FEATURED NEWS

The highly anticipated annual entertainment event, “Civil Padura 2026” was successfully held at the Civil Engineering Department premises on the 23rd of February, 2026. This event was organized by the Civil Engineering Society (CES) under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Prof. Udeni Nawagamuwa and also with the leadership from the Civil 2021 Batch. The event commenced at 6.00 p.m. with the ceremonial lighting of the traditional oil lamp, setting the tone for an evening filled with excitement and vibrant energy. The event drew a lively crowd comprising academic/non-academic staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Civil Engineering Department. The venue was decorated with colourful arrangements, creating a festive atmosphere that warmly welcomed the audience. The evening featured a captivating blend of performances, showcasing not only musical talents but also an engaging drama and energetic dance acts. Each performance reflected the creativity and passion of the undergraduates, making the evening both diverse and memorable. The overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from students across various departments reflected the event’s tremendous success. As the evening drew to a close, “Civil Padura 2026” once again left behind cherished memories and a lasting impression on all who attended the event.

The Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, successfully organized a Workshop on Curriculum Reforms and Accreditation Requirements for the BSc Civil Engineering Programme, followed by the annual Staff Retreat 2025/2026, as part of its continuous efforts to enhance academic quality and programme development. The workshop focused on key areas such as modernization of the curriculum, incorporation of modern tools into teaching, Programme Outcome (PO) mapping, and evaluation of Learning Outcome (LO) attainment. The sessions were interactive and practice-oriented, enabling staff members to actively engage in discussions and group activities aligned with accreditation requirements. Building on these initiatives, the staff retreat provided a broader platform for re-imagining curriculum delivery and strengthening departmental strategies. The programme included group presentations on innovative teaching approaches, improvements to core modules, and strategies to attract high-calibre students to Civil Engineering, alongside discussions on ethics, quality, and future directions. The retreat fostered a strong sense of community, with staff members’ families in attendance and a range of activities organized to promote social harmony and team cohesion, thereby creating a well-balanced environment for both professional engagement and collaborative interaction.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa recently took another significant step toward strengthening the quality and global recognition of its undergraduate programme by focusing on outcome-based education and accreditation practices. On 29 January 2026, the Civil Engineering Department Accreditation and Compliance Committee invited Prof. J.P. Karunadasa to deliver a special lecture on “Guidelines for Evaluating LO–PO Attainment” to the academic staff. The session, held in the Civil Engineering Department Auditorium, emphasized systematic approaches to measuring how well students achieve intended learning outcomes (LOs) and programme outcomes (POs), key requirements in modern engineering education. Prof. Karunadasa highlighted that POs represent the essential competencies that engineering graduates must possess, including problem-solving, design skills, ethical practice, teamwork, and lifelong learning. Since direct measurement of such competencies is often challenging, he explained that internationally accepted indirect methods are used. These rely on well-structured LOs at the course level, careful mapping between LOs and POs, and robust assessment strategies. A key message of the session was the importance of aligning teaching, assessment, and evaluation. Each module must define clear, measurable LOs, which are then systematically linked to broader POs. The attainment of these outcomes is assessed through continuous assessments, laboratory work, and examinations, ensuring that every component contributes meaningfully to student learning. Prof. Karunadasa also stressed the role of continuous quality improvement. By analyzing student performance in relation to specific learning outcomes, academic staff can identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and demonstrate measurable improvements over time, an essential requirement for accreditation. This session forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to align with the standards of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Washington Accord, an international agreement that recognizes the substantial equivalence of engineering degree programme. Achieving and maintaining such accreditation ensures that graduates of the University of Moratuwa remain globally competitive and professionally competent. The initiative reflects the department’s strong commitment to academic excellence, accountability, and the continuous enhancement of engineering education in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Lalith Rajapakse and Dr. Luminda Gunawardhana of the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, participated as key speakers at Webinar 3 of the National Webinar Series titled “Climate Smart Sri Lanka: Awareness to Action.” The session, held on 11th February 2026, was hosted by Sri Lanka Technology Campus (SLTC) in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka. The theme of the webinar was “Climate Change, Risks, and Adaptation”. The webinar focused on moving from awareness to evidence-based adaptation, emphasizing that Sri Lanka’s climate resilience depends on integrating science, engineering, and policy. Prof. Lalith Rajapakse highlighted that climate adaptation is fundamentally about risk control within water resources management. He advocated for a shift toward Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and stressed the value of regional collaboration in South Asia, given shared monsoon systems and transboundary challenges. He also noted that increasing rainfall extremes demand a re-evaluation of conventional reservoir design and operational practices to ensure dam safety and long-term water security. He further emphasized that climate risk is not solely a function of changing hazards, but also of increasing exposure and vulnerability within rapidly urbanizing and infrastructure-intensive river basins. He highlighted the need to integrate hydro-climatic projections, AI-based forecasting tools, and scenario-based planning into water governance frameworks. Strengthening early warning systems, enhancing floodplain zoning, and adopting nature-based solutions were identified as critical adaptation pathways. He also underscored the importance of bridging science–policy gaps, promoting data sharing among organizations and across borders, and building institutional capacity to operationalize climate-resilient water management strategies in South Asia.

The Department Christmas Carols Program was held on the evening of 19th December at the Civil Engineering Auditorium. The event was organized by the students of Intake 24. The event was attended by the staff and the students of the Department, Rev. Sunil Weerasinghe, children and guardians from the homes of Diri Daru Piyasa-Maharagama. The event included a time of singing carols, led by the students of Intakes 23 and 24. Rev. Sunil Weerasinghe shared a short reflection on how the true meaning of Christmas is found in Jesus. The performances of the children from Diri Daru Piyasa-Maharagama was one of the highlights of the evening. As part of sharing the true spirit of Christmas, distribution of gifts to the children from these homes was carried out from the generous contributions of the staff and students of the Department.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, together with the Departments of Civil Engineering of the University of Peradeniya and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, actively contributed to a voluntary post-disaster damage assessment programme conducted from 9–11 December. This initiative was carried out in collaboration with the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, with the objective of supporting rapid and informed decision-making on the safe reopening of affected schools. As part of this national-level response, Civil engineering teams undertook detailed structural and geotechnical assessments of more than 60 school buildings across the Central Province. The assessments focused on identifying cyclone-induced damage, evaluating structural integrity, examining slope stability and foundation conditions, and determining the overall safety of school infrastructure. The findings were intended to assist authorities in prioritising remedial actions and ensuring the safety of students, teachers, and staff before resuming academic activities. The University of Moratuwa team was led by academic staff members Dr. Chathura Rajapaksha, Dr. Chamod Hettiarachchi, Dr. Nalaka Jayantha, and Dr. Sampath Hewage, supported by postgraduate research assistants and final-year undergraduate students. All members participated on a voluntary basis, demonstrating a strong commitment to professional service and community engagement. The teams covered a wide geographical area within the Central Province, including Kandy, Gampola, Hatton, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Ulapane, and several other affected and vulnerable locations. This initiative stands as a strong example of inter-university collaboration, effective engagement between academia and national institutions, and the civil engineering community’s dedication to providing timely, responsible, and socially impactful expertise during times of national need. The Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, remains committed to contributing its knowledge and skills in support of disaster resilience and public safety across Sri Lanka.

Students from the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, achieved outstanding success at the 16th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment 2025 (ICSBE 2025), held from 12–14 December 2025 in Kandy under the theme “Next-Generation Innovation & Advancement – Diamond 75.” Undergraduate and postgraduate students presented high-quality research on sustainable construction, climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction, earning several prestigious awards. The Best Scientific Paper Award in the special session on Advancing Sustainable Construction: Technologies, Materials, and Practices for a Greener Future was awarded to Ms. B.R.W.M.D. Thoradeniya, Prof. (Mrs.) C. Jayasinghe, and Dr. I.E. Ariyaratne. In the special session on Climate Risk Management and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation for a Resilient, Low-Carbon Future, the award was presented to Ms. W. D. Lakmini and Dr. G. M. C. A. Perera. The Best Scientific Paper Award in the session on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilient Infrastructure was awarded to Mr. W. K. S. D. Wijesinghe, Dr. G. M. C. A. Perera, and Dr. T. M. N. Wijayaratna. Additionally, the Best Presenter Award in the Special Session on Fire Safety Engineering in Sustainable Buildings was awarded to Ms. W.M.C.S. Wanasinghe, Dr. T.G.P.L. Weerasinghe, and Prof. M.T.R. Jayasinghe. These achievements reflect the high standard of research, innovation, and academic mentorship within the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, and reinforce its commitment to addressing contemporary challenges in the sustainable built environment.

During Academic Term 1, students of the 2024 Batch undertook an innovative multidisciplinary project titled “Project UoM 2035 – Engineering the Future”, designed to simulate a real-world campus planning and development exercise within an academic setting. As part of their continuous assessment, students worked in teams as professional consulting firms to reimagine the University of Moratuwa campus for the year 2035, with a focus on smart infrastructure, sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity. Conducted over eight weeks, the project covered key aspects of engineering practice, including campus mobility, structural innovation, green space design, infrastructure systems, construction planning, risk management, and ethical design. The project culminated in a final presentation where teams showcased comprehensive master plans using models, posters, and formal presentations. Assessment was based on continuous evaluation and a final presentation, with awards recognizing excellence in areas such as sustainability, inclusivity, and teamwork. The project enhanced students’ technical knowledge while strengthening teamwork, creativity, communication, and systems-thinking skills, demonstrating effective experiential learning aligned with real-world engineering challenges.

As part of a knowledge sharing lecture series aimed at strengthening final-year project preparedness, the Department of Civil Engineering successfully organized a guest lecture titled “Best Practice Guidelines for Advanced Finite Element Modelling” on 10th December 2025. The session was attended by undergraduate students, research assistants, and faculty members from the Departments of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science Engineering, reflecting the interdisciplinary relevance of the topic. The lecture was delivered by Associate Professor Damith Mohotti, a leading structural engineering researcher from the University of New South Wales. He serves as the Academic Lead of the National Facility for Physical Blast Simulation in Australia and is a leading researcher in blast- and impact-resistant structures and advanced computational modelling. The session focused on the growing importance of advanced finite element modelling (FEM) in analysing complex structural, material, and multi-physics engineering problems. Emphasizing that the reliability of FEM outcomes depends strongly on sound modelling practices, the speaker presented a structured framework for model development, verification, and validation. Drawing on his extensive hands-on experience with advanced simulation platforms such as LS-DYNA and ANSYS CFD, he enriched the lecture with practical insights and real-world examples.

The Department of Civil Engineering successfully hosted a guest lecture titled “Sustainability, Resilience, and Digital Transformation in Structural Engineering: Insights from ASCE COS 73” on 3rd December 2025, delivered by Ms. Radhi Majmudar, Founding Principal of Innovative Structural and Specialty Engineering (ISSE), and witnessed enthusiastic participation from postgraduate students and faculty members. Ms. Majmudar, a structural engineer with over thirty-five years of professional experience, shared valuable insights drawn from her extensive international portfolio spanning five continents. She introduced participants to Standard Practice for Sustainable Infrastructure, ASCE COS 73, the emerging performance-based sustainability standard that is redefining procurement language, engineering workflows, and long-term infrastructure planning across the United States and Europe. Emphasizing the need for outcome-driven design, she explained how COS 73 integrates sustainability, resilience, life-cycle performance, and systems thinking into contemporary engineering practice. The session concluded with an engaging interactive discussion that highlighted the critical importance of sustainability in the context of the recent cyclone-related catastrophe in Sri Lanka.