The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ruhuna is excited to announce the appointment of Professor Chaminda Karunasena as the new Dean of the Faculty. This marks the start of an exciting new chapter in leadership, one that promises innovation, excellence in research and teaching, and a vibrant academic environment.
Professor Karunasena brings with him a wealth of experience and an impressive academic and professional background. He holds a B.Sc. Eng. (Hons) degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, where he graduated with a first-class pass and earned the Gold Medal. Following his graduation in 2006, he gained valuable industry experience as a Design Engineer and Maintenance Engineer at Loadstar (Pvt.) Ltd, Sri Lanka, where he was recognized as a “Change Leader” for his exceptional contributions to Lean Transformation and Maintenance Management.
In 2009, Professor Karunasena joined the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Ruhuna as a Contract Lecturer. His academic journey progressed rapidly, and he was promoted to Probationary Lecturer in 2010. He furthered his studies with an M.Sc. in Industrial Automation from the University of Moratuwa in 2011, and later pursued a Ph.D. in Numerical Modelling at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia, which he completed in 2014. His research was recognized with the prestigious “Most Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award” for his contributions to the field of Numerical Modelling with Mesh-free methods.
Upon his return to the University of Ruhuna in 2014, Professor Karunasena resumed his duties and was confirmed as a Senior Lecturer in 2015. He was later promoted to Full Professor in 2021, becoming the first-ever professor in the history of the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. His research focuses on areas such as renewable energy, maintenance management, and machine design, and he has supervised numerous undergraduate, postgraduate, and industry collaborative projects.
In recognition of his outstanding research, Professor Karunasena has received several prestigious awards, including the “Most Outstanding Young Researcher” award in 2018 and the “Most Outstanding Staff Inventor/Innovator” award in 2022, both under the Vice Chancellor’s Awards. He has also received the “Presidential Award” and “Merit Award” for scientific publications from the National Research Council of Sri Lanka. Additionally, in 2022, he was appointed an Adjunct Professor at the School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering at QUT, Australia, which has further enhanced his international research collaborations.
As Dean, Professor Karunasena’s leadership will drive the Faculty of Engineering toward continued excellence, with a strong focus on advancing research, fostering academic achievement, and strengthening industry partnerships. His extensive experience and dedication to engineering education will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Faculty and its students.
The Faculty of Engineering looks forward to the continued growth and success of the Faculty under Professor Chaminda Karunasena’s visionary leadership.
