Personal profile
Personal Profile
Upaka Rathnayake is a Professor of Civil Engineering and has been working in academia since 2006. He holds his PhD from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, United Kingdom (Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's First Technological University). He has worked in several countries in the capacity of both academician and researcher including in Ireland, Japan, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Australia and Sri Lanka.
Research Interests
- Water resources management
- Hydrological modeling
- Climate analysis
- Multi-objective optimization
- Soft computing techniques
- Explainable artificial intelligence
- Remote sensing and GIS
Teaching Profile
- Fluid Mechanics
- Hydraulics & Hydrology
- Water Resources Management
- Structural Mechanics
- Soil Mechanics
- Research Methodology
Professional Memberships
- Member of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) - Membership Number AM-26454
- Member of Engineers New Zealand - Membership Number 2002538
- Member of Water Engineers, New Zealand
- Life Member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
- Member of National Science Foundation – SL, NSF/STMIS/009455
- Member of International Association of hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
National & International Achievements
- 2023 – Presidential Awards, Sri Lanka for top scientific publications in 2019.
- 2021, 2020, & 2019 University Excellent Researcher award - SLIIT, Sri Lanka
- 2018 & 2016 – Outstanding reviewer award – Journal of Hydrology, Elsevier
External Positions
- Senior Adjunct Researcher, Munster University of Technology, Ireland (2023 - to date)
- International Advisory Member, Sagi Rama Krishnam Raju Engineering College, India (2023 - to date)
Education/Academic qualification
Engineering and technology, PhD, Optimal management and operational control of urban sewer systems, University of Strathclyde
Nov 2009 → May 2013
Award Date: 2 Jul 2013
Engineering and technology, Postgraduate Certificate, Sustainability, Hokkaido University
Apr 2008 → Sep 2009
Award Date: 25 Sep 2009
Engineering and technology, Master, Interactions between river flow and seepage flow, Hokkaido University
Oct 2007 → Sep 2009
Award Date: 25 Sep 2009
Engineering and technology, Bachelor, Bachelor of the Science of Engineering, University of Peradeniya
Oct 2001 → Jan 2006
Award Date: 16 Jan 2006
Keywords
- TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
- TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Name of Affiliated ATU Research Unit
- MISHE - Mathematical Modelling and Intelligent Systems for Health & Environment
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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AI-Powered Soil Temperature Modeling for Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Regions: A Case Study of Bustan, Uzbekistan
Mampitiya, L., Rathnayake, N., Rozumbetov, K., Erkudov, V., Koriyev, M., Kantamaneni, K. & Rathnayake, U., 27 Apr 2026, In: Journal of Data Science and Intelligent Systems. 4, 2, p. 260-268 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Artificial intelligence and remote sensing frameworks for wildfire monitoring and risk analysis across multiple ecosystems: a review
Jodhani, K., Bhatiya, L., Sirvi, L., Chanda, A., Thakkar, S. & Rathnayake, U., 2026, In: AIMS Environmental Science. 13, 1, p. 56-98 43 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Some Regions of Kosovo Based on Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Parameters
Zogaj, F., Blazhevska, T., Sallaku, F., Thakur, R. R., Çadraku, H., Rathnayake, U., Nandi, D., Knights, V., Pavlovska, G., Bytyçi, P., Lika, E., Fetoshi, O., Velkovski, V., Hasalliu, R. & Đurin, B., 23 Apr 2026, In: Limnological Review.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Assessment of macrophytes biological indexes for Mirusha River and evaluation of physicochemical parameters in the Republic of Kosovo
Bytyçi, P., Koto, R., Shala-Abazi, A., Sallaku, F., Çadraku, H., Fetoshi, O., Đurin, B., Rathnayake, U., Pande, C. B., Lika, E. & Millaku, F., Mar 2026, In: Aquatic Ecology. 60, 1, 25.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Assessment of Shoreline Change in Southeast Ireland Using Geospatial Techniques
Senatilleke, U., Herath, R., Fonseka, P. U., Kantamaneni, K. & Rathnayake, U., 27 Mar 2026, In: Sustainability.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Climate Change Impacts
Rathnayake, U. (Speaker)
30 Oct 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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United Nations Environment Programme (Publisher)
Rathnayake, U. (Member of Editorial Board)
1 Sep 2025 → 31 Aug 2029Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial work
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Formulating an Engineering Problem into Research
Rathnayake, U. (Speaker)
25 Jul 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Research for Resilience Sri Lanka’s Future
Rathnayake, U. (Speaker)
22 Jul 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Writing a manuscript to an indexed journal
Rathnayake, U. (Speaker)
19 Jul 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk