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Department of Psychology

University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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Dr.Gunendra Dissanayake

Head of the Department
Ph.D (Col-Deusto), M.Phil (Col), B.A (Pdn), Pg Dip in Edu. (OUSL)

gunendrad@pdn.ac.lk
+94 81239 2817

Biography

Dr. Gunendra Dissanayake is currently the Head of the Department of Psychology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She, who began her academic training at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and earned Bachelor of Psychology (Hons) degree in 1999, and directly joined academia as an Assistant Lecturer in Psychology She later earned her M.Phil in Psychology from Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo in 2008 and subsequently obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the Open University, Sri Lanka in the same year. Later as an Erasmus Mundus scholar, receiving the opportunity to do a split-PhD, she got enrolled in the University of Deusto, Spain and also at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and successfully completed her PhD in 2016. She is currently working in as a Senior Lecturer in Psychology.

Appointments

•Senior Lecturer (Grade I), Department of Psychology , University of Peradeniya

•Senior Lecture (Grade II), Department of Philosophy and Psychology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka - From 2008 to 2014

•Lecturer (Prob.), Department of Philosophy and Psychology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka - 2001- 2008

•Assistant Lecturer, Department of Philosophy and Psychology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka - 1999-2000

•Visiting lecturer, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences , University of Peradeniya 2017-2018

•Module writer-Faculty of Health Sciences (Department of Psychology & Counselling), Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL)- 2017

 

Research Interests

  • Gender based violence, Impact of domestic violence on children, Trauma and coping in children in disaster situations, Psychosocial interventions

Research Experience and Publication

  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2020 ). Making the invisible visible: An exploration into the risk and protective factors of psychological intimate partner violence against women. In E. Witruk, and S. Novita (Eds.), Studies in Educational and Rehabilitation Psychology (vol. 9). Frankfurt: Peter Lang (In Press).
  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2020). There should be blood all over the body for them to help: An exploration of nature of social support received by women experiencing intimate partner psychological abuse in Sri Lanka . In A. Shukla, A, Dubey, N. S. Thagunna (Eds.), Psyche of Asian Society (Volume II).New Delhi: Concept Publishing. (In Press).
  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2019 ). Most frequent and distressing forms of intimate partner psychological abuse among women in Sri Lankan context . In E. Witruk, and D. S. Utami (Eds.),Traumatic Experiences, Stress, and Dyslexia: Studies in Educational and Rehabilitation Psychology (vol. 8). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2016). Trauma never ending: the impact of different forms of intimate partner violence on women’s psychological well-being. In E. Witruk, S. Novita, Y. Lee, and D. S. Utami (Eds.), Dyslexia and Traumatic Experiences-Studies in Educational and Rehabilitation Psychology (Vol. 7) (pp.87-94). Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
  • Dissanayake, G. (2013). Coping with trauma: Emotional distress and coping in children aftermath the 2004 Tsunami. M. Phil Thesis. Saarbrücken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing.
  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2012). A study on the children’s coping strategies in the aftermath of Tsunami 2004. Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, Vol 2(1), 93-110.
  • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2010). Post-traumatic stress and coping in children following a natural disaster. In E. Witruk, D.Riha, A. Teichert, N.Haase, M. Stuek (Eds.), Learning Adjustent and Stress Disorders: With Special Reference to Tsunami Affected Regions (pp. 399-413).Switzerland: Peter Lang.

    • Presentations at National / International Conferences

    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2019, December). Correlates of intimate partner psychological violence against ever married women in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study. A paper presented at the International workshop on “Dyslexia and traumatic experiences” at the University of Leipzig Germany.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2019, June). Exploring the battered women's parenting in the context of domestic violence. A paper presented at the ISSBD regional workshop on Parenting Among Asians at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2017, September). Most frequent and distressing forms of intimate partner psychological abuse among women in Sri Lankan context. A paper presented at the International workshop on “Dyslexia and traumatic experiences” at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2015, December). Women's coping experiences in the spectrum of psychological intimate partner violence. A poster presented at the International workshop on "Dyslexia and Coping behaviour" at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2014, December). Trauma never ending: the impact of different forms of intimate partner violence on women’s psychological well-being. A poster presented at the International workshop on “Dyslexia and traumatic experiences” at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2014, July). Nature of social reactions to disclosures of Intimate partner psychological abuse of women. A research paper presented at the international research sessions (iPURSE) of the University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2014, July). Why doesn't she escape? An analysis of the reasons to remain in abusive intimate relationships in Sri Lankan context. A research paper presented at the international Conference in Asian Studies (ICAS), Colombo.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2014, May). Coping with intimate partner violence: Do all follow the same pattern? A research paper presented at the Asian Congress Of Applied Psychology (ACAP ), Singapore.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2014, March). An exploration of the nature of informal social support received by women experiencing domestic violence. A research paper presented at the Annual research symposium of National Center for Advanced Studies (NCAS).
    • Dissanayake, G. (2013, December). A tortured soul: An analysis of women surviving the detrimental effects of psychological abuse by their intimate partners. A Research Paper Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Social Sciences (ICSS) at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2011). Why doesn’t she leave? A case study of domestic violence. A Research paper presented at the Annual Research Sessions (PURSE) of the University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2010). Beyond Wife Beating: Psychological violence against women in intimate relationships. A Research Paper Presented at the International conference “InSym-SUSL 2010” at the University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2009). Suggestions for Psychosocial Intervention for Children at Risk of Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Reactions after a Natural Disaster. A Research Paper Presented at the International, Interdisciplinary Conference Historical aspects of Psychology – with special Reference to the 130th Anniversary of the Psychological Institute in Leipzig” and “Learning and Adjustment Disorders – with special Reference to Disaster affected Regions” in University of Leipzig.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. & V. Ganepola (2009). Identifying Children at Risk of Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Reactions after a Natural Disaster: Lessons from the Tsunami 2004. A Research Paper presented at the Post graduate Research Symposium, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. & V. Ganepola (2008). Nature of Emotional Distress among Children Affected by the 2004 Tsunami. A Research paper presented at the Annual Research Sessions (PURSE) of the University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2008). Promoting Psychosocial Well-being in Children in the Sri Lankan Cultural Context: Lessons from the Tsunami. (2008). A paper presented at the International Conference on “ Towards Understanding Psychology, A Multi-Perspective Exploration of Psychology in the Sri Lankan Context” at University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2008). Children’s Coping with Emotional Distress after a Natural Disaster – the 2004 Tsunami.A Research paper presented at the conference in Social Sciences and Humanities at the National Centre for Advanced Studies (NCAS ).
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. & V. Ganepola (2007). Children’s Posttraumatic Distress and Coping After a Natural Disaster: The 2004 Tsunami. A Research paper presented at the Annual Research Sessions (PURSE) of the University of Peradeniya.
    • Dissanayake, G.R.K. (2006). Posttraumatic Stress and Coping in Children following a Natural Disaster. A Research Paper Presented at the International, Interdisciplinary Conference on “ Learning and Adjustment Disorders with Special Reference to Tsunami Affected Regions-Basic Mechanisms, Assessment and Treatment” in University of Leipzig.
 

Awards and scholarships

  • Fellowship to participate in the Regional Workshop on Parenting Among Asians Awarded by the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) in 2019.
  • Awarded a fellowship by the Research Academy Leipzig, University of Leipzig in 2017 under the category of Invitation of international guest scientist to Leipzig University for activities related to the promotion of young scholars at Leipzig University
  • Erasmus Mundus scholarship to pursue a split PhD programme in The University of Deusto, Spain, 2012/2013                                                              
  • HETC Scholarship to pursue PhD, 2011 awarded by the Ministry of Higher Education and the World bank
  • A short term research internship at the University of Leipzig awarded by the DAAD in 2009 
  • A long term research scholarship at the University of Leipzig by the DAAD in 2006
  • A short term research internship at the University of Leipzig by the DAAD in 2005
  • NCAS Research Grant 2006 to Pursue M.Phil Degree
  • A Commonwealth Scholarship by the ICCR in 2002 

Membership 

  • A member of the Sri Lanka Psychological Association
  • A Trainer of the National Resource Pool on Health Sector Response to Gender Based Violence operated by the Family Health Bureau
  • Life member of Psychology Association, University of Peradeniya.
  • DAAD Alumni
 
 

 

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