From Intern to Industry Pioneer: A Proud Milestone for Vibhawa and Women in Engineering
We are delighted to share that Malki Madapatha, Assistant Manager – Testing & QA, has officially been certified as a Level 2 Infrared Thermographer. This makes her Sri Lanka’s first female Level 2 thermographer — a personal milestone for Malki, and a significant one for the industry as a whole.
A Milestone for Sri Lankan Engineering
Malki’s journey reflects what we stand for at Vibhawa. She started her career with us as an intern and grew through dedication, curiosity, and hands-on field experience into a specialist in one of the most technical and niche disciplines in electrical engineering. Today she stands among a rare group of professionals globally with advanced thermography credentials, and as one of the first women in Sri Lanka to reach this level, she represents a powerful step forward for women in engineering and STEM.
What Level 2 Thermographer Certification Means
Level 2 is not an entry-level qualification. Malki’s certification is issued by IRISS, a globally recognised training authority whose Level 2 (CAT 2) programme is designed to meet and exceed ISO 18436 Part 7 and ANSI/ASNT CP-105 and CP-189 recommended practices — the international standards that govern condition monitoring and non-destructive testing personnel.
Reaching Level 2 is demanding by design. Candidates must already hold a current Level 1 certification and demonstrate at least 420 hours of documented field experience in infrared thermography before they are eligible to take the course. The Level 2 programme itself covers advanced infrared theory, equipment calibration, error source identification, quantitative report generation, and the assignment of repair priorities based on thermal severity. Certification is granted only after successful completion of the course, a written exam, and a field assignment.
In practice, a Level 2 thermographer in Sri Lanka — or anywhere — is qualified to lead inspections independently, interpret quantitative thermal data rather than just spot patterns, provide technical direction to Level 1 personnel, and generate the kind of engineering reports that insurance companies, plant owners, and certifying authorities can act on.
Why This Matters for Industrial and Commercial Facilities
Infrared thermography is a non-contact, non-destructive technique for identifying hidden electrical faults — loose connections, overloaded conductors, failing breakers, deteriorating insulation — before they cause downtime, fires, or equipment loss. For data centres, hospitals, hotels, manufacturing plants, and critical infrastructure, a routine thermal inspection programme is one of the highest-return preventive maintenance investments available.
The quality of a thermography survey, however, depends almost entirely on the thermographer behind the camera. A Level 1 operator can flag anomalies. A Level 2 thermographer can quantify them, prioritise them, and produce reports that engineering teams and insurers will rely on. That is the difference Malki’s certification makes for our clients.
Vibhawa’s Thermography Capability
With this certification, Vibhawa continues to be the only company in Sri Lanka with both Level 3 and Level 2 certified thermographers in-house. Our thermography team operates under ISO 9001:2015 quality management (SGS/UKAS certified) and delivers infrared thermography services across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, supporting our broader electrical testing and commissioning capability.
Where Our Thermographers Have Worked
Malki and our wider thermography team have delivered surveys not only across Sri Lankan industrial and commercial sites but also on international projects, including resort properties in the Maldives such as Cheval Blanc Randheli. This combination of local depth and overseas project exposure is what allows us to serve clients with high-stakes assets and tight reliability requirements.
Inspiring the Next Generation
More than anything, we hope Malki’s achievement encourages more young women in Sri Lanka to step into engineering and pursue specialised technical careers with confidence. At Vibhawa we don’t just practice thermography — we are committed to sharing knowledge, building expertise, and shaping the future of the industry through upcoming training and learning initiatives.
If you would like to discuss a thermography survey for your facility, or learn more about our testing capability, please get in touch with our team.
