DR. PRADEEP NALAKA RANASINGHE



Professor of Oceanography and Marine Geology
PN_Ranasinghe

Educational Qualifications
  • B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology (Peradeniya, SL)
  • PG.Dip in Archaeology (Kelaniya, SL)
  • M.Phil (Peradeniya, SL)
  • Ph.D (Kent State University, USA)

Office Address
     Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology
     Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
     University of Ruhuna
     Wellamadama
     Matara (81000)
     Sri Lanka
E-mail Address
     nalakaranasinghe@hotmail.com

Phone
      +94(0) 41 22 27 026
           Ext. 5109
     
    Administrative Positions

  •   National Coordinator - IAEA/RCA Project RAS7031
  •   Secondary Principal Investigator – IAEA/CRP project (K410015)
  •   Principal Investigator – NSF Thematic research Project
      (NTRP/2017/CC&ND/TA-05/P01/01)
  •   Former Head of the Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology (2014-2016)
    Teaching Courses

  • Tectonics and Ocean Basins
  • Sedimentology
  • Paleoceanography and Paleoclimate
  • Chemical Oceanography
  • Marine Chemistry
  • Coastal processes Morphology
  • Structural and Field Geology
  • Paleontology and Micropaleontology
  • Biogeochemistry
    Research Interest

  • Paleoclimate and Paleocanography
  • Coastal Geology
  • Sedimentology
    Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • Rajapaksha R.P.S.K., Ranasinghe P.N, Wijesundara D.T.D.S. Amarasinghe C. and Hewawasam1 A.L.T (2014) Paleo-coastal evolution of southwest Sri Lanka during the Holocene from lagoonal sedimentary records, Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka Vol. 16 (2014), 127-138
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Ortiz, J.D., Moore, A.L., McAdoo, B., Wells, N., Siriwardana, C.H.E.R., Wijesundara D.T.D.S.,(2013) Mid –Late Holocene coastal environmental changes in southeastern Sri Lanka: New evidence for sea-level variations in southern Bay of Bengal, Quaternary International. 298, 20-36
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Ortiz, J.D., Smith, A.J., Siriwardana, C.H.E.R., De Silva, S.N., Wijesundara, D.T.D.S.,(2013) Holocene Indian winter monsoon variability from terrestrial records in eastern and southeastern coastal environments of Sri Lanka, The Holocene DOI: 10.1177/0959683612475141
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Ortiz, J.D., Moore, A.L., McAdoo, B., Wells, N., De Silva, S.N., Klarer, D., Kalubandara, S.T., (in review) Signatures of paleo-tsunamis in coastal back-barrier environments in eastern and southeastern Sri Lanka – pre-2004 Sunda Trench tele-tsunamis? Marine Geology
  • Ranasinghe P.N., Ortiz, J.D. Prema, M.M.J.P., Witter, D.L., (Accepted), Continental shelf Morphology of Sri Lanka and its dependence on past sea-level changes, Journal of National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka

  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Fernando, G.W.A.R., Wimalasena, M.D.N.R, Ekanayake, S.P. Siriwardana, Y.P.S (2009) Elevated Pb and Al levels in Hakgala Tropical Montane Forests in Sri Lanka and Possible Impacts on Forest Health, Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka Vol. 13, 23-46
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., 2009. Deformation of the Indo - Australian plate in the equatorial Indian Ocean - new perspectives, Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka Vol. 13, 65-70
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Fernando, G.W.A.R., Dissanayake, C.B., Rupasinghe, M.S., Witter D.L. 2009. Statistical Evaluation of Stream Sediment Geochemistry in Interpreting the River Catchment of High-Grade Metamorphic Terrains, J. Geochem. Explor. 103, 97- 114.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Fernando, G.W.A.R., Dissanayake, C.B., Rupasinghe, M.S., 2008. Stream Sediment Geochemistry of the Upper Mahaweli River Basin of Sri Lanka - Geological and Environmental Significance, J. Geochem. Explor. 99, 1-28.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Siriwardana, Y.P.S., Wanasinghe, V.R., 2007. Heavy metal pollution in the drainage network of Colombo city and Suburbs of Sri Lanka, Journal of Geological Society of Sri Lanka, Vol. 12, 36-52.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Dissanayake, C.B Samarasinghe D.V.N., Galappatti., R., 2007. The Relationship between Soil Geochemistry and Die-back of Montane Forests in Sri Lanka. – A Case Study, Environmental Geology, vol51. no 6
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Dissanayake, C.B., Rupasinghe, M.S., 2005. Application of Geochemical Ratios for Delineating Gem Bearing Areas in High-Grade Metamorphic Terrains, Applied Geochemistry, vol20, Issue 8, pp 1489-1495
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Chandrajith, R.L.R., Dissanayake, C.B., Rupasinghe, M.S., 2002. Importance of Grain Size Factor in Distribution of Trace Elements in Stream Sediments of Tropical High-Grade Terrains: A Case Study from Sri Lanka, Chemie der Erde, 62, pp 243-253
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., and Jagath, A.S., 2001. A Rare Titanium Rich Dumortierite from Sri Lanka. Journal of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka
Books & Other Scientific Publications

  • Ranasinghe, P.N. Siriwardana, Y.P.S., Amarasinghe, C., 2017. Geochemical Atlas of Sri Lanka Environmental Series – Soil; Sheet 20-Rakwana-Tangalla, Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Sri Lanka.
  • Ratnayake, A.M.M., Ranasinghe, P.N., Prema, M.M.J.P, Jayakody, A.S., 2009. Vavuniya-Trincomalee, 100,000 Geology map, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau Sri Lanka.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., 2002. Geotourist map of Sri Lanka, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau Sri Lanka.
  • Prema, M.M.J.P., Ranasinghe, P.N., Siriwardahana, C.H.E.R., Jayakody, A.S., 2001. Monaragala – Panama, 100,000 Geology map, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau Sri Lanka.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Illeperuma, D., 2001., Flora of Dombagaskanda, Young Zoologists' Association of Sri Lanka., pp. 61
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Ratnayake, A., 1992. Flora & Fauna of Dombagaskanda Forest Reserve, Young Zoologists' Association of Sri Lanka. pp 33
Conference Papers (Recent Interantional) –Principal Author (Last 5 Years)

  • P.N. Ranasinghe, S.M Ranasinghe, T.V.K.L.N Kumari, K.A. Hughen, U.P.G. Pathirana, D.T.D.S Wijesundara, 2019. Mid Holocene paleoceanographic conditions at the Palk Strait - Evidence from onshore fossil corals from Analaitivu island Sri Lanka, AGU Fall meeting 2019 San Francisco
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Rathnayake, K.M., Nanayakkara, N.U., Galappatti, R, 2017. Comparison of Indian summer and winter monsoon variability during the last 25ka based on the terrestrial sedimentary record from Sri Lanka,. International workshop on tropical-subtropical weather climate and the Ocean, Guangzhou, China
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Embillapitiya., T., Siriwardana, C.H.E.R., Hewawasam, A.L.T., Jayaratne Y.N. 2017. A coral-based Quaternary sea-level variability record from the Palk Strait of the Indian Ocean Summer monsoon driven terrestrial rainfall record from Sri Lanka, GSA Annual meeting 2017 Seattle, USA.
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., Nanayakkara, NU., Kodithuwakku, S., Siriwardana, S., Luo, C., Fenghua, Z., 2016.,Changes in the Indian summer monsoon variability in Sri Lanka during the last 30ky – A multiproxy record from a marine sediment core. AGU Fall meeting 2016 San Francisco
  • Ranasinghe, P.N., J.P. Donnelly, T. Embillapitiya, B.S.M.C.K Senevirathne, R.P.S.K Rajapaksha, ., Signatures of pre-2004 Indian Ocean tsunami events from Sri Lanka, GSA Annual meeting 2015 Baltimore, USA

    Awards

  • Vice Chancellor’s Award 2018, University of Ruhuna, Highest Recipient of Grants
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship (PIFI) 2017
  • The project of the Year Award -2013, SERDP project, DOE, EPA, DOD, USA.
  • Postdoctoral Scholarship – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 2010
  • Presidential Award for Research 2010, 2009, 2008 – Presidential Secretariat, Government of Sri Lanka
  • University Fellowship 2009 - Kent State University
  • Outstanding Ph.D. student 2009 Department of Geology – Kent State University
  • P.G. Cooray Medal for the Best Young Geoscientist 2001 (Awarded by the Geological Society of Sri Lanka)
  • Best Presenter Award – 15th Annual Sessions of the Geological Society of Sri Lanka 1998
  • Environmental Award – General Category 1997 (Awarded by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science)
    Grants

  • Global Environmental Facility (GEF) – 1997
  • International Association of Sedimentologists – Postgraduate research grant 2009
  • Sigma xi research scholarship 2008 and 2009
  • Graduate student senate research grant - Kent State University – 2008 and 2009
  • Geological Society of America research grant 2008
  • Coastal Ocean In statute -Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Research Grant 2012 – Study of paleo-mega tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.
  • National Research Council of Sri Lanka –2012 NRC/12/020 - Exploring Winter monsoon variability using Marine and Terrestrial Proxies
  • National Science Foundation Sri Lanka – 2014- RG/2014/OMR/01 – Constructing Quaternary sea-level curve for Sri Lanka
  • National Science Foundation Sri Lanka – 2017- NTRP/2017/CC&ND/TA-05/P01/01 . Understanding the long term influence of Indian Ocean Warm Pool and Indian Ocean Dipole on the monsoon variability of Sri Lanka
  • International Atomic Energy Authority.- 2016 K410015.Radioanalytical and Isotopic Studies of Climate Trends and Variability in Marine Paleo-records
    National Services

  • 2019 - 2020
    • Member, National Thematic Research Project Steering Committee on Oceanography and Marine Science -National Science Foundation

  • 2019 - 2021
    • National Coordinator- Assessing the Vulnerability of Coastal Landscapes and Ecosystems to Sea-Level Rise and Climate change- IAEA/RCA RAS7031 Internatioanl Atomic Energy Authority

  • 2016 - 2020
    • Secondary Coordinator - Radio analytical and Isotopic Studies of Climate Trends and Variability in Marine Paleo-records K41015- International Atomic Energy Authority.

  • 2016
    • Member – Committee appointed to construct the National Science Museum – National Science Foundation Sri Lanka

  • 2016 - 2020
    • Member of the National Ocean Affairs Committee (NOAC) Appointed by the cabinet

  • 2016
    • Member - Committee to investigate and report investment in oil wealth in Mannar Basin Sri Lanka. Appointed by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs.

  • 2016
    • Member - Technical committee to the scientific and sustainable solutions for preventing the erosion at Mahaweli Chilaw coastal stretch in Sri Lanka. Appointed by the Ministry Of Mahaweli Developments and Environments

  • 2015
    • Member- Advisory committee of the Quaternary mapping program of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau/

Latest News

One day workshop on Ornamental Fish Industry

A series of workshop on ornamental fish industry jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Sri Lanka universities, The Association of tropical ornamental fish exporters and Sri Lanka fish farmers association.

Guest Lecture by Prof. Takeshi Fujino

The guest lecture for "Localizing SDGs for a Hopeful Future abd Vitality" which will be held on 04th Nov 2023 at 11.30-12.30 in FMST Auditorium

UoR Highlights 2023

UoR Highlights 2023 - University of Ruhuna , Sri Lanka


FMST බුද්ධාභිවන්දනා 2023

FMST බුද්ධාභිවන්දනා 2023 ~ වර්ෂ 2023ක් වූ වෙසක් මස 08 වනදා සවස 6.30 සිට 9 දක්වා FMST පරිශ්‍රයේදී පවත්වන ලදී .


We Are

" National centre of excellence for fisheries and marine sciences "

OUR VISION

To be the centre of excellence for Fisheries Science, Marine Science and Water Technology education and research in Sri Lanka.


OUR MISSION

To produce outstanding, internationally accredited graduates in the fields of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Limnology, Water Technology, Oceanography and Marine Geology.

Highlights

All Recent News & Events

* MIND Scholarships for undergraduates 2022 / 2023 [Read More]

* All Island Art Competition 2022 [Read More]

* Online Lecture Series 16 organized by the Cultural Center.
Zoom Link :
https://learn.zoom.us/j/69138472595?pwd=V1hEV0oraGtLZlFOWGVLYzhEQ05vUT09
Meeting ID: 691 3847 2595 Passcode: hm9=AeeJ [Read More]

* Literature Competition Organized by the Faculty of Management and Finance [Read More]

Testimonials

    

To me,FMST is the ideal place to study about the Marine Sciences in Sri Lanka.FMST helped me grow and excel as a student,all the while nurturing my love for the ocean, backed by some of the best academics in this field.



S K Edirisinghe
    

Being selected as a student of FMST is the major turning point in my life. Within the premises of FMST, I was provided with myriads of opportunities to explore new horizons and to build up my personality. This is the perfect place to grab the knowledge about Fisheries and Marine Sciences. All academics & extracurricular activities not only widened my knowledge, but also heightened my passion for my future career.



R M K S Gimhani

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