Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

  1. Profile

SUSL Staff Directory

Dr. Ranmalee Bandara

Position: Professor

ranmalee@geo.sab.ac.lk

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, 2014

Master of Science in Environmental Soil Science, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, 2008

Bachelor of Science in Surveying Sciences, Faculty of Geomatics, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2005

Profile

I am involved in multi-disciplinary applied research, with specific focus on land surface modeling, parameter optimization, water scarcity and climate, and soil remediation and rehabilitation. I also have extensive experience with laboratory and field work on soil hydraulic properties, soil physical properties, and soil moisture measurements. Additionally, I am very well conversant in Land Surveying theory and practical.

Research Interests

Land Surface Models (LSM) and optimization techniques

Parameter retrieval

Forest die-back studies

Soil Remediation and Rehabilitation

Climate change adaptation

Current Research Projects

  • SUSL/RG/2016/04 "Environmentally Induced Forest Die-back in Horton Plains: Sources of Contaminants, Their Fate, and Mitigating Toxicity with Natural Geo-sorbents.”  2017 – 2019 (3 years), Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (Co-Investigator)

Recent Publications

Peer-reviewed journal papers

  • Pathirage, K.L., Sandamini, C., Dewappriya, S., Yapa, P.I., Bandara, R., Senevirathne, M. and Magamage, S.P., 2026.  Effect on Biofertilizers Solubilizing Natural Minerals, Potassium Feldspar and Rock Phosphate into Plant Available K and P. J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci. 25, 65. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44447-026-00141-z 
  • Lakmini, K., Ranasinghe, N., de Silva, R.J., Yapa, P.I., Bandara, R. and Senevirathne, M., 2025. Understanding Mid-Term Immobilization Patterns of Soluble Pb in Soils Treated with Natural Geo-Sorbents: Laboratory Trial with Ultisols from a Montane Forest, Sri Lanka. Journal of forest and environmental science, 41(1), pp.50-57. doi: https://doi.org/10.7747/JFES.2025.41.1.50
  • Edirisinghe, D.U.,  Welikanna, D.R., Periyandy, T., Bandara, R.: 2024. Development of a hybrid geoid model using a global gravity field model over Sri Lanka. Journal of Applied Geodesy, 18(3), 525-540. doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/jag-2023-0092
  • Bandara, R., Yapa, P. , Silva, R. , Lakmini, K. , Ranasinghe, N. and Senevirathne, M.: 2021. Mitigating Cadmium (Cd) Toxicity in Montane Forest Soils Using Biochar: Laboratory Trial for Soils from Horton Plains, Sri Lanka. Open Journal of Soil Science, 11, 504-520. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2021.1110025.
  • Ranasinghe, A. K. R. N., Bandara, R., Puswewala, U. G. A., & Dammalage, T. L.: 2019. Efficacy of using radar-derived factors in landslide susceptibility analysis: case study of Koslanda, Sri Lanka. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 19(8), 1881-1893. doi:10.5194/nhess-19-1881-2019
  • Bandara, R., Walker, J.P., Rüdiger, C. and Merlin, O.: 2015. Towards soil property retrieval from space: An application with disaggregated satellite observations, Journal of Hydrology, 522, 582-593, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.01.018.
  • Bandara, R., Walker, J.P. and Rüdiger, C.: 2014. Towards soil property retrieval from space: Proof of concept using in-situ observations, Journal of Hydrology, 512, 27-38, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.02.031.
  • Bandara, R., Walker, J.P. and Rüdiger, C.: 2013. Towards soil property retrieval from space: A one-dimensional twin-experiment. Journal of Hydrology, 497, 198-207, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2013.06.004.
  • Peischl, S., Walker, J., Rüdiger, C., Ye, N., Kerr, Y., Kim, E., Bandara, R. and Allahmoradi, M.: 2012. The AACES field experiments: SMOS calibration and validation across the Murrumbidgee River catchment, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 16, pp. 1697-1708, doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1697-2012.

 

Presentations & conference proceedings (last 5 years) 

  • Jayathilake, T.K., and Bandara, R.: 2026. Can GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques Reveal the Impact of Open Landfills on Air Quality?: A Case Study of Colombo, Sri Lanka. International Conference on Emerging Concepts and Research in Integrated Sustainable Adaptation. Colombo, Sri Lanka – 29-30 January 2026.
  • Fernando G.S.T.M. and Bandara R.: 2024. Is GRACE Data Capable of Simulating The Groundwater Level Fluctuation in Anuradhapura Region of Sri Lanka? Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS 2024), Colombo, Sri Lanka – 17 – 21 November 2024.
  • Pathirathna S.M.R.A., Ranasinghe A.K.R.N., and Bandara H.R.S.: 2024. Estimation of the Deforestation Through the Forest Canopy Density Model Derived From Remote Sensing. Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS 2024), Colombo, Sri Lanka – 17 – 21 November 2024.
  • Fernando, G. and Bandara, R.: 2024. How Has The Port City Construction in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Impacted The Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of The Adjacent Coastline? Asian Conference on Remote Sensing (ACRS 2024), Colombo, Sri Lanka – 17 – 21 November 2024.
  • Tharunika M.N. and Bandara R.: 2023. Can Algal Blooms in Inland Waters be Identified using Remote Sensing and GIS Technologies? International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (ICSUSL 2023), Colombo, Sri Lanka – December 6 – 8 2023.