Department of Sociology

Mr. Thushara Kamalrathne

Senior Lecturer

PhD (Reading at University of Huddersfield, UK), MPhil (Peradeniya), BA (Peradeniya)

Department of Sociology
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About Me

Thushara Kamalrathne is a senior lecturer in Sociology attached to the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has been serving in the department since 2007 as an academic member. Thushara is a researcher at the Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK. Currently, he is reading his PhD at the Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield. His current research is on community-based approach for pandemic preparedness and response in the context of multi-hazard. Thushara completed his MPhil in Sociology in 2015 at the Post Graduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya. His MPhil research was on social determinants of child malnutrition in the estate sector in Sri Lanka. He holds a first-class degree in Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, at the faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya. He is a member of the research project of improving COVID-19 and pandemic response through the downstream of multi-hazard early warning systems, funded by the UKRI. Thushara has contributed as an editor for several refereed journals and research compilations including Samaja Vimasuma, annually published by the Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya. His areas of expertise are Disaster Risk Reduction, Participatory Research Methods and Development, and Criminology.

Education

PhD (reading)

Global Disaster Resilience Centre, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK

to be completed by 2024

MPhil

University of Peradeniya

2015

BA

University of Peradeniya

2006

Current Positions

Researcher - Global Disaster Resilience Centre, University of Huddersfield, UK

September 2020 - To Present

Senior Lecturer - Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

2011 - To Present

Positions Held

Academic Sub Warden - James Peiris Hall, University of Peradeniya

2012 - 2016

Visiting Lecturer - Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2013 - 2014

Visiting Lecturer - Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka,

2013 - 2014

Senior Academic Sub Warden - James Peiris Hall, University of Peradeniya

2013 - 2014

Volunteer Student Counselor - Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya

2007 - 2012

Chairman - Advisory Board, Soba Sansadaya Environmental Association, University of Peradeniya.

2008 - 2012

Visiting Academic - The Open University of Sri Lanka

2013

Visiting Lecturer - Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

2012 - 2013

Visiting Lecturer - Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

2012 - 2013

Deputy Coordinator - World Bank funded IRQUE/ SAKTI Project, Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya,

2008 - 2011

ICT Instructor - Training of ICT Skills Development for Undergraduate in the Faculty of Arts, Information Technology Centre, University of Peradeniya

2010

Temporary Lecturer - Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya

2007 - 2011

Lecturer - Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya,

2008 - 2009

Lecturer - Center for Distance and Continuing Education, University of Peradeniya

2008 - 2009

Resource Person - Centre for the Study of Human Rights, University of Peradeniya

2010

Executive Officer - Child Fund affiliated T-Field Child Development Federation, Nuwaraeliya.

2006 - 2007

Zonal Officer, C - hild Fund affiliated Mayura Community Development Program, Siyambalanduwa, Monaragala.

2006

Memberships

Vice President - Soba Sansadaya Environmental Association , University of Peradeniya - 2005

President - Soba Sansadaya Environmental Association, University of Peradeniya - 2006

Director Board Member - Cooperative Employees Commission, Central Province, Sri Lanka- 2009

Advisory Member of - The Ornamental Fish Development Project in the Mahaweli Development Authority, and participated for the AQUARAMA international conference and exhibition 2011, held in Singapore, representing Mahaweli Development Authority, Sri Lanka.

Awards

Best Research Paper award - The paper titled Eco-tourism for Rural Livelihood Development: Case study of Reverstern Area in Sri Lanka, (Co-author) at International Conference, Sri Sai Ram Institute of Management Studies, Chennai 2011.

Publications

BOOKS

Kamalrathna , T. (n.d.) Youth Politics in Political Sociology-2, (Ed) Saman Hadaragama, Sameera Publication, Battaramulla.

Kamalrathna , T. (n.d.) Sub Cultural Groups in the Central Province in Medarata Wanshaya, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Central Province. (to be published)

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

Kamalrathna, T. (2010) Food for Thought: Globalization as a Social Determinant of Food Consumption, Health and Politics among Students in a Sri Lankan University. K.T. Silva, T. Kamalrathne, E. Lokuge and S. Wattegama. WHO: New Delhi.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Kamalrathna, T. (2010) Changing Aspirations and Values of Youth in the Plantation Sector in Sri Lanka. Plantation Sector in Transition: Research on the upcountry Plantation in Sri Lanka, Team Research 2009 Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya.

Kamalrathna, T. (2009) Ethnic Conflict, Nationalism and Experience in Sri Lanka: A Socio Historical Analysis. (in Sinhala) Samaja Vimasuma, Volume 13. Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya.

Kamalrathna, T. (2013) The Impact of Decentralization on Regional Development: A Case Study of Central Provincial Council in Sri Lanka. (co-author), Gnanoddeepanee: The compendium in commemoration of Most Venerable Nugethanne sri pannabhidhana. Sri Sambuddathwa jayanthi Viharaya, Anuradhapura.

Kamalrathna, T. (2013) The Role of NGO’s in Disaster Management: A Study on Post Tsunami Disaster Management Program in Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka. (co-author) (in Sinhala) Samaja Vimasuma. Volume 15. Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya.

Kamalrathna, T. (2014) An Analysis on Child Malnutrition in the Estate Sector and Income Poverty in Sri Lanka. (in Sinhala) Samaja Vimasuma. Volume 16. Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya.

Kamalrathna , T. (2013) Diffusion of Religious Values and Repositioning the God Sakra in Sinhalese Religious Pantheon : The Case of New Lakshmi Shrine in Katharagama.(co-author) Modern Sri Lankan Studies: A Journal of the Social Sciences. Volume iv, No 01. University of Peradeniya.

Kamalrathna , T. (2013) The Role of Informal Women Entrepreneurs in Livelihood Development and Regional Development. (with co-authors) International Journal of Arts and Commerce, vol:2, no :5. Centre for Enhancing Knowledge, U.K.

Kamalrathna , T. (2013) Women Rights in Sri Lanka: An Inquiry in to the Rights of Plantation Women. (with co-authors) International Journal of Arts and Commerce, vol:02, no:07. Centre for Enhancing Knowledge, U.K.

Conferences

Research Session of Sociology Day 2015

Homosexual Behaviour among Young Prison Inmates with Special Reference to the Pallansena Correctional Centre (Co-author). Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya. 8th of April, 2015.

International Research Sessions

Vulnerability of War-Widows in the Post-War Development Scenario: A Case Study of War-tone Kandawalai Divisional Secratariat Division of the kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka. (Co-author). Peradeniya University, Volume 18. 4th and 5th of July, 2014.

Peradeniya University Research Session

Exploring Injury Related Issues of Female Landmine Victims in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of the Kokkuthudaivai Division in the Mulathivu Districts in Sri Lanka (Co-author), 2012. University of Peradeniya.

International Buddhist Conference

The Changing Role of God Sakra in Sinhala Buddhist Society: An Anthropological View (Co-author), Buddashrawaka Bikku University, Anuradhapura. 2012.

5th Research Conference

An Anthropological study of an Ideological Contradiction and Dilemma of Positioning Goddess Pattini in the Yakkama Ritual. The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, March 30th -31st 2012.

5th Research Conference

Student Drop-out in the Plantation Sector in Sri Lanka: A Critical Analysis of Causes and Repercussions, (Co-author). The Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, March 30th -31st 2012.

Peradeniya University Research Sessions (PURSE)

Either God or Devil: Beyond Buddhism: An Anthropological View of Yakkama Ritual, (Co-author) 2012, Proceedings Vol. 16.

National Conference on Regional Development

Restrictions for Social Mobility and Rural Urban Migration in Sri Lanka; A Sociological Analysis, (Co-author) South Eastern University, December 2011.

International Conference, Sri Sai Ram Institute of Management Studies

Eco-tourism for Rural Livelihood Development: Case study of Reverstern Area in Sri Lanka, (Co-author), Chennai 2011

Postgraduate Research Symposium 2010

Poverty and Health: A Sociological Study of Malnutrition among Estate Children Below 5 Years of Age, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, October 29,2010.

University Research Session

Food Consumption Patterns among Undergraduates in University of Peradeniya (Co-author) Peradeniya, 2009.

National Conference on the Plantation Community in Transition

Changing Aspirations and Values of Youth in the Plantation Sector in Sri Lanka, Department of Sociology, University of Peradeniya. 8th of May, 2009.

Research Interests

Disaster Risk Reduction, Participatory research and development , Criminology