Eng. M Musthaffa Aliyar

Bio-Data as submitted & certified by the candidate

Eng. M. Musthaffa Aliyar is a distinguished professional in the field of engineering and management, with over three decades of experience spanning academia, research, and leadership in the energy sector. He earned his B.Sc. Engineering Degree with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from the University of Peradeniya in 1993, where his exceptional academic performance was recognized with the “W. M. G. Fernando Prize for Electronic Communications”, awarded for the best performance in the final examination. He subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, in 2007, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management Studies at the Faculty of Finance and Management, University of Colombo.

Eng. Aliyar became a Member of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) in 1996, and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), United Kingdom, in 1996. In recognition of his professional excellence and contributions to the field, he was elevated to the prestigious rank of Fellow of the IESL and recognized as an International Professional Engineer in 2023. He has been an active and dedicated contributor to the Institution, serving on several important committees, including the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Sectional Committee, the Power and Energy Sector Committee, and the Education, CPD, F&P, and PSM Committees.

His academic and research pursuits reflect a strong commitment to advancing knowledge in engineering and organizational management. He has presented and published several papers at reputed national and international conferences, including:

• From Intermittency to Innovation: A Case Study on Sri Lankan Utility Approaches to Renewable Energy Integration. Volume-13 Issue-2, February 2026, ISSN: 2319-9598 (Online), Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP).

• “Cultures of Public Sector Organizations: A Sri Lankan Case” – 11th International Research Conference on Management and Finance

• “Performance Management Practices: Towards Future Research in Public Sector Organizations in Sri Lanka” – Annual Research Symposium, University of Colombo

• “Performance Measurement Practices of Public Sector Organizations: A Sri Lankan Case” – PhD Colloquium, University of Colombo

• “Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment of Middle-Level Managers of Ceylon Electricity Board” – MBA Research, PIM

In addition, Eng. Aliyar has authored a series of insightful articles in the Sri Lanka Engineering News of the IESL, addressing diverse themes such as Emotional Intelligence (2011), Greenhouse Gases (2012), and Transformer and Dissolved Gas Analyzer (2013).

He commenced his professional career in 1993 as a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya. The following year, he joined the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) as an Area Electrical Engineer, marking the beginning of a long and distinguished tenure in Sri Lanka’s power sector. Between 1998 and 2000, he served as a Lecturer at the Centre for Instructor and Advanced Skill Training (CIAST) in Malaysia during a period of no-pay leave, contributing to technical education and training at an international level. Upon his return, he resumed service at CEB and has since held several senior positions, including Chief Engineer, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer demonstrating consistent leadership, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to organizational excellence.

Election Statement as submitted & certified by the candidate

My professional journey of over three decades spans teaching and utility management in Electrical Engineering across Sri Lanka and Malaysia, with expertise in Project and Asset Management, Condition Monitoring of High Voltage Equipment, Utility Regulation, Electricity Pricing, Corporate Strategy, Human Resource Management, Power Systems, Power Sector Reform, and Electricity Utility Management.

I have been associated with the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) since 1996. As a Supervising Electrical Engineer, I have been committed to mentoring young graduates and engineers and promoting professional excellence and integrity.

I have actively contributed to several IESL committees, including Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Power & Energy, Education, CPD, PA, and PSM, and served on numerous Professional Review Panels. I have also reviewed research papers, evaluated undergraduate projects for IESL competitions, and assessed organizations for the training of graduate engineers towards Corporate Membership.

If elected to the IESL Council, I will bring my extensive industry experience and academic perspective to strengthen IESL’s strategic, business-oriented, and globally relevant direction. I will advocate for members’ interests, promote professional pride and excellence, and encourage greater participation of graduate and student members, contributing to a dynamic, progressive, and forward-looking engineering profession.