Dr. P.R.D Weerasooriya
Senior Lecturer
PhD (USM, Malaysia), M.Sc (Moratuwa, SL), B.Sc Eng (Moratuwa, SL), AMIE (SL)
Contact info
0704195115
dinesh@mme.ruh.ac.lk
0912 245 765
5322
About
Dr. R. Dinesh Weerasooriya received the B.Sc Engineering degree from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka in 2010. Subsequently he received a sponsorship from Telemark University College, Norway in 2011 to follow the M.Sc in Sustainable Process Development at the department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa and he completed the M.Sc degree in 2015. Dinesh received the USM Graduate Assistant Scholarship from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2018 to perform the PhD program. His PhD thesis was on synthesis, characterization and modelling of semiconductor incorporated bio-nanocomposites as a photocatalyst and he obtained the PhD in 2022. Also, Dinesh has industrial exposure as a Research and Development Engineer and a Curing Cycles Specialist in tire technology.
Research Interests and Collaborations
- Photocatalysis
- Characterization of Materials
- Nanotechnology
- Computational Materials Science
- Polymer Engineering
Teaching
- ME 3302 Fluid Mechanics
- ME 3203 Manufacturing Processes and Practice
- ME 4212 Nanotechnology
- ME 6201 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
- ME 7215 Composite Materials Design and Manufacturing Technologies
Professional Experience
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (Jun 2023 – Present)
- Lecturer, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (Oct 2022 – Jun 2023)
- Research Assistant – Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Nov 2021 – May 2022)
- Graduate Assistant – Bioresource Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Mar 2019 – Oct 2021)
- Curing Cycles Specialist – Camso Michelin Research and Development Center, Ekala, Sri Lanka (Dec 2016 – Feb 2019)
- Technology Engineer – Camso Michelin Research and Development Center, Ekala, Sri Lanka (Jul 2011 – Nov 2016)
- Instructor – Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (Oct 2010 – Jun 2011)
- Undergraduate Trainee – Lalan Rubbers PLC, Biyagama, Sri Lanka (Oct 2008 – Mar 2009)
Publications
Conference Papers
- P. R. D. Weerasooriya, H. P. S. A. Khalil, N. H. M. Kaus, M. K. M. Haafiz, Photocatalytic Degradation of Bismuth Ferrite Incorporated Regenerated Cellulose Nanocomposites as a Sustainable Water Purification, 1st Ruhuna International Conference on Innovation and Technology-2023, 2023, pp 44
- D.M.S.C. Dissanayake, Mahinsasa Narayana and Ruwan Weerasooriya, Review of literature on biomass utilization for sustainable development in Sri Lanka, Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka. 2013, pp 399-406
- Weerasooriya P.R.D, Karunanayake U.P.A.B.P, Udayakumara S.V, Gunapala O, Use of soda ash as a recycling agent to reduce non-degradable PET waste in Sri Lanka, 17th ERU symposium, University of Moratuwa, 22nd December 2011,pp 233-234
Journal Papers
- Hassan, N.A.A., Mohamad Haafiz, M.K., Weerasooriya, P.R.D., Abdul Khalil, H.P.S., Kaus, N.H.M., Hossain, M.S. et al. (2023) Regenerated cellulose fabricated from oil palm biomass integrated with bismuth ferrite for methyl orange degradation. Polymer International, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 73, 149–62. Polymer International is Web of Science indexed with 3.2 of JCR impact factor
- P.R.D Weerasooriya, Wee Pei Chee, M.K. Mohamad Haafiz, Md. Sohrab Hossain, M. Hazwan Hussin, Isolation and characterization of hemicellulose blended carboxymethylcellulose films incorporated with lithium perchlorate as a potential ion conductive biopolymer, Materials Letters 299 (2021) 1300835
- P.R.D Weerasooriya, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Noor Haida Mohd Kaus, Md. Sohrab Hossain, Salim Hiziroglu, M.R. Nurul Fazita, Deepu A. Gopakumar, M.K. Mohamad Haafiz (2020), Isolation and Characterization of Regenerated Cellulose Films Using Microcrystalline Cellulose from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch with an Ionic Liquid, Bioresources 15(4), pp. 8268-8290
- P.R.D Weerasooriya, Siti Nur Ain Binti Jamal, M.K. Mohamad Haafiz, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Noor Haida Mohd Kaus, Ahmad Nor Amalini, Salim Hiziroglu (2020), The role of montmorillonite loading on the physicochemical properties of cellulose regenerated nanocomposite films obtained from Microcrystalline Cellulose, Journal of Physical Science, Vol. 31(1), pp. 85–103
- Weerasooriya, P.R.D, Nadhilah R, Owolabi FAT, Hashim, R, Abdul Khalil HPS, Syahariza, Z.A, Hussin M.H, Salim Hiziroglu, Haafiz M. K.M (2020), Exploring the properties of hemicellulose based carboxymethyl cellulose film as a potential green packaging, Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 1-2, pp. 20-28
Selected Abstracts
- Wijepala T.N.K, Abeykoon A.M.T.D, Srinath K.N.T, Priyadarshana M.D, Arunoda M.P.M.K, P. R. D. Weerasooriya, A Review on Functional Role and Advancements of Tire Plies in Pneumatic Tires, Plastics and Rubber Industry Research Symposium, 31 May 2025
- P. R. D. Weerasooriya, H. P. S. A. Khalil, N. H. M. Kaus, Md. Sohrab Hossain, M.K.M Haafiz, Chemical Kinetics and Adsorption Isotherms of Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Using Bismuth Ferrite Incorporated Regenerated Cellulose Nanocomposites, International Research Conference of the Open University of Sri Lanka 2024, 08 November 2024
- P. R. D. Weerasooriya, M.K.M Haafiz, H. P. S. A. Khalil, N. H. M. Kaus, Md. Sohrab Hossain, Efficient photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange using bismuth ferrite incorporated regenerated cellulose nanocomposites, 2nd World Virtual Summits on Catalysis and Chemical Engineering, 23 September 2024
- P. R. D. Weerasooriya, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Noor Haida Mohd Kaus, M. K. Mohamad Haafiz, Evaluating the performance of bismuth ferrite incorporated regenerated cellulose nanocomposites as a potential photocatalyst, First Malaysia International Conference of Nanotechnology and Catalysis, Langkawi Island, Malaysia, 1-3 September 2021.
Contributions and Awards
Included in the Dean’s list after successfully completing Level 4 Semester 1 examination by obtaining SGPA of 3.82 (January 2010 in B.Sc degree programme)
