Academic Building (B3)-Room 14 (A2-GF-146)
Department of Material and Mechanical Technology
Faculty of Technology
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Mahenwatte, Pitipana North
Homagama 10200
Sri Lanka

Email: gayansiriwardana@sjp.ac.lk

Dr. A. A. Gayan Kavinda Siriwardana, a Polymer Chemist, received his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Chemistry Special (2009) from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He then obtained his M.Sc. in Environmental Analytical Chemistry (2013) at Sam Houston State University, USA and Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry (2018) at The University of Texas at Dallas, USA under the supervision of Dr. Ronald A. Smaldone. Just after completion of Ph.D., he was appointed as a Postdoctoral Research Associate (2018-2019) in the research group of Prof. Timothy E. Long at Virginia Tech University, USA. He was also appointed as the Facilities Manager at the Macromolecular Materials Discovery Center (MMDC) at the same University (2019). After completion of the Postdoctoral Research studies at Virginia Tech, he accepted a Lecturer position at the Department of Chemistry at Northern Arizona University, USA (2019).

In 2020, he returned to Sri Lanka and joined the Department of Materials and Mechanical Technology in the Faculty of Technology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura where he is currently working as a Senior Lecturer.

Research Keywords:

Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, Environmental Remediation, Toxic Heavy Metals, Polymer Blends, Composites, Smart Polymers, 4D Printing.

Other Activities:

Sports- Cricket and Tennis

2024- to date	Life Member- Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
2021-to date	Editorial Review Panel Member- Vidya E-News Website Articles
2021-2022	Committee Member of the Engineering Technology Curriculum Revision, Representing Polymer Processing Technology Focus Area from the Department of Materials and Mechanical Technology (MMT), FOT, USJ, Sri Lanka
2021-2022	Coordinator of the Diploma in Polymer Processing Technology and Process Analysis, Polymer Processing Technology Specialisation, Department of MMT, FOT, USJ
2020- to date	Senior Lecturer- Grade II, Department of MMT, FOT, USJ, Sri Lanka
2020-to date	Reviewer-Asian Review of Mechanical Engineering (ARME) Journal
2019	Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Northern Arizona University, USA
2019	Facilities Manager, Macromolecular Materials Discovery Center (MMDC), Virginia Tech University, USA
2018-2019	Postdoctoral  Research Fellow, Virginia Tech University, USA
2016-2018	Graduate Research Assistant, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
2014-to date	Member-American Chemical Society
2013-2016	Graduate Teaching Assistant, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
2011-2013	Graduate Teaching Assistant, Sam Houston State University, USA
2009-2011	Teaching Assistant, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

2024- to date

Serving as the main advisor of the following undergraduate research projects:

3D printable cellulosic fiber rainforced ABS composite for developing a helmet shell

Development of 3D printable PLA/fillers based filaments with improved tensile properties

Development of a 3D printable composite using PVC and waste polyurethane

Development of a 3D printable thermoplastic elastomer using LDPE waste, PS, and rubber

Development of a 3D printable thermoplastic elastomer using cellulosic fibre /PLA, and NBR

Development of thermal and mechanical properties of 3D printed thermal insulation panel using cellulosic fiber and polypropylene

3D Printable cellulosic fiber reinforced ABS composite for automobile applications

Evaluating the curing and mechanical properties of SBR-LDPE blends for cost effective shoe sole by replacing HSR

Serving as the co-advisor of the following undergraduate research projects:

Development of 3D printable EPS/EPDM based thermoplastic elastomer

Development of 3D Printable ABS/NBR thermoplastic elastomer

Development of ABS/NBR magnetic stimulus thermoplastic composite for 4D printing

Recycled fiberglass reinforced PLA based 3D printable composite for boating applications

Serving as the co-advisor of the following Ph.D. research project:

Preparation and Characterization of Thermoplastic Vulcanizates Incorporating Industrial Waste and Biobased Feedstock for Shape Memory and Additive Manufacturing Applications: Materials for Circular Economy

2022-2024

Serving as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the following M.Phil. research project:

University Research Grant Number: (ASP/01/RE/TEC/2022/74)

Title: “Additive Manufacturing Based Blended Materials as Toxic Heavy Metal Chelators for Environmental Remediation’’

Amount: LKR 3M

Duration: 02 years (M.Phil.)

2020	Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, USJ, Sri Lanka
2020- to date	Member of the Technology Faculty Teachers’ Association (TFTA), USJ, Sri Lanka
2018	Graduate Teaching Certificate, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
2017	Ph.D. Research Travel Grant Award, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
2016	Ph.D. Research Travel Grant Award, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, USA
2013	Graduate Research Exchange Program- Presentation Award, Graduate Studies and College of Education, Sam Houston State University, USA
2012-2013	Special Graduate Scholarship Award, College of Sciences, Sam Houston State University, USA
2012-2013	Graduate Student Fellowship, Department of Chemistry, Sam Houston State University, USA

Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing is an emerging technology that can be used to fabricate simple to complex geometries layer-by-layer fashion using a computer-aided-design (CAD) model. Material jetting, material extrusion, vat-photopolymerization, and power bed fusion are the main means for AM of polymers. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Direct-Ink Writing (DIW) are relatively cost-effective AM techniques that rely on material extrusion. FFF technology is very versatile to manufacture house-hold plastic items, molecular models for teaching purposes, toys etc. whereas DIW usually processes shear thinning materials such as pastes, semi-solids, hydrogels into any desired shape.

My recent research is more focused on fabricating 3D printable polymers/polymer blends/composites that can be used to capture toxic heavy metal cations and other harmful anions like fluorides and nitrates in contaminated water for environmental remediation.       

Smart polymers, another very interesting class of polymers, change their shape of function upon exposure to various stimuli such as temperature, pH of the medium, light, solvent, electric or magnetic fields. Slight environmental changes are sufficient to induce significant changes in polymer properties. These materials open doors to a new era in AM technology, 4D printing, which fabricates active/dynamic structures replacing conventional three-dimensional structures. Recent research provides evidence on successful 4D printing of shape memory polymers, a type of smart polymers, using vat-photopolymerization. Future research plans are also focused on synthesis and processing of these types of polymers for applications in sensors, actuators, hydrogels, biodegradable packaging, and biomedical engineering in collaboration with relevant engineering professionals.  

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Wijekoon, N.K.; Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Liyanage R.N.; Dassanayake, Rohan S.; Rajapaksha, S.M.; Mapage, D.; Wijenayake, A.; Lokuge, E.L.; Abeygunawardane, G.A.; Senarath, N.D.D.D.Facile Fabrication of 3D-Printed Cellulosic Fiber/Polylactic Acid Composites as Low-cost and Sustainable Acoustic Panels. SCENV. 2024, 100168. (Co-first author)   

      Ambagaspitiya, Sankalya S.; Appuhamillage Gayan A.; Wimalawansa Sunil J. Impact of   Vitamin D on Skin Aging. Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed). 2024 (accepted).

Ambagaspitiya, Sankalya S.; Appuhamillage Gayan A.; Dassanayake, Rohan S. Impact of Vitamin D on Ultraviolet-Induced Photoaging and Skin Diseases. Explor Med. 2024, 5, 363-83.  

      Appuhamillage Gayan A.; Ambagaspitiya, Sankalya S.; Dassanayake, Rohan S.; Wijenayake, Achintha. 3D and 4D printing of biomedical materials: current trends, challenges, and future outlook. Explor Med. 2024, 5, 17-47.

Thavaseelan, D.; Nilmini, A.H.L.R.; Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Siriwardena, S. Investigation of field performance and film properties of natural rubber latex preserved with a novel chemical, Adv. Technol. 2022, 2, 71.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Chartrain, Nicholas; Meenakshisundaram, Viswanath; Feller, Keyton D.; Williams, Christopher B.; Long, Timothy E. 110^th Anniversary: Vat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing: current trends and future directions in materials design, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2019, 58, 15109. 

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Berry, Danielle R.; Benjamin, Candace E.; Luzuriaga, Michael A.; Reagan, John C.; Gassensmith, Jeremiah J.; Smaldone, Ronald A. A Biopolymer-Based 3D Printable Hydrogel for Toxic Metal Adsorption from Water, Polym Int. 2019, 68, 964.   

Dharmarwardana, M.; Arimilli, Bhargav S.; Luzuriaga, Michael A.; Kwon, S.; Lee, H.; Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; McCandless, Gregory T.;  Smaldone, Ronald A.; Gassensmith, Jeremiah J. The Thermo-Responsive Behavior in Molecular Crystals of Naphthalene Diimides and their 3D Printed Thermochromic Composites, Cryst. Eng. Comm. 2018, 20, 6054.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Reagan, John C.; Khorsandi, Sina; Davidson, Joshua R.; Voit, Walter; Smaldone, Ronald A. 3D Printed Remendable Polylactic Acid Blends with Uniform Mechanical Strength Enabled by a Dynamic Diels-Alder Reaction, Polym. Chem. 2017, 8, 2087.

Davidson, Joshua R.; Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Thompson, Christina M.; Voit, Walter; Smaldone, Ronald A. Design Paradigm Utilizing Reversible Diels-Alder Reactions to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Materials, ACS Appl. Mater. Inter. 2016, 8, 16961. (co-first author)

Diaz-Vasquez, Waldo A.; Abarca-Lagunas, Maria J.; Arenas, Felipe A.; Pinto, Camilo A.; Cornejo, Fabian A.; Wansapura, Poorna T.; Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Chasteen, Thomas G.; Vasquez, Claudio C. Tellurite Reduction by Escherichia coli NDH-II Dehydrogenase Results in Superoxide Production in Membranes of Toxicant-Exposed Cells, BioMetals 2014, 27, 237.

 

Abstracts

     Perera, K.P.M.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. Cellulosic Fibre & Thermoplastic based 3D Printable Composite with Improved Mechanical & Flame-Retardant Properties for Automobile Applications, Abstr Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS), 2024.

     Dhanapala, D.S.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Randulee, M.H.H.; Ambagaspitiya A.G.S.S.; Mapage H.D. Cellulose Fibre/Thermoplastic Based 3D Printable Antimicrobial Composite for Food & Pharmaceutical Packaging, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2024.

     Bandara, P.B.S.D.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Mapage H.D. Novel 3D Printable Cellulosic Fibre/Recycled Thermoplastic Composites as Low-cost Thermal Insulation Panels, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2024.

     Eshani, L.L.H.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Wijenayake, K.I.A.; Mapage H.D. Development of Cellulosic Fibre/Thermoplastic-Based 3D Printable Acoustic Panels with Improved Acoustic Properties, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2024.    

       Wijenayake, K.I.A.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Gunaratna, R.; Mapage, H.D. Extrudable Biopolymer/Thermoplastic Composites for Environmental Remediation, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2023:189.

      Devika, P.G.T.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Wijenayake, K.I.A.; Mapage, H.D.;  Rajapaksha, S.M.; Liyanage, A.H.L.R.N.;  Priyadarshana, G.I.; Gannoruwa, A.; Gunaratna, R. Extrudable Cellulosic Fiber/ABS Composites for Automobile Applications, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2023:165.

      Kumari, W.M.S.N.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Wijenayake, K.I.A.; Mapage, H.D. Extrudable Fiber/Thermoplastic Composites for Sound Absorption Applications, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2023:209. 

      Madhushani, B.T.D.; Siriwardana, A.A.G.K.; Rajapaksha, S.M.; Liyanage, A.H.L.R.N.;  Priyadarshana, G.I.; Gannoruwa, A.; Gunaratna, R. Development of a Low-Cost

               Non-Marking Tyre Thread using a Natural Mineral, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2023:155. 

      Gunawardhana, G.D.S.M.; Siriwardana, A.A. Gayan K.; Rajapaksha, S. M. Development of a low-cost solid tyre tread compound using low density polyethylene (LDPE) waste, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2022:161. 

Gunathilaka, M.G.I.D.; Siriwardana, A.A. Gayan K. Minimization of material wastage in PVC pipe manufacturing via a new stabilizer, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2022:157. 

     Thavaseelan, D.; Liyanage, A.H.L.R.N.; Siriwardana, A.A. Gayan K.; Siriwardena, S. Investigation of field performance and film properties of Natural Rubber latex preserved with a novel  chemical, Abstr International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies (ICIET), Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 2021:122.  

Long, T.; Appuhamillage, G. A.; Sirrine, J.; Hegde, M.; Herzberger, J.; Rau, D.; Chen, Xi; Arrington, C.; Cashman, M.; Scott, P.; Wilts, E.; Meenakshisundaram, V.; Chartrain, N.; Williams, C. Predicting 3D printability of functional polymers: balancing rheology with reactivity, Abstr Pap Am Chem S 2019:257.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Danielle, Berry; Candace, Benjamin; Luzuriaga, Michael; Gassensmith, Jeremiah; Smaldone Ronald; Chitosan-pluronic diacrylate hydrogels as 3D printable material for heavy metal ion adsorption, Abstr Pap Am Chem S 2018:255.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Abeykoon, Nimali C.; Davidson, Joshua R.;  Ferraris, John P.;  Smaldone, Ronald; Perylene-​polyether block polyimides as redox active electrode materials for high performing lithium-​organic batteries, Abstr SWRM Am Chem S 2017:128.   

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Davidson, Joshua; Thompson, Christina; Voit, Walter; Smaldone, Ronald; Self-healing design paradigm utilizing reversible Diels-Alder reactions to enhance mechanical properties of 3D printed materials, Abstr Pap Am Chem S 2016:252.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; Davidson, Joshua R.; Reagan, John C.; Khorsandi, Sina; Thompson, Christina; Voit, Walter; Smaldone, Ronald; Design paradigm and post curing studies utilizing reversible Diels-Alder reactions to enhance mechanical properties of 3D printed materials, Abstr SWRM Am Chem S 2016:640.

Appuhamillage G.; Lund, B.; Yang K. J.; Smaldone, R.; Shaffer S.; Voit, W. Novel polymers for 3D printing with improved interlayer adhesion by reversible Diels–Alder reactions. Abstr Pap Am Chem S 2014:248.

Appuhamillage, Gayan A.; De-Silva, Russel C. L. Study of Heavy Metal Adsorption Capacities of Clays and Development of Recovery Methods to Effectively Remove and to Convert the Adsorbed Metals into Reusable Forms, Proc. Sri Lanka Assoc. Adv. Sci. 2009, 65, 137.

 

Newspaper/Magazine Articles

Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. 3D and 4D Printing of Biomedical Materials (BMMs). Chemistry in Sri Lanka, 41 (3), October, 2024.   

      Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. 3D Printed Hydrogel Cups for Heavy Metal Removal from Water.   The Sri Lankan Scientist, September, 2024.

Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) of metals and alloys: current trends and future outlook. Chemistry in Sri Lanka, 41 (2), May, 2024.   

Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. 3D Printed Hydrogel Cups for Heavy Metal Removal from Water. Sunday Observer, March, 2024.

Siriwardana, A.A.G.K. 3D Printing of Elastomers. Chemistry in Sri Lanka, 41 (1), January, 2024.