Research

Collaborators

We have conducted our research in collaboration with researchers/scientists from the following institutions:

  • Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, USA
  • Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, USA
  • Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Bangladesh
  • Banaras Hindu University, India
  • Alternate Energy and Water Resources Institute, National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Pakistan
  • Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)
  • Dilmah Climate Change Research Centre – Queensberry Estate, Nawalapitiya Sri Lanka
  • National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Kandy, Sri Lanka
  • University of Sri Jayawardenpura, Sri Lanka
  • University of Peradeniya (Faculty of Engineering), Sri Lanka
  • Rice Research Development Institute, Sri Lanka
  • Tea Research Institute, Sri Lanka
  • Regional Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka
  • National Building Research Organization

Ongoing projects

PhD research:

  • Application of anaerobic digestion for the treatment of poultry processing wastewater and estimation of its potential for global warming due to methane (CH4) emission (by W.R.L. Wijesekera, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo; since 2017; Ongoing)
  • Effectiveness of Organic farming involving Good Agricultural Practices in Adapting to Climate change in Sri Lankan Tea Smallholdings (by M.V.Iresha Sanjeewanie, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo; since 2018; Ongoing)
  • Analysis of how behavioural modifications through meditation and mindfulness could promote connectedness to nature and climate change mitigation (by EASK Somarathne; Ongoing)

MPhil research:

  • Assessment of climatic and socioeconomic benefits of converting degraded tea land in Sri Lanka to timber plantations (by Rotawewa,Bandara since 2017; ongoing and to be continued to PhD)
  • Climate and other benefits associated with the salinity management practices used in coastal paddy areas (by Archana Vathani; since 2017; Ongoing)

MSc research:

 

Undergraduate research:

  • The impacts of the economic crisis on green practices and emissions from selected apparel industry factories in Sri Lanka (by D. M. T. S. Dissanayake)
  • Sustainability measures under implementation of SDGs 12 and 13 by selected regional plantation companies in Sri Lanka. (by H. D. W. Jayawaredene)

Completed projects

Postgraduate research:

  • Estimation of carbon fluxes for the South Asian region using Maximum Likelihood Ensemble Filter (MLEF) (by M.P. Perera, University of Sri Jayewardenepura; Co-Supervisor; completed in 2021;PhD)
  • Assessment of the life cycle carbon footprints of main agricultural export products of Sri Lanka for macro level decision support in relation to climate change (by Jagathdeva Vidanagama ; completed in 2020; PhD)
  • Study of the pollution at selected locations of beach in Galle District, Sri Lanka (by D. Samaranayake; completed in 2020; MSc in Environmental Science)
  • Electronic waste recycling in Sri Lanka: Case study in Biyagama Export Processing Zone (by SNBGNC Kumari; Completed in 2018; MSc in Environmental Management)
  • Solid waste management of large scale tire manufacturing companies: Case study of Camso Loadstar (PVT) Ltd (by WDAP Piyadasa; Completed in 2018; MSc in Environmental Management)
  • An estimation of traffic related CO2emissions at two urban junctions of Sri Lanka (by Balachandran; completed in 2018; MSc in Environmental Science)
  • Using insects as indicators of environmental health: Applications with Tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) of Sri Lanka (by Agasthya Thotagamuwa; Co-Supervisor since 2014; Completed in 2018; PhD)
  • Analysis of climate impacts on cashew yield in Sri Lanka (by BAN Balasuriya; completed in 2014; Msc in Environmental Science)
  • An investigation of mangrove distribution pattern and associated factors in selected localities along Matara – Galle coastal belt (by W.A.C. Pradeep; Completed in 2014; MSc in Environmental Science).

Undergraduate (BSc (Special)) research:

  • Assessment of the spatial variability of UHI effect in Colombo Metropolitan Area, Western Province, Sri Lanka (By Pasan Withana, completed in 2022)
  • Life cycle assessment of conventionally and organically grown pineapples in Gampaha District (By Amritha Gunawardena, completed in 2022)
  • Estimation of aboveground and belowground carbon stocks of low country wet zone home gardens of Sri Lanka – A case study in Kalutara District (By Dilmi Mapatuna, completed in 2022)
  • Assessing the impacts of climate change on culture-based fisheries in perennial minor reservoirs of Anuradhapura and Ampara districts within the last decade; 2011-2019 (by Samadhi Chandrarathne, completed in 2021)
  • An analysis of Temperature and Precipitation in Colombo and Nuwara Eliya Districts  during the past 31 years; 1989-2019 (by Nuwanthi Nissanka, completed in 2021)
  • Forecasting and time series analysis of air pollutants in Colombo city and relationship with meteorological variables (by Anusha Jegathesan, completed in 2021)
  • Impact of COVID -19 pandemic on air pollution and energy related green house gas emissions in Colombo district, Sri Lanka 2010-2020 (by Piumi Jayalath, completed in 2021)
  • Estimation of blue carbon stock in tidal salt marshes in northwest coast, Sri Lanka. “A case study in Vidataltivu Nature Reserve” (by Nipuni Perera, completed in 2021)
  • Carbon sequestration in rubber plantations of the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka (by Kavisha Mudalige (2019))
  • Assesment of the impact of weather  patterns on tea productivity  in selected  locations of  Sri Lanka (by K.M.C.D. Perera (2018))
  • Above Ground Carbon Stock Estimation of Urban Wetlands in Colombo (by D.D.T.L Dayathilake (2018))
  • Study of salinity levels and impact of salt water intrusion in coastal paddy areas of wet zone of Sri Lanka (by KN Opatha (2018))
  • Rainfall Intensity-Duration Thresholds for Landslides in Matara District (by Palindi Kalubowila (2018 ))
  • Impacts of Climate Change on paddy yields and fate of rice residues in Wet, Dry and Intermediate zones of Sri Lanka (by Sanduni Kanchana Somarathne (2017))
  • Ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation as a drought index and its impacts on rubber latex yield in Sri Lanka (by Dulsha Wijeratne (2017))
  • Assessing the sustainability and the effectiveness of the existing solid waste management regulations and practices in the Colombo municipality (by Shemaya Fernando (2017))
  • Impacts of Climate Change on paddy yields and fate of rice residues in Wet, Dry and Intermediate zones of Sri Lanka (by Sanduni Kanchana Somarathne (2017))
  • Ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation as a drought index and its impacts on rubber latex yield in Sri Lanka (by Dulsha Wijeratne (2017))
  • Assessment of the impact of extreme weather events on coconut (Cocos nucifera) production at selected locations within major climatic zones of Sri Lanka (by Charuni Pathmeswaran (2016))
  • Evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of three selected textile factories in biyagama export processing zone (by Shyamika Shivanthi (2016))
  • Topographical effects on soil carbon in a high grown tea plantation of Nawalapitiya (by Kavindya Kosvinna (2015))