FEATURED NEWS

The Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, successfully hosted the Industry Networking Session 2025 on 23rd October 2025 from 6.00 p.m. onwards at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo. The event was organised as a follow-up to the Civil Engineering Research Symposium 2025 (CERS 2025), with the objective of fostering stronger collaboration between academia and the construction industry. The evening commenced with the launch of the brochure titled “Services and Contributions to Industry”, highlighting the Department’s extensive expertise, postgraduate and short course programmes, consultancy services, and research contributions to the civil engineering sector in Sri Lanka and beyond. A key feature of the event was an engaging panel discussion on strengthening industry-academia collaboration, which brought together leading professionals and academics to explore practical pathways for joint initiatives, innovation-driven partnerships, and capacity building for the future. The event also included an appreciation ceremony to recognise and thank the sponsors of CERS 2025 for their invaluable support in making the symposium a success. The formal proceedings were followed by a networking session and fellowship dinner, offering a vibrant platform for professionals and academics to exchange ideas, discuss emerging trends, and build meaningful connections that pave the way for future collaborations. The Industry Networking Session 2025 reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to bridging the gap between industry and academia, promoting research-driven solutions, and contributing to the sustainable development of Sri Lanka’s built environment.

The Transportation Engineering Division of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, had the pleasure of welcoming a team of delegates from Shandong University of Science and Technology. The visit provided a valuable platform to discuss potential collaborations, student exchange programs, and academic visits, with the shared goal of enhancing research and educational partnerships in the field of Transportation Engineering. Both institutions exchanged ideas on innovative approaches to transportation research and the role of academic collaboration in addressing global mobility challenges. The Division looks forward to continuing this dialogue and working together toward innovative and sustainable transportation solutions through strengthened international partnerships.

Dr. Luminda Gunawardhana delivered the keynote address at the World Rivers Day 2025 celebration organized by the Riverine Management Branch of the Irrigation Department. The event was held on 9th October 2025 at the Irrigation Department Main Auditorium, Colombo. His keynote, titled “Rivers in a Changing Climate: Harnessing Remote Sensing and Machine Learning for Sustainable Water Management,” highlighted the escalating challenges faced by river basins under climate change. Dr. Gunawardhana emphasized rising hydrological variability, more frequent extreme events, the importance of remote sensing in addressing data gaps, and the growing role of machine learning and integrated hydrological modelling in supporting evidence-based water resources planning. The event was attended by key officials, including Dr. (Eng.) Kithsiri Weligepolage, Additional Director General of Irrigation; Eng. Ajith Gunasekara, Director General of Irrigation; and Eng. Y.M.N.U. Buddhika, Director of Irrigation – Riverine Management, along with over 100 engineers and engineering assistants. Dr. Gunawardhana’s address underscored the need to blend advanced technologies with robust modelling tools to ensure sustainable river basin management in an era of rapid environmental change.

Civil Engineering Research Symposium (CERS) 2025, organized by the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, was held successfully on the 23rd of October 2025 at the Civil Engineering Auditorium. The symposium showcased the latest and novel research activities undertaken by undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Department. Dr. Moussa Baalbaki, Director of Products and Solutions Portfolio at INSEE Cement (Pvt) Ltd, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Herath Manthrithilake, Emeritus Scientist at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), attended as the Keynote Speaker. The symposium proceedings, produced as a book of abstracts, were published, which comprises the findings of the latest undergraduate research projects. The research showcased the advances in Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Engineering, and Transportation Engineering. A selected set of abstracts was presented by students at the symposium. A 3-Minute Thesis (3-MT) Challenge for postgraduate students was also organized in parallel, demonstrating their latest research achievements in a creative manner. The winners of the competition were announced at the symposium, and they were awarded certificates. As a special feature of CERS 2025, the Department of Civil Engineering formally recognised undergraduate and graduate students whose research work had been published as full-length, peer-reviewed articles in Q1 or Q2–ranked journals, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to promoting excellence in research and publication.

The UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM), University of Moratuwa, joined hands with the UNESCO Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies (UMSGET), Pondicherry University, India, and the South Asia Foundation (SAF) to successfully co-organize the First International Conference on Energy and Water for a Sustainable Environment (ICEWSE 2025). The conference was held on 30th September and 1st October 2025 at Pondicherry University, India. Under the theme “Sustainable Synergies: Advancing Energy and Water Solutions for a Resilient Future,” the event brought together over 120 academics, researchers, policymakers, and industry experts from the South Asia region and beyond to discuss innovations and integrated strategies for sustainable energy and water management. The event was graced by the presence of the SAF Principal Trustee, Madam France Marque, as the Guest of Honour, together with several other distinguished dignitaries and invited guests. ICEWSE 2025 featured keynote sessions, technical paper presentations, and interactive discussions led by esteemed scientists and professionals across South Asia. The UMCSAWM delegates, including faculty and postgraduate researchers, actively contributed through presentations and technical exchanges, and networking sessions. In the conference, academic partnerships between Sri Lanka and India were strengthened while reinforcing UMCSAWM’s commitment to advancing regional collaboration and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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.