Dr G.M.C.P. Jayawardana

BSc Eng (Hons) (Moratuwa), MTech (OUSL), MA (BPU), PhD (Kelaniya), MIE (SL), MIET(UK), CEng.

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering, Engineering Technology

G.M.C.P. Jayawardana graduated in Electrical Engineering in 1994 from the University of Moratuwa. His postgraduate qualifications include Masters in Technology (OUSL) and Masters in Buddhist Studies (BPU). In 2018, he obtained his PhD from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, in the area of Buddhist Commentaries’ contributions in History of Science and Technology studies.

He started his carrier as an Assistant Project Engineer at Balfour Beatty Ceylon Pvt. Ltd. (then Cruickshanks Ceylon Pvt. Ltd.) in 1994. His industrial expertise includes design of high voltage control and protection engineering schemes and project management. He last served as the Engineering Design Manager at Balfour Beatty, and shifted to the academia with the intention of perusing teaching and research. At present, G.M.C.P. Jayawardana serves as a Senior Lecturer (Grade II), attached to the Mathematics and Philosophy of Engineering, OUSL.

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(1) Social history of science and technology,
(2) Secular perspectives of Buddhist Commentaries

(1) Socio-cultural aspects of science and technology

Course Coordination:

MHJ4241/MHJ4271 – History of Technology
MHJ5342/MHJ5372 – Technology, Society and Environment
MHJ5343/MHJ5373 – Nature of Science
MHP9504 – Environment, Society and Development
MHPA307 – Philosophy of Science

Peer reviewed books

 Chandana Jayawardana, Pali Commentaries and Sri Lankan Society: An Introductory Note, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 2021 (Senior author)

 Chandana Jayawardana, History of Mathematics in Sri Lanka, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 2021

Chandana Jayawardana, History of Machines and Manufacturing in Sri Lanka, Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, 2021

 Journal Articles

Chandana Jayawardana, HDD Sadeepa, ‘From ‘village tanks’ to ‘evaporating pans’: Colonial and Post-colonial responses to ancient village tanks in Sri Lanka’, F1000Research, DOI:10.12688/f1000research.143823.1

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘‘Subhikṣa View’ vs ‘Irrigation View’: Repositioning Ancient Sri Lankan Waterworks in Historical Perspectives’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. 65, Part I, 2021, pp.1-30.

 Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Geometrical Knowledge in Early Sri Lanka’, History of Science in South Asia, 10, 2022pp. 44-67 DOI: 10.18732/hssa69.

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Colonial Impacts on Water Supplies: An Historical Review of Sluice Technologies in Ancient Sri Lankan Irrigation’, Journal of History of Science and Technology, vol. 16, no. 1, 2022, pp. 99-120 DOI: 10.2478/host-2022-0006.

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘De-linking our ancient technologies from colonial myths: Contributions from Pali Commentarial information’, Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Vol. 9, Part 1, 2018, pp. 69-88

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Mechanics and machines in early Sri Lanka: A survey based on the Pāli Commentaries’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. 63, Part I1, 2018, pp. 1-65

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Majjhimadesa in Pāli Commentaries: A Multifarious Review’, Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Vol. 8, Part 2, 2017, pp. 63-85

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Counting and Computation Abilities in Early Sri Lanka: A Review based on Buddhist Literature’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. 61, Part 1, 2017, pp. 33-67

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Positioning Sri Lanka in Early Knowledge Transmission Networks: A Survey based on Pali Commentaries’, Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Vol. 7, 2016, pp. 175-205

Chandana Jayawardana, Ven. Medagampitiye Wijithadhamma, ‘Irrigation Practices and Norms in Sri Lanka by the 5th Century CE: A Survey based on the Samantapāsādikā’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. 60, Part 1, 2015, pp. 1-61

Jayawardana, K. Peiris, S. Wijesinghe, ‘Historical Timber Structures in Sri Lanka: A Review on Pekaḍa, Känimandaḷa and Maḍol-kurupāwa’, ENGINEER, Vol. XLVII, No. 04, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 2014, pp. 63-68

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘A Mistaken Narrative: How the Ancient Biso-koṭuwa was Falsely Designated as a Valve-pit’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. 58, Part 2, 2013, pp. 1-55

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Ancient Mathematical Practices in Sri Lanka: A Survey based on the Pūjāvaliya’, Journal of Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, New Series, Vol. LVII, 2012, pp. 41-69

Peiris, C. Jayawardana, S. Wijesinghe, ‘Engineering Features of Ancient Stupa Structure: A Review Based on Jethavana Vihara’, ENGINEER, Vol. XXXXIII, No. 02, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 2010, pp. 59-69

Jayawardana, C., ‘The Science of Weights in Ancient Sri Lanka: A Study Based on Equal Arm Balance from Alahana Pirivena’, Polonnaruwa, ENGINEER, Vol. XXXXIII, No. 1, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 2010, pp. 58-65

C. Jayawardana, K. Pieris, ‘Peculiarities of Maduru Oya Ancient Sluice Inlet Structure’, Annual Transactions, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka 2010, pp. 67-73

Chandana Jayawardana, ‘Economic Aspects of Ancient Irrigation System in Sri Lanka’, Sri Lankan Journal of Management, Vol. 15, Nos. 2, 3 & 4, April – December, The Post Graduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardanepura, 2010, pp. 128-136

Jayawardana, C., K. Peiris, ‘Ancient Micro-Scale Hydraulic Elements in Sri Lanka: Functionality and Interpretations of Dedigama ‘Eth Pahana’’, ENGINEER, Vol. XXXXII, No. 3, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 2009, pp. 51-56

Jayawardana, C., ‘Ancient Modes of Inland Water Transportation in Sri Lanka: Stability Analysis on Craft Excavated from Attanagalu Oya’, ENGINEER, Vol. XXXXII, No. 3, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 2009, pp. 14-21

Peiris, K., C. Jayawardana, ‘Mechanical Peculiarities of Traditional Bullock Carts in Sri Lanka: Study of Hub Arrangement and Supplementary Systems’, Annual Transactions, The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka 2009, pp. 67-73

  • Assessing the Community Perception towards Single-use Plastic Ban in Sri Lanka, MSc (Environment Science), The Open University of Sri Lanka, Aug. 2024 [Supervisor]
  • Enhancing the Utility Consumption Efficiency of Extrusion by Process re-engineering, MBA, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, May 2024 [Supervisor]
  • Impacts of the human activities on the Upparu Panichchankerny lagoon in the Vaharai, Batticaloa, MSc (Environment Science), The Open University of Sri Lanka, Aug. 2023 [Supervisor]
  • Social and environmental impacts of Southern Expressway, Sri Lanka: A case study on Kurundugaha hethakma to Pinnaduwa, MSc (Environment Science), The Open University of Sri Lanka, Aug. 2023 [Supervisor]