Leadership Group: External – Council Members

Prof. Asanga Ratnaweera obtained his B.Sc. Engineering (honors) specializing in the field of Production Engineering, the University of Peradeniya in 1997. He obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2004. He has been serving for nearly 25 years at the University of Peradeniya as an academic staff member in various capacities. Further, Prof. Ratnaweera worked as an adjunct professor in Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University, USA from 2010 – 2011 on sabbatical. His major research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Optimization, Image Processing, Automobile Engineering, and Machining Technology. He is the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya from November 2018. He was the Director, Engineering Workshops, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya – March 2015 to March 2018. He was a Consultant, Project on upgrading the faculty workshop and introducing new practical course modules for students to get hands-on experience in workshop machinery, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna. He served as a Visiting Distinguished Professor, Texas Tech University, Texas, USA – September 2011 to August 2011 (On Sabbatical). He was a Director, Engineering Education Unit, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya – 2007 to 2010. He was a Consultant and Member of Technical Evaluation Committee, He was the Director Establishment of Engineering Workshop, Faculty of Science and Technology, Uva Wellassa University – 2011. He served as Deputy Proctor, Faculty of Engineering,

Prof. K.K.Y.W. Perera, B.Sc. (Engineering), M.Sc, Ph.D., D.Sc.(Hony) is a Chartered Engineer, F.I.E. (SL), FIET (UK). and a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka. Prof. Perera has been the President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka and the General President of the Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, and also the Chairman of the Institution of Electrical Engineers (presently IET), Sri Lanka Branch. His research earned him the SLAAS Merit award. Professor Perera was conferred the National Honours Vidya Jyothi in1993 by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka for outstanding scientific and technological achievements including original research. He also won an Award for his Research from the National Science Foundation (2013) and received a Presidential Award in 2014 for the best invention in the field of Engineering completed in 2012. Professor Perera was honored with Eminent Engineer status (2015) by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. He also received from Sri Lanka Inventors Commission the DASIS award for the most outstanding invention (2015). Professor Perera was also awarded an Honorary D.Sc. degree from the University of Moratuwa. He has authored over 50 papers and 3 books. Prof. Perera was the first (founder) Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa (1972). He was also the first Professor of Electronic Engineering in Sri Lanka’s University system. Later he served as the President of the Katubedda Campus of the then-single University of Sri Lanka. He has also served terms as Chairman of NERD Centre (founder); Chairman of Energy Conservation Fund (founder); Chairman, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies; Chairman, Ceylon Electricity Board; Chairman, Sri Lanka Telecom Board; Chairman, Lanka Transformers Pvt. (Ltd.); Chairman, Computer Information & Technology Council (CINTEC) and in several other Boards including Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) and National Science & Technology Commission (NASTEC). He served for more than 10 years as the Secretary, Ministry of Power & Energy, which overlooked the entire energy scenario (Electricity, Petroleum, Gas, Bio-fuels). Appointed in 2014, Professor K.K.Y.W. Perera is presently (2022) holding the position of Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa.