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Department of Geography

Faculty of Arts - University of Peradeniya

Prof. T.W.M.T.W. Bandara

Professor in Geography

BA (Peradeniya, M.Phil. (NTNU Norway), PhD (Madras, India)

  •    Department of Geography
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About Me

T.W.M. Tilak Wijethunga Bandara was born in Mandaramnuwara and he received his school education from the Poramadulla Central College, Hanguranketha. He obtained his BA degree (Specializing in Geography) from the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya in 1996 and completed his M. Phil. degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, in 2002. His Ph.D. was awarded from the University of Madras, India, in 2010. He has contributed to academia from 1997 onwards and is currently attached to the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, serving as a Professor in Geography. He has taken part in many national and international professional training and he bears managerial positions at the administration level of the University of Peradeniya while contributing towards undergraduate and postgraduate teaching related to Physical Geography and Applied Geography. He has worked as a visiting lecturer at Sri Jayawardhanapura, Kelaniya, and Ruhuna Universities. He has dedicated his knowledge, skills, and expertise towards consultancy in many state-led and private-led environmental management and community development projects. He has worked as a Deputy Director examination in the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE) at the University of Peradeniya. He has worked as a Director of the Coordination Unit of Internships, Volunteering, and Community Outreach (CIVCO) at the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya from 2019 to 2021, Postgraduate Coordinator of the Environmental Management Degree Programme from 2020 up to now and He has worked as a Proctor of the University of Peradeniya. At present, he is the Head of the Department of Geography Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Geography

Faculty of Earth Science and Atmospheric Studies, University of Madras, India

2010

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Social Change

Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

2002

Bachelor of Arts (Specialized in Geography), 1996

University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

1996

Current Positions

Head, Department of Geography - University of Peradeniya

5th of January 2023 - To Present

Director - Coordination Unit of Internships, Volunteering, and Community Outreach (CIVCO)

2020 - To Present

Postgraduate Programme Coordinator in Geography and Environmental Management - Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS)

2019 - To Present

Member, Board of Management, Health Emergency and Disaster Management Training Centre, - Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.

2018 - To Present

Senior Treasurer, Soba Sansadaya Society - University of Peradeniya

2015 - To Present

Senior Advisor and Coordinator in Sri Lankan Geography Teachers Association - Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya

2015 - To Present

Senior Advisor and Senior Treasurer AIESEC Society - University of Peradeniya

2015 - To Present

Positions Held

Proctor - University of Peradeniya

2021 January - 2022 December

Director - Coordinating unit of Internship, Volunteering and Community Outreach, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

- To Present

Deputy Director for Examinations - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

December 2012 - April 2019

Deputy Proctor of the Faculty of Arts - University of Peradeniya

January 2017 - December 2018

Chairman board of survey - The Centre for Distance and Continuing Education

2017 - To Present

Chairman board of survey - The Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS)

2017 - To Present

Acting Director - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

August 2017 - September 2017

Academic Programme Coordinator - Postgraduate Programmes, University of Peradeniya

2017

Senior Treasurer - AIESEC in University of Peradeniya

2013 - 2017

Coordinator - Sri Lanka Geography Teachers’ Association, Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya

2010 - 2017

Coordinator of the Certificate Course in Geography for School Teachers - Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya

2011 - 2017

Senior Treasurer - Soba Sansadaya, University of Peradeniya

2009 - 2016

Voluntary Deputy Proctor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2015 - 2016

Voluntary Student Counsellor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2015 - 2016

Acting Director - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

October 2015

Member of Coordinating Committee for Diploma Programmes - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

2013 - To Present

Acting Head - Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts. University of Peradeniya

November 2015, March - June 2015, December 2010

Chairman - Departmental Board of Survey of the Department of Education, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2013 - 2015

Acting Director - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

August 2014

Activity Coordinator (Improving Relevance and Quality of External Degree Program) - under the EDP grant of HETC Project, University of Peradeniya

2014

Acting Director - Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

May 2014

Warden - James Peiris Hall, University of Peradeniya

January 2011 - December 2013

Coordinator of the Foundation Courses - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2011 - 2013

Coordinator of the Programme “Junior Achievement, Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka” (JA/YESL) - Ministry of Higher Education

2012

Coordinator of Academic Seminars - Center for Distance and Continuing Education (CDCE), University of Peradeniya

2010 - 2012

Voluntary Student Counsellor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

1999 - 2000

Memberships

Member - Sri Lankan Association of Geographers

2015 - present

Coordinator - Sri Lanka Geography Teachers’ Association

2013 - present

Member - Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya

2012 - present

Member - The National Network of Gender and Energy, Regional Wood Energy Development Programme in Asia, Bangkok, Thailand

2003

Publications

BOOKS

T.W.M.T.W Bandara (2017) ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පාරිසරික නීති හා ප්‍රතිපත්ති (නෛතික විධිවිධාන) Published by Dayawansa Jayakodi & Co.

E.H.G.C. Pathmasiri and T.W.M.T.W. Bandara (2017), Kandyan Homegarden Studies in Sri Lanka

E.H.G.C. Pathmasiri and T.W.M.T.W. Bandara (2017), ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ජෛව විවිධත්ව සංරක්‍ෂණය, Published by Dayawansa Jayakodi & Co.

E.H.G.C. Pathmasiri and T.W.M.T.W. Bandara (2011), භෞතික භූගෝලය: භූරූප විද්‍යාව,

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

ජෛව විවිධත්වය සහ ජෛව සංරක්ෂණය, ඉඳුවර: පර්යේෂණාත්මක ලේඛන සංග්‍රහය, භූගෝල විද්‍යාව, (සංස්කරණය: දයා අමරසේකර සහ රෝහිත දසනායක), ආරිය ප්‍රකාශකයෝ, 268-294 පිටු

Bandara, T. W. M. T. W (2015), Biodiversity and Bio Conservation, ඉඳුවර: පර්යේෂණාත්මක ලේඛන සංග්‍රහය, භූගෝල විද්‍යාව, Ed. Daya Amarasekara and Rohitha Dassanayake. Ariya Publishers, 268-294.

Bandara, T. W. M. T. W. (2015), මධ්‍යම පළාතේ ජෛව විවිධත්වය සහ එහි ඵෙතිහාසික විකාශනය (Biodiversity in the Central Province and It’s Historical Evolution) මැදරට වංසය, Ed. Rev. Prof. Hanguranketha Dheerananda.

Perera, D.H.A.S.S., Bandara, T.W.M.T.W., Kamalarathne, T. and Rasnayake, S. (2011), "The Role of Eco-Tourism on Rural Livelihood Development: A Case Study in Western Region in Knuckles Range, Sri Lanka." Competency Building Strategies in Business and Technology, Vol. 1 . Ed. Dr. K. Maran. Masilamani Pathippagam, Chennai, 699-702 .

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2016) Effectiveness of Mitigation Measures Recommended by the Environmental Impact Assessment of Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project, Journal of Tropical Environment

Pathmasiri, E.H.G.C., Shin Min, A. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2016) Vertical Space Utilization in Sasangu Urban Area of South Korea, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, Volume 3, Online ISSN: 2349-4182, Print ISSN: 2349-5979, Impact Factor: RJIF 5.72, Page No.: 195-201.

Pathmasiri, E.H.G.C., Shin Min, A. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2016) The Consequence of Sense of Place on Residential Decisions of the Urban Community of South Korea, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, ISSN 2250-3153, pp 107-113.

Pathmasiri, E.H.G.C. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2016), Place Theory for Studying Biodiversity of Kandyan Home Gardens in Sri Lanka, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 6, ISSN 2250-3153, pp. 154-159.

පද්මසිරි, ඊ. එච්. ජී. සී. සහ බණ්ඩාර, ටී. ඩබ්. එම්. ටී. ඩබ්. (2016) මහනුවර නගරයේ භූදර්ශනය තූළින් පිළිඹිබු වන ශ්‍රී දළඳා මාලිගයේ අවකාශිය බලපෑම, පූජනීය දළදා සංස්කෘතිය - 2016, එකොළොස්වන කලාපය, මධ්‍යම පළාත් සභාවේ කෘෂිකර්ම සහ පරිසර කටයුතු පිළිබඳ අමාත්‍යාංශය, පිටු 29-51.

බණ්ඩාර, ටී. ඩබ්. එම්. ටී. ඩබ්. සහ පද්මසිරි, ඊ. එච්. ජී. සී. (2015) ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සාම්ප්‍රදායික වාරිකර්මාන්තය තුළින් පිළිබිඹු වන සම්භාව්‍ය ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ගේ භූගෝලීය පරිකල්පනය, පරාර්ථ, මධ්‍යම පළාතේ ප්‍රධාන අමාත්‍ය අරමුදලේ වාර ප්‍රකාශනය, 05 වෙළුම, පිටු 01-20

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2015), Modern Trends and Distribution Patterns of Kitchen Gardens in Sri Lanka (A Case Study in Biyagama Area), Social Sciences and Humanities Review, University of Ruhuna, Volume 02, ISSN: 2279-3933, pp 27-58

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2013), Changes in Land Use Systems and Their Consequences (Case Study in Kothmale Oya Catchment), Social Sciences and Humanities Review, Volume 01, ISSN: 2279-3933, pp 29-74.

බණ්ඩාර, ටී. ඩබ්. එම්. ටී. ඩබ්. (2011) මධ්‍යම කඳුකරයේ නායයෑම් හා සම්බන්ධ අත්දැකීම් හා කළමනාකරණ උපාය මාර්ග, පරාර්ථ, මධ්‍යම පළාතේ ප්‍රධාන අමාත්‍ය අරමුදලේ වාර ප්‍රකාශනය, 03 වෙළුම, පිටු 67-87

බණ්ඩාර, ටී. ඩබ්. එම්. ටී. ඩබ්. (2010) මහනුවර නගරයේ භූ දර්ශනය කෙරෙහි සංස්කෘතික උරුමයන්ගේ බලපෑම, සාරථි, 08 වෙළුම, පිටු 71--88

Benignus Kashongo Chibinga, Bandara, T.W.M.T.W., Demeke Worku Tegbaru (2001), Challenges and Opportunities in the Coastal Region of Nord-Trøndelag: The Case of Vikna, Norway organized by Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. and Perera, D.H.A.S.S. (2011), Management Strategies for Granite Crushing Industry and its Impact on Human Health: Case Study of Biyagama South in Sri Lanka, Innovative Business and Technology Strategies for Developing Countries organized by Asian Management Science Association, Putra Intelek, International College, Malaysia pp. 227-232

Perera, D.H.A.S.S. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2010), Environmental and Socio Economic Role of Spice Gardens: A Case Study in the Matale District, Peradeniya University Research Sessions organized by the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. ISSN: 1391-4111, ISBN: 970-955-589-145-5, pp. 871-873

PUBLISHED IN ABSTRACT FORM

Weragoda, W. R. S. S. and Bandara, T. W. M. T. W. (2016), Awareness of women about causes and complications of obesity in Keppitiwalana Grama Niladhari Division, Sri Lanka, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions organized by the University of Peradeniya. ISBN: 978-955-589-225-4, ISSN: 1391-4111, p. 133

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2011), Tension between Community Heritage and Natural Heritage (A Case Study in the Knuckles World Heritage Forest in Sri Lanka), The First Conference on International Association for Asian Heritage organized by International Association for Asian Heritage (IAAH), Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural and Arts, Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-0643-00-4, p. 10

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2010), Social and Environmental Factors in the Promotion of Eco-tourism in Knuckles Forest Range, National Geography Conference, organized by the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-51824-2-3, p. 89

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. and Prathapage S. (2010), The Impact of Rural Poverty on Human Development in the Kandy District, National Geography Conference organized by the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-51824-2-3, p. 58

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2009), The Impact of Forest Conservation Policies on Local Livelihoods: Case Study in Knuckles Forest Range, Peradeniya University Research Sessions organized by the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-989-131-8, ISSN: 1391-4111, pp. 195-197

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2008), Economic Impact of Conservation of Knuckles Forests on Rural Communities in the Periphery, Thirteenth International Forestry and Environment Symposium organized by the Department of Forest and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 975-955-9054-70-2, p. 82

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2008), Changes in Land Use Pattern and Their Consequences: A Case study in Kothmale Oya Catchment, Peradeniya University Research Sessions organized by the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 113-4, ISSN: 1391-4111, pp. 48-49

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2003), Patterns in Forest Resources Utilization and Livelihood Changes in Forest Peripheral Areas in Sri Lanka, The International Conference on Sustainable Development and Management of Natural Resources organized by Holy Cross College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. p. 5

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2012), Eco-Tourism for Sustainable Development: Case Study in Knuckles Mountain Forest in Sri Lanka, International Research Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. ISSN: 2279-2309, p. 111

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2012), Variability of Rainfall Distribution in Coastal Districts of Nagapattinam and Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu: A Comparative Analysis, Second International Symposium organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-030-3, pp. 362-363

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2012), Modern Trends and Distribution Patterns of Kitchen Gardens in Sri Lanka: Case Study in Biyagama Area, Second International Symposium organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-030-3, pp. 238-240

Mohamed Zahir I. L., Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. Kaleel M.I.M., (2012), Development of a Web Based Land Information System (LIS) using Integrated GIS Technology for Ampara Town, Sri Lanka, Second International Symposium organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-030-3, pp. 218-220

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W., Wasantha Kumara, T. (2011), A Preliminary Assessment of the Economic Impact of Conservation of Knuckles Range of Forest on Rural Communities in the Vicinity, International Symposium on Post-war Economic Development through Science, Technology and Management organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-002-0, p. 49

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2011), Interpretive Use of Social and Environmental Factors in the Promotion of Eco-tourism in Knuckles Area, National Conference on Regional Development organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-025-9, p. 10

Perera, D.H.A.S.S. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2011), Biomass Energy as a Sustainable Rural Energy in Sri Lanka, National Conference on Regional Development organized by South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-025-9, p. 58

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2009), Conservation of Natural Resources in the Knuckles Forest Range and Its Impact on Local Livelihoods, National Geography Conference - 2009 organized by the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-589-114-1, p. 69

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2008), Geo-information for Disaster Management in Sri Lanka, Silver Jubilee – UGC International Seminar on Public Affairs and Governance: Challenges and Strategies organized by Anna Centre for Public Affairs, University of Madras, India.

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2008), Bio-mass Energy: Present Status Future Opportunities and Challenges in Sri Lanka, International Symposium on Contemporary Social Issues and Development organized by the Department of Social Sciences, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. pp. 19-20

Thulasimala, D. and Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. (2011), Variability of Rainfall Distribution in Cuddalor District, Tamil Nadu, International Conference on Post-War Economic Development through Science, Technology and Management organized by the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 978-955-627-002-0, p. 51

Conferences

2nd International Conference on Contemporary Management, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce

Bandara, T.W.M.T.W. and Pathirage, G.L. (2015), Environmental and Socio-economic Implications of Flood Disaster in Akurana Area, ISSN: 2448-9883, pp. 512-520, http://www.jfn.ac.lk/iccm/ ?attachment_ id=715

University of Jaffna.

The First International Conference on the Social Sciences and the Humanities

Bandara, T. W. M. T. W. and Perera, D. H. A. S. S. (2011), Human and Environmental Impacts of the Refuse Tea Industry in Udunuwara Division. ISBN: 978-955-589-156-2, pp. 69-71

Sri Lanka, organized by the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

Specialization

Geography (Physical Geography, Applied Geography)

Environmental Management

Community Development

Teaching

GGY 1003 - Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya

To Present

GGY 426 - Environmental Change

Department of Geography

To Present

Research Interests

Environmental Management and Community Development

Eco-tourism

Forest Resource Conservation

Other Academic Contributions

Designing the programme structure and the syllabus for the degree programme in Development Planning and Practice for the Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons). for University of Peradeniya

Designing the syllabi for the course on Sustainable Tourism: Theory and Practice (STM 505) and Land Use Management and Planning in Tourism (STM 601) for the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Peradeniya

Developing the syllabi of courses on Physical Geography (GGYE 102), Advanced Physical Geography (GGYE 202) and Environmental Studies (SUPE 008) for BA (External) New Degree Programme conducted by the Centre for Distance and Continuing Education

Preparation of Syllabi and Programme Structure of Master of Arts in Environmental Management for the proposed Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Degree Progamme

Development of Syllabi for undergraduate courses on Sustainable Development, Forest Resource Management, Natural Resource Management, Tropical Environment for the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya

Development of Syllabi for the Certificate Course in Geography for School Teachers, Department of Geography, University Peradeniya

Development of the Curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Heritage and Tourism (2017)

Preparing the programme structure and the syllabi of the courses on Environment and Natural Resource Management, Environmental Law and Ethics and Research Methodology in Environment Management for Master of Arts in Environmental Management for the Proposed Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Degree Programme, Faculty of Higher Degree Committee, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya (2014)

Preparing the syllabus of Environmental Aspects of Natural Resource Management in Diploma in Management and Development for Centre for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (2014)

Developed the curriculum for courses on Sustainable Development (GGY 488), Forest Resource Management (GGY 486), Natural Resource Management (GGY 477), Environmental Change (GGY 426), Tropical Environment (GGY 427) and Bio Geography (GGY 311) the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya (2011)

Sitting Member, Board of Management, Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (2017 - 2013)

Member, Board of Studies, Allied Health Sciences, Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (2014, 2013)

Member, Board of Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences, Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (2017 - 2013)

Member, Board of Studies, Management Studies, Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya (2017 - 2013)

Member, Board of Management, Health Emergency and Disaster Management Training Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya

Board of Study in Earth Sciences, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya (2017, 2015)

Board of Study Agricultural Economics, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya


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