Hasanga Keshan Dharmadasa, a PhD candidate from the Department of Building Economics, secured First Place as well as the People’s Choice Award at the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, conducted as part of the University of Moratuwa Research Week 2025 on 12th December 2025.
The final round of the competition featured five outstanding finalists, representing several leading universities in Sri Lanka. These finalists presented their PhD and MPhil research, demonstrating both academic rigor and the ability to communicate complex research ideas effectively to a broad audience within the three-minute format.
At the final round, Keshan presented his PhD research titled “A Data-Driven, Nationally Adaptable Tool for Strengthening Community Disaster Resilience.” The study introduces an index-based framework designed to assess and compare community disaster resilience across disaster-affected areas in Sri Lanka. By integrating multiple dimensions of resilience, the tool enables a systematic understanding of how different communities perform in the face of disasters and where targeted interventions are most needed.
Importantly, the proposed tool has strong practical relevance. It supports policymakers in evidence-based planning, assists practitioners in prioritising disaster risk reduction strategies, and provides investors and development partners with a reliable basis for informed decision-making. Winning both the jury award and the People’s Choice Award reflects the academic quality, societal relevance, and clarity of communication, highlighting the commitment to impactful, nationally relevant research by the candidate and the team.
