DR. JITHYA WIJESINGHE
PhD (Japan), MSc (Japan), BSc (Hons) (USJ)
Senior Lecturer (Grade II)
Department of Indigenous Medical Resources
Contact details: jithya@gwu.ac.lk / +94 332224916
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Ph.D. in Agricultural Science (Soil Science) (2017 – 2021)
Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
- M.Sc. in Soil Science (2015 – 2017)
Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
- B.Sc. in Applied Sciences – Majored in Forestry & Environmental Science (2006 – 2010)
Department of Forestry & Environmental Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
- Diploma in Information Technology (2006 – 2007)
School of Computing, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION
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Soil Chemistry
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Soil Organic Carbon
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Soil Remediation Techniques
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Mobility of Elements in Soils
CERTIFICATES/TRAININGS/SHORT COURSES
- Cerificate in Video based learning content development for e-Learning and B-Learning, International Institute of Online Education, UNESCO in collaboration School of Computing, University of Colombo [2024].
- Training on Internal Quality assurance conducted by IQAC, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine Sri Lanka [2023].
- Training on curriculum revision conducted by AHEAD project, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine Sri Lanka [2023].
- Staff Development course conducted by Staff Development Centre, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine Sri Lanka [2023].
- Advanced Soil Health Certificate Course (online) conducted by College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, USA [December 2021].
- Pedologist training course conducted by Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition in Shizuoka Island, Japan (Field training) [September 2019].
- The 28th pedologist training course conducted by Japanese Society of Pedology in Yamaguchi, Japan (Field training) [September 2019].
- Pedologist training course conducted by Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan (Field training) [September 2019].
- National environment act and related other environmental laws conducted by National Environment Educational Institute of Central Environmental Authority, Sri Lanka [April 2013].
- The 45th Residential short course on “GIS and its’ Applications” conducted by Postgraduate institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka [April 2012].
- Harmonizing Nuclear 7 Isotopic Techniques for Marine Pollution Management at the Regional Level conducted by Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka [February 2012].
- Capacity Building for First Respondents in Oil Spill Response conducted by Marine Environment Protection Authority, Sri Lanka [December 2011].
- The 6th Residential short course on “GIS and its’ Applications” conducted by Postgraduate institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka [November 2007].
WORK EXPERIENCE/POSITIONS HELD (INTERNATIONAL/LOCAL/UNIVERSITY LEVEL/DEPARTMENT LEVEL)
- Dean (Oct 2024-Present)
Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Head of the Department (May 2024 – Oct 2024)
Department of Indigenous Medical resources, Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Senior Lecturer (August 2021 – Present)
Department of Indigenous Medical resources, Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Director, Staff Development Center (November 2025 – Present)
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Director, Centre for Gender Equity/Equality (May 2022-May 2025)
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Coordinator, Student affairs, Gampaha Wickramarachchi International Centre (2023- Present)
- Conference Secretary for the 2nd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, 2024, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine Sri Lanka.
- Visiting Lecturer (September 2022 – February 2023)
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Social Sciences and Languages, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
- Research Assistant (December 2020 – March 2021)
Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
- Research Assistant (Oct 2024-Present)
Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.
- Teaching Assistant (June 2018 – September 2018)
Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
AWARDS
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Asian Development Bank-Japanese Scholarship Programme (ADB-JSP Scholarship by Japanese government) [2017 – 2021]
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Asian Development Bank-Japanese Scholarship Programme (ADB-JSP Scholarship by Japanese government) [2015 – 2017]
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Best poster presentation awarded by Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Japan [2019]
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Forestry and Environmental Science Gold Medal– awarded at the 37th University Convocation for obtaining a First Class Pass with the highest GPA at the B.Sc. (Forestry and Environmental Science) Special Degree sponsored by Touchwood Investment Limited, Sri Lanka [2010]
- MIND Scholarship (Sustainable Development) for Undergraduate Students awarded by Munasinghe Institute of Development, Sri Lanka [2009 – 2010]
ONGIUNG REASERCH/GRANTS
- Physico-chemical and mineralogical Characterization of termite mound clay used in sandi shotha in traditional medicine, Sri Lanka” Research Grant No. 2024/10, GWUIM.
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
JOURNAL ARTICLES
- Nallaperuma, B, Lin, Zih-Ee, Wijesinghe, J. N., Abeynayaka, A., Rachid, S., Karkour, S. 2021.Sustainable water consumption in building industry: a review focusing on building water footprint. 12th International Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management (ICSECM).
- Wijesinghe, J. N., Koarashi, J., Atarashi-Andoh, M., Saito-Kokubu, Y., Yamaguchi, N., Sase, T., Hosono, M., Inoue, Y., Mori, Y. and Hiradate, S. 2020. Formation and mobility of soil organic carbon in a buried humic horizon of a volcanic ash soil, Geoderma, 374, 114417.
- Wijesinghe, J.N., Asaoka, H., Mori, Y. and Hiradate, S. Depth profile of plant nutrients and acidity in a non-allophanic Andosol as affected by a half-century of fertilization, Soil science and Plant nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/00380768.2021.1887711.
ABSTRACTS/PROCEEDINGS
- Yamakita, E., Xinpin, D., Wijesinghe, J.N., Senda,R., Koarashi,J., Ishizuka, S., Mori, Y., Hiradate, S. Metabolism analysis of organic matter fractions in a Andosols and brown forest soil by using δ15N, Japanese Soil Science Society and Plant Nutrition Conference, Japan (Oral Presentation) [2023]
- Hiradate, S., Wijesinghe, J.N., Kogarashi, J., Ando,M., Sase,T., Hosono,M., Inoue, G., Mori, M. Estimation of carbon storage rate in Kuroboku soil in Sannohe Town, Aomori Prefecture: Estimation of average sedimentation rate for 7000 years ago based on 14C dating, Soil and Fertilizer Society conference, Japan (Oral Presentation) [2021]
- Wijesinghe, J. N., Koarashi, J., Atarashi-Andoh, M., Saito-Kokubu, Y., Yamaguchi, N., Sase, T., Hosono, M., Inoue, Y., Mori, Y. and Hiradate, S. The rate of vertical translocation of soil organic carbon fractions stored in a buried humic horizon from an Andosol, Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Japan (Poster Presentation) [2019]
- Wijesinghe, J. N., Koarashi, J., Atarashi-Andoh, M., Saito-Kokubu, Y., Yamaguchi, N., Sase, T., Hosono, M., Inoue, Y., Mori, Y. and Hiradate, S. Transition of soil organic carbon in a volcanic ash soil derived from Towada volcano, Japan, Japan Geoscience Union Meeting in Chiba, Japan (Oral Presentation) [ 2019]
- Kimura, Y., Wijesinghe, J. N. Characteristics and classification of soil distributed in experimental forest area, Fukuoka, Japan (in Japanese) Japan Pedology society meeting, Yamaguchi, Japan (Poster Presentation) [2019]
- Wijesinghe, J.N. Suppression of Cadmium (Cd) uptake of Bassica rapa var. perviridis by converter slag and CaCO3Application. The 10th ADB-JSP Scholars’ Research Forum (Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program) in ADB Institute, Tokyo, Japan (Oral Presentation) [ 2017]
- Wijesinghe, J.N. Suppression of Cadmium (Cd) uptake and micronutrients of Bassica rapa var. perviridis by converter slag and CaCO3 Application. The 3rd International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS) in Qingdao, Shandong, China (Oral Presentation) [ 2017]
- Wijesinghe, J.N., Ranasinghe, H., Wahala, S. Breakdown of leaf litter under rehabilitated Rhizophora mucronate in Kalpitiya, Puttlam. The 16th International Forestry and Environmental Science Symposium in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Oral Presentation) (2011)
- Wijesinghe, J.N., Ranasinghe, H., Wahala, S. Comparative assessment of Soil carbon storage under rehabilitated Rhizophora mucronate in Kalpitiya, Puttlam. The 15th International Forestry and Environmental Science Symposium in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Oral Presentation) (2010)
BOOK CHAPTERS
BOOK CHAPTERS
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Wijesinghe, J., Botheju, S. and Dayananda, N. 2025. Coastal and Marine Pollution from Agricultural Activities: Fertilizers and Pesticides. in Coastal and Marine Pollution: Source to Sink, Mitigation and Management M. Vithanage, S.M. Samarasekara, B. D. James and C. M. Reddy (Ed.) , John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA
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Dayananda, N., Wijesinghe, J., Botheju, S. and Perera, W. P. R. T. 2025. Ocean Warming, Acidification, Plastic Pollution, and Water Quality Deterioration; A Multifaceted Crisis Unveiled. in Coastal and Marine Pollution: Source to Sink, Mitigation and Management M. Vithanage, S.M. Samarasekara, B. D. James and C. M. Reddy (Ed.) , John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA
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Madunil, S. L. and Wijesinghe, J. Toxicological Techniques in Marine Pollution. 2025.in Coastal and Marine Pollution: Source to Sink, Mitigation and Management M. Vithanage, S.M. Samarasekara, B. D. James and C. M. Reddy (Ed.) , John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA
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Wijesinghe, J., Botheju, S., Kanuwana, N. Nallaperuma B. 2023. The One Health Concept and the Organic Farming: The Influence on Soil Health in M. Vithanage and M.N.V. Prasad (Ed.) ONE HEALTH: Human Animal and Environment Triad. John Wiley & Sons Inc. USA
