Institutional-Repository, University of Moratuwa
Welcome to the University of Moratuwa Digital Repository, which houses postgraduate theses and dissertations, research articles presented at conferences by faculties and departments, university-published journal articles and research publications authored by academic staff. This online repository stores, preserves and distributes the University's scholarly work. This service allows University members to share their research with a larger audience.
 Research Publications |  Thesis & Dissertation |  E- Books |
 UoM Journal Publications |  UoM Conference Proceedings |  Articles published in Scimago's Q1 journals |  UoM Research Reports |  Other Articles authored by UoM staff |
Recent Submissions
item: Thesis-Abstract
Improvement of alternative dispute resolution methods for settlement of disputes in construction projects in Sri Lanka
(2026) Herath, HMWB; Abenayake, MDTE
Construction disputes are complex and technical in nature, making them more difficult to resolve than disputes in any other industry. As the volume of construction activities grows in Sri Lanka, there is a need to develop efficient and timely practices for resolving disputes. In the traditional context, the most commonly adopted method of resolving disputes was litigation. However, the limitations of the litigation process, such as cost, time, lack of confidentiality, and the adversarial system, led to the need for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
The aim of the research is to develop strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods for the settlement of disputes in construction projects in Sri Lanka. The difficulties faced in the process of adopting the ADR methods have been identified, along with the advantages of the ADR process. The advantages of the ADR process include speed, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, confidentiality, and the maintenance of professional relationships. The objectives of the present research are to identify the current practices of ADR in the Sri Lankan construction industry, how to improve the effectiveness of ADR, problems faced during ADR, and advantages of ADR in construction industry. The mixed-method approach used to carry out this research is literature review, questionnaire survey, and expert interviews. From the literature review, the research identified ADR methods used were negotiation, mediation, adjudication, and arbitration. Further, ten industry experts from different fields, such as project managers, quantity surveyors, architects, structural engineers, construction managers, and legal advisors were also interviewed to gain expert knowledge of the industry. The results show that ADR practices such as negotiation, adjudication, mediation, arbitration, and Dispute Adjudication Boards are being used on a large scale in the construction industry. A remarkable contribution has been made by ADR practices in improving dispute resolution. However, there are some challenges that need to be addressed, including lack of awareness of ADR practices, complexities and cost, technology, voluntariness, and enforcement of ADR practices from a legal perspective. In order to address these challenges, several strategies were identified in this research, including awareness, education, and training; standardization of ADR practices; technology integration; effective communication and early intervention; collaborative practices; and regulatory support. These strategies are expected to enhance ADR practices in the Sri Lanka construction industry and contribute to more efficient dispute resolution.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Project management strategies for overcoming operational barriers in bored piling projects in Sri Lanka
(2026) Gomes, DGNM; Seneviratne, I
This study develops a project management framework to mitigate operational barriers in Sri Lanka's bored piling industry. Employing a mixed-method approach, literature review, questionnaire survey of 45 practitioners, and four expert interviews; the research identified twenty-four operational barriers. Relative Importance Index analysis revealed three most critical: time restrictions due to residential proximity (RII=0.82), suboptimal drilling techniques (RII=0.78), and logistical challenges with oversized equipment (RII=0.76). Expert interviews contextualised these findings within Sri Lanka's volatile fuel prices, protracted governmental approvals, and problematic clay-based soils.
A four-stage framework integrating Lean Management, Six Sigma, Critical Path Method, and Kaizen was developed, encompassing: (1) root-cause diagnosis using Fishbone diagrams; (2) strategic alignment of PM methodologies to specific barriers; (3) implementation through stakeholder collaboration and real-time monitoring; and (4) evaluation via Pareto analysis. Case study application demonstrated significant improvements: Lean reduced material waste by 22 percent; Six Sigma decreased design flaws by 25 percent; and CPM increased on-time project completion by 35 percent. This research offers a scalable model for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and promoting sustainability in bored piling operations within Sri Lanka and comparable developing economies.
item: Conference-Abstract
Evaluating SMAP L4 root-zone soil moisture against hydrologically simulated soil-water states in the upper Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka
(2026) Wijayarathna, YADKH; Gunawardhana, HGLN; Perera, GMCA; Rajapakse, RLHL; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Soil moisture regulates the conversion of monsoon rainfall into runoff, making it significant for flood forecasting. Satellite products such as the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission provide soilmoisture estimates but remain poorly evaluated in data-scarce tropical monsoon regions, particularly Sri Lanka. This study evaluates the consistency of SMAP L4 Version 7 root-zone soil moisture with soil-water states simulated by a discharge-calibrated Hydrologic Engineering Center–Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model of the upper Kelani River Basin above Hanwella (1,818 km2). A continuous 11-subbasin HEC-HMS model used a 5 km grid, Gridded Deficit and Constant Loss, and SoilGrids-based Saxton and Rawls parameters. It was calibrated against daily discharge for 2020 and validated for 2021 (Nash–Sutcliffe 0.70, R 0.86, PBIAS −8%). Simulated soil-moisture deficit was converted to volumetric soil moisture and compared with 9 km SMAP using anomaly, day-to-day changes, lag, and flood-event analyses. Direct agreement between the two series was weak (R = 0.31; negative Nash–Sutcliffe), partly reflecting grid-scale mismatch between SMAP and HEC-HMS across steep terrain and canopy attenuation of retrievals under dense Wet Zone vegetation. Correspondence was stronger after removing the mean (R = 0.55) and for dayto- day changes (R = 0.39); the catchment-averaged series correlated at 0.58, increasing to 0.72 at a 17-day lag. Overall, SMAP captured aspects of sub-seasonal variability despite limited agreement in absolute magnitude, suggesting greater suitability for monitoring soil-moisture anomalies and wetness trends than directly updating HEC-HMS states in tropical basins.
item: Conference-Abstract
Satellite-driven aboveground biomass mapping and its hydrological implications in Sri Lankan tropical catchments
(2026) Chamika, KHT; Dissanayake, BC; Perera, C; Rajapakse, RLHL; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Sri Lanka lacks a nationally consistent, locally validated aboveground biomass density (AGBD) map, while hydrological models still represent vegetation through land-cover classes. This study produced a locally validated 1 km AGBD map and tested whether biomass-based curve numbers outperform conventional landcover- based values in rainfall-runoff simulation. GEDI Level 4B AGBD (2019–2021) was modelled from 20 predictors derived from MODIS, Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, PALSAR-2, SRTM and CHIRPS with a zonestratified spatial validation design. Held-out performance was r = 0.776 and MAE = 19.46 Mg ha⁻1. Against 70 published field sites, r was 0.519 overall, 0.624 for natural forests and 0.745 for post-2015 sites, with underestimation at high biomass. Land-cover class explained only 2.3% of biomass variance, against 30.2% for annual rainfall. NDVI, EVI, LAI and FPAR saturated above 150 Mg ha⁻1, their biomass correlations becoming negative. Within tree cover, biomass varied by 57.1% but the curve number (CN) by only 4.8%. Vegetation-adjusted CNs were therefore tested in HEC-HMS across nine catchments. Differences among conventional, biomass-, NDVI- and LAI-based fields were negligible: validation NSE differed by 0.008 and logNSE by 0.002. Catchment mean AGBD was strongly related to mean slope (r = 0.956), indicating close coupling of vegetation, terrain and climate that limits isolation of an independent vegetation effect. Satellitederived biomass therefore captures vegetation structure that land-cover classes miss, but introducing it through CN adjustment did not materially improve hydrological simulation, indicating that alternative process representations are needed to capture vegetation–hydrology interactions.
item: Conference-Abstract
Spatial quantification, prioritization, and comparing soil erosion risk across agro-ecological zones in Werie Watershed, Northern Ethiopia: A RUSLE model, GIS and remote sensing approach
(2026) Haile, GE; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Soil erosion by water is a critical environmental challenge in Ethiopia, particularly in the highlands, causing land degradation and reduced agricultural productivity. Localized ssessments are needed for effective land management. This study quantifies soil loss, prioritizes hazard areas, and compares loss across agroecological zones in the Werie Watershed, Northern Ethiopia, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). We integrated 31 years of rainfall for the Rainfall Erosivity (R) factor, soil data for Soil Erodibility (K), remotely sensed land cover for Cover Management (C), a Digital Elevation Model for Slope Length and Steepness (LS), and Support Practices (P) based on land use and slope. GIS processed and analyzed spatial data to generate a soil loss map. Mean annual soil loss was 9.73 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1 (0.09–436.37), showing high spatial variability. While 78.23% of the watershed experienced slight erosion (0.09–5 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1), 10.65% was high to very extreme (>30 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1). Comparison across Kolla, Weina Dega, and Dega zones showed distinct soil loss patterns. The Kolla zone had the highest average erosion (22.83 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1), indicating high vulnerability despite smaller area. The Weina Dega zone, with moderate mean loss (8.77 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1), contributed the largest total annual soil loss due to its size. The Dega zone exhibited the lowest mean rate (7.64 t ha⁻1 yr⁻1). Given these findings, targeted soil and water conservation is urgently recommended, particularly in vulnerable lowlands and extensive mid-highlands, to promote sustainable management and mitigate erosion's adverse impacts.