Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=mlNhnSUAAAAJ&hl=en
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sisira-Wanninayake
Biography
I am presently working as a Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. I joined this Department as a Lecturer (Unconfirmed) in 2016, after being worked as an Assistant Director at Disaster Management Centre in Sri Lanka for ten years and as an Assistant Land Use Planning Officer at Land Use Policy Planning Department in Sri Lanka for seven years.
I did my school education at Mahasen Central College, Nikaweratiya and Dewanampiyathissa Central College, Nikawewa at Moragollagama. My first degree, B.A.(Hons.) in Geography was obtained from the University of Peradeniya in 1996 and my first master’s degree, MSc in Natural Resource Management, was obtained in 2005 from the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. My second master’s degree, MSc in Disaster Management, was obtained in 2013 from the Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. Presently I have submitted my PhD thesis in Disaster Management to the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Peradeniya. I have followed several foreign courses in disaster management in the countries like India, Turkey, Japan, and Afghanistan, as well as, participated in many local training programs in disaster risk management, emergency management, project management, etc.
Educational qualifications
- PhD reading (Thesis has already submitted)
- MSc in Disaster Management
- MSc in Natural Resource Management
- A.(Hons.) Geography
Previous and Present Positions
- Subject Coordinator for syllabi revision of general degree program of the Department of Environmental Management (2017)
- Department Coordinator, curriculum revision of B.A/ B.A. (Hones) degree program, Department of Environmental Management (2018)
- Secretory to the first issue of the Journal of Tropical Environment, Department of Environmental Management (2018)
- Visiting Lecturer, Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management Studies, RUSL (2018)
- Coordinator, B.A.(Hons.) in Environmental Management Degree program, Department of Environmental Management (2022)
Professional Experiences
- Worked as Assistant Land Use Planning Officer (1999-2006)
- Worked as Assistant Director, Disaster Management Centre (2006-2016)
Research Interests
- Disaster Management
- Environmental Hazards
- Disaster Risk Assessment
- Land Use Planning
- Natural Resource Management
- Environmental Management
Memberships
Member of the Association for Disaster Risk Management Professionals (ADRiMP) Sri Lanka
Publications
- Non- Index journal articles
- Full paper was published in the Journal of Tropical Environment published by the Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Issue 1, 2018, on “Roles and Responsibilities of Government Stakeholder Agencies in Managing Disasters: Reviewing Sri Lankan Experiences”
- Book
- Co-Editor of the book “සූදානම” (Preparedness) published in December 2019 by the District Disaster Management Coordinating Unit, District Secretariate, Kurunegala
- Conference full papers
- Presented a full paper on “Identification of Infrastructure Facilities in Rural Areas: A case study in Pallepola DS Division in Mathale district” to the Second National Symposium of Geo-Informatics, organized by the Geo-Informatics Society of Sri Lanka held on 26th August 2005 at Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. Co-author was Ranjith Premalal De Silva
- Proceeding of Conferences
- Abstract was presented on” Human-Elephant Conflict in Kurunegala District during past 10 Years” to the Second National Symposium of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, organized by the DMC et al., held on 13th &14th October 2010 at SLIF, Colombo. Co-author was Ashoka Dangolla.
- Abstract was presented to the National Conference on Unsettled Drought, held on 25th, 26th July 2017 at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on “Possible Measures for Drought Risk Reduction in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka”. Co-author was PSK Rajapakshe
- Extended Abstract was presented to the 6th International Conference of the Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists held on 23rd and 24th November 2017 at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on “Increasing trend of floods and landslides disasters in Sri Lanka: Socio-Economic Perspective”. Co-author was PSK Rajapakshe
- Abstract was presented to the 4th International Research Symposium; Investing in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, held on 17th and 18th of October 2018 at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, on “Community perception of flood preparedness: A case study in Devalegama GN Division in Ratnapura DS Division”
- Abstract was presented to the Rajarata International Research Conference held on 6th and 7th of November 2019 at Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on “Need for Legislating the Responsibilities of Stakeholders Engaged in Disaster Management in Sri Lanka”
- Abstract was presented to the Annual Research Congress (PGIHS RC 2020/2021) held on 27 November 2021 at PGIHS, University of Peradeniya on “Assessing the Flood hazard in Kurunegala District”
- Abstract was presented to the 5th International Research Conference (IRCUWU2021) held on 1-2 July 2021 organized by the Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka on “Rainfall and Flood Events in the Deduruoya Basin in Sri Lanka”. Co-authors were K.W.G. Rekha Nianthi and O.G. Dayaratne Banda
Others
- Undergraduate research was on “Identification of Geographical Factors Affecting to Spread the Malaria Disease in Kurunegala District”
- Research for the M.Sc. degree in Natural Resource Management was on “Identification of Infrastructure Facilities in Pallepola Divisional Secretary Division in Matale District Using GIS Tools”
- Research for the M.Sc. degree in Disaster Management was on “Study of Human Elephant Conflict in Kurunegala District”
- Research for the PhD degree was on “Flood Risk Management in Vulnerable Communities: The Case of Deduru Oya Basin in Sri Lanka”
- Worked as a Visiting Researcher at Asian Disaster Reduction Centre, Kobe, Japan in 2011, where the research was conducted on “Study of the Drought Mitigation Practices of Agricultural Sector in Japan and Looking for Possibilities to Apply Best Practices in Sri Lanka”