Draft:Gamini Rajapaksa

Gamini Rajapaksa

R.M. Gamini Rajapakse (born March 5, 1965) is a Sri Lankan Professor of Chemistry and Nanotechnology at the University of Peradeniya. He is known for his pioneering research on electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, and nanomaterials.

Early Life and Education

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Rajapakse was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1965. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with First Class Honors from the University of Peradeniya in 1983.[1]

Rajapakse went on to earn a PhD in chemistry from Imperial College London in 1989, where he also received a Diploma of Imperial College (DIC).[2] His doctoral research focused on electrochemical applications of chemically modified electrodes under Professor John Kilburn.[3]

Career

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After completing his doctorate, Rajapakse returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Peradeniya as a faculty member in 1990. He was promoted to Senior Professor in 2007.[3]

Rajapakse established the Nanotechnology degree program at Peradeniya and serves as its coordinator.[3] He also leads the Electrochemistry and Nanomaterials research group which has produced innovations in areas such as:

  • Nanostructured metal oxide materials for energy storage and water treatment[4]
  • Polymer nanocomposite materials[5]

He has published over 100 scientific papers and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (FNASSL) as well as a Chartered Chemist (C.Chem)[9].[1]

Rajapakse has received numerous honours and awards over his career, including:

  • CVCD Award for Most Outstanding Senior Researcher in Physical Sciences (2014)[6]
  • NSF SUSRED Awards for PhD Supervisions[7]
  • Hiran Tilakeratne Award for Best Research in Chemistry (2009)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rajapakse M Gamini Rajapakse". www.researchgate.net. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  2. ^ "Awards". www.nrc.gov.lk/. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  3. ^ a b c "Department of Chemistry". University of Peradeniya. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  4. ^ Mantilaka, M. M. M. G. P. G.; Pitawala, H. M. T. G. A.; Karunaratne, D. G. G. P.; Rajapakse, R. M. G. (2014-02-20). "Nanocrystalline magnesium oxide from dolomite via poly(acrylate) stabilized magnesium hydroxide colloids". Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 443: 201–208. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2013.11.020. ISSN 0927-7757.
  5. ^ Soundararajah, Q.Y.; Karunaratne, B.S.B.; Rajapakse, R.M.G. (February 2010). "Mechanical Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Montmorillonite Nanocomposites". Journal of Composite Materials. 44 (3): 303–311. doi:10.1177/0021998309347040. ISSN 0021-9983.
  6. ^ "19th Convocation of College of Chemical Sciences". Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  7. ^ "A workshop on External Degree Program" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-11-29.