Articles

Prof. K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala assumed duties as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa on 3rd  September 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the leadership of the University. Prof. Hemapala is a distinguished academic, engineer, researcher and administrator with extensive experience in higher education and the energy sector. A Senior Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, he previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from October 2022 to September 2024 and as Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering from January 2021 to October 2022. He also served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Energy from September 2024 to April 2026.

What is iPrOTeCT ? The Global Health Research Group of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, UK (NIHR) on Physical Trauma from Injury and Post-Conflict (iPrOTeCT) is working to improve the care and rehabilitation of people affected by physical trauma, particularly in low-resource and post-conflict settings, through collaborative research, capacity strengthening, and context-appropriate healthcare innovations. The iPrOTeCT convention brings together academic institutions, clinicians, and researchers from the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, and Lebanon, forming a strong international and interdisciplinary partnership. The consortium is jointly led by Professor Anthony Bull of Imperial College London, Professor Ruwan Gopura of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Professor Abebe Bekele of the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, and Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. As iPrOTeCT approaches the final year of its program, the collaboration continues to advance research, strengthen capacity, and support the translation of research and innovation into meaningful improvements in trauma care and rehabilitation.

The University of Moratuwa is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Thanuja Sandanayake as the Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology from April 2026. Professor Thanuja Sandanayake is a senior academic attached to the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of the faculty, and has made significant contributions to teaching, research, academic administration, and student development throughout her career at the University. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Technololgy and has established a strong academic reputation in the areas of researh in Educational Technology, Organisational Behaviour, and Social Innovation.

The University of Moratuwa is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. (Mrs.) Dileeka Dias as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa with effect from 13 May 2026. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor from 26 January 2026, providing leadership and administrative guidance to the University.

The University of Moratuwa officially commenced its duties for the New Year on 1 January 2026, adhereing to the Public Administration Circular No. 34/2025 issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government. The ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the National Flag, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. Two minutes of silence were observed in remembrance of the members of the Tri-Forces and others who sacrificed their lives in service of the motherland. Subsequently, the academic, administrative, academic support, and non-academic staff of the University collectively participated in the reading of the Oath / Affirmation of the Public Service, reaffirming their commitment to integrity, dedication, efficiency and loyalty to the public. In his New Year address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. D. Gunawardena highlighted that, compared to other universities in Sri Lanka, the University of Moratuwa continues to experience exceptionally high demand across all Faculties, reflecting its strong reputation and national relevance. He emphasized that the primary responsibility of the University is producing of high-quality graduates, noting that at the most recent Convocation, more than 2,700 graduands received their first degrees, postgraduate degrees and diplomas including several PhDs.

The 46th General Convocation of the University of Moratuwa was held with great distinction at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) across six sessions on 17th and 18th December 2025. The ceremony was presided over by the Chancellor of the University, Professor Monte Cassim, in the presence of senior university officials, academic staff, invited guests, parents, and well-wishers.

The academic staff members of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Prof. Padma Amarasinghe, Prof. Mahinsasa Narayana, and Prof. Thilini Ariyadasa, received the President’s Awards for Scientific Research - 2025 for their exceptional excellence and outstanding scientific contributions. The official award ceremony was held on the 18th of December 2025 and was organized by the National Research Council of Sri Lanka.

Prof. Thilini Ariyadasa, from the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa, delivered invited talks on the theme of waste-integrated microalgae bioprocessing for resource recovery and sustainable biomass production at the International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology, Bioprocessing, and Structural Biology (ICABSB-2025), held from 11th-14th December 2025 at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India, and the 10th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environment Challenges (X-SEEC-2025), held from 15th-18th December 2025 at Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, India. The invited talks focused on recent advances in the utilisation of nutrient-rich waste streams, including industrial and agro-industrial wastewaters, for microalgal cultivation, and their role in enhancing microalgal biomass productivity within sustainable bioprocess frameworks. In addition, Prof. Ariyadasa also co-chaired technical sessions at the conferences.

Dr. Hiran Chathuranga from the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering was appointed as a Scientific Editor (External) for the Next Chemical Engineering Journal and the Next Bioengineering Journal in November 2025. These peer-reviewed, open-access journals publish cutting-edge research in the fields of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. They are part of the Next family, a suite of multidisciplinary open-access journals from Elsevier dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge across diverse disciplines.