- Faculty of Engineering
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Professor
Contact information
Univerity of Moratuwa
Katubadda
Moratuwa
Sri Lanka
Teaching and Administrative Activities
Soil Mechanics and Geology 1 -Undergraduate -2015
Soil Mechanics and Geology 2 -Undergraduate -2015
Geotechnical Design -Undergraduate -2015
Soil Mechanics -Undergraduate -2015
Responsible Citizenship -Undergraduate -2015
Histroy and Development of Engineering -Undergraduate -2015
Histroy and Development of Engineering -Undergraduate -2015
Environmental Geotechnics -Undergraduate -2015
Engineering Properties of Soil -Postgraduate -2016
Ground Improvement Techniques -Postgraduate -2016
Convenor -FAC (2014 To 2016)
Convenor -International Relations committee (2014 To 2016)
Workshop Chair -ERU smposium (2015 To 2015)
Coordinator-Survey Camp - Organzing the survey camp (2010 To 2020)
Coordinator- Mentoring Programme - Mentoring programme in the Civil Engineering Department (2012 To 2015)
Director - Planning and Rehabilitation - IN charge of the planning and rehabilitation work in the university (2020 To 2026)
Senior Treasurer - Buddhist Society (2012 To 2015)
Student Counselor - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa (2016 To 2020)
福利在线看 Advisor - Faculty of Engineering (2009 To 2015)
Coordinator-MEng/PG Diploma in Foundation Engineering and Earth Retaining Systems - Geotechnical Eng division (2009 To 2012)
Coordinator- Health and Safety - Department of Civil Engineering (2009 To 2011)
Secretary of the Civil Engineering Research Symposium - Department of Civil Engineering (2011 To 2014)
Coordinator- Career Guidance - Department of Civil Engineering (2008 To 2013)
Head - Geotechnical Eng Division - Geotechnical Eng Division (2019 To 2024)
Coordinator- Accreditation - Department of Civil Engineering (2019 To 2020)
Chairman - Infrastructure committee - 11th SLUG (2013 To 2013)
Master IN charge-Wrestling - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa (2013 To 2014)
Member - Master Plan Committee - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa (2010 To 2015)
Head - Department of Civil Engineering - In-charge of academic and administrative duties of the department (2024 To 2026)
Research Activities
Earth Retaining Structures
Ground Improvement Techniques
Development of Clay Liners using locally available
Use of Domestic and Industrial Wastes in Construct
UG/PG studies on Nature Based landslide mitigation UG studies on use on waste tyres in rail infastructure
Earth Retaining Structures, Ground Improvement Techniques, Geo-environmental Engineering, Use of Domestic and Industrial Wastes in Constructions, Development of Cricket Pitches, Landslide Studies
Education and Professional Affiliations
Bachelors, 福利在线看 of Moratuwa ,1999 BSc (Eng) Hons in Civil Engineering
Masters, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) ,2002 MEng in Geotechnical Engineering
PhD, Yokohama National 福利在线看 ,2005 Doctor of Engineering in Geotechnical Engineering
Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka(2008 To date)
International society of Soil Mechnaics and Geotechnical Engineering(2006 To date)
Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society(2005 To date)
Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science(2008 To date)
Career
Instructor (Jan 1999-Jan 2000) - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa
Research Assistant (Feb 2000-July 2000) - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa
Probationary Lecturer (Aug 2000- Sep 2005) - 福利在线看 of Ruhuna
Senior Lecturer (II) (Oct 2005- Sep 2007) - 福利在线看 of Ruhuna
Senior Lecturer (II) (Oct 2007- Sep 2013) - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa
Senior Lecturer (I) (Oct 2013- to date) - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa
Professor (July2019- to date) - 福利在线看 of Moratuwa
Honours and Awards
Appreciation of Outstanding Research Performances (Received 2015)
Appreciation of Outstanding Research Performances (Received 2016)
Best Paper Award ACEPS 2016 (Received 2016)
Winner of the National Mathematical Olympiad- (Received 1992)
Best Final Year Project - Geotechnical Engineering Division, 福利在线看 of Moratuwa (Received 1999)
Best Paper to represent Sri Lanka for IYGEC 2000- Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society (Received 2000)
EOE Pereira Award for the Best Technical Paper presented at IESL Annual Sessions (Received 2010)
Visiting Scholar at 福利在线看 of South Florida, USA (Received 2009)
Award for Appreciation of Outstanding Research Performances 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 by 福利在线看 of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Received 2015)
Best performance award Summer Training Course for Slope Land Disaster Risk Reduction conducted at National Taiwan 福利在线看, Taiwan (Received 2013)
Best Paper Award at the 4th International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS-2016), March 2016 (Received 2016)
Visiting Scholar at Vanderbilt 福利在线看, USA (Received 2017)
Endeavour Research Fellow, 福利在线看 of Wollongong, Australia from (Received 2018)
Editor - Sri Lanka Engineering News (2012-2016), Editor- SLGS (2006-2010) (Received 2016)
Publications*
Kaushalya, S., Pallewattha, M., Nawagamuwa, U. (2025). In: Rujikiatkamjorn, C., Xue, J., Indraratna, B. (eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics (ICTG) 2024, Volume 8. ICTG 2024. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 409. ,".Development of an Empirical Correlation for Root Water Uptake and Total Leaf Area of 芒鈧揂lstonia Macrophylla芒鈧� Using Potometer..",Springer, Singapore.,2024
1. Basnayake S., Arambepola N.M.S.I., Sugathapala K., Amaratunga D., Ganepola G.A.C., Nawagamuwa U.P.,".Policy Recommendations for Establishing a Long-Term Landslide Risk Management Strategy for Sri Lanka.",Springer, Cham,2021
2. G. A. Chinthaka Ganepola, Anurudda K. Karunarathna, P. G. N. N. Dayarathna, Udeni P. Nawagamuwa, Dhanushka Jayathilake, Lilanka Kankanamge, M. D. B. Perera, Senaka Basnayake, N. M. S. I. Arambepola,".Plant Selection Criterion for Nature-Based Landslide Risk Management..",Springer, Cham,2021
Sanjeewa, K.W.D., Nawagamuwa, U.P. (2026). Weathering-Induced Mineralogical Changes in Sri Lankan Hilly Terrain: Implications for Slope Stability and Sustainable Land Use. In: Hu, P., Nguyen, G., Leo, C., Wong, H., Liyanapathirana, S. (eds) . Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, . ,".Weathering-Induced Mineralogical Changes in Sri Lankan Hilly Terrain: Implications for Slope Stability and Sustainable Land Use.",3rd International Conference on Geomechanics and Geoenvironmental Engineering. iCGMGE 2025,Australia,2026,9_24
Kaushalya, S., Pallewattha, M., Nawagamuwa, U. ,".Development of an Empirical Correlation for Root Water Uptake and Total Leaf Area of 芒鈧揂lstonia Macrophylla芒鈧� Using Potometer..",he 5th International Conference on Transportation Geotechnics (ICTG) 2024, Volume 8. ICTG 2024.,Australia,2025,
Sanjeewa, K.W.D, Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Abeysiinghe, A.M.K.B. ,".Mineralogical Characteristics of Residual Formations and Parent Rocks in the Hilly Terrain of Sri Lanka A Case Study from Central Expressway (Section 3).",Transactions 2025, The Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,Sri Lanka,2025,
Nawagamuwa U.P., Dishan M. ,".Study on the Application of Nature Based Landslide Mitigation in Sri Lanka.",WLF 2020. ICL Contribution to Landslide Disaster Risk Reduction,Japan,2022,
Ganepola G.A.C., Nawagamuwa U.P., Karunarathna A.K., Basnayake S., Kankanamge L., Jayathilake D. ,".Site Suitability Analysis for Nature-Based Landslide Risk Mitigation. .",WLF 2020. ICL Contribution to Landslide Disaster Risk Reduction,Japan,2021,
Padmasri, D.L.W., Harshani, M.H.M., Ariyarathna, P.R.C., Karunawardena, W.A. and Nawagamuwa, U.P,".Importance of Site Investigation, Geotechnical Engineering Design, Instrumentation, Quality Control and Assurance for Deep Excavation.",Annual Sessions of IESL,Sri Lanka,2021,
Sanchitha Jayakody, Chandrasena, W.K.N, Reshan Ariyarathne, Nawagamuwa, U.P, Karunarathna, A.K, Asiri Karunawardane and Premasiri, H.D.S,".Design approaches in stability and environmental management of solid waste open dumping site: A case study of development of abandoned Meethotamulla waste fill site into an urban park.",Annual Sessions of IESL,Sri Lanka,2021,
G. A. Chinthaka Ganepola, Lilanka Kankanamge, Dhanushka Jayathilake, Senaka Basnayake, N.M.S.I. Arambepola, Udeni P. Nawagamuwa, Anurudda K. Karunarathna and R. M. Dharmadasa,".Nature-based Solutions (NbS), an innovative tool for Landslide Risk Management: A case study from Sri Lanka.",5th Global Summit of GADRI,Sri Lanka,2021,
G.D.W.N.Galhena, S. A. S. Kulathilaka, U. P.Nawagamuwa ,".Compressibility characteristics of solid waste in Meethotamulla waste site.",3rd International Conference in Geotechnical Engineering 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2021,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2021,
G. A. C. Ganepola, Lilanka Kankanamge, U. P. Nawagamuwa ,".Effects of root tensile strength of vegetation on slope stability.",3rd International Conference in Geotechnical Engineering 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2021,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2021,
S. Perera, U. P. Nawagamuwa ,".Behavior of ball bouncing and pace on laboratory cricket pitch models made of local soils in Sri Lanka.",3rd International Conference in Geotechnical Engineering 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2021,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2021,
Lilanka Kankanamge, S. A. S. Kulathilaka, G. A. C. Ganepola, U.P. Nawagamuwa ,".Improving the performance of Badulusirigama Landslide using subsurface drains: A numerical study.",3rd International Conference in Geotechnical Engineering 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2021,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2021,
S.H.S. Jayakody, S.A.S. Kulathilaka & U.P. Nawagamuwa ,".Large Scale In-Situ direct shear testing on Waste Material at Meethotamulla Open Dump Site.",3rd International Conference in Geotechnical Engineering 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka, December 2021,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2021,
Nawagamuwa, U.P., Shamil Shabry, A.G., Ainkaran, K, Prasad, D.L.S., and Madushanka, H. K. P. ,".Use of Industrial Byproducts to Improve Unsuitable Soils for Road Construction in Sri Lanka.",GeoShanghai 2018 ,Shanghai, China,2018,299鈥�308
Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Prasad, D.L.S.,".Improving soils of low CBR with flyash for road applications.",19th International conference eon Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering,Seoul, Korea,2017,3393-3396
Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Perera, L.P. ,".Recommending rainfall thresholds for landslides in Sri Lanka.",4th World Landslide Forum,Ljubljana, Slovenia,2017,
W.S.U.Perera and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Development of Fast and bouncy Cricket pitches in Sri Lanka using local soils.",IESL Annual Sessions,Colombo,2016,
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and H.K.P. Madushanka,".Ground improvement with waste copper slag.",ACEPS,Galle,2016,
K.H.S.S. De Silva and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Effect of salinity on consolidation of peat.",Civil Engineering Research symposium,Moratuwa,2016,
A.B.M.R.S. Basnayake and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Stabilization of municipal solid waste using heavy tamping Special emphasis on development of an undisturbed method to measure density.",Civil Engineering Research symposium,Moratuwa,2016,
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Muhilan,K. ,".Long Term Settlement Behaviour of Dump Wastes in Sri Lanka; Case Study on Bloemendhal Dump Site .", International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS- 2015),Galle, Sri Lanka,2015,
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Senaratne ,M., Dilanka T ,".Study on Compaction Characteristics of Lateritic Soil/Quarry Dust - Stabilized Municipal Solid Waste.",International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka.,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2015,
Shanker, P. and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Utilization of Building Debris in Road Construction in Northern Province of Sri Lanka.",International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka.,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2015,
Jayamali, K.V.S.D. and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Development of empirical correlations between CBR and index properties for Sri Lankan soils,.",International Conference on Geotechnical Engineering 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka.,Colombo, Sri Lanka,2015,
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Rajeevan, R, Tharanga, W.U. ,".Study on the Strength Characteristics of MSW in Sri Lanka.",Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering,Fukuoka, Japan,2015,
Madhushan, L.G.C., Nawagamuwa, U.P., and WickramasooriyaM.D.J.P.. ,".Enhancement of River Bank Stability by Hibiscus tiliaceus Root Reinforcement: A Nature-based Solution.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,LIX(1),2026
Sanjeewa, K.W.D, Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Abeysiinghe, A.M.K.B.,".Mineralogical Evolution and Geo-mechanical Characterization of Weathering Profiles Along the Central Expressway (CEP 3), Sri Lanka.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,59(2),2026
De Silva, B.C. and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Advancing Circular Economy: Utilizing Shredded Scrap Tyres in Gabion Wall Construction.",Advances in Science and Technology,Vol 177,2026
Kaushalya, A. A. S. , Pallewattha,M.A., and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Improvement of shear strength properties of the Sri Lankan Silty Sand due to Tree Roots of Alstonia Macrophylla,.",Geotechnical Journal, Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society, ,Vol. 9 No.1 2024,2024
Kaushalya, A. A. S. , Pallewattha,M.A., and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Improvement of shear strength properties of the Sri Lankan Silty Sand due to Tree Roots of Alstonia Macrophylla,.",Geotechnical Journal, Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society, ,Vol. 9 No.1 2024,2024
Ariyarathne, B.H.T., and Nawagamuwa, U.P.,".Evaluation of Subgrade Resilient Modulus using CBR Test Data to Facilitate Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design (MEPD).",Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,57(1): ,2024
Kaushalya, A.A.S., Pallewattha, M.A., Ansar, M.S.A. and Nawagamuwa, U.P.,".Use of Chilled Mirror /Dew-Point Method (WP4C) to Develop Soil Water Characteristic Curve for Coastal Silty Sand with a Comparison of the Existing Analytical Models.",Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,57(1): ,2024
22. Sanjeewa, K.W.D, Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Abeysiinghe, A.M.K.B,".Effect of Geological and Geotechnical Characteristics on cut-slope stability of residual formations in the hilly terrain of Sri Lanka.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,57(2),2024
18. Hemadasa, M.B.C., De Silva, L.I.N. and Nawagamuwa, U.P.,".Effect of Bentonite and Polymer Drilling Fluids on Skin Friction of Bored Piles.",Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,Vol. LV, No. 04,2022
16. Nawagamuwa, U.P. and J. Thirojan,".Determination of the Age of Municipal Solid Waste through Soil Tests.",Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,. LIII, No. 04, ,2020
Sanjeewa, K.W.D. and Nawagamuwa, U.P. ,".Utilization of Building Debris as Aggregates in Stone Columns.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,LII,2019
Jayasinghe, J.M.T., Nawagamuwa, U.P.,".Effect of salinity on the rate of consolidation of Sri Lankan soft peat .",Geotechnical Journal, Sri Lankan Geotechnical Society,7,2019
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Muthukumarana, P.D.A.,".Service Road Construction Using Cement Stabilized MSW at the Karadiyana Open Dumpsite, Sri Lanka.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,LI,2018
Jayamali, K.V.S.D., Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Indraratna, B., ,".Estimation of four day soaked CBR using index properties.",Australian Geomechanics Journal,53,2018
Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Wijesooriya, N.,".Use of Flyash to Improve Soil Properties of Drinking Water Treatment Sludge.",International Journal of Geo-Engineering,doi.org/10.1186/s40703-018-0071-5,2018
Nawagamuwa, U.P., Hornberger, G.M., and Gunda, T.,".Temperature and precipitation influences on soil moisture in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.",J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka,2018-46(4),2018
Nawagamuwa, U.P., and Senarathna, C.,"., Suitability of silt deposits at irrigation tanks in Angunakolapelessa, Sri Lanka for engineering applications.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,LI,2018
Harshani, H.M.D. , Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Senanayake A. ,".Evaluation of cover soil properties of Sri Lankan waste dumpsites in Colombo District.",J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka,2015 43 (2):189-194,2015
Rathnaweera, T.D. and Nawagamuwa, U.P.,".Study on the impact of rainfall trends on landslide frequencies; Sri Lanka Overview.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,XXXXVI,2013
Wickramaarachchi, P., Ranasinghe,K, Hamamoto, S, Kawamoto, K, Nawagamuwa, U.P., Moldrup P, and Komatsu, T.,".Gas transport parameters for compacted reddish brown soil in Sri Lankan landfill final cover.",ASCE Journal of Hazardous Toxic and Radioactive Waste,11,2011
Nawagamuwa, U.P., Senanayake, A.I.M.J., and Silva, S.A.,".The Curious case of the Khettarama Pitch.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,XXXXIII,2010
Nawagamuwa, U.P., Senanayake, A.I.M.J., Silva, S.A., and Sanjeewa, D.M.I.,".Improvement of local soils in order to make 鈥淔ast & Bouncy鈥� cricket pitches.",Engineer, Journal of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka,XXXXII,2009
Nawagamuwa, U.P. and Imai, G,".Proposal of a new concept for the vertical drain design considering the effects of intermediate permeable layers and smear.",Soils and Foundations,47,2007