Academic and Professional Qualifications
Research Interests
- Irrigation Engineering & Management
- Gender and Water, Climate Change and Water, Water and Society, Water and Food Security, and Groundwater Management.Irrigation, Soil and Water, Gender and Water, Climate Change and Water, Water and Society, Water and Food Security, and Groundwater Management.
Teaching Subjects
- Irrigation and Drainage
- Soil and Water
- Gender and Water
- Field Research Methodologies
- Groundwater Management
Education
D. Tech. (Irrigation Engineering and Management), 1996; Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
M.Phil. (Soil and Water Engineering), 1991; Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
B.Sc. (Agric.), 1982; University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Diploma in Coaching for Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Initiatives, 2008; FLICT / GTZ, Sri Lanka.
Appointments
- Senior Lecturer (Irrigation Engineering and Management), Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, since June 1996 to date
- Country Coordinator, Cap-Net Lanka (Country partner to Cap-Net UNDP), PGIA, Peradeniya, Jan. 2017 - Dec. 2022
- Acting Project Director, Dry Zone Agriculture Development Project, CARE International-Sri Lanka, From March 2005 to May 2005 (in five districts: Mannar, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Monaragala and Hambantota).
- Team Leader, Dry Zone Agriculture Development Project, CARE International-Sri Lanka, From June 2004 to February 2005 (in Mannar district).
- Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, April 1990 - June 1996.
- Research Assistant, International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 1986 to August 1988.
- Teaching Assistant (Agric. Engineering), Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Oct. 1985 to May 1986.
- Research Assistant, Man and Biosphere Project, National Science Foundation / Department of Agric. Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Feb. 1983 to Jan. 1985.
Administrative positions held at the University
- Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2018 – April 2021.
- Lecturer In-charge, University Sub-campus (A field training campus for the Faculty of Agriculture), University of Peradeniya, Mahailuppallama, Sri Lanka, Nov. 2002 to Oct. 2003.
- Lecturer In-charge, University Sub-campus (A field training campus for the Faculty of Agriculture), University of Peradeniya, Mahailuppallama, Sri Lanka, August. 1999 - Sept. 2000.
- Lecturer In-charge, University Sub-campus (A field training campus for the Faculty of Agriculture), University of Peradeniya, Mahailuppallama, Sri Lanka, 1991.
ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS & AWARDS
Awards
- Australia Award Fellowship for sustainable groundwater management through Integrated Water Management, International Water Centre, Brisbane, Australia., five weeks from 20 October to 02 December 2016.
- Foreign Research Fellow / Visiting Associate Professor (Agro-environment), University of Tokyo, three months from 01 October to 31 December 2000.
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship for Ph. D., three years from 1992 to1995 at AIT, Thailand.
Publications
Books authored/edited
- Pathmarajah, S. and S.A. Jabbar (2014) Irrigation system management: A guide to the management of minor irrigation schemes (unpublished). FAO, Sri Lanka. p54.
- Mikunthan, T., Vithanage, M., Pathmarajah, S., Arasalingam, S., Ariyaratne, R., Manthrithilake,
H. ( 2013). Hydrogeochemical characterisation of Jaffna’s aquifer systems in Sri Lanka. Colombo,
Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 69p. doi: 10.5337/2014.001
- Anbumozhi, V., Meinhard Breiling, Pathmarajah, S. and V.R. Reddy (2012) Climate change in Asia and the Pacific: How can countries adapt? Sage Publications, India (ISBN 9788132108948), p400.
- Thiruchelvam, S. and S. Pathmarajah. (1999) An economic analysis of salinity problems in the Mahaweli H area. The final report of the EEPSEA research project, May 1999. Singapore.
Book chapters
- Pathmarajah, S. (2012). Water management practices and climate change adaptation: South Asian experiences. In: Climate change in Asia and the Pacific: How can countries adapt? Sage Publications, India.
List of publications
- Fernando, B.H.R., Ranasinghe, C.S., Pathmarajah, S. and Mowjood, M.I.M. (2022). Performance of Micro Irrigation Systems in Coconut Plantations: A Field Study. Paper presented at the PGIA Annual Congress, 2022.
- Kowshayini, P., Nayakekorala, H.B. and Pathmarajah, S. (2022). Tank Sedimentation and Soil Erosion Simulations of the Subcatchments Under Present Land Use Scenario and Conservation Interventions in Palugaswewa Tank Cascade System, Sri Lanka. Paper presented at the PGIA Annual Congress, 2022.
- Dissanayake, P., De Silva, S.N.T., Pathmarajah, S. Kodagodaand, K.A.D.A., Chandimal T.M.R. and Herath, H.M.T.D. (2022). Pesticide Usage Pattern in Rice Cultivation in Trincomalee District in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 33(2): 173-182.
- Dissanayke, D.M.P.N.K., De Silva, S.N.T., Pathmarajah, S., Fernando, C.A.N., Abeynayake, N.R., Kodagoda, K.A.D.A. and Dassanayake, D.M.M.N.K. (2022). Occurrence of heavy metals in surface water bodies in rice cultivation areas in Trincomalee district, Sri Lanka. Paddy Water Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-022-00909-3
- Sugirtharan, M. and Pathmarajah, S. (2022). Determination of rainfall-runoff relationship using SCS- CN method in Batticaloa lagoon area, Sri Lanka. AGRIEAST 2022 Vol. 16 (1): 1-13.
- Dilini1, M.M.G.S., Gunawardena, E.R.N. and Pathmarajah, S. (2021). Impacts of Water Scarcity Induced Adaptation Strategies on Livelihood and Household Food Security of Farming Community of Horivila-Palugaswewa and Sivalakulama Cascades of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(4): 418-425.
- Thusyanthini, R., Pathmarajah, S. and Suthakaran, N. (2021). Performance Assessment of Iranamadu Irrigated Agricultural System in Sri Lanka. Rajarata University Journal, 6 (1), 88-92.
- Sutharsiny A., Manthrithilake, H., Pathmarajah, S., Mikunthan, T. and Meththika, V. (2020). Geo-statistical approach for prediction of groundwater quality in Chunnakam aquifer, Jaffna Peninsula. J Jaffna Sci. Association, 2(1), 12-24.
- Dilini1, M.M.G.S., Pathmarajah, S. and Gunawardena, E.R.N. (2020). Role of groundwater as a climate change adaptation strategy in dry zone farming systems, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Geoethics and Groundwater Management Congress, Springer Nature.
- Naveendrakumar, G. Meththika Vithanage, Hyun-Han Kwon, Chandrasekara, S.S.K., Iqbal, M.C.M., Pathmarajah, S., Fernando, W.C.D.K. and Jayantha Obeysekera (2019). South Asian perspective on temperature and rainfall extremes: A review. Atmospheric Research xxx (xxxx) xxx-xxx
- Sugirtharan, M., Pathmarajah, S. and Mowjood, M.I.M. (2019) Climate change awareness and perception among the community residing nearby areas of Batticaloa lagoon in Sri Lanka. AGRIEAST 2019 Vol.13 (2):55-68.
- Naveendrakumar, G. Meththika Vithanage, Hyun-Han Kwon, Iqbal, M.C.M., Pathmarajah, S. and Jayantha Obeysekera (2018). Five Decadal Trends in Averages and Extremes of Rainfall and Temperature in Sri Lanka. Advances in Meteorology, 2018: 1-13.
- Arasalingam, A., Manthrithilake, H., Pathmarajah, S., Mikunthan, T. and Vithanage, M. (2018) Assessment of the chemical facies of groundwater using factor analysis in the Chunnagam aquifer, Jaffna Peninsula. JSLASS, 2018 (1): 1 – 12.
- Jayasiri, M.M.J.G.C.N., Diyawadana, D.M.N., Samarakoon, S.M.L.D., Pathmarajah, S. and Dayawansa, N.D.K. (2018). A Gendered Analysis on Adaptation to Resettlement Stress: Case Studies from Deduru Oya Reservoir Project in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 29 (4): 348-360.
- Pathmarajah, S. (2018). Transformation of Agricultural Extension Systems towards Ecosystem Sustainability. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Transforming Agricultural Extension Systems: Towards achieving the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Global Impact. Kandy, Sri Lanka, 255-257.
- Naveendrakumar, G., Vithange, Meththika, Obeysekera, J., Pathmarajah, S. and Iqbal, M.C.M. (2017). Long-term temperature trends in climatological zones of Sri Lanka. Abstracts of the International Roundtable on the Impact of Extreme Natural Events: Science and Technology for Mitigation. 13-15 December 2017. Colombo, Sri Lanka. pp. 27-28.
- Diyawadana, D.M.N., Pathmarajah, S. and Gunawardena, E.R.N. (2017). Vulnerability of Smallholder Farmers to Climate Change: A Case Study from Hakwatuna-Oya Irrigation Scheme in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 28 (3): 223-237.
- Sugirtharan, M., Pathmarajah, S. and Mowjood, M.I.M. (2017). Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Water Quality in Batticaloa Lagoon in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 28 (3) : 281-397.
- Sugirtharan, M., Pathmarajah, S., Mowjood, M.I.M. and Nirmilan, A. (2017). Characteristics of sediments of Batticaloa Lagoon of Sri Lanka during rainy season with special reference to texture and organic matter. 5th International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practises for Sustainable Development (ACEPS 2017), Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
