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Prof. Parakrama Karunaratna

Professor of Chemical and process engineering

  • Email: dpkaru@eng.pdn.ac.lk
  • Phone No: +94 77 737 6142
  • Office Location: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka
Biography

Have been an academic since 1994, first as a lecturer and then as the Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Graduated from the same faculty and obtained a PhD from the University of Nova, Lisbon Portugal. Was a Commonwealth fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial Collage, London. Teach subject matters related to Chemical Engineering, Energy, Air Pollution Control, Health and safety, and Environmental Management. Research areas include air pollution, nanomaterial synthesis and their industrial applications and renewable energy.
Have served as a consultant to the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry and commerce, UNEP, UNDP, National Cleaner Production Centre, and private sector organizations in the areas of environment and safety.
Have been a member of the mirror committee of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute on ISO 14001 series and Technical Expert to the Sri Lanka Accreditation Board in accreditation of GHG verification bodies.

Educational Qualifications

BSc    : B.Sc. Honours Degree in Engineering, Major in Chemical Engineering combined with Mechanical Engineering,

University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 1992 (First Class Honours)

PhD      : PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Nova, Lisbon, Portugal

Areas of Research: 
  • Value addition to Sri Lankan Minerals
  • Scaling up of nanomaterial synthesis Processes
  • Air pollution and its health impacts
  • Biomass gasification and combustion
  • Sustainability and circular economy
Selected Research Publications:

Publications in Peer Reviewed International Journals

  • Nirodha Abayalath, Indeepa Malshani, Rajitha Ariyaratne, Shizhen Zhao, GuangcaiZhong, Gan Zhang, Aruna Manipura, Anoma Siribaddana, Parakrama Karunaratne,Suranga P. Kodithuwakku. Characterization of airborne PAHs and metals associatedwith PM10 fractions collected from an urban area of Sri Lanka and the impact on airwayepithelial cells, Chemosphere, Volume 286, Part 2, January 2022
  • M.R. Abeywardena, M.A.D.H. Yashomala, R.K.W.H.M.K. Elkaduwe, D.G.G.P.Karunaratne, H.M.T.G.A. Pitawala, R.M.G. Rajapakse, A. Manipura, M.M.M.G.P. G.Mantilaka, Fabrication of water-repellent polyester textile via dip-coating of in-situsurface-modified superhydrophobic calcium carbonate from dolomite, Colloids andSurfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 629 (2021) 127397
  • Abewardana M, Elkaduwa., R.K.W.H.M.K., D G G P, Karunaratne Mantilaka,M.M.M.G.P.G., Pitawala, H.M.T.G.A., Karunaratne, D.G.G.P. Rajapakse, R.M.G.,Surfactant Assisted Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Nanostructures usingDolomite: Effect of pH on Morphology and Particle Size, Advanced Powder Technology,November 2019.
  • Tharindu Ranathunge, D G G P Karunaratne, R.M.G. Rajapakse, Davita Watkins,Doxorubicin loaded magnesium oxide nanoflakes as pH dependent carriers forsimultaneous treatment of cancer and hypomagnesemia, Nanomaterials 2019, 9, 208;doi:10.3390/nano9020208
  • Weerasundara L, Amarasekara RW, Magana-Arachchi DN, Ziyath AM, KarunaratneDGGP, Goonetilleke A, Vithanage M, Microorganisms and heavy metals associated withatmospheric deposition in a congested urban environment of a developing country: SriLanka, Sci Total Environ., Volumes 584–585, 15 April 2017, Pages 803-812 (2017)
Conference Full Paper
  •  M. M. M. G. P. G. Mantilaka, H. M. T. G. A. Pitawala, D. G. G. P. Karunaratne, R. M. G.Rajapakse, Stearic acid coated calcium carbonate nanocrystallites from dolomitic marblesfor polymer industries, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, July 2014,Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka – Accepted for publication
  • G. M. C. Ruwan Bandara, K. G. Chathuranga Senarathna, M. M. M. G. P. G. Mantilaka,D. G. G. P. Karunaratne, H. M. T. G. A. Pitawala, R. M. G. Rajapakse, Flame-retardantand anticorrosive surface coatings of polyaniline/magnesium hydroxide nanocompositesprepared from dolomite, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, July2014, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • R. A. Amarasinghe, M. M. M. G. P. G. Mantilaka, H. M. T. G. A. Pitawala, D. G. G. P.Karunaratne, R. M. G. Rajapakse, Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution bycalcium carbonate nanoparticles, University International Research Sessions, July 2014,Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka – Accepted for publication
  • M.M.M.G.P.G. Mantilaka, D.G.G.P. Karunaratne, R.M.G. Rajapakse, H.M.T.G.A. Pitawala,Synthesis and Characterization of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate/Poly (methyl methacrylate)Nanocomposite using Sri Lankan Marble, Proceedings of the 28th Annual Sessions, GeologicalSociety of Sri Lanka, 24th Feb. 2012 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Conference Abstract 
  • D G G P Karunaratne, · SHS Weerasinghe · S M W T P K Ariyaratne, Life Cycle Assessment ofuse of Biochar as a soil amendment, Indian Life Cycle management Conference, New Delhi, India
  • M.M.M.G.P.G. Mantilaka, W.P.S.L. Wijesinghe, R.M.G. Rajapakse, D.G.G.P. Karunaratne,H.M.T.G.A. Pitawala, Surfactant-Assisted Synthesis of Nanosized Precipitated CalciumCarbonate and Magnesium hydroxide from Marble, Book of abstracts of the PeradeniyaUniversity Research Sessions, Sri Lanka, Vol.17, p 182, 2012.
  • Madugalla, T.B.N.S., Pitawala, H.M.T.G.A. and Karunaratne, D.G.G.P., Characterisation of SriLankan marble by petrographical methods Book of abstracts of the Peradeniya UniversityResearch Sessions, Sri Lanka, Vol.17, p 214, 2012.
  • Madugalla, T.B.N.S., Pitawala, H M T. G. A. and Karunaratne, D.G.G.P., 2013. Petrographic andGeochemical Characteristics of Marbles in Central Sri Lanka; Potential Applications in Industries,Geological Society of Sri Lanka (Abs.), Proceedings of the 29th annual session.
  • Founder President – Life Cycle Assessment and Design for Sustainability Network, Sri Lanka 

  • Chairman – Evaluation Committee, Sri Lanka National Energy Efficiency Awards (Since 2011) 

  • Chairman – Eco Labelling of Building Materials Committee, Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (2019–Present) 

  • UNIDO Appointed National Expert on Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) 

  • NSF Research Grant Recipient – Rs. 20 million+ for Dolomitic Lime value addition research 

  • Vehicular Emission Trust Fund Grant Awardee – Ambient air quality monitoring in Kandy 

  • International Research Fellow – Imperial College London, UK (2009–2010) 

  • Editor & Editorial Board Member – Multiple national and international conference proceedings 

  • Principal Investigator / Team Leader for several UNDP, UNEP, GIZ, UNIDO funded national projects

Professional Memberships

  • Member – Sri Lanka Energy Managers Association

  • Founder President – Life Cycle Assessment and Design for Sustainability Network

  • Director – Sri Lanka Sustainable Consumption and Production Forum

Administrative & Leadership Roles

  • Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Peradeniya (2001–2004, 2023–Present) 

  • Deputy Director – Consultancies, Centre for Environmental Studies   

  • Chairman – Board of Study, General Programme in Engineering 

  • Faculty Coordinator – HETC Project (World Bank)

  • Coordinator – MSc in Industrial Chemistry Programme

  • President – Engineering Faculty Teachers’ Union 

  • Senior Student Counsellor, University of Peradeniya 

National & International Consultancy / Expert Roles
 
  • Expert – Adaptation/Mitigation, Biennial Transparency Report (UNFCCC, 2025–26) 
  • Team Leader & Technical Expert, Chemical Management Needs Assessment – UNDP 
  • Local Consultant, National Ecolabel Framework – Ministry of Environment / GIZ 
  • Waste Sector Specialist, OCPP Programme – CEFAS / NCPC 
  • Project Manager, Air Quality Management Plans – Kandy & Kurunegala Cities 
  • National Mitigation Expert, Third National Communication to UNFCCC 
  • Team Leader, Minamata Convention Implementation – Mercury Waste Management 
  • Chairman, National Scientific Advisory Panel – Biochar Systems Project (APN)
Standards, Accreditation & Policy Work
 
  • Member – National Mirror Committee on Environmental Management (SLSI) 
  • Technical Expert – GHG Validation & Verification Bodies Accreditation (SLAB) 
  • Technical Consultant – Sri Lanka Accreditation Board (GHG Assertions) 
  •  Member – Inter-Agency Working Group, Switch Asia SCP Programme 
 
 Training, Workshops & Capacity Building
 
  •  Resource Person – ISO 14001, Cleaner Production, Green Productivity, Chemical Safety 
  •  Trainer – Pakistani Consultants (Karachi), Cleaner Production Programme 
  •  Academic Coordinator – Certificate Course in Industrial Health & Safety 
  •  Associate Programme – Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • CP1020 Design and Innovation
  • CP305/ CP4060 Energy System Design
  • CP310/ CP4070 Sustainability Assessment and Eco-innovation
  • CP311/ CP4080 Energy and Environmental Management in Process Industry
  • CP312/ CP3030 Industrial Safety and Health
  • CP313/ CP3070 Independent Study (Research supervision)
  • CP407/ CP4010Process Engineering Research Project I (Research supervision)
  • CP408/ CP4020 Process Engineering Design Project I
  • CP409/ CP4050 Process Engineering Design Project II
  • CP410/ CP4030 Industrial Fluid Mechanics
  • CP411/ CP4040 Process Engineering Research Project II (Research supervision)
  • CP506/CP5160 Industrial Pollution Control System Design
  • CP508/ CP5070 Energy Technology for Process Industry