Concept Architects
Professor Chandra B. Dissanayake (deceased)
Personal Information
- Full Name: Professor Chandra B. Dissanayake, commonly referred to as C.B. Dissanayake
- Birth: 8 January 1944, Sri Lanka
- Early Education: Trinity College, Kandy (1953–1964)
Academic Background & Career
- B.Sc. (Chemistry) from University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, 1968
- First Class Honours in Geology, 1971 – first ever in B.Sc. Special Degree Examination
- Head of the Department of Geology, later Emeritus Professor at University of Peradeniya
Scholarly Recognition
- D.Sc. from Oxford University for contributions in environmental geology and geochemistry
- National award of Vidya Jyothi – Sri Lanka’s highest distinction in science (1998)
Leadership & Administrative Roles
- Director of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Sri Lanka (1991–1996, 2009–2015)
Research Contributions
- Essay in Science (2005): “Of Stones and Health: Medical Geology in Sri Lanka”
- Geothermal energy site identification across Sri Lanka (Trincomalee to Ussangoda)
Awards & Enduring Legacy
- Posthumously recognized among top scientists at NIFS
- Honorary Doctorate (D.Sc.) from University of Peradeniya, 24 May 2023
Summary at a Glance
| Name | Professor Chandra B. (C.B.) Dissanayake |
| Born | 8 January 1944, Sri Lanka |
| Education | B.Sc. (Chemistry, 1968), First Class Honours in Geology (1971), D.Sc. (Oxford) |
| Academic Positions | Head of Geology Dept. & Emeritus Professor, University of Peradeniya |
| Leadership Roles | Director, NIFS (1991–1996, 2009–2015) |
| Research Areas | Environmental geology, geochemistry, medical geology, geothermal potential |
| Honors | Vidya Jyothi (1998), D.Sc. (Honorary, 2023) |
| Notable Contributions | Essay in Science (2005), geothermal site identification in Sri Lanka |
Professor Nalin Prasanna Ratnayake
Academic Background
- B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Upper Second Class)
- M.Sc. in Marine Geology and Oceanography, Shimane University, Japan
- Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Oceanography, Hokkaido University, Japan
Academic Career
- Professor, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa (since 2014)
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Earth Resources Engineering, University of Moratuwa (2005–2014)
- Head of Department of Earth Resources Engineering (briefly in 2019)
Leadership & Service
- Vice Chancellor, Ocean University of Sri Lanka (2019–2021 & reappointed June 2024)
- Past President, Geological Society of Sri Lanka
- General Secretary & Editor, Institute of Geology, Sri Lanka (2014–2016)
Research & Expertise
- Specializes in Marine Geology, Sedimentology, Petroleum Geology, Ocean-land interactions
- Published extensively on diagenesis, rare earth elements, monsoon sedimentation, and phytomining
- Google Scholar metrics: 1,786+ citations, h-index 20, i10-index 32
Community Engagement & Outreach
- Lectures on coastal environments: wave dynamics, coral restoration, pollution mitigation
- Initiated coral reef seeding projects inspired by Maldives models
Summary at a Glance
| Name | Professor Nalin Prasanna Ratnayake |
| Position | Professor of Earth Resources Engineering, University of Moratuwa |
| Leadership Roles | Vice Chancellor (Ocean University), former President (GSSL), General Secretary & Editor (IGSL) |
| Education | B.Sc. (Univ. of Peradeniya), M.Sc. & Ph.D. (Japan) |
| Research Areas | Marine Geology, Sedimentology, Petroleum Geology |
| Academic Impact | h-index 20, 1,786+ citations |
| Community Work | Coastal environment outreach, coral reef projects |
Biography: Janaka Dharmabandu
Career & Roles
- Over 30 years of experience in global mining sectors across Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia
- Former Global Director of Mining at Elementis plc
- Principal Advisor at MEC Advisory, Australia
- Expert in mining asset evaluation and project development (exploration → production)
Awards & Recognition
- 2015 Merit Award for Business Leadership from the Australian Trade Commission (AusTrade)
Education & Qualifications
- Postgraduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Law, Murdoch University
- M.Sc. in Engineering Geology, Asian Institute of Technology
- B.Eng. in Mining and Mineral Processing, University of Moratuwa
- Professional Titles: CEnv (UK), CEng (UK), EUR ING (FEANI)
Locations & Focus
- Perth, Australia & Helsinki, Finland
- Mining-focused projects across Australia and Europe
Summary at a Glance
| Name | Janaka Dharmabandu |
| Sector | Mining and Mineral Resource Development |
| Career Highlights | Global Director at Elementis plc; Principal Advisor at MEC Advisory |
| Recognition | 2015 Merit Award for Business Leadership (AusTrade) |
| Education | PG Certificate (Env. Management & Law); M.Sc. Engineering Geology; B.Eng. Mining & Mineral Processing |
| Professional Titles | CEnv (UK), CEng (UK), EUR ING (FEANI) |
| Base Locations | Perth (Australia) and Helsinki (Finland) |
| Specialisations | Asset evaluation, project development (exploration → production), sustainable mining practices |