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You are here: OUSL / Faculty of Natural Sciences / Dept. of Computer Science 

Dr. (Mrs.) W.A. Suresha Nilmini Perera

BSc(Hons)in IT (University of Moratuwa), Master of Computer Science (UCSC), PhD (University of Moratuwa), SMIEEE

Lecturer (Probationary)

Department of Computer Science
  • Central Campus, Science and Technology Building, 3rd Floor
  • +94 718110358
  • waper@ou.ac.lk , sureshasnp@gmail.com

Dr. Suresha Nilmini Perera obtained her B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Information Technology from
the University of Moratuwa in September 2009 and completed her MCS in Computer Science at
the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) in December 2020. She earned her
doctoral degree from the University of Moratuwa in 2025, conducting research in the areas of
Natural Language Processing (NLP), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and social networking.
Following her undergraduate studies, she began her career as a Software Engineer at
Millennium Information Technologies, Malabe. She later joined Gigies (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka,
where she served as a Senior Software Engineer and was subsequently promoted to Tech
Lead. She then moved into academia, joining the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering at the Open University of Sri Lanka as a Lecturer (on contract). Since 2019, she
has been serving as a Lecturer (Probationary) in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty
of Natural Sciences.
Her current research interests include hate speech analysis on social media platforms, text
analytics, natural language processing, and social network analysis. She continues to contribute
to advancing AI-driven methodologies and applications through research, teaching, and
collaborative projects.

Natural Language Processing, AI Techniques, Machine Learning

Social Network Analysis, Natural Language processing, Social Network Analysis

CSU4301/CSU4616 – Object Oriented Programming
ECZ3262/ECZ3161 – Mathematics/Mathematics for Computing
ECI5161 – Human Computer Interaction
BBM11033 – Information and Communication Technology
ECS201/CE2201 – Software Engineering
CE2201 – Data Structures and Algorithms
BTM11033 – Basic computing and application
ECS402 – Management Information Systems
EEX9233 – Research Methodology
ITU5303 – Multimedia Design and Technology
ITU6621 – Research Project (Final year group project supervision)

CSU5320 – Project in Computer Science (Final year group project supervision)

Hate speech user identification in Social Media.

 

1. Author of 2 units of the book “Programming in Python”, which was developed by the Dept. of
Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Open University of Sri Lanka as part of the
collaborative advanced ICT course development project of the Commonwealth of Learning
(COL). The same book is used as the course material for EEI3367 – Python Programming at the
Open University of Sri Lanka.
2. Author of 2 units of the book “Introduction to Android” which was developed by the Dept. of
Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Open University of Sri Lanka as a part of the
collaborative advanced ICT course development project of the Commonwealth of Learning
(COL). The same book is used as the course material for EEI3269 – Introduction to Mobile
Application Development at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
3. Script writer and video editor – A video of “Introduction to Android” was developed by the
Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Open University of Sri Lanka, as a part of the
collaborative advanced ICT course of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
Overview of the course – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgOJwaMtv_k
Introduction to the course – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ZdsiyrhHg
Evolution of Android – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7J4CGZD3_c

Journal Papers
1. G.S.N. Meedin, H.M.M. Caldera, W.A.S.N. Perera, I. Perera, "A Novel Annotation Scheme to
Generate Hate Speech Corpus through Crowdsourcing and Active Learning", International
Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications (IJACSA) September 2022 Edition
(Volume 13 No 9).
2. W.A.S.N. Perera, G.S.N. Meedin, H.M.M. Caldera, I. Perera, Supunmali Ahangama "A
Comparative Study of the Characteristics of Hate Speech Propagators and Their Behaviours
over Twitter Social Media Platform", Heliyon, Volume 9, Issue 8, 2023, e19097, ISSN 2405-
8440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19097. (Q1 journal)
Conference Papers
1. D. H. W. Kannangara, S. Ahangama, S. N. Perera, M. Pushpakumara, A. S. Karunananda
and D. K. Withanage, "Iddhipada Agent for versatile e-Learning," 2007 Third International
Conference on Information and Automation for Sustainability, Melbourne, VIC, 2007, pp. 129-
134, doi: 10.1109/ICIAFS.2007.4544791.
2. Kushani Perera, Nalin Bandara, Suresha Perera, Lakshika Balasuriya, Damith Amarasena,
Dileeka Dias (2009), InforMate-GIS for Diverse Mobile Devices, 4th annual eASiA 2009
conference and exhibition, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
3. Suresha Perera, Shalini Rajasingham, “Quantitative Analysis of Blended Learning in ODL
Education”, Second Asia-Pacific Conference on Multidisciplinary Research 2017 (APMR2017),
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
4. Suresha Perera, B.K. Werapitiya, S. Rajasingham, I.A. Premaratne, “Using extrinsic and
intrinsic motivation factors to encourage student discussions in online classrooms: integrating
facebook”, 31st Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference in Indonesia, 2017
5. L.S.K. Udugama, Suresha N. Perera, “Converting a Course from Traditional Teaching to
Online Learning for a Blended Programme”, Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open
Learning (PCF9), Edinburgh, Scotland, 9 – 12 September 2019.
6. Suresha N. Perera, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, “Latest advancements in Information and
Communication Technology for better interactive Virtual Healthcare Medical Clinic”, 4th
International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences IRSPAS 2019, October 2019,
University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
7. Suresha N. Perera, “Game Based Learning for Primary School Children to avoid COVID-19
educational disruption”, Teaching-Learning in the Time of Pandemic: Role of Online Learning,
Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, INDIA in Collaboration with Commonwealth
Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), INDIA, 21–22 April, 2020.
8. Suresha N. Perera, S. Rajasingham, “GAME BASED LEARNING APPROACH FOR
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING LABORATORY CLASSES”, The Open University Research
Sessions (OURS) 2020, Sri Lanka, 12th & 13th November 2020.

9. Suresha N. Perera, Kasun Karunanayaka, “Sentiment Classification of Social Media Data
with Supervised Machine Learning Approaches: Common Framework, Challenges, and New
Dimensions”, 4th SLAAI – International Conference on Artificial Intelligence (SLAAI-ICAI-2020),
16th Annual Sessions-2020.
10. W.A.S.N. Perera, I. Perera, S. Ahangama, “HATE SPEECH DETECTION ON SINHALA
SOCIAL MEDIA TEXT USING LSTM AND FASTTEXT”, The Open University Research
Sessions (OURS) 2021, Sri Lanka, 16th & 17th September 2021.
11. Perera, W.A.S.N., Ahangama, S., Perera, I.,(2021, July). Identifying Hate Content with
Facebook Posts in Sinhala Language Using Emoticons and Reactions-based Text Analysis.
77th Annual Sessions – 2021, Sri Lanka.
12. De Silva, H., Ahangama, S., Perera, W.A. S. N. (2021). Sinhala Text Extraction from
YouTube Thumbnails using Convolutional Spiking Neural Networks. From Innovation to Impact
2021, Sri Lanka
13. Caldera, M. M., Meedin, G.S.N., Perera, W.A. S. N. & Perera, I. (2021). Classification of
Trending Videos in YouTube. From Innovation to Impact 2021. , Sri Lanka
14. Caldera, M. M., Meedin, G.S.N., Perera, W.A. S. N. & Perera, I. (2021). Long-Term Trend
Analysis for Social Media Content Published During COVID-19 Pandemic. International
Conference on Advanced Research in Computing 2022, Sri Lanka
15. Perera, S., Perera, I., Ahangama, S., (2022). Exploring Twitter Messages during the
COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka: Topic Modelling and Emotion Analysis, International
Conference on Advanced Research in Computing 2022, Sri Lanka
16. Perera, S., Perera, I., Ahangama, S., (2022). The effects of Social Media User Behavioural
Factors on Hate Speech Detection, International Conference on Advanced Research in
Computing 2022, Sri Lanka
17. Suresha Perera & Kasun Karunanayaka (2022). Sentiment Analysis of Social Media Data
using Fuzzy-Rough Set Classifier for the Prediction of the Presidential Election. International
Conference on Advanced Research in Computing 2022, Sri Lanka
18. Perera, S., Perera, I., Ahangama, S., (2023), Influence Rank of Hate Users in Twitter: An
Analysis during Sri Lanka’s Political and Economic Crisis, International Conference on
Advanced Research in Computing 2023, Sri Lanka
19. Perera, S., Perera, I., Ahangama, S., Hathnapitiya S., Predicting Twitter Hate User Behavior
using Big Five Personality Traits and Ensemble Machine Learning, HCI International 2023
20. S. Perera, V. A, I. Perera and S. Ahangama, "Identification of the severity level of a hate text
by YouTubers," 2025 5th International Conference on Advanced Research in Computing
(ICARC), Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, 2025, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/ICARC64760.2025.10963083.
21. S. Perera, I. Perera and S. Ahangama, "Influence Ranking of Hate Users in Content
Propagation on Twitter," 2025 5th International Conference on Advanced Research in
Computing (ICARC), Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, 2025, pp. 1-6, doi:
10.1109/ICARC64760.2025.10962830.

22. T. H. Sanath, and S. Perera “Prediction of mask-wearing severity of the necessity using
crowd analytics and geo-tagged social media data in Sri Lanka,” in Proceedings of the SLAAS
Scientific Sessions 2025, Sri Lanka, 2025.
23. Perera, S., Rajasingham, S., Perera, I., & Ahangama, S., “Capsule Network-Based Dynamic
Routing to Detect Hate Speech on Twitter,” in Proceedings of the International Conference on
Advanced Research in Computing (ICARC 2026), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri
Lanka, 2026.
24. Gammanpila, G. S., & Perera, S., “Hate Speech Detection with SOCOLD: Sinhala
Obfuscated & Code-Mixed Offensive Language Dataset,” in Proceedings of the International
Conference on Advanced Research in Computing (ICARC 2026), Sabaragamuwa University of
Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, 2026.

Poster Presentations
1. R.A.C.S.Ranawaka, W.A.S.N.Perera, “Learning Analytics Intervention and Evaluation of
Factors Associated with Student Academic Performance in SLTC Education Study Programs”,
4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences IRSPAS 2019, October
2019, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
2. W.A.Suresha Nilmini Perera, Panduka Karunanayake, Dileeka Dias, Paper titled “UCFM
Travel Health Clinic: Concept and Design” written based on “UCFM Travel Health Clinic” which
was developed by me for the 4th year project, got selected for the 27th National IT conference
(NITC) 2009, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
3. Kushani Perera, Nalin Bandara, Suresha Perera, Lakshika Balasuriya, Damith Amarasena,
Dileeka Dias, (2009). InforMate-GIS for Diverse Mobile Devices, 4th annual eASiA 2009
conference and exhibition, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 10.13140/RG.2.2.32416.74243.
4. C. Dewmini, S. Perera, W. Uduwela, and A. V. S. P. Pabasarani, “A conceptual framework for
analyzing candidate personality using NLP and machine learning in automated interview
systems,” in Proc. Sri Lanka Assoc. Advancement Sci. (SLAAS) Conf., Sri Lanka, 2025.
5. T. Fernando and S. Perera, “Predicting FTTH broadband package features,” in Proceedings
of the SLAAS Scientific Sessions 2025, Sri Lanka, 2025.
6. N. Ellawala, W. Uduwela, S. Perera, and A. V. S. P. Pabasarani, “A conceptual framework for
AI-powered chatbot to assess programming language skill in software engineering interviews,”
in Proceedings of the SLAAS Scientific Sessions 2025, Sri Lanka, 2025.

Newspaper Articles

1. Suresha Perera, Dewmal Hadapangoda, Vidusara news paper
article on “කෘතිම බුද්ධියේ විකාශනය සහ අනාගතය” – 13th
November 2025

Newsletters
1. S. Perera, I. Perera, and A. Supunmali, “Rank Hate Speech Propagators on Social
Media Platforms,” IEEE Computer Society Sri Lanka Chapter – Newsletter, vol. 4, no. 3,
p. 23, Mar. 2025. url:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14tipTOBSJhmitFMnjW1qqR9pJzZbMVih/view

Have been supervising undergraduate Final Year Project students in the areas of Machine Learning,Agent Technology, and data mining.

1. 2026 – Present – Editor – IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group of Sri Lanka 2025
– Present Senior Member (SMIEEE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
2. 2025 – Present – Vice President – Section E3 (Computer Science), Sri Lanka Association for
the Advancement of Science SLAAS
3. 2025 – Present – Executive Committee Member (Industry Relations) – IEEE Computer
Society Sri Lanka Chapter
4. 2025 – Present – Council Member – Sri Lanka Association for Artificial Intelligence (SLAAI)
5. 2025 – Present Secretary – iTeam, Computer Society, OUSL (Multiple Terms including 2019-
2021)
6. 2024 – 2025 – The Secretary – Section E3 committee of the Sri Lanka Association for the
Advancement of Science (SLAAS)

7. Present Member – IEEE WIE, IEEE Young Professionals, Open University Toastmasters
Club
8. SMIEEE – Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
9. Life Member – Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and Sri
Lanka Association for Artificial Intelligence (SLAAI)

1. 2023 Velocity Innovation Challenge by the University of Auckland, 2023. Listed at the
final 15 finalists- $100k Challenge Grand Finals
ReferenceStar is a transformative digital platform streamlining global reference letter processes
for job applicants, referees, and employers. Customizable templates enhance efficiency,
eliminate biases, and validate references for a more effective job market, catering specifically to
the needs of the dynamic global workforce.
https://www.cie.auckland.ac.nz/newsroom/finalists-announced-from-biggest-velocity-100k-
challenge-ever/
2. 2022 Velocity Innovation Challenge by the University of Auckland, 2022. Won the
social prize award for the team “SentiSay” which I am a member of the team.
SentiSay is a multi-application, cross-platform plugin (your digital voice of reason) that
identifies the tone/sentiment of written interactions. SentiSay enables responsible/ethical written
communication on the go, by giving a general score/colour emoji or context-specific
(demographic etc.) sentiment analysis for written content.
https://www.cie.auckland.ac.nz/newsroom/2022-velocity-innovation-challenge-winners-
revealed/
3. 2007 Microsoft Imagine Cup 2007 Worldwide Competition, “Software Design” Category
Local Second Runner up, Member of Team “Sanhitha” from Faculty of Information
Technology, University of Moratuwa.
This project leverages the Buddhist philosophical concept of Iddhipada, which identifies four
mental factors—desire-to-do (chanda), mindfulness (citta), effort (viriya), and investigation
(vimansa)—as crucial for successful learning. Good teachers promote a balanced development
of these factors in students. The aim is to develop a Software Agent that integrates these
Iddhipada principles into e-learning systems, emulating the role of an effective teacher.
4. 2019 Awarded the Best Oral Presentation in Multidisciplinary Approach in Science for
the
paper “Latest advancements in Information and Communication Technology for better
interactive Virtual Healthcare Medical Clinic”.