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Department of Sociology

Faculty of Arts - University of Peradeniya

Ms. Dinushika M. Yapa Abeywardhana

Lecturer

BA (Colombo), MA (Reading - Colombo)

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About Me

Dinushika M. Yapa Abeywardhana is a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Colombo in 2018. Her research interests lie in Environmental Sociology, Climate Change and Human Mobility, Development and Disaster Management, Urban Sociology, and Sociological Theory. She is currently reading for her MA in Sociology at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Education

Reading for Masters of Arts in Sociology

University of Colombo

2019 to the present

BA

University of Colombo

2018

Current Positions

Lecturer (Probationary) - Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

March 2021 - To Present

Volunteer Student Counsellor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2021 - To Present

Academic Advisor - Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2021 - To Present

Editorial Committee Member, BIOME Magzine, Center for Environmental Studies (CES) - University of Peradeniya

2022 March - To Present

Secretary, Sri Lanka Journal of Sociology (SJS) - Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

2023 - To Present

Visiting Academic in Sociology - Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda

2021 - To Present

Positions Held

Visiting Academic in Environmental Sociology - Ocean University of Sri Lanka

2023 - 2024

Visiting Academic in Sociology - Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya

2023 - To Present

Academic Module Writer in the course of Globalization, Migration and Social Change - Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda

October 2021 - January 2022

Lecturer in Sociology - Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Aquinas College of Higher Studies, Colombo 08

October 2020 - March 2021

Reviewer for iPURSE 2021 - University of Peradeniya

2021

Visiting Academic (Sociological Theory) - Open University of Sri Lanka, Matara Regional Centre, Nupe, Matara

February, 2019 - August, 2020

Assistant Lecturer in Sociology - Department of Sociology, University of Colombo, Colombo 03

July 2018 - March 2020

Visiting Academic in Sociology (Globalization, Migration and Social Change) - Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda

December 2019 - May 2020

Social Safeguard Officer - Supporting Electricity Supply Reliability Improvement Project (SESRIP), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

2020

Academic Sub-warden - Hewa Avenue Girls’ Hostel, University of Colombo, Colombo 07

September 2018 - March 2020

Memberships

Member of the Steering Committee of the Skill Council - Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo

2021

Member of Sociology Alumni Association - Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo

2018

Awards

Gold medal for the “Suji Kolambahewa Hettiarachchi award for the best student in Contemporary Social Theory” - University of Colombo

2018

Gold medal for the “Ramani Jayathilake award for the Development Sociology” - University of Colombo

2018

Dean’s Awards Literary Competition (consecutive award-winnings in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) - Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Publications

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y, Ranasinghe, P.K.G.I.L., Hariharan, L. (2022). Interrogating the Role of Environmental Journalists in the Disaster Context. In: Singh, A. (eds) International Handbook of Disaster Research. Springer, Singapore.

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8800-3_81-1

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). Alcohol Addiction as a Social Issue. A Sociological Analysis of Social Issues. Battaramulla: Sameera Publishers

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y (2020). “Environmental Sociology of Floods in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka”, in the book of ‘Development in Coastal Zones and Disaster Management-Disaster Research and Management Series on the Global South. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4294-7_18

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Lakshman, I. M., & Abeywardhana, D. M. Y. (2023). Facilitating Student-Centered Learning or Violation of Equality? Student Attitudes about Online Sociology Lessons at the University of Colombo During the Pandemic. Vidyodaya Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 8(02).

http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v08i02.11

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2023). “Victimisation or Survival? Disaster Vulnerability and Adaptation among Sri Lankan Urban Women”. Society and Culture Development in India. Vol 03 (01). pp. 43-60.

https://doi.org/10.47509/SCDI.2023.v03i01.05

Shyamalee, C. and Abeywardhana D.M.Y. (2023). Tovil as a healing ritual for demon possession: a social anthropological regarding”. Akhyana (Narrative) Journal. Vol. 08 (01). Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Community Studies (CIKCS). Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (in Sinhala). pp. 71-103

https://www.sab.ac.lk/cikcs/volume-08-issue-01

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2022). Political Patron Cliency and Power Politics in Sri Lankan Urban Flooding: an Environmental Sociological Study (In Sinhala). Prawesha Journal. Colombo 7: Social Scientists Association (SSA).

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2020). Re-emergence of Caste in Post-Colonial Sri Lanka. Sinhala Cross-Studies. Colombo: Department of Sinhala, University of Colombo.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2019). Is Sri Lankan School Education is really free?. Sandhara Journal. Homagama: Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2018). Impacts of using Traditional Pesticides in Paddy Farming. Sumathi Felicific Journal: Maspanna.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

Lakshman, I.M. and Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). ‘Blending’ a Sociology Course to Promote Active Learning Experiences of a Sociology Classroom at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies (INQAAHE). Glasgow, UK: INQAAHE.

https://yokak.gov.tr/Common/Docs/Yayinlar/NewNormalEnviroment.pdf#page=47

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). Flooding Disaster, Power Relations and Environmental Politics: A Sociological Analysis. Colombo 08: Aquinas College of Higher Studies.

https://www.aquinas.lk/research_doc/3.-A-Sociological-Analysis-of-the-Politicized-Environment-and-Urban-Flood-Disaster-Sinhala.pdf

Norris, L., McNamara, K.E., Fernando, N., Westoby, R., Abeywardhana, D.M.Y., Vijekumara, P.A. and Prasanna, L.J. (2019). Resettlement Stories of Loss and Barriers of Recovery following the 2016 Aranayake Landslide, Sri Lanka. Colombo: National Building Research Organization (NBRO).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351607024_Resettlement_Stories_of_Loss_and_Barriers_to_Recovery_Following_the_2016_Aranayaka_Landslide_Sri_Lanka

TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS OF SCHOLARLY WORK

Fernando, N. (Translated by: Abeywardhana, D.M.Y). (2019). Youth Aspirations for Education, Vocational Qualifications and Livelihoods in the context of Economic Liberalization in Sri Lanka (In Sinhala). Rathnaprabha Journal: Colombo.

2018 - Field Facilitator/Translator for the project of field program of M.Sc. Students of Development Planning Unit, University College of London; with Reference to the Relocated Community in Muwadora Uyana, Colombo

https://issuu.com/fernandotorocano/docs/final_report_muwadora_uyana.compres

PUBLISHED IN ABSTRACT FORM

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2023) Climate change-induced socio-environmental dynamics in a village tank landscape. International Conference on EcoHealth Nexus: Bridging Cascade Ecology and Human Well-Being. Mihintale: Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

https://ruslconference2023.com/pdf/Proceedings%20of%20ICEN%202023.pdf

Geethanjalee, H.A.S.U. and Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2023). Urban Governence and Policy Formulation in Urban Slum and Shanty Dwellers in Sri Lanka. Kandy: 14th Internation Conference on Sustainable Built Environment.

https://www.kandyconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Program_Book_16_ICSBE_2023.pdf

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). Socio-cultural aspects of disaster vulnerability and adaptation: experiences of Sri Lankan Urban Women - 16th APRU MULTI-HAZARDS SYMPOSIUM. Indonesia: Universitas Indonesia Depok.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). Culture, Eco-tourism and Wetlands in Sri Lanka: a Case Study in Madu Ganga Estuary. Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences-Research Session (PGIHS-RC). Peradeniya: PGIHS.

Rajapaksha, R.M.R.S. and Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2021). The influence of social media propaganda of 'Corona Paniya' on the distortion of Risk Society: A Sociological Reading. Department of Sociology. International Research Symposium. Colombo: University of Colombo.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. and Pavithra, K.K.H. (2020). Ecological Awareness through an Action Research: A Sociological Analysis of the Environment. Open University Research Sessions (OURS). Nawala: Open University of Sri Lanka.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2020). Ethnocentrism or Eco-centrism?-Chronological changes of Human-animal Interactions. Ruhuna University International Conference for Humanities and Social Sciences (RUICHSS). Matara: University of Ruhuna.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y., Ranasinghe, P.K.G.I.L. and Hariharan, L. (2020). Suffer yet alive: Socio-cultural aspects of Diabetes. Medical Congress- 2020. Colombo: Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. and De Silva, K.N.L. (2019). Livelihood Environmentalism and Ecotourism in Sri Lanka. International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (ICSUSL). Belihuloya: Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2019). Disaster Vulnerability and Urban Life in Sri Lanka. Colombo: International Conference on Capacity Building for Research and Innovation in Disaster Resilience (ASCENT).

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2019). Buddhism and Traditional Paddy Farming in Sri Lanka. Kelaniya: Nagananda International Buddhist University.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2019). Child Institutionalization and Social Exclusion. Colombo: Sri Lanka Association of Child Development (SLACD).

Norris, L., McNamara, K.E., Fernando, N. and Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2019). Livelihood Implications of Relocation following the 2016 Aranayaka Landslide: Stories from Sri Lanka. International Research Symposium, Department of Sociology. Colombo: University of Colombo.

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2018). Politicized Environment and Man-made Disasters in Sri Lanka. Colombo 07: International Research Symposium of National Centre for Advanced Studies (NCAS).

Abeywardhana, D.M.Y. (2018). Flooding, Vulnerability and Environmental Degradation in Sri Lanka. Colombo: Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Conferences

Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Human Rights (build upon Asia-Pacific Academic Network on Disaster Displacement (APANDD) that was established in 2019).

Organized by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Regional Asia Pacific Office (RWI), in collaboration with the University of Lund, Sweden.

Bangkok, Thailand

Octomber, 2022

Creative Work

2020 - The Academic Research Team member of the University of Colombo for the Genus record of 'the Book with Most Alternative Endings' under the project of 'Little Imaginators' of Munchee Pvt. Ltd. (Pending Publication)

Specialization

Sociology of Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management

Teaching

SOC 3012 - Rural Sociology (S/E)

Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

October 2021 - February 2022

SOC 2010 - Gender and Society (S/E)

Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

October 2021 - February 2022

SOC 415 - Urban Sociology (S/E)

Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

May 2021 - August 2021

SOC 2011 - Cultural Anthropology (S/E)

Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

May 2021 - August 2021

Research Interests

Climate Change and Human Mobility, Disaster Management, Sociological Theory, Human-Animal Interaction and Relationships, Pedagogical issues in Education

Ongoing Research and Projects

Forthcoming Research Publication

Contributor to the Edited Volume on “Climate-related Human Mobility in Asia and the Pacific: Interdisciplinary Rights-based Approaches” to be published with Springer Nature and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights & Humanitarian Law.

Forthcoming Research Publication

Contributor to 'Handbook on Climate Mobility' to be published with Edward Elgar and University College London, UK.

Training on "Transfer of knowledge: how to read and create climate risk assessment maps"

Working Group Member - University of Peradeniya for the above training project organized by the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University, Australia (2023 to present)

Research Grants Received

2023 June – Successfully completed in the International School on Climate Migration organized by the Law, Environment and Development Centre at SOAS, University of London, in June-July 2023, with the full-fee waiver.