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Mrs. Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam

svasanthakumary

Mrs. Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam
B.A. (Hons) in Geography, (UPDN), M.Phil (UPDN)
Senior Lecturer - Gr.II
Email:vasanthakumarys@esn.ac.lk

Biography

Name: Mrs. Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam
Designation: Senior Lecturer - II
Academic qualification: B.A. (Hons) in Geography, (UPDN), M.Phil (UPDN)

Contact

Tel: +94 65 224 0739 (Office), 077 103 0202
Email: vasanthakumarys@esn.ac.lk
Official Address:
Department of Geography
Faculty of Arts and Culture
Eastern University, Sri Lanka
Chenkalady
Batticaloa

Publications

  1. Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam & Siti Nurhidayu. (2025). “Evidence of hydrological extremes in a changing climate in the Batticaloa District in Sri Lanka: Insights from existing literature”. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Water, Air, & Soil Conservation (CleanWAS 2025) (p. 103). Malaysia.

  2. Paramanantham Jathusan & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, (2025). Ecological Services and Emerging Challenges of the Mangrove Ecosystem: A Case Study Based on the Kottai Kallaru Region in Batticaloa District, KALAM International Research Journal, 18(1), 115–135. Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (In Tamil). 
  3. Vijayavarman Viyothana & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, (2025). Human-Elephant Conflict in the Porativu Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division, Batticaloa District: Impacts and Mitigation Strategies, KALAM International Research Journal, 18(1), 232–251. Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (In Tamil)
  4. Rajendran Pavithra & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam,  (2025). Land Use Changes in Matale Town Over the Past Two Decades (2004–2024). Annual Research Session 2025, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 109–125. (In Tamil)
  5. Vijayakumar Vinothani & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, (2025). Landuse Management in the Sloping Areas within the Nuwara Eliya Divisional Secretariat Division: Strategies for Sustainable Conservation. Annual Research Session 2025, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 126–147. (In Tamil)
  6. Yoganadhan Baby Shalini & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, (2025). Land Use Changes in the Pussellawa Divisional Secretariat Division of Kandy District Over the Past Two Decades (2003–2023). Annual Research Session 2025, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 148–167. (In Tamil)
  7. Abu Bakar, S. N., Tze Deng, L., & Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, V. (2024). The Effects of Landslides on River Sedimentation and Water Quality: Insights from the Batang Penar River, Malaysia. Semarak Climate Science Letters, 1(1), 1–23. 
  8. Vasanthakumary Selvanayagam, V. (2024). Rainfall trends and implications for water resources: A case study of Rugam irrigation tank, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(1), 48–70. 
  9. Vasanthakumary, S, and Sindhuja, (2024) “Spatial Pattern of the Formation of Female-Headed Households (FHHs) in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka: Status and Driving Forces",  6th International Research Conference, Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, held on 26th and 27th of Sep 2024 
  10. Vasanthakumary, S (2024). OpenStreetMap (OSM) for Community Development, Magazine – OSM Booster Grant Project, Published by Department of Geography, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 
  11. Vasanthakumary, S and Vijayakumar, S, (2023) “Dealing with the Economic Crisis: Struggles of Youths in the Estate Sector in Sri Lanka”, Annual Research Journal, “Dawn for Informal Sector Workers”, Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka, 2023
  12. Ramyadharshini  & Vasanthakumary, (2023), “Changing Patterns of Livelihood and Plantation Life: Opportunities and Challenges”, International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)  International Conference 2023, held at Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Auditorium, BMICH, Colombo, held on 12th and 13th December, 2023 (In Tamil).
  13. Vasanthakumary, S, Sindhuja, S, Gayathri, P and Christina, D (2023), “Prospects and Challenges in Fostering Digital Education in Plantation Schools in Matale District, Sri Lanka”, International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES)  International Conference 2023, held at Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies Auditorium, BMICH, Colombo, held on 12th and 13th December, 2023.
  14. Fathima Hasna, M. H., Mathanraj, S., & Vasanthakumary, S. (2023). “A Hybrid Model for the Prediction of Land Use/Land Cover Pattern in Kurunegala City, Sri Lanka”. In Advances in Scalable and Intelligent Geospatial Analytics. CRC Press. 
  15. Mathanraj, S., Vasanthakumary, S., & N Rusli, (2023). “Spatiotemporal Changes of Green Cover Pattern in Urban Areas of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka”. 2023 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 1143 012028. DOI 10.1088/1755-1315/1143/1/012028
  16. Christina, D. & Vasanthakumary, S. (2022) “Spatial Perspective of the Landslide Disaster in Basbage Korale DS Division”, Annual Research Session, Faculty of Arts and Culture, EUSL, held on 1st November 2022
  17. Fathima Ihshana M.and Vasanthakumary (2022) “Emerging Challenges in Kalpitiya Coastal Lagoon in Puttalam, Sri Lanka” UGITs 11th International Conference, Department of Geography and Geoinformatics, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, held on 9th and 10th December 2022
  18. Kishanthini. N & Vasanthakumary,S, (2021), Community Resilience to Flood Disaster in Porathivupattu Divisional Secretariat Division, Batticaloa, 3rd South Asia Conference on Interdisciplinary Research 2021, Organized by the International Research & Development Institution, held on 5th November, 2021
  19. Safna & Vasanthakumary, (2021), Development Trends and Challenges in Kandy City, Annual Research Session, 2021, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. (In Tamil)
  20. Vasanthakumary, S. (2021). “Natural Disasters in Sri Lanka” Geography Journal of Sri Lanka Association of Geographers, Volume 1, Issue No.1, 2021.(In Tamil)
  21. Arularasi B, Vasanthakumary.S & A.J.N.M Bandara, 2021, Constructing Community Ideas through Mapping:  The Transformation from Manual to Digital, International Conference on Research Methodology for Qualitative and Quantitative Research” (COM-2021), Organized by Eudoxia Research Centre, India, held on March, 2021
  22. Vasanthakumary, S (2020). “Contemporary Matale City: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Development.” International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research 5, no.12 (December 2020), DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2020.v05i12.008 URL: doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2020.v05i12.008
  23. Vasanthakumary, S. (2019). Understanding the Types and Characteristics of Landslides in Sri Lanka, SSRG International Journal of Geoinformatics and Geological Science (SSRG-IJGGS) – Volume 6 Issue 3–Sep – Dec 2019 ISSN: 2393 - 9206 www.internationaljournalssrg.org
  24. Vasanthakumary, S. (2018). A Statistical Analysis of Rainfall Variability and Paddy Production Trend in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. SSRG International Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science (SSRG – IJAES), v5.6, 31-38.
  25. Arularasi, B, Jayathilaka D.M.S.C.D.M & Vasanthakumary, S. (2018). Choice of Residential Decision in the landslide Risk Areas of Kandy City, 7th UGIT International Conference on “Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Sustainable Development through Geospatial Technologies” held on 24th – 25th November, 2018, at Department of Geography University of Peradeniya.
  26. Vasanthakumary, S. (2018). “Climate Change and Challenges to Tea Sector in Sri Lanka, Special volume to mark 150 years of Tea in Sri Lanka, Veerakesari Publications, Sri Lanka. .(In Tamil)
  27. Vasanthakumary, S. (2018) "GIS Based Landslide Hazard Zonation Mapping (LHZM) for Rattota DS Division, Matale District, Sri Lanka", International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Volume 7 Issue 3, March 2018, 1919 - 1926, DOI: 10.21275/ART2018112
  28. Vasanthakumary, S. &  RekhaNianthi K.W.G, (2017) “Challenges and Opportunities of Landslide Induced Resettlement”: International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v6i7/v6i7.php, Volume 6 Issue 7, July 2017, 1695 – 1703, #ijsrnet 2.
  29. Vasanthakumary, S, (2017), “Recent Landslides and Challenges to Up-country People”:A collection of 18 Memorial Speeches - Hill-Country: Multiple Perspectives, Published by Late Mr. R. Sivalingam Memorial Committee, Colombo (In Tamil)
  30. Vasanthakumary, S, (2017), “Building a Culture of Living Safely in Areas Prone to Landslides in Up-Country”: Sahithya Vila Publication, Ministry of Agriculture, Central Province, Sri Lanka  (In Tamil)
  31. Vasanthakumary, S, RekhaNianthi, K.W.G, Balakrishnan, B (2017). “Building Community Capacity for Landslide Risk Reduction in Hill Country of Sri Lanka”, Proceedings of the Sixth UGIT’s International Conference on “Climate Change and Sustainable Water Resource Management – Innovative Geospatial Solutions” held on 9th-11thNovember, 2017, at Department of Geography & Geoinformatics, Bangalore University
  32. Vasanthakumary, S. and Rekha Nianthi, K.W.G (2016). Importance of ICT in Building Landslide Resilient Community: Contemporary Status and Future Needs. Proceedings of the International Symposium on “ICT for Sustainable Development” (ICTSD) held on 10th – 12th August 2016, at University of Kelaniya.
  33. Vasanthakumary, S. (2015). Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into School Education System: A Step Forward. Kalam Peer Review Interdisciplinary Journal, Volume-IX (II) ISSN:1391 – 6815 August 2015, Faculty of Arts and Culture, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
  34. Vasanthakumary, S. and Arularasi, B. (2015). The Unheard Voice of Plantation Children in Education: Lessons from the Plantation Sector in Matale District” published by Satyodaya Centre for Social Research and Encounter, Kandy- 2015 (Research Project)
  35. Vasanthakumary, S. (2013). North East Monsoon Rainfall Induced Landslide Hazard and Non-structural Preparedness. Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium 2013, South Eastern University, Sri Lanka.87-93

Research Interest

  1. Geological, Meteorological Hazards
  2. Climate Change and Adaptation
  3. Application of GIS
  4. Development studies
  5. Urban Environment

Teaching

  1. Physical Geography 
  2. Geomorphology
  3. Climate and Hydrology
  4. Applied Hydrology and Water Resource Management
  5. Physical Geography of Sri Lanka 
  6. Climate Change and Sustainable Development
  7. Urban Geography
  8. Research Methodology

Awards

  • Hilda Obeysekara Research Fellowship, Awarded by University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Positions Held

  1. Academic Career Guidance Advisor, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 2022 – 2025 

  2. Executive Committee Member of Sri Lanka Association of Geographers (SLAG) 2021 – 2023
  3. Student Councillor, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka, 2022, 2023
  4. Member of Editorial Committee, Annual Research Session 2021, 2024, Faculty of Arts and Culture, EUSL 
  5. Member of Organising Committee, Annual Research Session (ARS) 2020, 2021 Faculty of Arts and Culture, EUSL 
  6. Member of Faculty Career Guidance Cell, Faculty of Arts and Culture, EUSL, from 2019 to 2022
  7. Member of editorial committee, 2018, Special volume to mark 150 years of Tea in Sri Lanka, Veerakesari Publications, Sri Lanka 
  8. Member of editorial committee, Neithal bi-annual Journal, Faculty of Arts and Culture, 2018/19
  9. Sub Committee member of Education and Research of GEE Cell, Faculty of Arts and Culture, EUSL 
  10. Senior Treasurer, Eastern Geographers Journal, Department of Geography, 2019/20

Served as Resource Person/Speaker

  1. Guest Speaker: Delivered the guest speech of the event - “Plantation Women in Sri Lanka: Contemporary Challenges and Solutions, (Special Reference to Climate Change) Organised by Women’s Centre Sri Lanka – Ja-Ela to Celebrate the International Women’s Day – 2024,  on 10th of March at Parameshwara Vidyalaya, Madulkelle, Kandy. 
  2. Consultant: Participated as one of the key consultants for the consultation workshop on Dialogue on structural issues and exclusions in Malaiyaha Communities – USAID – CSOs and Community Collective for Democratic Governance -  CCCDG Project, held on 22nd and 23rd of February 2023, at Hotel Randholee, Bowalawatta, Heerasagala, Kandy 
  3. Resource person: Workshop on How to Conduct Research: Potential future research areas in the plantation sector, Mahaveli Reach Hotel, Kandy, 7th -9th October 2022
  4. Speaker: Talk on 2021: The Future of Coexistence, organized by Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence, held on 19th January 2021
  5. Speaker: Talk on Glasgow World Climate Conference: Plans and practical challenges, Karuththukoodam – Session – 11,  held on 4th of 2021
  6. Guest Speaker: Awareness programme on Landslide Risk and necessity of Preparedness in Hill Country, Sri Lanka, organized by Malayaha Forum for Transformation, held on October 31.10.2021
  7. Speaker: Talk on Women Politics in Upcountry, Book publication: 150 years of Ceylon Tea & Community, Institute of Social Development, Kandy, 2020.11.21
  8. Resource person: Seminar on “Resilient Houses for Natural Disasters”: World Habitat Day, organised by the National Housing Development Authority, Batticaloa, on 4th of October 2017. 
  9. Speaker: Talk on “Recent Landslides and Challenges to Up-country People” for Late R.Sivalingam’s 18th Memorial Day on 10th of September 2017 at Tamil Sangam, Colombo.
  10. Resource person: Research forum organized by Hill-Country Social Action Group on the title of “Growing Threat of Landslide Disaster in Up-country and the need for Building Resilient Community” at Town Hall, Hatton on  2016.11.06
  11. Resource person: Seminar organized by the National Housing Development Authority, Batticaloa and delivered a talk on “Safe Housing Environment” under the theme of Housing at Centre, 2016.10.06
  12. Resource person: Seminar organized by the National Housing Development Authority, Batticaloa and delivered a talk on “ Voices from slums: Experience from Sri Lanka, on 2014.09.30 
  13. Resource Person: Seminar organised by the National Housing Development Authority, Batticaloa, on the title of Urbanisation in developing countries: Current trends and key challenges for sustainability, 2013.10.01

Contribution for National Projects: 

  1. Research Assistant: Kalu Ganga Irrigation Project funded by Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Mahaweli Authority, Sri Lanka, 2007
  2. Research Assistant: An Appropriate Post-Disaster Tsunami Housing Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, funded by University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland with the collaboration of CES, University of Peradeniya, 2008
  3. Translator: EIA Report of “Rehabilitation of Gohagoda Dumpsite & Development of Integrated Solid Waste Management System for Kandy Municipal Council Project”, Eco Tech Limited, (Chapter 3)
  4. Translator: IEE Report of Madapitiya Mini Hydro Power Project (Full Report) and Deegalahinna Mini Hydro Power Project (Phase I & II), 2011 -12
  5. Translator: National Atlas into Tamil (Text No 3.25 – Forest Plantation), Published by Survey Department of Sri Lanka.  
Last Updated
26-Oct-2026