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.
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Recent Submissions
item: Conference-Abstract
ICEWSE 2026- 2nd International Conference on Energy and Water for Sustainable Environment 2026
(2026) Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
item: Conference-Abstract
Water, climate and future of resilience: rethinking sustainable development in South Asia
(2026) Maswabi, MG; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Climate change is reshaping the conditions for sustainable development, with water at the centre of interconnected risks affecting food, energy, ecosystems, infrastructure and livelihoods across South Asia. Building resilience therefore requires moving beyond isolated technical solutions and projects towards more integrated approaches to planning, investment and implementation. This keynote explores two critical shifts. First, resilience requires institutional integration: climate and water risks are systemic, yet development planning and investment decisions often remain organised around sectoral mandates. Second, financing resilience requires moving from project pipelines to investment pathways that connect risk and evidence with policy priorities, investment planning, appropriate financing, implementation and scale. Drawing on emerging experiences from South Asia, the keynote considers how stronger institutional integration and more strategic approaches to finance can help translate knowledge and innovation into resilient development outcomes. It argues that resilience is not simply a project to be financed, but a development pathway to be deliberately shaped and sustained.
item: Conference-Abstract
Materials for renewable energy harvesting and storage: fostering renewable energy at HEIs for a sustainable environment
(2026) Prasath, RA; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
The transition towards renewable energy systems requires materials capable of efficiently harvesting, converting and storing energy while supporting sustainable and low-carbon evelopment. This presentation highlights research and technological developments in nanostructured, polymeric, inorganic, and hybrid materials for renewable energy harvesting, energy conversion, and energy storage applications from my research group. The presentation will emphasize (i) nanostructured TiO2-based materials developed through microwave-assisted sol–gel synthesis for enhanced sunlight harvesting and photovoltaic applications, (ii) integration of broadband plasmonic Au and Ag nanostructures with mesoporous TiO2 for enhanced solar absorption and an improvement in the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells, (iii) the development of solid-state polymer–inorganic composite electrolytes incorporating GARNET fillers and cross-linked polymer networks to enhance lithium-ion transport, interfacial stability and electrochemical safety while suppressing dendrite formation, providing opportunities for next-generation high-energy solidstate batteries, (iv) polymer-encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) for solar-thermal energy storage, offering improved thermal charging–discharging characteristics and latent heat capacity, (v) high-solarreflectance, water-based roof-cool coatings will also be highlighted as a passive cooling approach for reducing solar heat absorption and indoor cooling demand, (vi) silver nanoparticles integrated with dual B/P-doped g-C3N4 enhance visible-light absorption and charge separation, boosting hydrogen-generation efficiency for sustainable solar-driven water splitting will be discussed. Overall, the presentation will demonstrate how the integration of materials science, nanotechnology, and renewable-energy engineering can contribute to efficient energy harvesting, thermal and electrochemical storage, hydrogen production, and sustainable energy systems. The presentation will also highlight our initiative to promote Pondicherry University's adoption of solar energy for its energy needs and its vision to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035, thereby promoting sustainable practices at HEIs.
item: Conference-Abstract
Energy transitions for environmental resilience: integrating smart grids for a net-zero future
(2026) Rodrigo, WDAS; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Accelerating global climate action and protecting vital ecosystems require a rapid, structural transition toward high-penetration renewable energy systems. However, replacing traditional fossil fuel generation with variable solar and wind power introduces critical grid stability challenges, including supply intermittency, voltage volatility, and transmission congestion, that can hinder deep decarbonization efforts. This research highlights how the strategic integration of smart grid infrastructure, utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and digital energy management acts as a direct enabler of environmental sustainability. By replacing carbon-intensive peaking units and preventing clean energy curtailment, smart grid technologies minimize the ecological footprint of power generation while accelerating the pathway to net-zero emissions. From an engineering and environmental perspective, maximizing clean energy hosting capacity relies on robust utility-scale BESS architecture, incorporating advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS), Power Conversion Systems (PCS), and dynamic grid code compliance, to safely decouple power generation from immediate demand. Parallelly, intelligent demand management systems leverage AI-driven Energy Management Systems (EMS), SCADA integration, and automated demand response to optimize load profiles, eliminate energy wastage, and curb operational carbon emissions. Furthermore, implementing multi-layer protection schemes, digital monitoring, and fault-containment frameworks ensures long-term operational safety while safeguarding local ecosystems from energy-related environmental hazards. Drawing on practical engineering frameworks and field deployment models, this presentation outlines a concrete roadmap for professionals, grid operators, and policymakers seeking to build environmentally resilient power networks without compromising system security or operational reliability.
item: Conference-Abstract
Integrated multi-proxy techniques for assessing submarine groundwater discharge and saline intrusion along the coastal tracts of South-Eastern India: implications for sustainable water resources
(2026) Srinivasamoorthy, K; Ponnumani, G; Khanna, AR; Ramesh, K; Gopalakrishnan, V; Varshini, DS; Rajapakse, RLHL; Prasath, RA
Coastal aquifers are the most vulnerable freshwater resources, threatened by seawater intrusion (SWI), excessive groundwater withdrawal, anthropogenic, and climate-related influences. Further, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is groundwater flow from the land to the sea that has emerged as a significant pathway that links groundwater flow from the land to the sea that transports freshwater, dissolved salts, nutrients, trace elements, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other geochemical constituents to the coastal ocean. Recent investigations in the coastal aquifers of southeast India (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) have identified seawater intrusion affecting 20 to 40% of groundwater resources, and SGD rates of about 0.01 to 0.98 m³ m⁻² d⁻¹, which transport chemical constituents to the coastal oceans. Hence, it is imperative to understand the dynamics of SWI and SGD for sustainable water resource management. The present study uses multi-proxies that combine direct and fieldbased measurements, groundwater flow and transport modeling, resistivity investigations (ERT), hydrochemical indicators, radon, nutrients, trace elements, and REEs to identify groundwater dynamics. Darcy law, water budget, and seepage studies provided direct measurements of groundwater flux, while electrical resistivity imaging techniques delineated freshwater, saline water, and subsurface zones and pathways. Groundwater flow modeling was used to isolate the mechanisms and spatial variations of SWI and SGD under diverse geohydrological scenarios. Ionic ratios were used to isolate fresh, saline and mixed groundwater flows. Hydrochemical and geochemical tracers indicate that SGD acts as both source and sink for dissolved constituents through biogeochemical transformations. Radon-derived SGD estimates indicate substantial groundwater contributions to the coastal zone, while ERT confirms the existence of complex freshwater-saltwater transition zones and recirculated seawater pathways. Nutrients predicted SGD fluxes and were found to be influenced by coastal eutrophication, productivity and biogeochemical cycling. Trace elements and REEs identified processes like water-rock interaction, mixing, and geochemical evolution, thereby altering the chemical composition of coastal groundwater. The integrated approach suggested a strong impact of the spatial and temporal variability of SWI and SGD, which is controlled by factors like hydraulic gradients, recharge, and aquifer heterogeneity. Multi-proxy datasets were compared with global studies and found to be comparable with several tropical and subtropical coastal aquifers. The study also highlights the need to integrate multiple techniques for more accurate and reliable assessment of SWI and SGD. The findings provide critical insights for sustainable coastal aquifer management, climate resilience planning, groundwater protection, and the preservation of sensitive coastal ecosystems under increasing environmental stress.