LHI Expands to Meet Growing Demands in Coastal and Water Engineering with Office and Physical Modeling Facility Expansion
26th March 2025
Lanka Hydraulic Institute Ltd (LHI) is expanding its office premises to accommodate increasing administrative and operational demands. This expansion is a strategic part of the institute’s broader vision to enhance its engineering consultancy services in the coastal and water sectors. A central feature of this expansion is the construction of a new 2D physical modeling flume, which will complement the existing 2D and 3D physical modeling facilities at LHI’s renowned Hydraulics Laboratory.
The new flume, with dimensions of 1.5 meters in width, 2 meters in height, and 50 meters in length, is designed to meet the rising demand for 2D physical model studies from both local and international clients. This addition will significantly enhance LHI’s capabilities, enabling more precise, larger-scale modeling and expanding its potential for complex project applications.
The foundation stone for the building extension and new flume construction was ceremonially laid on 12th March 2025, by LHI’s CEO, Eng. Janaka Kurukulasuriya. The expansion will provide additional space for employees, boosting productivity and enhancing the overall quality of project outcomes. The new flume will support larger scaled modeling projects, such as those in the range of 1:10 to 1:15, marking a notable upgrade from the existing system, which currently features a 30-meter-long, 0.8-meter-wide, and 1-meter-deep flume.
Founded in 1984, Lanka Hydraulic Institute (LHI) has grown into a global leader in coastal and inland water engineering, completing over 600 consultancy projects worldwide. LHI’s international presence spans a diverse range of regions, including France, Belize, Oman, Iran, the UAE, South Korea, Brunei, Eritrea, Algeria, Mauritius, Rwanda, Reunion Island, Senegal, Liberia, and 35 projects across South Asia, including India, the Maldives, and Bhutan.
LHI boasts the most advanced hydraulics laboratory in the Indian Ocean region, equipped with both a 2D wave flume and a 3D wave basin. Over the past four decades, LHI has successfully completed more than hundred 2D and 3D physical modeling projects, further establishing its leadership in the field. With this expansion, LHI is primed to enhance its physical modeling capabilities, providing cutting-edge solutions and ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality consultancy services to clients around the globe.