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: Thesis-Abstract
Detailing of shear reinforcement for deep beams
(2026) Kumari, MMDD; Baskaran, K
This study investigates the feasibility of utilizing bottom ash (BA), a by-product of the Kerawalapitiya Waste-to-Energy power plant, as a partial replacement for fine aggregate in the production of masonry cement blocks. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in the Colombo Municipal Council area is currently supplied to the Kerawalapitiya Waste-to-Energy plant at a rate of approximately 450 metric tons per day, although the plant is designed to operate at a capacity of 600–800 metric tons per day. Approximately 12% of the waste input is converted into bottom ash, and currently, there is no sustainable or practical solution for its disposal or reuse.
In this research, bottom ash was used to replace sand at three levels: 30%, 40%, and 50% by weight, combined with three different water-cement (w/c) ratios: 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2. The blocks were cast using an industrial cement block manufacturing machine, following the typical local production process that uses quarry dust instead of river sand and incorporates quarry chips (chip stones). This method was selected to ensure that the process was both economical and representative of actual conditions in commercial cement block manufacturing.
The produced blocks were tested for compressive strength, density, water absorption, and workability. The results indicate that bottom ash can be effectively used in masonry block production, with 30% to 50% replacement and a w/c ratio of 0.8 to 1.0. This approach offers a sustainable construction solution while addressing the pressing environmental issue of bottom ash disposal in Sri Lanka.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Towards inclusive heritage digitisation in Sri Lanka : overcoming socio-cultural impediments
(2026) Gomez, NA; Dharmasena, J
Addressing the socio-cultural impediments that influence the development of inclusive heritage digitisation in Sri Lanka constitutes the primary aim of this research. While global digitisation initiatives have demonstrated the technological potential to document, interpret, and preserve heritage assets, Sri Lanka’s progress in this field remains fragmented and inconsistent. The study seeks to understand not merely the technical feasibility of digitisation, but the deeper cultural, institutional, and ideological factors that influence its acceptance, resistance, and sustainability within the Sri Lankan context. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates a thematic inquiry into community and stakeholder perceptions with a qualitative project analysis of selected digitisation initiatives undertaken between 2015 and 2024. Semi-structured interviews with heritage professionals, digital strategists, architects, and conservation practitioners are analysed using content analysis to identify recurring themes and sub-themes. These are complemented by survey findings and a review of project documentation, enabling a layered understanding of how digitisation unfolds both discursively and practically. The findings reveal that resistance to digitisation in Sri Lanka is less a matter of technological incapacity and more a reflection of socio-cultural sensitivities, institutional inertia, fragmented governance, and ambiguities surrounding ownership, access, and custodianship. Religious authority, fears of misuse, concerns about commercial exploitation, and weak regulatory frameworks emerge as key impediments. There also exists a parallel recognition of digitisation’s potential for education, repatriation, climate resilience, and global collaboration. The collapse of national-scale initiatives such as the E-Heritage platform further highlights the critical importance of long-term infrastructural planning, transparency, and institutional accountability. v Ultimately, this dissertation demonstrates that the digitisation of Sri Lankan heritage buildings is both feasible and necessary, but cannot succeed through technology alone. It requires a culturally sensitive, legally structured, and institutionally coordinated framework that recognises the layered meanings of heritage within Sri Lankan society. By situating digitisation within broader debates on sacredness, power, ownership, and narrative control, the study contributes a context-specific understanding of how digital heritage initiatives may be responsibly developed in postcolonial settings.
item: Thesis-Abstract
A Study of the issues in adaptive reuse in heritage buildings of street facades : a case study of the main street of Ambalangoda
(2026) Lamahewa, S; Darmasena , J
Heritage street facades form an essential component of the historic urban character of Sri Lankan towns. However, many of these buildings are increasingly threatened by rapid urban transformation, changing commercial demands, and weak conservation controls. Adaptive reuse is widely recognized as a practical strategy that allows heritage buildings to remain functional while preserving their architectural and cultural value. Despite its potential, the implementation of adaptive reuse in many historic streets remains limited due to various regulatory, physical, and socio-economic constraints. This research investigates ‘A study of the issues in adaptive reuse in heritage buildings of street facades: a case study of the Main Street of Ambalangoda’, a historically significant commercial street in a southern coastal town in Sri Lanka.
The research adopts a mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Field surveys, façade documentation, photographic studies, and building analysis were conducted to identify the architectural character and physical condition of selected buildings. Questionnaires and interviews with building owners, visitors, and experts were used to understand stakeholder perspectives on heritage value and building reuse. In addition, a comparative review of conservation controls in selected Sri Lankan heritage towns, including Galle, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, was undertaken to evaluate existing regulatory approaches.
The findings reveal that the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings in Ambalangoda is constrained by weak heritage regulations, limited awareness among stakeholders, economic challenges faced by property owners, and unsympathetic façade alterations. The absence of a coherent urban conservation framework further accelerates the gradual loss of the street’s historic character.
The study proposes adaptive reuse strategies and heritage-sensitive urban control guidelines aimed at strengthening conservation practices while supporting sustainable development within historic urban streets.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Appraising alternative ways of urban heritage conservation in South Asian cities : effectiveness of applicability in Sri Lankan context with special reference to Galle Fort
(2026) Pathinayaka, ADW; Wijesundara, J
In the present day, the historic cities across South Asia are trimmed and fringed by the rapid urban expansion, increasing economic pressures and changing social values. These forces are threatening the co-existence of urban heritage but in a positive note this trend can be identified as an opportunity to preserve the treasures in reaching challenging goals. Therefore, this study explores different strategies for managing and conserving historic urban environments with precise attention to how they can be applied effectively in Sri Lanka, considering Galle Fort as the main case study. This research employs a robust qualitative methodological framework to investigate the multifaceted determinants of successful urban heritage conservation within the South Asian context by considering an international case study and a local case study as well. By analyzing data through comprehensive policy analysis, case study reviews and rigorous on-site empirical observations systematically digitized and compiled into a structured tabular matrix, the study seeks to identify the critical success factors that distinguish effective conservation paradigms from conventional regional approaches. The study critically evaluates the efficacy of diverse management modalities, including adaptive reuse strategies, integrated urban planning frameworks, public- private partnerships (PPPs) and community-led initiatives. Further to this investigation, a comparative analysis of these conservation strategies is also conscripted as they manifest in the unique socio-political and socio-economic landscapes of South Asia. The research cross-examines the extent to which top-down institutional frameworks such as large scale integrated planning, intersect with or diverge from bottom-up community efforts. By focusing specifically on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort and its connecting urban environments, the study examines the longitudinal impacts of conservation outcomes on local conditions. The analysis goes beyond the physical preservation of architectural fabric to assess the broader socio-economic and cultural repercussions of heritage management. It explores how various conservation interventions influence local demographics, economic resilience and the intangible heritage of the community. Ultimately, this research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how conservation practices in Galle Fort and beyond can be optimized to serve as a sustainable source of inspiration, wisdom and intergenerational hope, ensuring that historical legacies are harmonized with contemporary urban development needs.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Architectural Conservation of Monuments & Sites
(2026) Jayasinghe, JPIV; Dissanayake, M
The immovable heritage of a country represents the abilities of its citizens and mirrors the artistic and architectural topographies of that nation. Painting conservation is one of the most thoughtful and important processes to enhance the longevity of paintings. The aim of this research is to identify and inspect the validity of reintegration techniques within the Sri Lankan context, specifically regarding the re-integrated paintings in the Kelaniya New Chamber. The painting styles in Sri Lanka can be studied under many distinctive categories. Among them, Kandyan era paintings are known for using colours without mixing, while Modern Transitional era paintings are renown for using graded shading palates, which introduces significant struggle in conserving the latter. Therefore, the research question was based on identifying and inspecting whether the use of reintegration techniques protect the validity of paintings with graded shading. Responses were obtained from both public and field experts to gather various perspectives on these reintegrated paintings. Additionally, personal observations and reintegrated painting plates were used to collect data. These plates were distributed among experts in the field to obtain their unique professional insights. A coding system was then utilized to analyse the authentic responses gathered from the participants. The responses of the general community were typically focused on visual perfection, whereas field experts considered materials and subjective historical evidence more deeply. While analysing the data, priority was given to the experts’ opinions for educational dedications.
In Sri Lanka, only few reintegration techniques have been utilized. Findings have revealed that Tratteggio, Dotteggio and two-tone glazing with proper colours are the most effective methods that can be applied for reintegration on paintings with graded shading surfaces. Professionalism, skilled artistry, precise colour matching, and careful layering helps to restore depth and continuity, while tackling colour fading and texture loss, and uphold historical authenticity in painting conservation. Further studies on original materials and technologies are essential for increasing conservation techniques in reintegration challenges.