre is equipped with a waste water treatment plant with a 100,000 liters capacity, and uses a drip irrigation system to maintain its greener outlook. With these unique features built-in in its design, the Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence is currently contending to become a GREEN® Certified building, undergoing the assessment process of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka.
The Centre for Technical Excellence will also act as an educational space for both school children and university students who visit Tokyo Eastern Cement Factory as part of their field visits. The Centre is equipped to provide educational information on Tokyo Cement’s core operations as well as on its corporate responsibility initiatives, to enrich the guided tour experience around the Tokyo Cement Factory in Trinco.
Educational spaces within The Centre for Technical Excellence to provide an enriched tour of Tokyo Eastern Cement Factory
A walk through The Technical Centre is a highly engaging experience for any visitor who wishes to learn about Tokyo Cement Group. A display area dedicated to the key sustainability initiatives spearheaded by the company, including Mangrove Reforestation, Coral Conservation and Biomass Electricity initiatives, take centerstage on the Ground Floor, while presenting the tangible impact of each program. Key achievements of the Company, as Sri Lanka’s leading cement manufacturer is highlighted at the same level, while showcasing the strength of its product portfolio backed by the company’s unique linear business integration capabilities. The first floor of the building which houses the Central Command Room also hosts executives and managers of Tokyo Eastern Cement Factory. A spacious auditorium to accommodate over 200 people, fully equipped with conference facilities is on the second floor of the Technical Centre, giving the visitors a splendid panoramic view of Cod Bay. This floor also holds a detailed feature wall of key milestones of the company’s nearly four decades of history, paying tribute to the legacy of its Founder Chairman late Deshamanya A.Y.S. Gnanam.
The Tokyo Cement Centre for Technical Excellence, in full operation is a standing testament of Tokyo Cement Group’s commitment towards achieving excellence in all aspects of its operations. Tokyo Cement has earned its reputation in Sri Lanka’s construction industry as the most trusted supplier of high-quality cement and concrete used in projects that mark Sri Lanka’s growth. The company has cemented its legacy as a partner in nation building and the undisputed market leader in Cement and Concrete in Sri Lanka.
The Music Project; Transforming Lives of Children with Better Opportunities
Twice weekly, students of Gunananda MV, Kurunegala and Palinagar MV, Mullaitivu gather in makeshift music rooms in their respective schools for lessons in orchestral and school band instruments. Today, the familiar strains of classical music emanate from these rooms; for these young children who previously did not have access to music education, music making has …
Twice weekly, students of Gunananda MV, Kurunegala and Palinagar MV, Mullaitivu gather in makeshift music rooms in their respective schools for lessons in orchestral and school band instruments.
Today, the familiar strains of classical music emanate from these rooms; for these young children who previously did not have access to music education, music making has helped them blossom, and has inspired and uplifted their lives; The Music Project has nurtured this renaissance.
Gunananda MV, Kurunegala and Palinagar MV, Mullaitivu are the two schools sponsored by Tokyo Cement Group for the last three years, to receive music lessons through the charitable foundation ‘The Music Project’. The initiative works in rural schools assigned by the Ministry of Education, that are often ill-equipped with the required facilities, infrastructure and very limited opportunity and exposure towards teaching children music.
Tokyo Cement engaged in a two-year sponsorship supporting over 200 students in three schools to enhance their music education. This sponsorship has enabled children to engage in music lessons full-time. Students are also able visit The Company’s production facilities in Trincomalee in order to foster motivation and opportunity on their journey with music.
The Project provides an educational initiative which is non-competitive, holistic and nurturing, where children gain motivation and confidence. The children progress at their own pace and participate in an orchestral community as a valued member where each player has a role.
The Music Project programme founded over a decade ago was designed to help transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people by supporting and fostering personal growth and artistic development, helping them achieve their full potential through engagement and progression in music- making.
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The western band of Sri Gunananda Kanishta Vidyalaya in Mawathagama practicing with a Teacher of The Music Project
In building orchestral communities in the North and South of Sri Lanka, the Music Project aims to bring harmony among ethnic groups, develop lifelong friendships, whilst cultivating respect among participants about each other’s communities. In the absence of a shared language for dialogue and conversation, music serves as an intrinsic link between communities.
To-date the Music Project has engaged seven schools with over 500 student participants in the core orchestra programme. The Project, whose work is predominantly centered in the Northcentral and Eastern provinces, has engaged over 80 school teachers and provided music lessons for over 3000 children, ranging from schools as far as Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Galle.
While many of these children hail from rural farming families who engage in casual labour, the project provides them an opportunity to rise above their limited circumstances, and give them a chance to pursue a passion that can lead the way for better exposure and choices in alternative careers and vocations.
The Music Project not only provides free lessons and instruments to the children but also drives motivation, enhances confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, the programme ensures flexibility enabling youth to progress at their own pace building values of musical excellence, teamwork and general community wellbeing. Through the Music Project, the youth are also exposed to future prospects and alternative opportunities developing skills for a successful future.
The marching band of the Palinagar Maha Vidyalayam, Mullaitivu welcoming the chief guests at their school sports meet
Inspired by the phenomenal Venezuelan ‘El Sistema’ Orchestra which enables children access to the world of music, camaraderie and empowerment, Trustee of The Music Project, Shalini Wickramasuriya said, “Through our initiative we want children take the lead in the peace building process. We hope to empower them to be agents of change, healing, and peace, among their peers and in their communities. We trust our programme brings joys and challenges of making music together to children who otherwise would not have the opportunity and build a lifelong appreciation for the beauty and importance of music.
Motivated by their children’s progress, parents too have voiced support and admiration for the Project. Kathirakamanathan whose son attends Palinagar MV in Mallavi, Mullaitivu said, “The Project has completely transformed my child’s interest in music. The school did not have facilities, neither a subject teacher. However, after the Project began, they now have proper instruments and he is an enthusiastic young musician. We are indebted to all those involved in the project.”
Wathsala’s daughter Kajini attends Gunananda MV of Kurunegala and she voiced similar sentiments. “My daughter has learnt to play the violin and I am extremely happy with her progress. If not for the Music Project she would not have received such an exciting opportunity to learn and benefit from. We hope the Project continues to support our children,” she said.
Throughout the years, the project’s orchestral programmes have achieved national prominence. Winning the Ministry of Education Western Music competitions for recorder and orchestra, showcasing special performances at music festivals around the country and being featured on BBC are noteworthy milestones.
In recognition of Music Project’s demonstrated use of the positive power of music education, many organisations continually support its cause. The Yamaha Project, spearheaded by both Yamaha and the Music Project promote an island-wide Recorder programme, spreading music across Sri Lanka. Yamaha donates 100 recorders monthly while the Music Projects conducts teacher training, and equip teachers with an educational pack.
JICA supports the Project through long-term residential music teachers who teach specialist instruments. They also regularly donate musical instruments through their ‘Smiles for All’ initiative.
UNICEF and Plan International have also assisted through pilot programmes on music for social cohesion. A dedicated UNV assists the programme working on youth in leadership, engaging and empowering them as peace-building agents of change. The programme has focused on encouraging children to think about the community, their identity as united citizens of Sri Lanka and to think critically about the Sri Lanka which is their future.
Musicians Without Borders, Japan (via JICA) support the project through special workshops and musical instruments. The Music Project has also partnered with ‘Beyond Skin’ of Northern Ireland on a parallel versing project sponsored by The Esufally Family Foundation, to develop an understanding of sectarianism.
2019 දී ශක්තිමත්වූ ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු සංගමය සහ ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති ආයතනික එකමුතුව
ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගම සහ ශ්රී ලංකා ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු සංගමය (Society of Structural Engineers of Sri Lanka) අතර පවතින ආයතනික සහයෝගිතාවය 2019 වසරේදී වඩාත් සවිමත් කරවීමට හැකිව තිබේ. ව්යුහාත්මක සහ සිවිල් ඉංජිනේරු ක්ෂේත්රවල විෂයානුබද්ධ සියලු අංශ නියෝජනය කරන වෘත්තියවේදීන් වෙනුවෙන් විශේෂ වැඩසටහන් පවත්වමින්, ඉදිකිරීම් කර්මාන්තයේ වෘත්තීමය හා සේවා විශේෂඥතාවය දියුණු කිරීම සඳහා සංගමය විසින් ඉටුකරන විශේෂ …
ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගම සහ ශ්රී ලංකා ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු සංගමය (Society of Structural Engineers of Sri Lanka) අතර පවතින ආයතනික සහයෝගිතාවය 2019 වසරේදී වඩාත් සවිමත් කරවීමට හැකිව තිබේ. ව්යුහාත්මක සහ සිවිල් ඉංජිනේරු ක්ෂේත්රවල විෂයානුබද්ධ සියලු අංශ නියෝජනය කරන වෘත්තියවේදීන් වෙනුවෙන් විශේෂ වැඩසටහන් පවත්වමින්, ඉදිකිරීම් කර්මාන්තයේ වෘත්තීමය හා සේවා විශේෂඥතාවය දියුණු කිරීම සඳහා සංගමය විසින් ඉටුකරන විශේෂ කාර්යභාරයට වසර ගණනාවක් පුරා ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගම අත්වැල සපයයි. මෙම අනුග්රාහක එකමුතුවෙන් පසුගිය වසරේ සංවිධානය කරනලද, ඉංජිනේරු තාක්ෂණික දැනුම සහ නව අත්දැකීම් හුවමාරු කරගැනීමේ වැඩසටහන් රැසක් තුලින්, ඉදිකිරීම් ක්ෂේත්රයේ ප්රගමනය වෙනුවෙන් ආයතන දෙකේම ඇති කැපවීම වඩාත් ඉස්මතුවිනි.
ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගමේ අනුග්රහය ඇතිව පවත්වන ලද මාසික “Question Time” සම්මන්ත්රණ මාලාවට මින් ප්රධාන ස්ථානයක් හිමිවිය. 2019 පැවති මෙම සම්මන්ත්රණ හතරකට සිය දායකත්වය සපයමින්, ඉදිකිරීම් ක්ෂේත්රයේ වැඩියෙන්ම කතාබහට ලක්වන මාතෘකා රැසක් පිළිබඳ විද්වත් කතිකාවක් ඇතිකිරීමට ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමුහයට හැකිවිය.
ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගම සහ ශ්රී ලංකා ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු සංගමය අතර පවතින දිගුකාලීන ආයතනික සබැඳියාවේ වැදගත් සන්ධිස්ථානයක් සටහන් කරමින්, එම සංගමයේ 2019 වාර්ෂික සම්මේලනය සඳහා පූර්ණ අනුග්රහකත්වය සමාගම විසින් සපයනු ලැබීය. මෙම වාර්ෂික සම්මන්ත්රණයේ මූඛ්යදේශනය පැවැත්වීම සඳහා ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමාගමේ ඇරියුමෙන් මෙරටට පැමිණි ජපානයේ හෝකයිදෝ විශ්වවිද්යාලයේ ඉංජිනේරු පීඨයේ මහාචාර්ය මයිකල් හෙන්රි මහතාගේ දේශනයට සහභාගිවූ සියල්ලන්ගේ ඉහළ ප්රතිචාර හිමිවිය. ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු ක්ෂේත්රයේ ප්රවීණයන්, වෘත්තීයවේදීන් හා සියලුම විශ්වවිද්යාල නියෝජනය කරන ඉංජිනේරු සිසුන්ට, දැනුම සහ ප්රයෝගික අත්දැකීම් බෙදාගැනීමට මෙම වාර්ෂික ඉංජිනේරු තාක්ෂණික සම්මන්ත්රණය වැදගත් පිටිවහලක් සපයයි.
රටේ දැවැන්ත සංවර්ධන ව්යාපෘතීන් සඳහා උපදේශන සේවා සපයමින් ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ඉදිකිරීම් ක්ෂේත්රයේ ප්රගමනයට අනූපමේය සේවාවක් ලබා දෙන ව්යුහාත්මක ඉංජිනේරු සංගමය, ගොඩනැගිලි කර්මාන්තයේ ප්රවර්ධනය උදෙසා ප්රමුඛතම මෙහෙයක් ඉටු කරයි. අප රට මේ වන විට යොමුව සිටින වේගවත් සංවර්ධනයේ අති සුවිශේෂී කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කරන ඉංජිනේරුවන්ට, සිය අදහස් හුවමාරු කර ගැනීමට අවස්ථාව සලසන මෙවන් ආයතනික සහයෝගීතාවයන් හරහා අපගේ ඉදිකිරීම් සහ ඉංජිනේරු ක්ෂේත්රයේ ප්රගමනයට නව පන්නරයක් ලබාදීම ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමූහයේ අභිප්රායයි. මින් ඉදිරියටත් ලොව ඉහළතම තාක්ෂණික දැනුම අපේ වෘත්තියවේදීන් සමග බෙදාගනිමින්, අප රටේ සංවර්ධනයට ශක්තිමත් අඩිතාලමක් ගොඩනැංවීමේ ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති සමුහයේ පොරොන්දුව ඉටු කිරීමට සමාගම නිරතුරුව කැපවී සිටී.
