Snr. Prof. Shironica P. Karunanayaka

B.Sc. (Hons) (OUSL), PGDE (UOC), Ed.D.(Wollongong)

Senior Professor

Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education

Shironica Priyanthi Karunanayaka is a Senior Professor in Educational Technology in the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education, Faculty of Education at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). She has been an academic at OUSL since 1993. She has been the Dean of the Faculty of Education at OUSL from 2018 to 2021 and from 2012 to 2015. She was also the Head of the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education from 2006 to 2012. Prior to joining OUSL, she has experience as a trained teacher of Science in the secondary school system in Sri Lanka, over a decade. She served as an Honorary Adviser to Commonwealth of Learning (COL) during 2019-2021. From April 2023, she is appointed as an Honorary COL Chair. Her key research focus areas are ICT in Education, Learning Experience Design, Open Educational Resources (OER), and Open Educational Practices (OEP).

Educational Technology; ICT in Education and Training; Teacher Education

ICT in Teaching and Learning; Learning Experience Design; Open Educational Resources (OER); Open Educational Practices (OEP)

Course Team Leader

STP9542 – Teacher Educator as an Educational Technologist (MTE)

STP9545 – Teacher Educator as a Researcher (MTE)

STP9646 – Learning Portfolio (MTE)

STP9632 – Computer Technology in Education (MED)

STP9813 – Research Methods in Education (MED)

STP8404 – Educational Technology Foundations (PGDE)

Research Projects implemented at OUSL with International Support

Teacher Education via ODL at OUSL – A research study implemented with the support of Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in relation to the appointment as a COL Chair (Teacher Education) for three years since April 2023, and as per its Annual Plan for Year 1 – <https://tedodlousl.wordpress.com/>

Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) implementation for Teachers and Students at the Secondary School Level in Sri Lanka (Phase 3) – Research project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada (2022) [Team Leader] – <https://cdeltaousl.wordpress.com/>

Adoption of the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) Programme in Sri Lanka Implementation of C-DELTA in Sri Lankan Secondary Schools (Phase 2) – Research project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada (2020-2021) [Team Leader]– <https://cdeltaousl.wordpress.com/>

Adoption of the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) Programme in Sri Lanka – Implementation of C-DELTA as a non-credit course at OUSL – project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada. (2020-2021) [Team Leader] <https://www.ou.ac.lk/c-delta-programme/>

Adoption of the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) Programme by Teachers and Students of Secondary School Level in Sri Lanka (Phase 1) – Research project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada (2018-2019) <https://cdeltaousl.wordpress.com/>

Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Massive Open Online Course for Continuing Professional Development (CPDMOOCs) on the Adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) – Phase II, Research project supported by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), India (2018-2019). [Team Leader]
<https://www.cemca.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CPDMOOCs_OUSL_CEMCA_UPDATED_FINALREPORT_WithAnnexes_01.07.2019_ShironicaPKarunanayaka.pdf>

Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Massive Open Online Course for Continuing Professional Development (CPDMOOCs) on the Adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) – Phase I, Research project supported by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), India (2017-2018) [Team Leader] <https://www.cemca.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/CPDMOOC-OUSL-Final%20Report%20June%2020018.pdf>

Impacts of Integrating OER in Teacher Education at the Open University of Sri Lanka – through a sub-grant received by OUSL from the Wawasan Open University, Malaysia under Research on Open Educational Resources for Development [ROER4D] Impact Studies [IS] supported by the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC), Canada (2015-2017) [Team Leader]; Dreamweaving OEP <https://oertlousl.wordpress.com>

“OER-based eLearning” Course adaptation, development and implementation at OUSL – Research Project supported by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), India (2014-2015)[Team Leader] <https://www.cemca.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/OER-based%20eLearning%20Course-OUSL-2014-2015.pdf>

Integration of ICT and OER into Teacher Education Programmes and Capacity Building of Teacher Educators at OUSL– Phase I & Phase II – Research Project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada (2013-2014) [Team Leader]
 

 

 

Books

Karunanayaka, S.P. (2024).Teacher Education via ODL at OUSL: A Transformational Journey. (Advance Online Publication). The Open University of Sri Lanka. https://ou.ac.lk/home/images/Faculty_and_institute/Edu/Projects/MONOGRAPH_TEDODLOUSL_AdvanceCopy_29.04.2024.pdf

Karunanayaka, S.P., & Naidu, S. (Eds.) (2020).Pathways to Open Educational Practices. The Open University of Sri Lanka. (ISBN 978-9-552-31763-7) https://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/Faculty_and_institute/Edu/Pathways_to_OEP_eBook.pdf

Karunanayaka, S.P. & Naidu, S. (Eds.) (2016). Dreamweaving Open Educational Practices. The Open University of Sri Lanka. (ISBN 978-955-23-162-27). http://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/OUSL/publications/Dreamweaving%20Open%20Educational%20Practices.pdf

Karunanayaka, S.P. & Naidu, S. (Eds.) (2014). Integrating OER in Educational Practice: Practitioner Stories. The Open University of Sri Lanka. (ISBN 978-955-23-152-68). http://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/OUSL/publications/intergratingOERinEducationalPractice.pdf

 Book Chapters

Cronin, C., Havemann, L., Karunanayaka, S. P., & McAvinia, C. (2023). Open Educational Practices. EdTechnica: The Open Encyclopedia of Educational Technology. (1st ed.). EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/encyclopedia/oep
Karunanayaka, S. P. (2023). Provocation: The challenge of designing learning experiences. In T. Jaffer, S. Govender, & L. Czerniewicz (Eds.), Learning Design Voices. EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/ldvoices/meaningful_learning_experiences

Karunanayaka, S.P. (2022). Re-designing learning environments to enhance creation and sharing of Open Educational Resources. In P. de Silva, W. Hewamanage, A. N. Fernando & L. Ananda (Eds). Humanities and Social Sciences Education in Sri Lankan Universities: Past, Present, and Future – Volume III. (pp. 164-178). University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka.

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2022). Institutional Case Report: The Open University of Sri Lanka. In M.R. Panigrahi & P. Bhandigadi (Eds.)Handbook on Online Education in Commonwealth Asia. (pp. 159-176). CEMCA. https://www.cemca.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/HandbookonOnlineEducationinCommonwealthAsiaByDrPanigrahiandDrPhalachandra.pdf

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2020). Becoming Digital Education Leaders: Teacher Stories from Sri Lanka. In S. Mishra & S. Panda (eds.) Technology-Enabled Learning: Policies, Pedagogies, and Practices. (pp. 165-180). Commonwealth of Learning. http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/3655

Naidu, S., & Karunanayaka, S.P. (2020). Orchestrating Shifts in Perspectives and Practices about MOOC Design. In Ke Zhang, Curtis J. Bonk, Thomas C. Reeves, and Thomas H. Reynolds (Eds.) MOOCs and Open Education across Emerging Economies: Challenges, Successes, and Opportunities. (pp. 72-80). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429398919

Karunanayaka, S. P., & Naidu, S. (2020). Capacity Building Around Open Educational Practices. In S.P. Karunanayaka, & S. Naidu, (Eds.) Pathways to Open Educational Practices. The Open University of Sri Lanka.

Peramunugamage A., Ratnayake H.U.W., Karunanayaka S.P., Halwatura R.U. (2020). Designing Online Learning Activities for Collaborative Learning Among Engineering Students. In: Auer M., Hortsch H., Sethakul P. (eds) The Impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Engineering Education. ICL 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1134. (pp. 101-110). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40274-7_10

Karunanayaka, S. P. & Naidu, S. (2019). Teachers as Designers: At the Confluence of Technology, Pedagogy and OER. In Divya Singh & Mandala Makhanya (Eds.) Essays in Online Education: A Global Perspective. (pp. 33-46) Pretoria: Unisa Press.

Karunanayaka, S. P. & Naidu, S. (2019). Designing capacity building of educators in open educational resources integration leads to transformational change. In Jennifer Roberts, Mutuota Kigotho, Adrian Stagg (Eds.) Expanding Horizons in Open and Distance Learning. (pp. 87-109). Routledge.

Peramunugamage, A., Ratnayake, H. U. W., & Karunanayaka, S. P. (2018). Work-in-Progress: Development of a Framework to Foster Collaborative Learning Among Engineering Students Using Moodle Mobile App. in M. E. Auer and T. Tsiatsos (Eds.): The Challenges of the Digital Transformation in Education. ICL 2018, AISC 916. (pp. 3–13). Springer Nature.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11932-4_1 

Karunanayaka, S. & Naidu, S. (2017). Impact of integrating OER in teacher education at the Open University of Sri Lanka. In C. Hodgkinson-Williams & P. B. Arinto (Eds.), Adoption and impact of OER in the Global South. (pp. 459–498). African Minds, IDRC & ROER4D. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.600398

Naidu, S. & Karunanayaka, S. (2014). Engines of Education: Integrating OER in Learning and Teaching. In S. Karunanayaka & S. Naidu (Eds). Integrating OER in Educational Practice:Practitioner (pp. 3-22). The Open University of Sri Lanka.   http://bit.ly/2jzeDu1

Karunanayaka, S., Fernando, C., Jayasinghe, S., De Silva, V., & Hewapathirana, C. (2014). Change through Technology: A Journey. In S. Karunanayaka & S. Naidu (Eds). Integrating OER in Educational Practice: Practitioner Stories. (pp. 93-122). The Open University of Sri Lanka. http://bit.ly/2jzeDu1

Karunanayaka, S. (2014). Open University of Sri Lanka –Integrating OER in a Teacher Education Course. In S. Naidu & S. Mishra (Eds). Case Studies on OER-based eLearning. (pp. 1-10). CEMCA. http://oasis.col.org/bitstream/handle/11599/561/CaseStudies_OER-based_eLearning.pdf

Karunanayaka, S. & Naidu, S. (2009). Developing Professional Competencies of Teacher Educators in the use of Educational Technology, with Scenario-based Learning In Kinuthia & S. Marshall (Eds.) Cases ‘n’ Places: Global Cases in Educational Technology. (pp. 123-132). Information Age Publishing. http://bit.ly/2AiQcuZ

Karunanayaka, S. (2008). Introducing an online learning course at the Open University of Sri lanka In K. Rama, A. Hope & U. Coomaraswamy (Eds.) Quality Assurance Toolkit: Distance Higher Education Institutions & Programmes. (pp. 275-281). http://www.icde.org/filestore/Resources/Handbooks/QAToolkit.pdf

Karunanayaka, S. (2007). Practitioner-oriented postgraduate programme in teacher education In T.K.S. Lakshmi, K. Rama & J. Hendrikz (Eds.) An Anthology of “Best Practices” in Teacher Education. (pp. 14-18). http://www.teindia.nic.in/Files/Best_Practices_inTE.pdf

Naidu, S., Menon, M., Gunawardena, C., Lekamge, D., & Karunanayaka, S. (2007). How can scenario-based learning engender and promote reflective practice in online and distance education. In M. Spector (Eds.), Finding Your Online Voice: Stories Told by Experienced Online Educators (pp. 53-72). Lawrence Erlbaum. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0668/2006027752-t.html

Karunanayaka, S. & Wijeratne, R. (2005). Educational media in Sri Lanka. In U.V. Reddi and S. Mishra (eds.) Perspectives on distance education: Educational media in Asia. (pp 55-67). Commonwealth of Learning.

Magazine/News Paper Articles

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2021). “Re-envisioning the Role of the Open Universities in the Current Global Scenario”. Article published on OPEN Quarterly (Special Edition)-2021, (pp. 9-12) The Open University of Sri Lanka. https://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/OUSL/publications/Open%20Quarterly_2021-ii.pdf

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2020). “OUSL Opened-Up New Horizons for Me”. Article published on OPEN Quarterly, ii/iv-2020, (pp. 5-17) The Open University of Sri Lanka. https://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/OUSL/publications/Open_Q_2020_2_4.pdf

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2019). “A Book Review: Education Meeting Knowledge Economy – 21st Century Expectation”. Article published on The Sunday Times, 11.08.2019. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190811/education/362073-362073.html

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2016). “Open Educational Resources: What, Why and How?”. Article published on OPEN Quarterly, 2016, (pp. 11-13) The Open University of Sri Lanka. http://www.ou.ac.lk/home/images/OUSL/publications/eOQ2.pdf

Presentations at Conferences / Professional Meetings etc. – Published as a Full Paper/ Extended Abstract/Abstract

~ Many.

Unpublished Doctoral dissertation

Karunanayaka, S.P. (2001). Design processes adopted by Sri Lankan teacher educators to develop Internet-based study materials. Unpublished Doctoral dissertation. Australia: University of Wollongong. Retrieved from http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1969&context=theses

Research Project Reports

Karunanayaka, S.P. (2019). Adoption of the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) Programme by Teachers and Students of Higher Secondary School Level in Sri Lanka – Research project supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada (2018-2019 – Completed)

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2019). Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Massive Open Online Courses for Continuous Professional Development (CPD MOOCs) on Adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) – A Design-based Capacity Development Initiative – Phase 2 – 2018-2019. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/OUSLCPDMOOCsReport2

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2018). Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Massive Open Online Courses for Continuous Professional Development (CPD MOOCs) on Adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Educational Practices (OEP) – A Design-based Capacity Development Initiative – Phase 1 – 2017-2018. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/OUSLCPDMOOCsReport1

Research Reports

Study on the Professional Development of Teachers and Teacher Educators in Sri Lanka (2016). National Education Commission. Research Series (2014)-No. 2. Research Commissioned by NEC under the “Transforming School Education Project” (TSEP) World Bank. (Research Team Member)

An action research on the quality improvement of teaching practice component of the PGDE Programme (2014) Faculty of Education Research Series 1 (Research Team member)

A National Study on student achievement in English Language in Grade 10 – (2010) (Research Team member)

Research Study to examine the horizontal and vertical integration of the modernized curriculum introduced at Secondary Level (Grades 6-11) since 2007  (2010) (Research Team member)

Karunanayaka, S. (2009). A reflective study on the design, development and delivery of the first online course delivered in Moodle at OUSL (CRADE research) (Research Team Leader)

Karunanayaka, S. (2009). An in-depth study on the design features adopted in the online courses developed in Moodle at Faculty of Education, OUSL (CRADE research) (Research Team Leader)

Lekamge, D., Gunawardena, C, Karunanayaka, S. and De Zoysa, S (2008). A study on instructional strategies used by teachers for development of higher order cognitive skills in students  (Research Team Member)

Gunawardena, G.I.C., Lekamge, G.D., Karunanayaka, S. &  Dhanapala, T.D.T.L. (2005). Development of teacher competencies through the Post Graduate Diploma in Education Programme (Research Team Member)

Karunanayaka, S. Kularatne, N.G. & Udugama, L.S.K. (2003), A Process Evaluation of the ICT centres established under the GEP II – A study commissioned by the Ministry of Education (Research Team Leader)

Consultancy Reports

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2016) Provincial OER Policy Development, Sri Lanka – Consultant Report –  Commissioned by Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Retrieved from http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2386

Peramunugamage, A., Rathnayake, H.U.W., Karunanayaka, S. P., & Jayewardena, C.L. (2024). Design of Moodle-based collaborative learning activities to enhance student interactions. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 19 (1), 37-54. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/AAOUJ-06-2023-0079/full/pdf

Naidu, S., & Karunanayaka, S. P., (2024). Development and validation of the Open Educational Practices Impact Evaluation (OEP-IE) Index. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 1-16 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02680513.2024.2340482

Karunanayaka, S.P. (2023). Knowledge co-creation in the digital age: Social Science research as a catalyst. (Editorial). Sri Lanka Journal of Social Sciences. 46(2), 141–143. https://sljss.sljol.info/articles/10.4038/sljss.v46i02.9112
Bozkurt, A., Gjelsvik, T., Adam, T., Asino, T. I., Atenas, J., Bali, M., Blomgren, C., Bond, M., Bonk, C. J., Brown, M., Burgos, D., Conrad, D., Costello, E., Cronin, C., Czerniewicz, L., Deepwell, M., Deimann, M., DeWaard, H. J., Dousay, T. A., Ebner, M., Farrow, R., Gil-Jaurena, I., Havemann, L., Inamorato, A., Irvine, V., Karunanayaka, S. P., Kerres, M., Lambert, S., Lee, K., Makoe, M., Marín, V. I., Mikroyannidis, A., Mishra, S., Naidu, S., Nascimbeni, F., Nichols, M., Olcott. Jr., D., Ossiannilsson, E., Otto, D., Padilla Rodriguez, B. C., Paskevicius, M., Roberts, V., Saleem, T., Schuwer, R., Sharma, R. C., Stewart, B., Stracke, C. M., Tait, A., Tlili, A., Ubachs, G., Weidlich, J., Weller, M., Xiao, J., & Zawacki Richter, O. (2023). Openness in Education as a Praxis: From Individual Testimonials to Collective Voices. Open Praxis, 15(2), pp. 76–112. https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.15.2.574

Karunanayaka, S. P. (2023). Blending innovative pedagogy and technology for capacity development of educators during the pandemic. Journal of Learning for Development, 10(1), 24-37. https://jl4d.org/index.php/ejl4d/article/view/783
Karunanayaka, S. P., Weerakoon, W. M. S., Wijesekera, H. D., Nawarathna, N. M. R. K., Ramathass, P., & Weerasinghe, M. D. B. P. (2022). Towards Digital Thinking and Practices: Experiences of Sri Lankan Teachers and Students. Open Praxis, 13(4), 365–377. http://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.13.4.262

Peramunugamage, A., Ratnayake, U.W., & Karunanayaka, S.P. (2022). Systematic review on mobile collaborative learning for engineering education. Journal of Computers in Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-022-00223-1

Karunanayaka, S. P., & Naidu, S. (2021). Impacts of Authentic Assessment on the Development of Graduate Attributes. Distance Education, 42(2), 231-252. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2021.1920206

Sandanayake, T.C., Karunanayaka, S.P. & Madurapperuma, A.P.(2021). A framework to design open educational resources-integrated online courses for undergraduate learning: A design-based research approach. Education and Information Technologies (2021), 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10393-z

Karunanayaka, S. P., & Naidu, S. (2020). Ascertaining impacts of capacity building in open educational practices. Distance Education. 41(2), 87-109, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2020.1757406

Karunanayaka, S. P., & Weerakoon, W. (2020). Fostering Digital Education among Teachers and Learners in Sri Lankan Schools. Journal of Learning for Development, 7(1), 61-77. https://jl4d.org/index.php/ejl4d/article/view/390

Abeywardena, I.S., Karunanayaka, S. P., Nkwenti, M.N., Tlad, L. (2018). A Collaborative Approach to OER Policy and Guidelines Development in the Commonwealth: The Case of Botswana, Cameroon and Sri Lanka. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL), 19(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i2.3415

Karunanayaka, S. P., Naidu, S., Rajendra, J.C.N., & Ariadurai, S.A. (2018). Designing Continuing Professional Development MOOCs to promote the adoption of OER and OEP. Open Praxis 10(2), 179-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.5944/openpraxis.10.2.826

Karunanayaka, S. P., & Naidu, S. (2018). Designing Capacity Building of Educators in Open Educational Resources Integration Leads to Transformational Change. Distance Education. 39(1), 87-109. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2017.1413933

Karunanayaka, S. P. & Naidu, S. (2017). A design-based approach to support and nurture open educational practices.  AAOU Journal, 12(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-01-2017-0010

Karunanayaka, S.P., (2017). Discourses at the Intersections of Disciplinary Knowledge, Pedagogy and Technology. (Editorial) OUSL Journal. 12(1), 1–4. http://doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v12i1.7392

Karunanayaka, S., Naidu, S., Rajendra, J., & Ratnayake, H. (2017). Designing reflective practice in the context of OER-based eLearning. Journal of Learning for Development (JL4D). 4(2), 143-160. http://www.jl4d.org/index.php/ejl4d/article/view/210

Karunanayaka, S. (2007). Facing ‘change’ in the process of designing and developing Web-based learning environments. OUSL Journal, 4(1). 17-32.

PhD Supervision (OUSL)-

T. C. Sandanayaka – Innovative Design of Open Educational Resources-Integrated Online Courses to Support Undergraduate Learning – Degree Awarded (2018)

K.G.S.K. Perera – Development of a Framework to Design Professional Development Programs for School Teachers to Support Integration of ICT in Their Instructional Practices – Degree Awarded (2019)

A. Peramunugamage – Development of a Framework to foster collaborative learning among engineering students using Moodle mobile app – Ongoing

MPhil Co-Supervision (Moratuwa)

C. Sirisuriya – Degree Awarded (2019)

  • Ministry of Education (MoE) – Committees; Teacher capacity development; Research reviews
  • University Grants Commission (UGC) – Committees; Professorship promotion panels; External reviews; Panel member for Preparation of the Subject Benchmark for Education (2022 – 2023)
  • National Education Commission (NEC) – Committees; Workshops; Research studies
  • Contributed in the National Policy Proposals on Higher Education in Sri Lanka as a member of the Standing Committee on Higher Education in the National Education Commission (NEC), Sri Lanka (2017-2019) http://nec.gov.lk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Higher-education-Policy_2019_English.pdf
  • Contributed as a researcher in Developing a National Policy on General Education– Research Team Member in the study, Transforming Teacher Education: A Study on the Professional Development of Teachers and Teacher Educators in Sri Lanka, conducted for National Education Commission (NEC) (2013-2014) < http://nec.gov.lk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/2-Final-.pdf
  • Contribution in the National Forum on Reforms in General Education in Sri Lanka organized by the National Institute of Education and the Ministry of Education (2020)
  • Compiled OER Policy – for Provincial Ministries of Education in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. July, 2016. Available at https://www.col.org/resources/oer-policy-provincial-ministries-education-sri-lanka
  • Contributed as a reviewer in Institutional Review of Advanced Technological Institutes (ATIs) in Sri Lanka, for Quality Assurance and Strengthening Alternate Higher Education Sector under the Higher Education for Twenty First Century (HETC) Project of the Ministry of Higher Education – March-April 2015
  • Contributed as a resource person in the Workshop on Quality Assurance in External Degree Programmes in Higher Educational Institutes, organized by UGC, under the HETC Project, 14 March 2014.
  • Contributed as a reviewer in Desk Evaluation of Undergraduate Study Programs (Window 1 & 2) for Quality and Innovation Grant (QIG) under the Higher Education for Twenty First Century (HETC) Project of the Ministry of Higher Education – October/November 2011
  • National Institute of Education (NIE) – Curriculum development; Curriculum review; Research studies
  • National Colleges of Education (NCOEs) – Staff capacity development; Curriculum development
  • Universities and other HEIs – Staff capacity development; Curriculum development; Curriculum reviews; Research proposal/report/paper reviews; Examination paper moderation; Promotion evaluations
  • Schools – Staff capacity development; Guest lectures; Chief Guest in ceremonies
  • Member of the Organizing Committee and Chair of the Scientific Committee in the 34th AAOU Annual Conference (AAOU 2021) held 1-3 June 2021, The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), Colombo. http://aaou2020.ou.ac.lk/
  • Member of the 3-person ICDE Quality Reviewer Team to conduct a review of Universitas Terbuka (UT), Indonesia, contracted by ICDE, 9-13 December 2019 https://www.ut.ac.id/en/news/2019/12/icde-review-takes-ut-one-step-ahead
  • Provided expertise in contextualization and facilitation in the MOOC – Digital Literacy Lab for Educators in Global Perspective – (March-May 2021)<https://youtu.be/lzYM8obUvII>
  • Member of the International Advisory Group in Curriculum Development for Digital Education Leadership by Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CILT), University of Cape Town, South Africa, under the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action (C-DELTA) project, April-July, 2016 Concept Paper Available at http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/2442
  • Member of the Review Team of External Review Toolkit for ODL and eLearning Courses, April, 2016. Available at https://www.col.org/resources/external-review-toolkit-odl-and-elearning-courses
  • Contributed in the development of the Quality Assurance Toolkit: Distance Higher Education Institutions and Programmes by The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in partnership with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Higher Education and UNESCO. 2009. Available at http://oasis.col.org/handle/11599/105
  • Contribution in the “OER-based eLearning” Course design, development and implementation Project at Wawasan Open University (WOU), Malaysia, supported by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), India (2014-2015) https://cemca.org.in/ckfinder/userfiles/files/OER%20-%20Modules_Low.pdf

2024 Long Service Award for the Continuous Meritorious Service for Thirty Years – awarded at the Open University of Sri Lanka, 1st January 2024
2023 The National Educator Award-2023 – Gold Award in recognition of the outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of Education awarded by the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), 1 December 2023.
2023 The Most Outstanding Senior Researcher-2022 (Social Sciences), awarded by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors & Directors (CVCD) Sri Lanka, 9 June 2023.
2021 The Annual Research Award-2022 – OUSL, awarded at the Open University Research Sessions, 2023.
2022 The Annual Research Award-2021 – OUSL, awarded at the Open University Research Sessions, 2022.
2021 The Annual Research Award-2020 – OUSL, awarded at the Open University Research Sessions, 16-17 September 2021.
2019 Long Service Award for the Continuous Meritorious Service for Twenty-Five Years – awarded at the Open University of Sri Lanka, 1st January 2019
2019 The Annual Research Award-2018 – OUSL, awarded at the Open University Research Sessions, 30-31 October 2019.
2017 The Annual Research Award-2016 – OUSL, awarded at the Open University Research Sessions, 16-17 November 2017.
2016 Gold Medal for AAOU Best Practice Award – 2016 for the research paper titled, “A Design-based Approach to Support and Nurture Open Educational Practices” (Karunanayaka, S.P. & Naidu, S.), presented at the 30thAnnual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), 26-29 October 2016, Manila.
2015 ICDE Prize for Innovation and Best Practice in Open, Distance, Flexible, Online Education and E-learning – 2015 for the paper: “From OER to OEP: Shifting Practitioner Perspectives and Practices with Innovative Learning Experience Design” (Karunanayaka, S.P., Naidu, Rajendra, J.C.N., & Ratnayake, H.U.W.), presented at the 26th ICDE World Conference, 14-16 October 2015, Sun City, South Africa. https://www.icde.org/icde-news/icde-prizes-for-innovation-and-best-practice-2015?rq=karunanayaka
2013 Annual Award for the Best Interactive Multimedia (IMM) Courseware – 2011 – OUSL, for the IMM package developed for “Multi-grade Teaching”, awarded at the Annual Academic Sessions of OUSL, 27-28 November 2013 – Team Leader.
2013 The Annual Research Award 2009/10 – OUSL, in the discipline of Open and Distance Learning, awarded at the Annual Academic Sessions of OUSL, 27-28 February 2013.
2008 The Annual Research Award 2007/08 – OUSL in the discipline of Open and Distance Learning, awarded at the Annual Academic Sessions of OUSL, 18 December 2008.
2008 COL Excellence in Distance Education Award for Distance Education Materials in Category A, for the Master of Arts in Teacher Education (International) Programme, presented at the Fifth Pan Commonwealth Forum, 13-17 July 2008 London, United Kingdom. (Team Leader) https://www.col.org/about/pan-commonwealth-forum/award-excellence-open-and-distance-education-materials
2007 The Annual Research Award 2005/06 – OUSL in the discipline of Education awarded at the Annual Academic Sessions of OUSL held 28 June 2007.
1997 Scholarship awarded to pursue Doctoral Studies in the University of Wollongong Australia, under the Teacher Education and Teacher Deployment Project of the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka
1990 D.B. Ellepola Gold Medal for the Best Performance in the B.Sc. Degree Programme -1990, The Open University of Sri Lanka, awarded at the OUSL Convocation, 1991