Sri Lankan engineer awarded by the UN for anti-flooding system

Nadeesha Chandrasena has received the Global Award for Intellectual Property (WIPO) for her ‘Smart Drain’, an anti-clogging drainage system that prevents urban flooding. The device is patented and can be monitored in real time, overcoming the problem of drainage channels clogged with waste in large cities. The award is a source of pride for the country and its women's movements.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena, a female engineer from Sri Lanka, has been awarded for her Smart Drain, an innovative rainwater drainage system, by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that celebrates innovation and creativity driven by intellectual property.

The news was received with great pride in Colombo: Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met her personally on Monday in Colombo to congratulate her. The Smart Drain—the Sri Lankan engineer's project selected in Geneva as one of the 10 winners of the 2025 Global Awards—is a clog-resistant drainage system designed to prevent urban flooding, even when traditional drainage is blocked by debris.

Thanks to a double-layer design, it captures solid substances such as plastic and allows rainwater to pass through unimpeded. The system allows real-time monitoring of water levels, enabling municipal officials to take effective measures against flood threats.

Over 780 organizations from 95 countries have chosen Smart Drain, appreciating the scalability of the device, which addresses the effects of climate change in highly populated urban areas. Expressing her delight at the award, Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena said that the recognition highlights local innovation that addresses global challenges.

The Global Award for Intellectual Property (WIPO) offers winners global visibility, professional guidance, and assistance in using intellectual property to expand their businesses on a global scale. This opportunity could lead to wider large-scale deployment of the award-winning device.

Nadeesha Chandrasena had already won another award for the world's best engineering invention, beating a team from a world-renowned company such as Tesla, which had access to cutting-edge technologies. Chandrasena was an officer in the Sri Lankan army, a journalist for a newspaper, and a consultant for the Land Reclamation Corporation. There were times when her skills did not find the space they deserved, and she eventually moved to Australia.

Every time she received an award, she always reiterated: “This belongs to my people who were born thanks to free education and healthcare in my country.” She added: “This victory is not only a recognition of our work, but a testament to the innovative potential of Sri Lankan engineers and scientists in solving real-world problems.”

AsiaNews has collected some comments from citizens.

“The doctor is an intelligent woman who has once again made Sri Lanka a world leader. We are proud of her. We thank her for making us proud as a country and as women before the world,” was the first. “Women like her are a great light for our country and for the whole world. She has shown us that as a woman and as a mother, she can achieve her dreams alongside her responsibilities.”

Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena also represents “the best example of how every woman can be a role model for the world if she believes in her abilities and works hard, because, whatever barriers she has faced in her life, she has not given up on her determination,” said the Movement of Christian Women's Voice (MoCWV). “We therefore congratulate her and wish her continued strength of will and openness to further innovation.”

• Sri Lanka
• Nadeesha Chandrasena
• Smart Drain
• WIPO
• drainage
• technology
• UN
• environment