Category Archives: News & Events

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 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.

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.

As part of the Medical Physics course, gaining practical exposure is essential for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications in healthcare. Understanding the role of physics in medicine, particularly in cancer treatment, requires hands-on experience in clinical settings. With this objective in mind, a group of 109 third-year undergraduate students from the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura had the opportunity to visit Apeksha Cancer Hospital, Maharagama, on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The visit was organized under the guidance of Dr. S. Kandeepan, the course instructor for Medical Physics.

During the visit, students were introduced to cutting-edge radiation therapy techniques used in cancer treatment. They were accompanied by Mr. Lakitha Ruvinda, Acting Chief Medical Physicist, along with a team of medical physicists who provided insightful demonstrations. The students observed: Dosimetry measurements using the Blue Phantom in the Linear Accelerator (LINAC), Patient-specific quality assurance (QA) procedures, Treatment planning and execution using LINAC systems, Radiology instruments including Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT) and CT scanners, Brachytherapy techniques and their clinical applications.

This visit provided students with firsthand exposure to the practical applications of medical physics, reinforcing their classroom learning and highlighting the critical role of physics in modern cancer diagnosis and treatment. Students expressed their gratitude for this opportunity, describing it as an invaluable experience that deepened their appreciation for medical physics and its impact on patient care.