B.Sc.Eng., MSCE (South Florida), Ph.D. (Florida), CEng, MIE (SL), CMILT (UK)

Contact Information: 

Address:
Department of Civil Engineering,
University of Moratuwa,
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

E-mail:   wasanthak@civil.mrt.ac.lk
               wasanthak@uom.lk
Telephone: +94-11-2650567 / 2650568(Ext.2024)
Fax:            +94-11-2651216 / 2650422

      Profile

      Tertiary Qualifications

      Career Summary

      Academic Honours

      Short-term Training

      Membership of Professional Societies

      Other Positions Held

      Postgraduate Research Supervision

      Research Grants

      Short Courses/Training Program Conducted for Industry

      Consultancy Projects

      Publications in Refereed Journals & Proceeding of           Conferences

      Invited Lectures

Wasantha Kumara graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 1997. He was awarded best student in Building and Structural Engineering at the University of Moratuwa in 1997. After graduation, he was recruited as an assistant lecturer for the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Moratuwa . He enrolled in the master's program at the University of South Florida in August 1999. He earned a graduate research assistantship to complete his studies. He graduated with a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering in Spring 2001.He was awarded the Georgia Brosch memorial scholarship for outstanding scholarship and service by the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. He was selected as student of the Year by the American Society of Highway Engineers at the Engineers Week Banquet held in St. Petersburg in 2001.

• Ph.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, 2005
• MSCE, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA, 2001
• B.Sc. Eng. Hons., University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka,1997
  

• Director, Undergraduate Studies Division, (From March 2011)
• Head, Transportation Engineering Division, (2007-2009)
• Senior Lecturer Grade II (2005- todate)
• Visiting Lecturer, Department of Building Economics, University of Moratuwa
• Visiting Lecturer, Department of Transport and Logistics, University of Moratuwa
• Visiting Lecturer, Kotalawala Defence Academy
• Visiting lecture, Engineering Faculty, University of Ruhuna
• Lecturer (probationary), (1997- 2005)
• Graduate Research Assistant, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL USA (1999- 2001)
• Teaching Assistant, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA (Spring’2001)
• Graduate research Assistant, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA (2001-2005)

• Recipient of national level scholarships for excellent academic performance in High School
• First class honor degree in B.Sc. (Engineering)
• Best Student in Structural and Building Engineering in 1997
• Offered membership in the Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi
• Selected as student of the year by American Society of Highway Engineers, National Engineers Week Banquet 2001, St. Petersburg , USA.
• Recipient of 2001 Georgia Brosch Memorial Transportation Scholarship for the Best Transportation Engineering Student of the year by Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at University of South Florida.

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• Highway Engineering Society, Sri Lanka

• Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistic (SL)

• Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL)

• Florida Engineering Society (FES)

• Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science

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• Liaison Officer, Institute of Engineers Sri lanka, University of Moratuwa

• Secretary, Highway Engineering Society, Sri Lanka

• Committee Member, Road Maintenance Trust Fund(RMTF) Technical Advisory Committee(TAC)

• Member. Executive Committee, Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics , Sri Lanka

• Coordinator, MSc Programs in Transportation and Highway and Traffic Engineering

• Coordinator, Mentoring Program, Dept. of Civil Engineering University of Morauwa

• Vice President, Florida Engineering Society-Student Chapter, University of South Florida

• Mentor-ship Chair, American Society of Civil Engineers-Student Chapter, University of South Florida

MSc. in Highway and Traffic Engineering

1. Kosgolla J. V. : Evalaution of Feasibility of Ultra Thin Whitetopping for Intersections and raised pedestrian crossings, 2008.
2. Gunarathne W. P. H : Finite element model approach to determine effective layout and supportive condition for concrete block pavements, 2009.
3. Gayani J. K.U : Rigid Pavement Design with Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Low Volume Roads, 2010. (Co- Supervisor : Prof. S. M. A. Nanayakkara)
4. Karunarathna A. M.A.N.: Finite Element Model Approch to Determine the Joint Parameters of Concrete Pavements for Sri Lanka, 2010. (Co- Supervisor : Prof. S. M. A. Nanayakkara)
5. Jayasooriya V. W. P. : Determination of Structural Capacity of Demolition Waste, 2011.
6. Herath, H. M. S. M, .Evaluating Suitable Soil Stabilization Method for Local Road Construction Industry, 2011.
7. Sitinamaluwa, H. S., Evaluation of Feasibility of Polymer Modified Asphalt Binders for Sri Lankan Conditions, 2011 (on progress)
8. Meegahage, J. N., A Review of Penetration Grading System and the Suitability of Alternative Grading System for Asphalt Binders in Sri Lankan Highways (on Progress).

MEng. in Highway and Traffic Engineering

1. P.R.D.Fernando :Effect of Superpave specifies aggregate gradation on Marshall Mix Design Parameters, 2009.
2. P.H.Gunasinghe: Effectiveness of Pavement Design Done on Sri Lankan Roads, MEng Supervisor, 2010.
3. W.M.S.B.Wanigasekera: Determination of optimum nominal aggregate size for single surface dressing, MEng, 2009.
4. S.Gnasekaran : Aspects of Asphalt Concrete Surface Regularity, MEng , 2010.
5. A.A.Senadeera: Determination of An Effective Laying Pattern and Best Block Shape For Concrete Block Pavement Based on Filed Performance, 2010.
6. G.J.Kinigama : Development of Methodology to Estimate Esal Values for Low Volume Roads in Provincial Sector, 2010.
7. N.A.A.Priyantha: Guidelines for Construction of Low Volume Concrete Roads in Sri Lanka, 2010.
8. Salawavidana SAST - Geometric Design standards for Narrow Curves in Hilly Terrain of Sri Lanka, 2011.
9. Tennakoonwela RMN -  Evaluation of the effectiveness of performance based maintenance for provincial roads, 2011.
10. Bandara W. W., Analysis and Design of Pavement with a Cement Stabilized Soil as a Road Base Material for Sri Lankan Road, 2011 (on progress)
11. De Silva, M. S. K., Effectiveness of Rolling Straight Edge for Quality Control of Asphalt Concrete Surfacing (on Progress)
12. Piyasena, Y. P. S. R., Finding Thresholds Based on Traffic, Subgrade and Climate for Upgrading Surface Type of Roads Using HDM-4 Model (on progress)

Following research grants were obtained on competitive basis from the university and other non government organizations.

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• Highway Material Testing for the group of seventeen Engineers & Technical Officers on 30 th November, 2007.
• Pavement Design & Good Practices for the group of 40 Engineers on 6 th & 7 th May, 2008 & a group of 48 Engineers on 25 th & 26 th June, 2008.
• Concrete Pavement Design & Construction for a group of 35 Engineers on 6 th & 7 th May, 2008 and another group of 35 Engineers on 10 th & 11 th June, 2008.
• Computer aided Geometric Design of Highways for the group of 35 Engineers on 22 nd , 23 rd & & 24 th July, 2008.
• Traffic Management Options for the group of 07 Engineers, Planners and Senior Police Officers on 5 th & 6 th August, 2008.
• Best Practices in Asphalt pavement Construction for the group 1 of 40 Engineers & Engineering Technologies on 28 th & 29 th January, 2009 and a group of 40 Engineers & Engineering Technologies on 2 nd & 3 rd February, 2009.
• Highway Material Testing for a group of 20 Engineers & Technical Officers on 22 nd ,23 rd , 29 th & 30 th June, 2009 and another group of 26 Engineers & Technical Officers on 7 th ,8 th ,14 th & 15 th July, 2009.
• Concrete Technology for Low Volume Road Construction for the group 1 of 45 Engineers & Technical Officers –24 th & 25 th September, 2009 And a group of 40 Engineers & Technical Officers on 28 th & 29 th September, 2009.
• Concrete Pavement Design & Construction for the group of 38 Engineers on 6 th & 7 th October, 2009.
• Computer aided Geometric Design of Highways for the group of 20 Engineers on 26 th & 27 th April, 2010 & 3 rd May,2010 and a group of 13 Engineers on 5 th , 6 th & 10 th May, 2010.
• Asphalt overlay Design for a group of 47 engineers on 21 st and 23 rd June 2010.Covered the both AASHTO and TRL overlay design procedures.
• Workshop on Asphalt Pavement Construction for Uva Provincial Engineers and Technical officers, Provincial Road Development Authority on September 13-14, 2010.
• Three months short course on Highway Material Testing for 20 material engineers from October- Decmber 2010
• Highway Engineering Research Dissemination seminar for 100 engineers on January 22, 2011.
• Good Practices in Asphalt Pavement Construction for 180 engineers in 4 repeat classes with class size of 45 on March 21 & 22, March 28 & 29, April 4 & 5 and April 25 & 26, 2011.
• Workshop on Asphalt Pavement Construction for Engineers and Technical officers in Central Province, Provincial Road development Authority, Kandy, October 10, 2011

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Externally Funded

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• M. W. Kumara, A. S. Kumarage, J.M.S.J. Bandara, “Development of Road Network Database for Sri Lankan Roads" a paper accepted for presentation and publication at the 54 th Anniversary of the Sri Lankan Association for Advancement of Science (SLAAS), 1998.
• M. W. Kumara “ Prediction of surface initated crack depth in Asphalt Pavement" Masters Thesis, University of South Florida , 2001.
• M. W. Kumara, M. Gunaratne, John Lu, and Bruce Dietrich, "Probabilistic Method for Pavement Crack Depth Prediction " a paper accepted for presentation at 81 st Annual meeting of Transportation Research Board (TRB), Washington D.C. 2002.
• S. Meka, M. W. Kumara, R. Pendyala “ A Structural Equations Analysis of Withn-Household Activity and Time Allocation Between Two Adults" a paper accepted for presentation (Poster session) at 81 st Annual meeting of Transportation Research Board (TRB), Washington D.C. 2002.
• M. W. Kumara, M. Gunaratne, J. J. Lu, and B. Dietrich, “Methodology for Random Surface-Initiated Crack Growth Prediction in Asphalt Pavements, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering-ASCE, March /April , Vol 16, No 2, PP 175-185, 2004.
• M. W. Kumara, Mang Tia, C-L Wu, and B. Choubane, “Evaluation of Applicability of Ultrathin Whitetopping in Florida, ,Journal of Transportation Research Board, TRR, No 1823, PP 39-46, 2003.
• Mang Tia, C-L Wu, and M. W. Kumara , “Foronstic Investigation of Ultrathin Whitetopping application at Ellaville Weight Station.
• M. W. Kumara, M. Tia, C-L Wu, and B. Choubane, “ Analysis of Composite Pavements Under Moving and Static Wheel Loads from a Heavy Vehicle Simulator," International conference on Best Practices for Ultrathin and Thin Whitetopping Pavement, Denver Colorado, April 2005.
• Appea, A., Kumara, M.W., Tia, M., Jackson, N.M., Choubane, B., Bergin, M., “ Concrete Slab Instrumentation Procedure and  Comparison of Field Measured Responses To Computed Responses ," Proceedings of Fifth International Conference on Road and Airfield Pavement Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 10-12 May 2005.
• M. W. Kumara “Analysis And Verification Of Stresses And Strains And Their Relationship To Failure In Concrete PavementsUnder Heavy Vehicle Simulator Loading" Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Florida , 2005.
• M. A. W. Kumara, and J. M. S. J. Bandara, “Sustainable and Environment Friendly Approach for Low Volume Road Development" Tenth Annual Forestry and Environment Symposium- University of Sri Jayawardane , Sri Lanka 2-3 Dec 2005.
• M. W. Kumara, Mang Tia, M. Bergin, and B. Choubane, “Evaluation of Early Strength Requirement of Concrete for Slab Replacement Using Accelerated Pavement Testing, Journal of Transportation Engineering-ASCE, October 2006 Vol 132 No 10,PP 781-789.
• Patricio Tapia, M. Wasantha Kumara, Mang Tia, and Bouzid Choubane , “Analysis, Testing and Verification of the Behavior of Composite Pavements Using a Heavy Vehicle Simulator" International Workshop on Best Practices for Concrete Pavements, Brazil, October 2007.
• V. W. P. Jayasooriya, and M. A. W. Kumara," Construction and Demolition waste as a Base Material for Flexible Pavement" , Proceedings of the 14 th Annual Symposium of Engineering Research Unit, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, October 15, 2008.
• J. K. U. Gayani, M. A. W. Kumara,and S. M. A. Nanayakkara," Construction and Demolition waste For Development of Econocrete for Rigid Pavement Construction" , Proceedings of the 14 th Annual Symposium of Engineering Research Unit, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, October 15, 2008.
• M. A. W. Kumara, J. V. Kosgolla and J. M. S. J. Bandara, “ Study the Effectiveness of Traffic Calming Measures(Humps)" , Proceedings of the 14 th Annual Symposium of Engineering Research Unit, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, October 15, 2008.
• M. A. W. Kumara and k. K. C. S. Kannangara, “ Culvert Management System " Annual Transaction of Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka , Volume 01-Part B, PP 53-62, 2008.
• Tapia, P., Kumara, M.W., Tia, M., Wu, C.L., and Choubane, B. Evaluation of Composite Pavements Using a Heavy Vehicle Simulator ; International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, Volume 1, Number 1, January 2008, pp. 1-11.
• Mampearachchi W. K. and Gunaratne W. P. H.," Finite Element Model Approach to Determine Support Conditions and Effective Layout for Concrete Block Paving" Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering- ASCE, October, 2010.
• W. K. Mampearachchi 1) , Senarath B. Wanigasekara 2) , Determination Of Optimum Nominal Aggregate Size For Single Surface Dressings, Journal of Engineer, October 2010.
• W. K. Mampearachchi, J. V. Kosgolla And S. M. A. Nanayakkara, Development Of An Economical High Early Strength Concrete Mix For Paving Of Provincial Roads In Sri Lanka, Journal Of Engineer, January 2011.
• W. K. Mampearachchi, T. Janaraj, Analysis of Structural Capacity of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Designs Using Two Pavement Design Guidelines: AASHTO & TRL RN-31, Jounal of Engineer, January 2011.
• W. K. Mampearachchi, J. V. Kosgolla And S. M. A. Nanayakkara, Development Of An Economical High Early Strength Concrete Mix For Paving Of Provincial Roads In Sri Lanka, Journal Of Engineer, Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, April 2011
• W. K. Mampearachchi, and Gunasinghe, P.H. G., Effectiveness of Traffic Forecasting on Pavement Designs for Sri Lankans Roads, Journal Of Engineer, Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, April 2011
• W. K. Mampearachchi, and Priyantha, N. A. A. "Development of Guidelines for Low Volume Concrete Road Construction in Sri Lanka" Journal Of Engineer, Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, October 2011
• W. K. Mampearachchi, Pilanavithana, U. S., Perera, P. S., and Appuhami, R. S. B. R, Economical Concrete Mix Design for Interlocking Concrete Paving Blocks for Sri Lanka, Journal of Engineer, Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, October 2011

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• Concrete Roads construction, Organized by SLASS section C for Uva Province Engineers and Technical Officers funded by Holcim Lanka Limited.
• Important Parameters in concrete roads design and construction for Central Province Engineers Organized by Holcim Lanka Limited for Central province Engineers.
• Design & Construction of Concrete Pavement, Question Time Program, Structural Engineering Society , Sri Lanka , April 2007.
• Conducted an awareness programme on concrete road construction for Gemidiriya Foundation, Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development , Badulla, August 2009.
• Conducted an awareness programme on Concrete road construction for Gamidiriya Foundation, Southern Province sponsored by Holcim Lanka Limited. December, 2009.
• Conducted a seminar on Road Safety for all the police officers ( OIC Traffic and ASP)in Western Province on invitation of DIG (Traffic), May 8, 2011 at Katubedda.
• Guest lecturer on Concrete Block Paving Technology at Florida Department of Transportation, State Material Office, Gainesville, Florida, September 29, 2011
• Guest lecture on Determination of support condition and effective laying pattern and block shapes for concrete block paying, graduate seminar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of south Florida, Tampa, October 3, 2011.

Last updated october 2011

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