Department of Mathematics

Dr.Mampitiya's Farewell

A felicitation ceremony organized by the Department of Mathematics to appreciate the thirty one years of service of Senior Lecturer Dr. M.A.U. Mampitiya was held on the 21st of December 2019 at B1-212 of the Faculty of Science.

Dr. M.A.U. Mampitiya entered to the University of Kelnaniya, Sri Lanka to follow the B.Sc degree in Physical Science in 1977. On his excellence performance of first three years he was selected to follow the B.Sc. special degree in Mathematics and successfully completed his special degree in 1981 with a first class honors.

In 1981, he joined to the Department of Mathematics as a probationary assistant lecturer. In 1983 he entered to University of Otawa, Canada to pursue higher studies. He obtained his M.Sc. degree in Mathematics in 1985 and his PhD in 1988 from the University of Otawa, Canada.

Throughout the thirty one years, Dr. Mampitiya made an outstanding service to the department of Mathematics, the Faculty of Science, the university and the Nation. Dr. Mampitiya involved in many activities in the national education sector. He is the Chairman of the Academic Affairs Board of the National Institute of Education as well as a member many national level Committees. These include the Standing Committee on Accreditation and Quality Assurance (SCAQA) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Standing Committee on Quality Assurance of the University Grants Commission and the Committee for A Platform for Quality Development of Mathematics Education in the Ministry of Education. He was also a member of the research team to conduct the “Study on Curriculum Development in General Education in Sri Lanka” a component of the proposals for a National Policy on General Education in Sri Lanka for the next decade and the editor of the updated version of Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework published by the Ministry of Higher Education.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Senior Professor Lakshman Senevirathne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya. The event was graced by Deans of the Faculties, Senior Professor N.P. Sunil-Chandra, Cadre Chair in Medical Micro-Biology and Chairman of the Research Council, Heads and academic staff of the Departments of the Faculty of Science, undergraduates and non-academic staff of the Faculty of Science.

A Seminar on Analysis and Application Basics

The First of “Maths-in-Use” Seminar Series

The first seminar of “Maths-in-Use” Seminar Series jointly organized by the Department of Mathematics and Research Services Centre of the Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya was held on the 16th of November 2018 at the Board Room of the Faculty of Science. Promoting university-industry collaborative research was the prime objective of the seminar series.

Mr. E.M.A Bandara, RWP, RSP, MSc(Hydrography), MSc(GIS & RS),BSc Commander (H), CAT ‘A’ Hydrographic Surveyor & Visiting Lecturer, Commanding Officer SLNS Mihikatha was the resource person of the workshop and he conducted the lecture on Hydrography, Nautical Chart, Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure, and Blue Economy for the “World We Want”.

“Paramount 2K18” Mathematics Quiz Competition

The Grand Finale of “Paramount 2K18” quiz competition organized by the Mathematics Student Association in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya was held on the 22^nd of October 2018 at the B1 212 hall. This competition was held with the objective motivating the students who study Mathematics for G.C.E. A/L examination.

The first round of the competition was held on the 19^th of October 2018 at the premises of the Department of Industrial Management. Nearly 25 schools representing the Western Province participated in the competition and the teams from St. Bridget’s Convent- Colombo, Kannangara Vidyalaya- Mathugama, D.S. Senanayake College- Colombo, Bandaranayake College- Gampaha, Maristela College- Negombo and Veyangoda Central college got selected for the Grand Finale while Kannangara Vidyalaya- Mathugama won the Championship of the “Paramount 2K18” competition. The team from Bandaranayake College- Gampaha won the second place while D.S. Senanayake College- Colombo won the third.

The board of judges consisted of Senior Lecturer Dr. W.P.T. Hansaminu, Senior Lecturer N.A.S.N. Wimaladharma including the Temporary Assistant Lecturers of the Department of Mathematics.

The inauguration of the competition was held under the patronage of Senior Prof. Lakshman Seneviarthne, Deputy Vice- Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya. Prof. B.M. Jayawardhane, Dean- Faculty of Science, Senior Lecturer Dr. K.K.K.R. Perera, Head- Department of Mathematics and its academic staff members graced the event.

The competition was organized under the financial assistance of the Centre of Excellence for Strategic Brand Identity Development- CESBID and Senior Lecturer Dr. Ravi Dissanayake, Director- CESBID, Senior Lecturer Dr. Nalin Ganegama, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Senior Lecturer Dr. Anuradha Mahasinghe, University of Colombo also participated in the event.

Appreciation of Service at the Retirement of Senior Professor D.D.S. Kulathunga

A felicitation ceremony organized by the Department of Mathematics to appreciate the forty-two years of service of Senior Professor D.D.S. Kulathunga at his retirement was held on the 01st of February 2018 at the Board Room of the Faculty of Science.

Prof. D.D.S. Kulatunga entered to the Vidyalankara Campus of the University of Sri Lanka to follow the B.Sc degree in Physical Science. On his excellence performance of first three years he was selected to follow the B.Sc. special degree in Mathematics and successfully completed his special degree in 1975 with a first class honors.

In November 1976, he joined to the Department of Mathematics as a probationary assistant lecturer. After receiving a Japanese government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho), he entered to Kyushu University to pursue higher studies under the supervision of Prof. Akio Kudo. He obtained his Master’s degree in 1982 and obtained his PhD in 1985. The concept of “Multivariate Isotonic Regression” and an algorithm for computing the Multivariate Isotonic Regression in the field of Mathematical Statistics was first introduced by Prof D. D. S. Kulatunga and two Japanese mathematicians in 1983. He was appointed as a Professor in Mathematics in 2002 and was promoted to the post of senior professor in 2009.

In 1999 Prof Kulatunga was appointed as the head of the department of Mathematics and in 2012, he was elected as the Dean of the Faculty of Science. He was the chairman of the Board of Study on Physical Sciences of the Faculty of Graduate studies. He has served as a member of the National Committee on Science, Technology and Mathematics Education of the National Science Foundation.

Throughout the past forty-two years Professor Kulatunga made an outstanding service for the department of Mathematics, the Faculty of Science, the university and the Nation.

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Professor D.M. Semasinghe, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya. The event was graced by Senior Professor Lakshman Senevirathne, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sarath Amunugama, former Vice-Chancellor, Deans of the Faculties, Senior Professor N.P. Sunil-Chandra, Cadre Chair in Medical Micro-Biology and Chairman of the Research Council, Heads and academic staff of the Departments of the Faculty of Science, Mr. W.M. Karunaratne, Registrar, undergraduates and non-academic staff of the Faculty of Science.

Visiting Scholar 2017

Dr. Linda J.S. Allen, Professor of Mathematics at Texas Tech University was the research fellow for the department of Mathematics in the year 2017. She was accompanied by Dr. Edward Allen, an adjunct professor at Texas Tech University. They were working with members of the department for 20 days from 27th of June 2017 to 15th of July 2017. During this period, a short course for the Mathematics honors degree students and a workshop for mathematicians in state universities on Mathematical Biology were organized. Their main role was to work with members of the department of Mathematics initiate some research that leads towards publications.

A special honor and thanks to Dr. Edward Allen for agreeing to take part in conducting these activities while he was not funded by the program.

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