PhD Student Waruni Wijewickrama Wins Second Place at iCMA 2025 for Innovative Nanostructure Research

We are delighted to share the outstanding achievement of our PhD student Ms W.A.Wijewickrama (Waruni), who won the Second place in poster presentation competition at the 11th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches 2025, organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, USJ held on 3rd April 2025.

She was awarded this for the research carried out on Growth and structural analysis of a heterostructure of CVD grown carbon nanotubes on Cuprous oxide which is grown by a boiling Cu plate in copper sulphate in the Engineering, Physical Sciences and Technological Innovation category.

 This research presented a novel work in hybrid nanostructures. It is mainly focused on fabricating Carbon nanotubes using chemical vapor deposition method (CVD) and combine with cuprous oxide to build a heterostructure to use as an electrode, especially in fields like energy storage and electronic devices.

This award reflects both the strong scientific foundation of her and the team and the engaging way in which she presented their findings

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and look forward to further successes in her research journey.

Celebrating Undergraduate Excellence: A Stellar Presentation on Space Agriculture

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Ms. D.A.D.D. Dissanayake (Dinithi), a final-year student in our Physics Honours Degree Programme, whose research presentation made a remarkable impact at the 11th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches 2025, organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, USJ.

Dinithi was awarded First Place for her Oral Presentation in the Engineering, Physical Sciences and Technological Innovation category. This award recognizes both the scientific merit of Dinithi and her team’s work and the clarity and confidence with which she communicated their findings.

Their project, titled “Development of an Experiment for Studying Radiation Effects on Groundnut Growth Under Microgravity”, explored the frontier of space biology and radiation physics. With growing interest in sustainable life-support systems for long-term space missions, the team’s research represents a timely and innovative contribution to interdisciplinary science.

We congratulate Dinithi and the team on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the exciting future she is paving in research at the intersection of physics, biology, and space science.

Professor Indika Wanniarachchi Assumes Duties as Head of the Department of Physics

Professor Indika Wanniarachchi officially assumed duties as the Head of the Department of Physics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura on the 1st of April 2025. He was warmly welcomed by the academic and non-academic staff at a brief yet cordial ceremony held to mark this important occasion.

In his inaugural address, Professor Wanniarachchi outlined his vision for the department’s future, with a strong focus on academic excellence, advancing research, and fostering a student-centered learning environment.

The ceremony also featured an appreciation segment for the outgoing Head of the Department, Professor N.G.S.Shantha Gamage. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to Professor Wanniarachchi and expressed his deep gratitude to all staff members for their support and collaboration during his tenure.

Professor A.R. Kumarasinghe, along with several colleagues, offered their best wishes to the new Head and conveyed their appreciation to Professor Gamage for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the department.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Professor Indika Wanniarachchi and wish him every success in his new role as Head of the Department of Physics.

Department Curriculum Revision Meeting – 7th & 8th March 2025

The Department of Physics successfully conducted a Curriculum Revision Meeting on the 7th and 8th of March 2025. The primary objective of the meeting was to review and enhance the existing Physics and Electronics & Embedded Systems (EES) degree programs, ensuring they align with modern educational and industry standards.

The meeting was attended by faculty members, with some participating in person and others joining via Zoom. Discussions focused on curriculum improvements, new course structures, and innovative teaching methodologies. Key areas of emphasis included modernizing course content, integrating emerging technologies, and introducing new specialized degree programs to meet the evolving demands of the field.

This two-day residential program provided an excellent platform for in-depth discussions and collaborative decision-making, helping to strengthen the quality and relevance of the Physics and EES degree programs.