Senior Lecturer (G I)
Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Technology
Contact:
Main Campus, 3rd floor, Science and Technology building, Room No : W5
Office: +94112898378, Ext: 284 Mobile: +94771023649
E-mail: bdwit@ou.ac.lk dileepawitharana@gmail.com
Currently I serve as a senior lecturer at the Department of Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering Technology and also as the Director of the Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (CESSD) of the Open University of Sri Lanka. I have obtained my PhD from the Leiden University in the Netherlands where I looked at the relationship between Sri Lankan engineering and Sinhala nationalism. After completing my first degree in electrical engineering (power) at the University of Moratuwa I did my M.Phil degree at the Open University of Sri Lanka and my focus there was on electricity demand forecasting.
Before joining the Open University as a senior lecturer I worked as a consultant / project manager at Practical Action / Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), as a consultant at Energy Forum, as a peace worker at Thirupthiya / Quaker Peace and Service (QPS), Sri Lanka and as an activist in the Orgaisation to Safeguard Life and Environment (OSLEN). I’m currently serving as a director of Janathakshan, a not for profit organisation established in 2011 to promote sustainable and green solutions.
Areas of Specialization:Philosophy of Engineering
Research interests:Contemporary nationalism, Engineering and nationalism, history of technical education, energy and environment policy and practice, multilateral and bilateral trade agreements
Affiliations:Department of Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Technology
Course Coordination:1. MHJ5533/5563 (Technology, Society and Environment) 2. MHJ4241 (History of Technology) 3. MHP9504 (Environment, Society and Development)
Researches:Witharana Dileepa (2019). Ravana’s Sri Lanka: Redefining the Sinhala Nation? South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, Vol 42, South Asian Studies Association, pp. 781-795.
Witharana Dileepa (2018). Technical Education in the Imagination of the Ceylonese Development State, Review of Development & Change, Vol XXIII (2), Madras Institute of Development Studies, pp. 162-182.
Witharana Dileepa (2018). Negotiating Power and Constructing the Nation: Engineering in Sri Lanka. PhD Thesis, Leiden: Leiden Uniuversity.
Witharana, D. (2015). The story of the “6% t-shirt: the hundred day struggle of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association, Sri Lanka. The South Asianist, 4(1).
Witharana Dileepa (2015). Good Governance and Development iun a Shrinking Local Policy Space: GATS and Service Sector Reforms, In Hettige, S and Gerharz, E. (eds.) Governance, Conflict and Development in South Asia. New Delhi, California, London: SAGE Publications, pp. 240-272.
Witharana Dileepa (2010). “An Act of Faith’? Ten Years of the India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA)” In Free Trade Agreements and Human Rights, LST Review, Vol 20 Issue 270 April 2010, Law and Society Trust, Colombo.
Witharana Dileepa and Amarasuriya Harini (2009). Implications of Intellectual Property Rights on Access to Knowledge in Education and Research. Conference Proceedings – 7th National Conference of Library and Information Science, Colombo, pp. 104-138.
Witharana Dileepa (2009). “Why Proposed Water Policies were Contested?: A Discussion on Social, Political and Business Dimensions of Water Reforms”. Conference on National Water Policy for Sri Lanka: Towards a New Initiative, Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya.
Witharana Dileepa (2008). Outside Interests, Inside Needs: Tensions in Conflict Resolution Workshop Practices Based on Sri Lankan Experience In Roy B (Eds). Re-Centering Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice, Syracuse University Press, NY, pp. 195-214.
Withrana D, Amarasuriya H and Uvais H (2007). Trade from a Social Justice Perspective: A Discussion on the Framework of India Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Working Paper No. 1, IGD Programme, SPARC, University of Colombo, Colombo.
Witharana D (2007). Electricity Reforms and the Poor. In Global Electricity Reform Experiences. Discussion Papers Vol. 2, Liberalization of Services and Reforms, Practical Action, South Asia.
Witharana D (2002). Community Peace Work in Sri Lanka: A Critical Appraisal. Working paper 12. Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford.
Witharana, D (1998). Analysis of Electrical Consumption Patterns in Sri Lanka for a Needs Based Planning Model. M.Phil Thesis, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Colombo.
Bandara N, De Zoysa A & Witharana D (1993). Energy Efficient Cooking Arrangement. Annual Sessions of SLAAS, Peradeniya.
De Zoysa A, Ranawaka C & Witharana D (1992). Power Generation and Some Difficulties in Incorporating Environmental Costs. Environment Forum, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa.
Ongoing Research:Contemporary nationalism: The surge of interest in Hela Ravana
Publications:Reports
Witharana B. D. and Amarasuriya H. N. (2013). Emerging donors in Sri Lanka: Impacts and consequences. A report presented to International Alert Sri Lanka.
Witharana Dileepa (2009). Technology Transfer and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Joint Publication for Copenhagen on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction. A report Submitted for Practical Action in preparation for Copenhagen negotiations , Colombo.