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Department of
CHEMISTRY

Professor (Mrs) S. R. Hettiarachchi

B.Sc (Ruhuna); Ph.D (Maine); M.I.Chem.C; Chartered Chemist (MRC)

Professor in Chemistry

Department of Chemistry
  • The Open University of Sri Lanka, Regional Centre-Matara , MRC
  • +94-412222943, Ext: Mobile: +94-712517951 Fax: +94412222943
  • srhet@ou.ac.lk

I am Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi, currently serving as a Professor in Chemistry at the Open University of Sri Lanka. I obtained my B.Sc (Special Degree) Honors from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka in 1996 and Ph.D. in Inorganic chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, University of Maine, USA in 2002. During my Ph.D. studies, I served as a teaching assistant at the same department.

I returned to Sri Lanka right after completing my Ph.D. and joined the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2003 as a faculty member. Since then, I have been teaching a large spectrum of chemistry courses from pure sciences to applied sciences since I was the only academic at Matara Regional Centre during the period 2003-2009.  Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, and Green Chemistry are some of them.

In 2012, I was awarded an Endeavor fellowship and was able to explore my research activities at the University of Canberra, Australia. During my 19 years of service as a faculty member, I am engaged in supervising postgraduate/undergraduate research students. I am engaging in different research projects including the massive Cinnamon research project funded by the Ministry of Primary Industries, Sri Lanka along with the National Science Foundation. While attending the European Chemistry Congress in Italy, in 2016, I was able to serve as a Moderator and coordinated the whole conference series. I was awarded OUSL Research Award, one of the Best Researchers of the year in 2017, by the Open University of Sri Lanka. Besides these all academic activities, I am engaging as a student counselor at the Open University to enhance teacher/student relationships. I am providing leadership in different committees within the university including academic research conferences.

Along with my service to the Open University of Sri Lanka, I serve as a visiting academic at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka since 2008. I taught Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Organometallic Chemistry for the B.Sc. Special Degree students at the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna until 2011 and continue teaching Introduction to Green Chemistry at the Faculty of Agriculture Engineering of the same university. I supervised undergraduate research projects at the Faculty of Science, University of Ruhuna.  Other than serving as a visiting academic at the University of Ruhuna, I work on different educational bodies such as the Board of Study of the Distance and Continues Education Unit of the External Degree Program at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Inorganic Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry Natural product chemistry Photochemistry

 

Working as a  Professor in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Matara Regional Centre since 25.09.2003 and holding following responsibilities.

  • Senior coordinator for CMU3233/CYU5633/CYU5313 Polymer Chemistry
  • Conducting most of the Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry day schools and all chemistry practical classes from level 3 to level 5 undergraduates at the Matara Regional Centre
  • Student counsellor of Matara regional centre, Faculty of Natural Sciences

Position

Institution

Period

Professor in Chemistry

Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

 May 2018 to up to date

Senior Lecturer (Grade I)

Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

December 2009 to May 2018

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

September 2003 to December 2009

Programme Coordination:
B.Sc Degree Programme

Course Coordination:
CYU5633/CYU5313 Polymer Chemistry

Investigation of the Effect of Geographical and Ecological Variation on the Quality and Quantity of Chemical Constituents of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.)

 

 

BOOK AUTHOR – OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi and Mrs. R.U. Tantriigoda (2007). Basic Principles of Chemistry (CMU1200) Unit 1 (Atomic structure and the Periodic TableThe Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1148-2

Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi (2007). Chemistry II (CMF2206) Unit 3 (Behaviour of GasesThe Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1400-1

Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi andProf. R.U. Tantriigoda (2017) Basic Principles of Chemistry I (CYU3300) Unit 1(Models of atomic structure and modern periodic tableThe Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1636-4

Shironica P. Karunanayaka and Som Naidu, I. A. Premaratne and K. G. S. K. Perera, M. N. K. de Zoysa and S. R. Hettiarachchi , S. A. S. Kaushalya Perera, S. A. Ariadurai and J. C. N. Rajendra, T. C.  Sandanayake and D. D. M. Ranasinghe “Pathways to Open Educational Practices”, Published by  The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka (ISBN 978-955-23-1763-7)

Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi “Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis” A Guide for Practical Chemistry, S Godage publishers (ISBN : 978-955-30-6346-S)

BOOK EDITOR – OPEN UNIVERSITY OF SRI LANKA

Dr. S. R. Hettiarachchi and Prof. R.U. Tantriigoda (2017) Basic Principles of Chemistry I (CYU3300) Unit 1(Models of atomic structure and modern periodic tableThe Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1636-4

Prof. K.W.S. Kularatne (2007) Polymer Chemistry (CMU 3233) Unit V (Kinetics of Polymerization), sessions 1-5The Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1290-8

Dr. K. G. Padmasiri (2007) Industrial Chemistry (CMU 3232) Unit VII (Miscellaneous ChemicalIndustries), sessions 1-5The Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1148-2

Mrs. J. Saparamadu (2017) Practical chemistry I (CYU3202),The Open University of Sri Lanka, ISBN 978-955-23-1148-2

 

 


Perera, Sathya M., Hettiarachchi, Samanthika R., Hewage Jinasena W. (2022). Molecular Adsorption of H2 on Small Neutral Silver−Copper Bimetallic Nanoparticles: A Search for Novel Hydrogen Storage Materials. ACS Omega, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c06146

C.M.D. Samaraweera, S.R. Hettiarachchi2, J.W. Hewage, E.A. Edirisinghe, and A.D. Brinili. (2021). Analysis of physicochemical parameters and selected potentially toxic elements to assess the water quality of Kattakaduwa reservoir in Hambanthota district, Sri Lanka. RUHUNA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Vol 12 (2): 97-114. http://doi.org/10.4038/rjs.v12i2.105

A.A. Wijeweera , J.W. Hewage , G.G. Jayasinghe , S. H. Wadumethrige , S.R. Hettiarachchi and K.G.G. Wijesinghe. Maturity dependence of quality, quantity and chemical constituents of bark and leaf oil of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Ruhuna Journal of Science, 2020, Vol 11 (1): 1-12.

M.N.K. de Zoysa, S.R. Hettiarachchi, S.P. Karunanayaka & S. Naidu Orchestrating knowledge construction in peer-facilitated online discussion forums, The Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF9) on Open Learning, International conferences on open, distance and technology-enabled learning, held in Edinburgh, Scotland on 9-12 September, 2019, http://oasis.col.org/bitstream/handle/11599/3247/PCF9_Papers_paper_241.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, William A.Maher, Frack Krikowa and Rod Ubrihien,Factors influencing arsenic concentrations and species in mangrove surface sediments from south-east NSW, Australia Environ Geochem Health, 2016, 39(1), 1-11

Samanthika R.Hettiarachchi and Darshani Weeraheawa, Effect of Na2SiO3 on heavy metal uptake by field grown Basella alba L. in Matara, Sri Lanka,Ruhuna Journal of Science, 2016, 7(2), 21-31.

Samanthika R Hettiarachchi and Chamani P M Marasinghe Wadige, Arsenic uptake and speciation in Oriza sativa L. grown in Wahalkada, Sri Lanka, IRJNAS, 2016, 03(10), 197-211

Samanthika R Hettiarachchi and Chamani P M Marasinghe Wadige, Investigation of selenium levels in some consumable food in Sri LankaInt. j. res. methodol. phys. chem. 2014, 01(05), 9-13

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Some investigations based on photochemistry, natural product chemistry and environmental chemistry Editorial Article,Review and Research: Journal of chemistry. 2015, 4(1)

Samanthika R.  Hettiarachchi ; Brian K. Schaefer; Renante L Yson; Richard J Staples; Regine Herbst-Irmer; Howard H Patterson,Observation of a mixed-metal transition in heterobimetallic Au/Ag dicyanide systemsInorg. Chem. 2007, 46(17), 6997-7004.

Ravi L. Arvapally, Pankaj Sinha, Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Nathan L. Coker,  Howard H. Patterson, R. C. Elder, Angel K. Wilson and Mohammad A. Omary,Photophysics of  Bis (thiocyanato) gold (I) complexes: Itriguing Structure-   Luminescence Relationships,J. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111, 10689-10699

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Howard H. Patterson and Mohammad A. Omaray, “Write/Read/Erase” with Laser Irradiation of Dicyanoargentate(I) Doped and Pure  Crystals, J.  Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 14249-14254

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Manal A. Rawashdeh Omaray, Soffian M. Kanan, Mohammad A. Omaray, Howard H. Patterson and Carl P. Tripp, Spectroscopic studies on “Exciplex Tuning” for Dicyanoaurate(I) Ions Doped    Potassium Chloride CrystalsJ. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 10058-10064.

Gammanage Sathya M. Perera , Jinasena W. Hewage , Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi (2022). Silver-copper bimetallic nanoclusters as potential candidates for hydrogen storage. ACS Spring 2022 National Meeting, March 20-24, 2022, San Diego, USA.DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29720.67841

Wijeweera AA, Hettiarachchi SR, Hewage JW, Wadumethrige SH & Jayasinghe GG. (2022) Comparison of yield and quality of oil in Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) among different agroecological zones. Proceedings of 9th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. page 72.

Wijeweera A. A., Hettiarachchi S. R.,* Hewage J. W., Wadumethrige S. H., Jayasinghe G. G. Differences of chemical constituets in three physiological stages of Ceylon Cinnamon, (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Proceedings of the Open University Research Session (OURS 2021), The Open University of Sri Lanka. Sept 16-17, 2021 page 22.

Wijeweera, A. A, Hewage, J. W, Wadumethrige, S.H, Hettiarachchi, S. R and Jayasinghe G.G, Position variation of oils extracted from the stem of Ceylon Cinnamon, (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume): Qualitative and Quantitative comparision, Proceedings of 8th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. February 17, 2021 page 14.

Wijeweera, A. A, Madhushika, K.T.S, Wadumethrige, S.H, Hewage, J.W, Hettiarachchi, S. R and Jayasinghe G.G, Agroecological dependence of the quantity of phytochemicals in barks of Ceylon Cinnamon, (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Proceedings of 8th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. February 17, 2021 page 16.

Wijeweera, A. A, Hewage, J. W, Wadumethrige, S.H, Hettiarachchi, S. R and Jayasinghe G.G, Effect of agro-ecological variation on growth and cinnamon oil yield of Ceylon Cinnamon, (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Proceedings of 8thRuhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. February 17, 2021page 22.

Hettiarachchi, S. R., Samaraweera, C.M.D., Edirisinghe, E.A & Brinili, A.D, Investigation of the effect of heavy metals and other physico-chemical parameters for the coloration in water of Kattakaduwa reservoir, Proceedings of 7th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. January 22, 2020, page 93.

Wijeweera, A. A, Hewage, J. W, Jayasinghe, G. G , Hemalika,W. S, Hettiarachchi, S. R and Wijesinghe, K. G. G Maturity Dependence of Quality, Quantity and Chemical Constituents of Bark and Leaf Oil of two varieties of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), Proceedings of 7th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. January 22, 2020, Page 17.

Madhushuka, K. T, Wijeweera, A. A, Hemalika, W. S, Hettiarachchi, S.R., Hewage, J. W, Jayasinghe, G. G and Wijesinghe, K. G. G
Maturity and variety dependence of bioactive constituents of ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume)

Proceedings of 7th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. January 22, 2020, Page 100.

J.W.Hewage, W.S. Hemalika, S.R.Hettiarachchi, G.G.Jayasinghe, K.G.G. Wijesinghe, Study of variation in chemical compositions of Sri Lankan true cinnamon on geographical and ecological varience and identification of bioactive components, Proceedings of international symposium on agriculture and environment 2018, spice session, 17th January 2018, page 07.

I.A. Premaratne, T. C. Sandanayake, Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi,S. A. S. Kaushalya, Shironika P. Karunanayake, Som Naidu, Reflections on the design and development of Senareo-based videos in MOOCs. Proceedings of Open University International Research Sessions (i-OURS-2018).

Samanthika R Hettiarachchi and Chamani P M Marasinghe Wadige Arsenic speciation studies in Oriza sativa L. grown in Wahalkada, Sri Lanka, European Chemistry Congress, June 16-18, 2016 Rome, Italy Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Chem. Sci J Chem Sci J 2016, 7:2(suppl), http://dx.dol.org/10,4172/2150-3494,C1,002 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWjpgnc1UKY

Samanthika R Hettiarachchi and Chamani P M Marasinghe Wadige, Preliminary investigation on selenium levels of some consumable food in Sri Lanka, Second Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference (RISTCON, January 22-23, 2015, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.

A.A.S.P. Athukorala and Samanthika R.Hettiarachchi, Extraction, separation and identification of compounds in Cyanodon dactylon, 6th Science Symposium, December 23, 2009, University of Ruhuna, Marata, Sri Lanka.

Scheafer, B., Patterson, H.H., Hettiarachchi, S.R,Solvent supported d (10) interactions in KauxAg1-x (CN) 2.Y H2O crystals, Proceedings of American Chemical Society—230th National meeting. August 28-September 01, 2005, Washington DC, USA, Volume 230, pp. U2082-U2082.

Howard H. Patterson,; Mohammad A. Omary.; Lulie C. F. Colis.; Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Tunable luminescence and optical memory in nanoclusters of Ag(CN)2- and Au(CN)2- doped in alkali halide matrices, American Chemical Society- 227th  National Meeting, March 28-April 1, 2004, Anaheim, California, USA, Volume 227, pp U1558-U1558

Howard H. Patterson; Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi.; Julie C. F. Colis.; Mohammad A. Omary, Write/Read/Erase” with laser irradiation of dicyanoargentate(I) doped and pure crystals, American Chemical Society- 226th  National Meeting, September, 2003, New York, NY, USA, Volume 226, U771-U771

Ravi K. Arvapally.; Nigel l. Coker.; Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi.; Richard C. Elder.; Howard H. Patterson,; Mohammad A. Omary,Temperature-dependent and Time-resolved Luminescence Studies of Bis(thiocyanato)gold(I) Complexes, American Chemical Society- 225th National Meeting, March 23-27, 2003, Orleans, Louisiana, USA, Volume 225 U98-U98.

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi and Howard H. Patterson, Optical Memory Studies of Dicyanoargentate(I) and Dicyanoaurate(I) Ions Doped in Alkali Halide Crystals, American Chemical Society- 224th National Meeting, August 18-22, 2002, Bostan. MA, USA, Volume 225 U688-U688.

Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Julie C. Colis, Soffian M. Kanan, Howard H. Patterson and Carl P. Tripp, Luminescence and Raman Studies of Exciplex Tuning in Pure and Potassium Chloride Doped  Crystals of the Dicyanoargentates (I), 30th ACS Northeast Regional Meeting, University of New Hampshire,   Durham, NH, USA, 2001.

Julie C. Colis, Samanthika R. Hettiarachchi, Soffian M. Kanan and Howard H. Patterson,Optical Memory of Ag(CN)2- Doped in Sodium Chloride Crystals, 30th ACS Northeast Regional Meeting, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA, 2001.


M.Phil. Student

A. A. Wijeweera (2017) “Investigation of the Effect of Geographical and Ecological Variation on the Quality and Quantity of Chemical Constituents of Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume.)”

B.Sc. Students

C.M.D Samaraweera – 2017. “Seasonal variation of heavy metals and other physicochemical parameters in Kattakaduwa Reserviour ”.

D.S.W Wickramasnghe – 2015. “Effect of sodium silicate mediated alleviation on heavy metal uptake of field grown Basilla alba in Matara, Sri Lanka”.

N.N.P Thusitha Kumara – 2013. “Preliminary investigation of selenium levels in different species of fish and meat in Matara area”.

Life member of Institute of Chemistry (I Chem)

Member of Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA)

Life member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)

Chief supervisor/Co supervisor of Australian National Chemistry Quiz Contest, In 2004, 2007, 2008.  

Chief Examiner, G.C.E (A/L) Examinations (Chemistry), In  2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010,2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017    

Faculty Coordinator of Regional Centre, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Matara from 2009 to 2020.

Acting Head/Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka(15th May 2017-14th June 2017)

President and the Treasurer of the Buckyball Society of the Department of Chemistry, The Open University of Sri Lanka in 2016,2017 and 2018.

UGC nominee of two selection committees for the post of chief/senior technical officer, Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo in 2008.

Program committee member of AAOU 2020.

Committee member of the Curricculum revision of the Bachelor of Arts (General) External Degree Program of Faculty of HSS, University of Ruhuna in 2021.

Reviewer for the Journal of Food Science and Technology. Since 2014.   

Reviewer for the American Chemical Science Journal since 2016.

Reviewer for the IEEE Sensors Journal since 2016.

Reviewer of European Journal of Nutrition and Food safety since 2017.

Reviewer of Physical science international journal since 2017.

Reviewer of International journal of plant and soil science since 2018.

Reviewer of Ruhuna Journal of Science since 2019.

Reviewer of Open University Research Sessions 2020 (OURS 2020)

Paper reviewer in AAOU 2020

Reviewer of Current journal of Applied Science and Technology snce 2020

Reviewer of Journal of Experimental Agriculture international since 2021

Reviewer of RISCTCON 2016, RISTCON 2020 and RISTCON 2021

Review of abstract/s for Inter-University Undergraduate Thesis Competition in Chemistry and Biochemistry 2021 organized by SLAAS,Section E2

Research Position 2011 – University of Canberra, Australia

Endeavour Research Fellowship Award 2012 – University of Canberra, Australia

OUSL Research Award – Open University of Sri Lanka

 

 

Life member of Institute of Chemistry (I Chem)

Member of Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA)

Life member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)

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