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Dr. Upul Kumarasinghe

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Dr. Upul Kumarasinghe

Senior Lecturer

B.Sc. (USJP), Ph.D. (Mississippi State University, USA)

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Biosketch:

B.Sc. – University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka – 2009

Ph.D. – Mississippi State University, USA – 2016

Divisions:

Organic Chemistry

Undergraduate Teaching:

CHE 205 1.0 Chemistry of Heterocyclic and Bioorganic Compounds

CHE 385 1.0 Asymmetric Organic Chemistry

ICH 363 2.0 Organic Synthesis and Industrial Applications

CHE 454 1.0 Medicinal Chemistry

CHE 462 2.0 Food Chemistry and Technology

ICH 478 2.0 Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Research interest :

Designing, synthesis and applications of small-molecule chemosensors, Synthesis of
biologically active small molecules, Green chemistry applications in organic Synthesis,
Microwave-assisted organic synthesis, Solid-phase organic synthesis, Extraction and chemical
modification of natural products.

Selected Publications:

  • Indexed Journals:
    Rajakulasooriya, R.S.R; Fernando, S.S.N; Gunasekara, T.D.C.P; Jayaweera, P.M;
    Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R; Harshani, H; Thabrew, P.M.J; Chan, E; Buddhika, R.B.J;
    Weerasinghe, G.G.Y.H; Karunarathna, K.A.A.U., BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology,
    2025, 26 (1), 16.
  • Alahakoon, Y.A; Wilson, S.C; Peiris. C; Ranasinghe, Y.K; Gunatilake, S.R; Zhang, X;Mlsna, T.E; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R; Mohideen, M.I.H; Gandra, U.R; Varghese, A.M; Karanikolos, G.N; Mohan, D., Carbothermally synthesized, lignin biochar-based, embedded and surface deposited nano zero-valent iron composites: Comparative material characterization, selective gas adsorption and nitroaromatics remediation, Colloids and Surfaces C: Environmental Aspects, 2024, 2, 100048.
  • De Silva, A.U.T; Cooray, A.T; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R., Silica-supported indole derived fluorometric chemosensor for the selective detection of Ag+ ions in aqueous solution, Journal of the Indian Chemical Society, 2024, 101 (6), 101154.
  • Wanniarachchi, P.C; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R., Jayathilake, C. Recent advancements in  chemosensors for the detection of food spoilage, Food Chemistry, 2024, 436, 137733.
  • Wijekoon, S; Gunasekara, C; Palliyaguru, L; Fernando, N; Jayaweera, P.M; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R. Solvent-free synthesis and antifungal activity of 3-alkenyl oxindole derivatives, Asian Journal of Green Chemistry, 2022, 6(4), 297-319.
  • Weerasinghe, K; Liyanage, S; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R., Cooray, A.T. Synthesis of a bifunctional EDTA–carboxymethyl chitosan derivative and its potential as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu 2+  ions from aqueous solutions, Polymers from Renewable Resources, 2022,13 (3), 170-187.
  • Kumarasinghe, K. G. U. R.; Silva, W. C. H.; Fernando, M. D. A.; Palliyaguru, L.; Jayawardena, P. S.; Shimomura, M.; Fernando, S. S. N.; Gunasekara, T. D. C. P.; Jayaweera, P. M. One-Pot Reducing Agent-Free Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles/Nitrocellulose Composite Surface Coating with Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities, BioMed Research International, 2021, 2021, 1-16.
  • Fernando, H.N.; Kumarasinghe, K. G. U. R.; Gunasekara, T. D. C. P.; Wijekoon, H. P. S. K.; Ekanayaka, E. M. A. K.; Rajapaksha, S. P.; Fernando, S. S. N.; Jayaweera, P.M. Synthesis, characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Garcinol Capped Silver Nanoparticles, J. Microbiol. Biotechnol, 2019, 29 (11), 1841-1851.
  • Palliyaguru, L.; Kulathunga, M. U. S.; Kumarasinghe, K. G. U. R.; Jayaweera, C. D.; Jayaweera, P.M. Facile Synthesis of Titanium Phosphates from Ilmenite mineral Sand: Potential White Pigments for Cosmetic Applications, J. Cosmet. Sci, 2019, 70 (3) 149. Kumarasinghe, K. G. U. R.; Fronczek, F. R.; Valle, H. U.; Sygula, A. Bis corannulenoanthracene: An Angularly Fused Pentacene as a Precursor for Barrelene-Tethered Receptors for Fullerenes. Org. Lett. 2016, 18, 3054-3057.
  • Kumarasinghe, K. G. U. R.†; Box, H. K.†; Nareddy, R. R; Akurathi, G.; Chakraborty, A.; Raji, B.; Rowland, G. B. Rhodium-catalyzed coupling of α-lactams with indole derivatives. Tetrahedron 2014, 70, 9709 –9717. †Both authors contributed equally.

Peer reviewed Journals

  • Samaradiwakara, D.M.T.A; Kandambi, H.H; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R. Recent advances in green approaches for synthesis of oxindole derivatives. Current Scientia (Special Issue). Current Scientia – Special Issue of Review Articles. 2023, 1(s1), 208-236.
  • De Silva, A.U.T; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R. Indole-based fluorometric and colorimetric chemosensors for the selective detection of Cu2+: A brief review from the year 2011- 2021. Current Scientia – Special Issue of Review Articles. 2023, 1(s1), 191-207.
  •  Rizana, A; Cooray, A.T; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R. Microwave-assisted one-pot multicomponent synthesis of indole derived fluorometric probe for detection of Co2+ ions. Vidyodaya Journal of Science 2022, 24 (2), 27-42.

Research Communications (Selected International Conferences)

  • Umaya, T; Cooray, A.T; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R., Microwave-assisted synthesis of silica- supported indole-derived fluorometric chemosensor for the detection of Ag+ ions. ACS Fall Meeting 2023. Control ID: 3923168.
  • Rizana, A; Cooray, A.T; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R., Microwave-assisted one-pot multicomponent synthesis of indole derived fluorometric probe for detection of Co2+ ions. ACS Fall Meeting 2021. Control ID: 3591631.
  • Samarasiri, V.S; Kumarasinghe, K.G.U.R.; Cooray, A. Modification of the SPADNSmethod to develop a sensor as a dye sensitized strip in assessing fluoride levels in drinking water. ACS Fall meeting 2019 Control ID: 3209969.

Awards:
Research Awards, University of Sri Jayewardenepura – 2021-2024
Appreciation of the Research Council of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura for publishing
full papers in recognized indexed journals in science citation index expanded in the year 2019.
Professor Tuley De Silva Gold medal for the overall best performance of B.Sc. Special Degree
in Chemistry – 2009
Professor W.S. Fernando Gold medal for the best performance of Inorganic and Physical
Chemistry in third and fourth year in B.Sc. Special Degree in Chemistry – 2009
Chemical Industries (Colombo) Limited Scholarship for the second best performance in B.Sc.
Special Degree in Chemistry (Part I) examination – 2007-2008

Affiliations and Positions:
Affiliate Member, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)– 2025- present
Community Member, Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community – 2024- present
Community Associate Member, American Chemical Society – 2018 to present
Committee member, Chemistry Olympiad Committee, Sri Lanka-2020-Present
Committee member, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) 2024-
present
Member, Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon – 2018 – present
Life Member, Sri Lankan Association of Advancement of Science (SLAAS)-Section E2 2016-
present
Coordinator, MSc/Master/PGD in Industrial Organic Chemistry 2022 to 2025
Treasurer, Vidujaya Science Teachers’ Association-2022/2023
President, Vidujaya Science Teachers’ Association-2023/2024
Coordinator, M.Sc. in Science and Technology of Herbal Products 2019-2021

Secretary, Chemistry Olympiad Committee, Sri Lanka 2020/2023
Treasurer, Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientist 2022/2023
Council member, Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientist 2021-2023
Member, American Chemical Society 2015-2017

Contact information:

Telephone: 0710187984

Web: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=exKA1z0AAAAJ&hl=en

Email: upulk@sjp.ac.lk