FEATURED NEWS

Prof. (Eng.) R. L. H. Lalith Rajapakse of the Department of Civil Engineering, Centre Chairman/Director of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Water Resources Management in South Asia at the University of Moratuwa, represented Sri Lanka at the 32nd Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrologic Program (IHP) Regional Steering Committee for Asia and the Pacific (RSC-AP) held from 21st to 23rd October 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event was organized by the IHP and Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), and brought together representatives from UNESCO Water Family institutions, IHP National Committees, and regional experts to discuss advances in water science, management, and climate resilience. Prof. Rajapakse presented Sri Lanka’s Country Report, the UMCSAWM Annual Report, and the UNESCO Chair Report, and participated in plenary sessions contributing to the regional discussion on IHP-IX Strategic Plan (2022-2029), which identifies key water priority areas to support Member States to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also met with officials from the National Centre for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI), Vietnam to explore collaborations in hydrological data management, groundwater monitoring, and climate adaptation. The visit was expected to strengthen UMCSAWM’s global partnerships and benefit Sri Lanka’s national water sector.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa successfully organized a series of educational field visits for first-year fresh civil engineering students as part of their introductory exposure to real-world engineering applications. The students first visited the Lanka Hydraulics Institute (LHI), where they gained valuable insights into the field of hydraulic and coastal engineering. LHI operates a modern, state-of-the-art hydraulics laboratory with advanced technical and IT support, providing specialized services in physical and numerical modelling, and field investigations for both national and international projects. The visit offered students a firsthand look at how engineering principles are applied to address complex coastal and hydraulic challenges. In addition, the students visited the Central Expressway Project construction site, one of Sri Lanka’s major ongoing infrastructure developments. The visit provided them with an understanding of large-scale project management, construction techniques, and quality control practices involved in expressway construction. It also highlighted the importance of sustainable and safe engineering practices in modern transportation infrastructure. These field visits served as an inspiring introduction to the diverse disciplines within civil engineering, encouraging students to connect classroom concepts with real-world applications and to appreciate the impact of their future profession on national development.

The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM), University of Moratuwa, in collaboration with the Southern Provincial Irrigation Department (SPID), successfully conducted a Four-Day Training Workshop on Irrigation Engineering, Hydraulics, and Hydrological Modelling Systems for Water Resources Management. The workshop was conducted by the UMCSAWM and Department of Civil Engineering academic staff on 11th, 12th, 18th, and 19th September 2025 at the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM) and Outdoor Urban Drainage and Irrigation Demonstration Facility, University of Moratuwa. The program aimed to enhance the knowledge and technical skills of engineers and technical officers in irrigation practices, water management, and modelling applications. The four-day workshop covered a comprehensive range of topics from the fundamentals of irrigation, water demand estimation, and soil-water balance to practical training in hydraulics, canal flow, and discharge measurement, progressing to advanced sessions on rainfall-runoff modelling with HEC-HMS and reservoir routing and flood risk assessment using HEC-RAS. These sessions collectively strengthened participants’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills in integrated modelling and sustainable water management. The workshop concluded with a certificate ceremony, recognizing participants’ engagement and contribution to advancing regional water management capacity.

Professor Ananda Jayawardane, a Senior Professor in Civil Engineering and a past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa, has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Prime Lands Residencies PLC with effect from 4th September 2025. Professor Jayawardane is an outstanding academic leader and a corporate personality with extensive experience and expertise in corporate governance in public institutions and private corporations in construction, banking, finance, manufacturing, insurance, IT, education, and science & technology. He was the Chairman of the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC and successfully led the Bank during the most challenging times and retired in April 2024 after serving nine years on its Board of Directors. He brings in expertise in corporate governance, strategy, risks, talent management, technology management, project management and ESG. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of HNB Assurance PLC and Mother Lanka Foundation and serves as a member of the Stakeholder Engagement Committee of the Central Bank and a member of the Corporate Governance Committee of Chartered Accountants (CA) Sri Lanka. Prof. Jayawardane’s extensive background in academia and industry is expected to contribute significantly to the strategic direction and governance of Prime Lands Residencies PLC.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa successfully organized a field visit to the Central Expressway Project – Section 1 at Meerigama on 22nd August 2025 for the Semester 5 undergraduates following the module CE 4343 – Construction Technology. This initiative provided an excellent opportunity for students to complement their classroom learning with direct exposure to a large-scale national infrastructure project. The programme was designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the scope and development of a national expressway, while enabling them to observe construction technologies, site safety practices, quality testing processes, and project management procedures in practice. Students also gained valuable insights into project coordination and documentation, which are essential components of expressway development. This practical exposure allowed them to connect theoretical concepts with the realities of the construction industry, reinforcing their learning through first-hand experience.

Professor H.R. Pasindu, one of the esteemed professors in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, has been appointed as a member of the Fuel Economy Standard Labeling Committee by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka.

Prof. Chinthaka Mallikarachchi, one of the esteemed professors in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, participated in the Emerging Spacecraft Structures Technology Summer Workshop at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA. This prestigious annual forum brings together leading international experts to explore breakthrough technologies and shape the future of spacecraft structures. Prof. Mallikarachchi’s continued service on the Spacecraft Structures Technical Committee of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) underscores his contributions to advancing global space research. His participation also enhances the University of Moratuwa’s visibility in the international aerospace community, strengthening its reputation as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation.

Prof. H.R. Pasindu, one of the esteemed professors in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, was appointed as the President of the Asian Pavement Engineering Society during the Annual General Meeting held on the 15th August 2025. The Asian Pavement Engineering Society (Asian-PES) is a non-profit organization that promotes the exchange of ideas, information and cooperation among pavement professionals in the Asia Pacific region. The society was formed to promote the exchange of ideas, information and cooperation among pavement professionals in the Asia Pacific region.

Prof. H.R.Pasindu, one of the esteemed professors in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, presented papers on 'Evaluating high risk road segments using Sri Lanka Accident Data Management System' and 'Headway distribution analysis for Expressways in Sri Lanka' at the 14th Asia Pacific Conference on Transport and the Environment held in Huangzhou, China. This year’s conference was hosted by Tsinghua University. He also presented at the Transportation Chairs Forum on the postgraduate degree programs and research in Transportation Engineering at Civil Engineering Department - University of Moratuwa. As a council member, he also attended the Asian Society for Emerging Transport Council Meeting held during the conference. APTE conference is a key event in the region for transportation researchers and the 2014 conference was hosted by Transportation Engineering Group - University of Moratuwa.

Ms. Chamika Wanasinghe from the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, has been awarded Second Place in the Vinoj Jayasundara Memorial Prize 2025 for Research Excellence. Her publication, titled “Multiscale Modelling and Explainable AI for Predicting Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fibre Woven Composites with Parametric Microscale and Mesoscale Configurations”, published in the journal Composite Structures, was recognised for its outstanding contribution to the fields of machine learning and lightweight composite materials. The study showcases innovative applications of artificial intelligence in advancing materials engineering, particularly in the analysis and design of carbon fibre composites. This research was carried out under the supervision of Dr. Sumudu Herath and Prof. Chinthaka Mallikarachchi.