Sri Lanka joins IEC

Following the membership of Nigeria last February, the IEC welcomed Sri Lanka as its 67th Member (Associate) in March 2006. IEC’s family now numbers 135 in total.

Located in the Indian Ocean off the south-eastern shores of India (about 30km), the island of Sri Lanka currently has a population of 19 million.

The country produces rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts, milk, eggs, hides and beef. Its main industries include rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles and tobacco.

According to the Sri Lanka National Committee’s President, Indra J. Dayawansa, Sri Lanka was keen to join the IEC for several reasons. These include the possibility to have quick access to IEC standards, all updates and other relevant information on electrotechnology, which should contribute to assist the local industry more efficiently.

Through its IEC membership, Sri Lanka also wishes to:

• Ensure valid measurement practices;
• Improve Sri Lankan infrastructure facilities for testing;
• Make IEC standards available to local industry;
• Enhance the safety and quality performance of locally manufactured electrical and electronic products, which are used by the general public in Sri Lanka ; and
• Facilitate exports and imports, by maintaining international standards on product quality, safety and performance.

In 2003, Sri Lanka produced about 8 billion kWh of electricity (latest year for figures).

Co-ordinates for the new Associate Member are:
Sri Lanka National Committee of the IEC
SRI LANKA STANDARDS INSTITUTION
N°17, Victoria Place
Elvitigala Mawatha
COLOMBO-08
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 267 1567-72
Fax: +94 11 267 1579
Email: slsi@slsi.slt.lk
Web: http://www.nsf.ac.lk/

(April 2006)

Slovenia to celebrate IEC's "electric century"

The Slovenian National Committee of the IEC (SIST) is organizing a special IEC centenary event at the Domina Royal Media Hotel & Casino in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 30 May 2006.

Special guest speakers include IEC President Renzo Tani and the Slovenian Minister of the Economy, Andrej Vizjak. Other guests, include SIST Council members, and others from industry, governmental institutions, educational organizations, universities, IEC Conformity Assessment Board members and testing laboratories.

The programme of this special centenary event can be accessed here.

For any other inquiries, please contact Mr. Saso Bovcon who is the Slovenian NC's Project Manager for Legal Affairs and Person in charge of Public Relations.

(April 2006)

WSC in action

The full World Standards Cooperation team meets under the chairmanship of IEC President Renzo Tani (fourth from left) in the Lord Kelvin Room at IEC headquarters in Geneva in on 10 February 2006.

Here is what the WSC looks like in action as IEC General Secretary Aharon Amit (left), ITU-T Director Houlin Zhao (centre) and ISO Secretary - General Alan Bryden (right) meet in coordinate an action plan Geneva in on 16 February 2006 following the preceding week ’s full WSC meeting.

(April 2006)

Deadline to register for ACOS' workshop on IEC safety standards extended

The registration and accommodation deadline to register for IEC's IEC Advisory Committee on Safety's (ACOS) workshop has been extended to 21 April 2006 from 5 April. Scheduled to take place in Beijing, China, from 22-23 May 2006, the workshop is to focus on IEC safety standards in support of regulatory requirements.

The event is open to the public and a final programme along with registration/accommodation forms are now available.

For any other questions regarding this event, please contact IEC Standards Development Manager, Michael Casson.