Dr. Chamila Dias

B.Sc.(Hons) (University of Peradeniya, SL), M.Sc. (PGIA, Peradeniya, SL), M.Sc. (TU Dresden, Germany), PhD (TU Dresden, Germany)

Senior Lecturer

Centre for Environmental Studies & Sustainable Development

Agricultural Engineering

Circular Economy, sustainability, Eco Labelling, Green Buildings, Agricultural Engineering, Solid Waste management
  • Senior Lecturer-Centre for Environmental Studies & Sustainable Development
  • The Open University of Sri Lanka
  • Research Scientist-Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
  • Research Assistant- Solid waste Management Research Unit, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
  • Acting Director/Centre for Environmental Studies & Sustainable Development,
  • The Open University of Sri Lanka
  • Director/Career Guidance Unit

NEPAF01: Research Project – MSc in Environmental Science
PHPA309: Cleaner Production- MSc in Environmental Science
DMX9166: Information Search and Report Writing
DMXA901: Industrial Energy plantations

  • Transition from flooded rice to dry rice cultivation: impacts of altered flooding regime on yield, water balance and gas exchange of paddy fields in Sri Lanka
  • Development of a green pepper-based garlic sauce (patent pending)
  • Development of canistel fruit-based ice cream (patent pending)
  • Development of natural fibre based sanitary products
  • I.Udayantha, S N C M Dias. Building Sustainable Smart Cities for Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emission Reduction: Insights from Europe. International Conference on Resource Efficiency Towards Sustainability: Resource efficiency for a Resilient Future. Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo, Sri Lanka.2025.
  • I.L.G. Rathnayake, D.V.D. Hemalika, S N C M Dias. The impact of seasonal drought on tea cultivation in low-country wet zone of Sri Lanka. 10th International Conference on dry zone agriculture. University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.2024.
  • G.M.S.R.G. Manawadu, T.D. Denagama, S.N.C.M. Dias. Role of Community Based Organizations in Water Governance: A Case Study from Sri Lanka. International Workshop on Gender Issues in Water Management in Developing Countries and Sustainable Development. New Delhi, India. 2022.
  • G.M.S. R. G. Manawadu, S.N.C. M. Dias, I. Nirmani, G.A.D. Chathuranga, K.M.G. Jayathilake, T.M.I.U. Thennakoon. Identification of best plant combinations in increasing the thermal conductivity of vertical green systems under tropical climatic conditions. International research Symposium: Vocational Technology Education for a Sustainable Greener Economy. University of Vocational Technology, Colombo Sri Lanka. 2024.

MSc Supervision: 

MSc in Environmental Sciences (2020/2021)

Removal of NaCl from sea water using various Granular and Powdered Activated Carbon – A case study from Adsorption Isotherm and membrane Filtration Method

Characterization of X-Radiation effect on seed germination and seedling growth of Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica)

Production and Investigation of Starch Based Bio Plastics Reinforced with Coconut Fiber for Biodegradability under Different Environmental Conditions

 

MSc in Environmental Sciences (2021/2022)

Evaluation of co-digestion for domestic biogas production under tropical climate conditions

A comprehensive study of salterns in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka; from technology to socio economics

Evaluation of Co-digestion and Thermal Pre-treatment for Optimizing Biogas Production Under Tropical Climatic Conditions

A study on environmental impact due to palm oil plantation

Evaluation of current Clinical Waste Management and potential for Improvements: a case study from a Private & Government Hospital in Maharagama Area

Efficacy of Green ratings for buildings to protect Sri Lanka’s biodiversity

A study on adaptation of circular economy concepts in construction industry in Sri Lanka.

Evaluation of clinical waste in small scale health care sectors in Dehiwela Mount-Lavinia: Current waste management practices and its impact on the environment

Extraction and application of natural dye from coffee ground on different fabrics

 

MSc in Environmental Sciences (2022/2023)

Evaluation of Plant growth in Orchids under aeroponics cultivation TION

Farmers Knowledge and Perception Towards Dry Rice Cultivation: Case Study in Kurunegala District of Sri Lanka

Evaluation of Environmental Impacts by ISO 14001 Implementation in Star hotels in Sri Lanka

Comprehensive Study of Coconut Oil production in Sri Lanka: A case study from Coconut triangle

Study on Cleaner Production Techniques to reduce the Impact to Environment in the steel manufacturing industry in Sri Lanka

Evaluation of Green Building Features in Public Buildings with a special focus on Energy Case Study of Suhurupaya Building

Seasonal drought impacts on tea cultivation in Sri Lanka: A case study from the low country wet zone

ESG Practices of Sri Lanka with a special reference to listed companies

 

MSc in Environmental Sciences (2024/2025)

Socio-Environmental and Economic Impacts of the Upper Elahera Canal Project

Impact of Chemical Fertilizers Used in Tea Industry on Ground Water Quality in Sri Lanka

Challenges & Best Practices for Implementing Circular Economy in Sri Lankan Construction: A Framework for Sustainable Waste Management

Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Sri Lanka’s contemporary economic development agenda. A Hambantota coastal economy perspective

Developing a Circular Economy Model in Meat Processing Industries in Sri Lanka

 

MSc in Environmental Sciences (2025/2026)

An investigation of challenges in adopting ‘green’ building standards in Sri Lanka: proposals to strengthen the existing legal framework

 

Context-Specific Adaptation Strategies for Smallholder Farmers Facing Climate

Variability in Rural Sri Lanka: Addressing Gaps and Enhancing Resilience

 

A Comprehensive Assessment and Decarbonization Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sri Lanka’s Apparel Industry: A Focus on Scopes 1, 2, and 3 Aligned with the Science-Based Targets Initiative and National Carbon Neutrality Goals

 

Offshore Sand as an Alternative for River Sand: Cost Benefit Analysis for Sri

Lankan Context

 

Comparative Life cycle assessment of clay bricks, cement blocks and fly ash blocks in the Sri Lankan Construction industry: Evaluating environmental Impacts and sustainability considerations

 

Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural Systems: A field experiment on emission reduction techniques

 

Bioremediation of Cosmetic Industry Wastewater Using a Fungal–Bacterial Biofilter

System: Performance Evaluation of White-Rot Fungi and Beneficial Bacteria in a Packed-Bed Reactor

 

Master of Science in Energy for Circular Economy (2024/2025)

Challenges and Best Practices for Implementing Circular Economy in Sri Lankan Building Projects: A Framework for Sustainable Waste Management During Construction Phase

Evaluating the Impact of Underneath Temperature of Solar PV module on Power Generation

Impact of Active and Passive Design Strategies for Energy Efficiency in Green Buildings: Insights from a Case Study

 

BSc Supervision: 

Bachelor of Technology-Building Services and Technology -OUSL (2023/2024)

Water Quality Prediction in Bowathanna Reservoir using LSTM-RNN

 

Bachelor of Technology in Food Process Technology -Univotec (2022/2023)

Development of Green pepper Garlic-Based Sauce

 

Bachelor of Industrial Studies of Agriculture _OUSL (2022)

Effects of Vetsin as a Fertilizer and weed controller in Cultivation of Rice (Oryza sativa)

 

Bachelor of Technology-Building Services and Technology -Univotec (2020/2021)

Designing low-cost Engineering solutions to improve handling, transportation and storage for solid waste in Local Authority at Pannala

 

Bachelor of Technology-Building Services and Technology-Univotec (2021/2022)

Production and Evaluation of Construction panels using waste plastics

Performance Evaluation of Algae Bio-wall

Comparison of plant species for vertical green systems in reducing thermal conductivity and improving performance with selected different brick walls

 

International Student research supervision (2023/2024)

Exploring the potential of dry rice as sustainable solution for Sri Lankan Agriculture based on Farmers perceptions (Utrecht University, The Netherlands)

 

International Student Supervision-Undergraduate internship (2016)

An assessment of root growth in rice plants with respect to drought stress level using different techniques: Internship (Technishe Universitaet Dresden, Germany)

 

M.Sc Study Project: Data Management on Project: Irrigation Management for Aerobic Rice Cultivation in Sri Lanka (Technishe Universitaet Dresden, Germany)

Diplomarbeit: Charakterisierung von Trockenstresseffekten auf das Wachstumsverhalten von Reis (on MSc Thesis: Characterization of drought stress effects on the growth behaviour of rice)

MSc Study Project supervision: Sensor Based Irrigation in Rice Cultivation – Controlled Environmental Experiment (MSc Study Project: Technische Universitaet Dreden, Germany)

B.Sc. Supervision: Untersuchungen zu den Bodenhydraulischen Kennfunktionen eines Geschuetteten Bodens in Einem Bewaesserungenexperiment (Investigations on the Soil Hydraulic Core functions of a refilled soil in an irrigation experiment -Technische Universitaet Dresden, Germany

  • Member of the National Career Guidance Steering Committee meeting of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission
  • Member of the Question Bank development team of the National Career Guidance Steering Committee of Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission
  • Member of the research committee of the Green Building council of Sri Lanka
  • DAAD Research Ambassador of Sri Lanka for Germany
  • Curriculum development committee of University of Vocational Technology on Waste Management for level 6 and 7
  • Curriculum Development Committee Member of BSc in Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, The Open University of Sri Lanka
  • Vice Chancellors Award for outstanding contributions to the Open University of Sri Lanka (2025)
  • Award for outstanding contribution to the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka at the Annual Awards of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (2025)
  • DAAD Early Career Research Grant (2024)
  • Sahasak Nimavum National Inventions and Innovations Competition- Provincial level – institutional category-Development of a Canistal fruit-based ice cream-2024
  • Sahasak Nimavum National Inventions and Innovations Competition – Silver Award- Institutional Category for Green Pepper Sauce-2023
  • Overall Best Presenter of the AGRICO-2021 International Conference
  • DAAD Alumni Conference participation grant for Bangladesh -2020
  • DAAD award for Young Water Professionals Seminar, Conference and IFAT-2014 participation
  • iCAN Gold Medal award for the invention of building materials from plant and textile fibres by Canada in 2019.
  • KIWIE silver medal award for the invention of building materials from plant and textile fibres by the Korean Government in 2018.
  • Rohana Wickramasinghe Memorial Award for the best final year research presentation in 2006, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • Scientific Literature Grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2025
  • Scientific Literature grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2024
  • Scientific Literature Grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2023
  • Scientific Literature Grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2022
  • Scientific Literature Grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2021
  • Scientific Literature Grant: DAAD Alumni Scientific Literature Programme, Germany-2020
  • IFS Sweden Project grant on Transition from flooded rice to dry rice cultivation: impacts of altered flooding regime on yield, water balance and gas exchange of paddy fields in Sri Lanka

Local membership: 

  • President of Alumni Association of Green Certified Professionals of Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (2024-to date)
  • Accredited Green Professional of Green Building Council of Sri Lanka
  • Deputy Secretary of the Senior Common Room Committee of the Open University of Sri Lanka -2020
  • Full member of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
  • Life member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
  • Life member of the University of Peradeniya Alumni Association (AAUOP)
  • Member of Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka (IEPSL)
  • Life Member of the Association of the Justice of the Peace of Sri Lanka
  • Member of The Open University Teachers’ Association of Sri Lanka
  • Member/Coordinator of The Open University Green Committee

 

International membership: 

  • DAAD Alumni
  • Online member of the International Association for Agricultural Sustainability (ID 75282)
  • Member of International Environmental Forum-Sweden
  • German Association for Water, wastewater, and Waste (DWA)