Academic Staff - Department of Civil Engineering - USJ

Dr. Sameera Samarasekara

B.Sc.Eng. (Hons) (Moratuwa), M.Sc. (Moratuwa),M.Sc. (Utokyo) Ph.D.(Utokyo), AMIE Sri Lanka

Senior Lecturer (Department of Civil Engineering)

  • samarasekara@sjp.ac.lk
Bio
Publications
Grants & Funding
Supervision
Contact

Dr Samarasekara completed his B.Sc. (Engineering) degree with first class honors and M.Sc. in the field of civil engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He obtained another Masters’ degree in the field of Sustainability Science at the University of Tokyo. He completed his  PhD in the field of coastal engineering and management at the University of Tokyo. He is well acquainted with both natural and social sciences. His proficiency is field experiments and numerical simulation for climate change analysis and natural hazards. His research interest is on the state-of-the-art surveying techniques for water resources engineering. He considers himself as a self-motivated, prominent team player with an ability to integrate interdisciplinary tools and provide innovative solutions to the sustainability-related problems.

Publications

Journal Publications

  1. R. S. M. Samarasekara, J. Sasaki, R. Jayaratne, T. Suzuki, R. A. S. Ranawaka, and S. D. Pathmasiri, On the status and mechanisms of coastal erosion in Marawila Beach, Sri Lanka, Natural Hazards. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04034-4  
  2. V.P.B. Valenzuela, R.S.M. Samarasekara, A.S. Kularathna, G.C.C. Perez, F. Norikazu, R.N. Crichton, M. Quiroz, R. Yavar, I. Izumi, R. Aranguiz, O. Motoharu, M. Esteban, Comparative Analysis of Tsunami Recovery Strategies in Small Communities in Japan and Chile. Geosciences (2019), 9, 26. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9010026
  3. R. S. M. Samarasekara, J. Sasaki, R. Jayaratne, T. Suzuki, R. A. S. Ranawaka, and S. D. Pathmasiri, Historical changes in the shoreline and management of Marawila Beach, Sri Lanka, from 1980 to 2017, Ocean and Coastal Management. vol. 165, pp. 370–384, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.09.012
  4. R.S.M. Samarasekara, J. Sasaki, M. Esteban, H. Matsuda, Assessment of the Co-Benefits of Structures in Coastal Areas for Tsunami Mitigation and Improving Community Resilience in Sri Lanka, Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2017.04.011
  5. Samarasekara, R.S.M., Sahthy, M., Siriwardana, A. and Siriwardana, H., 2023. Assessment of wave climate change and its impact on littoral drift along the Kalutara and Kalpitiya beaches in Sri Lanka. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 50(4), pp.813–826. http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v50i4.10823
  6. Sujivakand, R.S.M. Samarasekara, H.P.A.M. Siriwardana, D.R. Anthony, and Hasitha Siriwardana “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Coastal Protection Assessment: A Study of Detached Breakwater and Groins at Marawila Beach, Sri Lanka”, Regional Studies in Marine Science.”, Volume 69, January 2024, 103282, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103282

Conference publications

  1. R.S.M. Samarasekara, I.W.G.A.S.D. Gunawardana, Assessment of Flood Risk Management During COVID-19: A Case Study in Kelaniya DS Division, International Webinar on Long Term Social Impacts of Covid 19, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL) under the auspices of the Association of Academies and Societies of Science in Asia (AASSA) and the Inter-Academy Partnership (IAP), pp.86 – 90, February 2022 www.covid-impact.nassl.org.
  2. A.H.M.S. Siriwardana, R.S.M. Samarasekara, R.D.G. Kaluarachchi, Co-benefit assessment of a coastal railway embankment for tsunami risk reduction: A case study in Panadura, Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development ACEPS – 2021, pp 431 – 439, 7 th October 2021, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  3. R.S.M. Samarasekara, J. Sasaki, R. Jayaratne, T. Suzuki, R. A. S. Ranawaka, S.D. Pathmasiri, On the Status and Mechanisms of Coastal Erosion in Marawila Beach, The 66 th Coastal Engineering Conference in Japan (第66回海岸工学講演会), Kagoshima Kenmin Koryu Centre, J.JSCE, Ser. B2 (Coastal Engineering), Vol. 72, No.2, 2019, C19, Kagoshima City, Japan, 23 rd –25 th October 2019.
  4. R.S.M. Samarasekara, J. Sasaki, M. Esteban, H. Matsuda, Willingness to Pay for Upgrading Tsunami Co-Beneficial Structures: Example from A Railway Embankment and A Revetment in Sri Lanka, The 9th International Conference on Asia and Pacific Coasts 2017 (APAC 2017) SMX Convention Centre, pp 139-149, Pasay City, Philippines, 19 th – 21 st October 2017, https://doi.org/10.1142/9789813233812_0014
  5. R.S.M. Samarasekara, S.S.L. Hettiarachchi, S.S. Priyankara, H.A.M. Silva Hydraulic
    Performance of Gabions in Coastal Structures, ICSECM2013, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, pp. 39-49, 15 th December 2013
  6. S.S.L. Hettiarachchi, R.S.M. Samarasekara, S.S. Priyankara, H.A.M. Silva, Investigation of Hydraulic Performance of Coastal Structures, Civil Engineering Research Symposium, University of Moratuwa, pp. 63-68, Sri Lanka, 18 th December 2012

Awards

  • Poster award for a very significant contribution in the field of sustainability science, at GPSS-GLI progress review secession, April 2019
  • Recipient of Graduate School of Frontier Sciences Academic Research Grant Program 2018. Granted amount 200,000 JPY (May 2018)
  • Excellent Presentation Award, targeted for researchers below 36 years old, at the annual symposium of Japanese Association for Coastal Zone Studies, held in July 2016, in Kochi, Japan
  • MEXT scholarship was awarded by the Government of Japan to read Doctoral Course at the University of Tokyo, October 2016
  • MEXT scholarship was awarded by the Government of Japan to read Masters Course at the University of Tokyo, October 2014
  • Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship was awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka due to outstanding performance in G.C.E (A/L) examination, Sri Lanka in 2007

Grants

  • Recipient of Competitive Research Grant (CRG) from the Science and Technology Human Resource Development Project (STHRDP) [Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka] 2022. Granted amount of LKR 7,560,000 and USD 281,620 (December 2022)

Ongoing

Postgraduate

  1. Anthropogenic Macronutrient (N and P) dispersion in coastal waters and its correlation with the spatial distribution of Dissolved Oxygen levels: A study in North Colombo coast, Sri Lanka

  2. Examining the relationship between Coastal erosion and Salinity intrusion: A study in Marawila coastal area, Sri Lanka

  3. The effects of climate change, ocean acidification and pollution on seagrass beds and their trophic interactions: A case study from Sri Lanka in Gulf of Mannar, Negombo Lagoon, Puttalam, Trincomalee

  4. Waste Biochar as an Alternative Sorbent for Oil Spill Remediation

Undergraduate

  1. Reviving Ancient Wisdom: Developing a Heritage-Inspired Reconstruction Plan for the Minipe Canal Expansion Project

  2. Addressing Water Allocation Disparities: The Role of an Apex Body in Integrated Water Resource Management

  3. Assessment of Marine Energy Potential in Sri Lanka: Exploration of Ocean Wind

  4. Evaluating the Efficacy of Beach Nourishment for Coastal Protection in Sri Lanka: A Comprehensive Study using Computer and Physical Modeling

  5. A Comprehensive Review on the Synergy of Innovative Technologies: Integrating Remote Sensing, GIS, Modeling, and AI for Data-Driven Decision-Making in Coastal Management and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

  6. Exploring Wave Attenuators as Co-Beneficial Structures: Power Generation and Coastal Erosion Mitigation in Sri Lanka through Computer Modeling

  7. Identification and Assessment of Non-Revenue Water in Water Distribution Systems through a Hydraulic Model-Based Approach: A Case Study in Sri Lanka.

Completed

Undergraduate

Batch 1

  1. Co-benefit assessment of Coastal Railway Embankment for Tsunami Risk Reduction

  2. Assessment of 30 years of beach accumulation and erosion in Kalpitiya peninsula

  3. Assessment of wave climate change and its’ impact on littoral drift along the Coastline of Sri Lanka

  4. Identification of historical changes and management of in Kalu river estuary

  5. Identification of causes of Beach Erosion and Effects on Live hood: Perception of fishermen in Kalmunai Beach

  6. Identification of flow parameter handling features in Sri Lankan Ancient Irrigation System

  7. Developing a mapping system based on the influences and parameters of water quality in Dynamic Water Systems

Batch 2

  1. Effective Utilization of Smart Technologies for Urban Farming

  2. Simulation Of Coastal Flood and River Flood in Nilwala River Basin

  3. Assessment Of Flood Risk Management During Covid-19: A Case-Study in Kelaniya Ds Division

  4. Evaluation Of Water Efficiency of Drip Irrigation Systems of Greenhouses in Hill Country

  5. Rapid Flood Forecasting of Kelani River Applying Novel Development in Machine Learning

  6. Rapid Identification of Physical Properties of Beach

Batch 3

  1. Experimental Research to Identify Suitable Materials to Enhance the Durability of Beach Nourishment

  2. Identification of the adaptation strategies to mitigate flash flood risk in Sri Lanka

  3. Evaluation of the effectiveness of coastal protection structures using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) images: A case of Marawila Beach, Sri Lanka.

  4. Estimation of sediment flow to the sea via rivers in Sri Lanka: A case study of Kalu River

  5. Identification of Cascade system as a Sustainable Flood risk Management strategy

Email:samarasekara@sjp.ac.lk