Senior Lecturer (Department of Mechanical Engineering)
Dr. Dulini Yasara Mudunkotuwa is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the first permanent academic staff member appointed to the department. She previously served as the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering as well as the Head of Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. She is a graduate of the University of Moratuwa and obtained her Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Tokyo. She is a recipient of the Aota Masaki Award for research in physical oceanography and has been involved in major Arctic climate research initiatives funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education. She has received advanced field training at the Abisko Arctic Field Station through the Polar Prediction Graduate School organized by Stockholm University.
Dr. Mudunkotuwa is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a member of the Fulbright Program on intellectual property and patenting, sponsored by the United States Department of State. She was a consultant to the Japanese renewable energy company GPSS on wind engineering and is a Co-founder of LustreJ, a university affiliated spin-off focused on engineering solutions for the gem and jewellery sector. Her research interests include Computational Fluid Dynamics, data assimilation, wind engineering, intellectual property and engineering design.
Patents
Smooth lateral patient transfer device. Sri Lankan patent and PCT patent, WO/2021/148864, 2021.
Hibiscus tiliaceus based leather substitute material and the method of preparation. LK/P/1/23053, 2024.
Medivac and Lateral Patient Transfer Device, 2026 (Pending)
Book chapters
Thanabalasingam, K., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y. (2024). Investigate the effectiveness of Vaastu features using computational fluid dynamics. In M. I. Keiji Ujikawa (Ed.), Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE), pp. 361–377. Springer Nature, Singapore.
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Siriwardana, G., Rajapakse, A., Bandara, T., Mudunkotuwa, D. and Makavita, D., 2025. Multiclass classification of two-phase flow patterns using classical and deep learning models with automated hyperparameter optimization. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 169, p.109886.
Kodagoda, G., Jayasooriya, N., Kularathna, A.S., Mudunkotuwa, D.Y. and Ranasinghe, G., 2025. The decline of Sri Lanka’s tank cascade systems: causes, challenges, and pathways to sustainable management. Socio-Ecological Practice Research, 7(3), pp.353-366.
Kodagoda, G., Senaratne, C., Jayasooriya, N., Kularathna, A.S. and Mudunkotuwa, D.Y., 2025. Bathymetric Survey Based Capacity Curve Development for Small Scale Irrigation Tanks in Sri Lanka: A Case Study Approach. Progress in Engineering Science, p.100181.
Randunuge, B., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Samarasekara, G. N. (2024). Numerical simulation of the microclimate in the vicinity of green areas. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies.
Rajapakse, A. M., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Sanjula, S. N., Nishantha, K., Bandara, T. R. (2022). Cement and clay bricks reinforced with coconut fiber and fiber dust. Advances in Technology, 233–248.
Hennayake, K. M. S. A., Dinalankara, R., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y. (2022). Machine learning based weather prediction model for short-term weather prediction in Sri Lanka. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 9(1), 65–87.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., De Silva, L. W. A., Yamaguchi, H. (2017). Improving numerical sea ice predictions in the Arctic Ocean by data assimilation using satellite observations. Polar Oceans Research, February 2017.
Mudunkotuwa, M. H. V. D. Y., Kato, C. Validating voxel meshes in aeroacoustic and flow computations of airfoil flows by large eddy simulations. Procedia Engineering, Elsevier, ISSN 1877-7058.
International conference proceedings
Thanabalasingam, K., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Ratiyalage, Y. (2023). Investigate the effectiveness of Vaastu features using computational fluid dynamics. Asia Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development, Springer Nature, Singapore.
De Silva, T., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y. (2023). Parametric study of the honeycomb structured PneuNet soft actuators using numerical solutions. Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon), IEEE, 316–321.
Ratiyalage, Y., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Jayasekara, P. (2022). CFD based autonomous surveillance vessel design for maritime environments. OCEANS 2022 – Chennai, IEEE.
Fernando, V. N., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y. (2021). Bio-inspired aircraft wing modification analysis in ANSYS Fluent. 10th International Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability (ICIAfS), IEEE.
Hennayake, K. M. S. A., Dinalankara, R., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y. (2021). Machine learning based weather prediction model for short-term weather prediction in Sri Lanka. ICIAfS 2021, IEEE.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Gowrishankaran, R. (2021). Design an ocean wave energy converter for Sri Lanka. IESL Young Members Section Technical Conference, 98–105.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., De Silva, L. W. A., Yamaguchi, H. (2019). Kalman filter based data assimilation system to improve numerical sea ice predictions in the Arctic Ocean. OCEANS 2019 – Marseille, IEEE.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Yamaguchi, H. (2016). Data assimilation system to improve sea ice predictions in the Arctic Ocean using an ice-ocean coupled model. IAHR International Symposium on Ice, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Yamaguchi, H. (2016). Improving sea ice predictions along the Northern Shipping Route using observation data. Arctic Observing Summit, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
De Silva, L. W. A., Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Yamaguchi, H. (2016). Short-term sea ice prediction for ice navigation in Arctic sea routes using TIGGE data. Final Symposium of the GRENE-Arctic Climate Change Research Project, Tachikawa, Japan.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., De Silva, L. W. A., Yamaguchi, H. (2016). Improving numerical sea ice predictions in an ice-ocean coupled model with data assimilation. MIT–University of Tokyo Joint Symposium, Japan.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., Yamaguchi, H. (2016). Data assimilation in an ice-ocean coupled model to improve sea ice predictions in the Arctic Ocean. 31st International Symposium on Okhotsk Sea and Sea Ice, Mombetsu, Japan, 235–238.
Mudunkotuwa, D. Y., De Silva, L. W. A., Yamaguchi, H. (2015). Parametric study of assimilating sea ice concentration in a coupled ice-ocean model using nudging. 30th International Symposium on Okhotsk Sea and Sea Ice, Mombetsu, Japan, 64–67.
Mudunkotuwa, M. H. V. D. Y., Samarakoon, P., Jayathilake, P. (2010). Decision support model to implement lean manufacturing in the Sri Lankan garment industry. IMechE Speak Out for Engineers, Singapore.
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Project |
Funding Agency |
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Data assimilation to improve sea ice predictability in the Arctic Ocean |
Green Network of Excellence Program Arctic Climate Change Research Project (GRENE) and Arctic Challenge for Sustainability Research Project (ArCS) by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and a Kakenhi grant (no. 26249133) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). |
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Design and fabrication of a bioinspired car |
University of Sri Jayewardenepura research grants |
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Hybrid gear shifting module for bicycles |
IIVCC grants of University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
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Coconut fiber infused mud bricks |
IIVCC grants of University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
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An advanced engineering simulation center for Computational fluid dynamics and numerical studies. |
STHRD Project of ADB |
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i-lab for sustainable product design, development, and commercialization |
STHRD Project of ADB |
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Project |
Affiliation |
Student Name |
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Numerical weather prediction (NWP) and Machine Learning based Hybrid model for weather prediction in Sri Lanka |
MPhil- Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
Ms. Anuradha Hennayaka |
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Numerically modelling green walls and its surrounding using Computational Fluid Dynamics |
MPhil- Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
Ms. Bhagyani Randunuge |
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Design of Solar Powered Surveillance Vessel for Autonomous Navigation in Turbulent Maritime Environments |
MPhil- Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
Mr. Yasun Ratiyala |
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Develop a decision support model for engineering analysis of tank cascade systems (TCS) in Sri Lanka |
MPhil- Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura |
Mr. Gayantha Kodagoda |
Phone: Ext. – 7430
E-mail: dulini@sjp.ac.lk