Category Archives: News & Events

Professor I K Perera attained his primary and secondary education from Trinity College Kandy, joined the University of Colombo, and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in sciences majoring in Physics.

After graduation, he joined the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and served for over 15 years as a Senior Lecturer in Physics before joining Manchester University, Manchester, UK, as a Senior Research Fellow. During his tenure as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura from 1975 to 1990, he made many contributions towards the development of the Department and its academic activities. He served as the Head of the Department of Physics.

Prof. Perera continued his career as a researcher through his tenure at Hull University, Hull, England, as a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow before joining the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka as a Professor in the Department of Physical Sciences and Technology. He provided his service for the Department of Physical Sciences and Technology, SUSL, until his retirement. After his retirement, the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka offered him the honorary position of Professor Emeritus based on his invaluable service to the Department and the University. He served as a Vice Chancellor of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

In addition to his services as an academic, he contributed his time to the dissemination of Physics knowledge and the development of research in the fields of physics. He was an active member (Fellow member) of the Institute of Physics Sri Lanka (IPSL).

At this moment of mourning, we commemorate the service of Professor Indral K Perera for the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. 

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!!!

05.04.2024.

POST OF SENIOR LECTURER (GRADE I)/SENIOR LECTURER (GRADE II) /LECTURER (UNCONFIRMED)/LECTURER (PROBATIONARY) [No of Vacancies 03]

i. Candidates must be qualified with BSc. (Special/Honors) Degree in Physics or related fields.

ii. Preference will be given to those who have a Ph.D. Degree in Theoretical Physics/Experimental Physics/Computational Physics/Geophysics/Robotics and Embedded System/Machine Learning.

Visit this link for more details:

Academic Vacancies – University of Sri Jayewardenepura – USJ – University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (sjp.ac.lk)

A group of 60 third-year undergraduate students from the Department of Physics had the opportunity to visit the Cancer Hospital Maharagama on Sunday, January 14. The field visit was organized as part of the Medical Physics course taught by Dr. S. Kandeepan.

The students had the opportunity to learn about the various equipment and techniques used in radiation therapy for cancer patients. They were guided by the Chief Medical Physicist Athula Kumara and the Medical Physicist Sampath Madushan, who showed them the Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Treatment and Planning Rooms, the Brachytherapy Unit, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Computed Tomography (CT), the CT Simulator, and explained their operations and functions.

The visit gave them a practical insight into the applications of physics in medicine, mainly in cancer treatment and diagnosis. Students expressed their appreciation for the visit and mentioned it as an invaluable experience in their lives.

Dr. C L Ranatunga (Lal Ranatunga as many of us know) has been graduated, and obtained his BSc (special) in Physics, from the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, in 1983.

After graduation, he worked in the ceramic industry for a few years, and then joined the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, as an Assistant Lecturer, in May 1990. Starting from the level of Assistant Lecturer, he gradually excelled himself and his qualifications to build up his career as an academic staff member and got promoted up to the Senior Lecturer (I) level. In this path of building his career, he accomplished his postgraduate degree (MPhil.), from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, under the guidance of Prof. P. C. B. Fernando. For his doctoral degree, he produced the thesis titled “An experimental investigation on minimizing the damage inflicted on tomatoes due to post-harvest handling and transport vibrations”. He obtained his PhD in Physics, from the University of Colombo.

As an academic staff member of the Department of Physics, he taught many undergraduate courses, including, Industrial Physics, Nuclear Physics, Modern Physics, Physical Optics are few of them. Additionally, he served as the Senior Treasurer of the Physics Society, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, for several terms.

In addition to academic-related activities, he undertook many community service activities, such as the few listed below.

• President of Vidujaya Science Teachers Association (VSTA) (2011/2012)
• Assistant Secretary of the Institute of Physics Sri Lanka (IPSL)
• Fellow member of the Institute of Physics Sri Lanka (IPSL)
• Secretary of the Section E1, Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
• Setter Panel member of the Advanced Level (A/L)” Science for Technology “examination question paper.
• Senior Consultant for the Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

After a long 31 years of service, at the age of 65, Dr. Ranatunga retired from this academic service to the Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, in May 2021.

On this day of his eternal rest, the 18th Jan. 2024, all his colleagues and past students are recollecting his energetic life and the attractive teaching style.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana !!!!

Department of Physics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura