Dias Hemachandra

2 Last checked 7 August 2020

I am a Research Assistant at the Global Disaster Resilience Centre (GDRC), School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield. Currently, I am working in a research project called BRITAE (Building Resilience in Tropical Agro-Ecosystems) which is funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union with the aim of developing joint curricula modules on building resilience in tropical agro ecosystem in Sri Lankan universities. Further, I am also working with another project on Integrating Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Into Disaster Risk Reduction to provide insights on several critical problems that need to be better understood to improve epidemic and pandemic preparedness in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, I worked in another project funded by the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union called CABARET- Capacity Building in Asia for Resilience Education. The project extended for three years, 2017-2020. The project aimed in building capacities among higher education institutions in Asia (Region 6) strengthening research and innovation capacity for the development of societal resilience to disasters. In addition, I engaged in another European Union funded project called ESPREssO (Enhancing Synergies for Disaster Prevention in the European Union). All these projects gave me immense experience in terms of research and administrative skills working with international collaborative works. I received many opportunities to participate in international events, workshops, conferences and programmes across Europe and Asia.

I am currently reading my PhD under the supervision of Prof Dilanthi Amaratunga and Prof Richard Haigh, at the School of Applied Science, University of Huddersfield. My PhD focuses on developing a framework for enhancing women’s empowerment in disaster risk governance.

Before starting the PhD programme at the University of Huddersfield, I completed two masters degrees; Master in Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore and the Masters in Management, at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. I have also completed a Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (CTHE) programme, at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. I am also a part finalists at the Institute of Chartered Accountant in Sri Lanka (ICASL).

I worked as a Senior Lecture at the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka since 2002. I am a member of the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE). I received their research grant to conduct a study on examining voluntary environmental practices within the textile and apparel industry in Sri Lanka in 2012.