April 2026
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded in recognition of innovative technological contributions and inventions with significant national impact in Sri Lanka.
December 2025
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded for outstanding scientific research presented at the Special Session on Next-Generation Technologies for Sustainable, Resilient, and Smart Food Systems, The Kandy Conference.
November 2025
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded for exceptional doctoral research in Agricultural Engineering, recognizing outstanding scholarly contribution and research excellence.
January 2023
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded in recognition of exceptional research performance and significant contributions to scholarly publications in indexed journals.
May 2017
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Elected in recognition of outstanding scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the advancement of agriculture.
August 2017
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Elected in recognition of academic excellence and outstanding contributions to agricultural and biological systems engineering.
October 2017
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Elected in recognition of outstanding scholarship, leadership, and contributions to technology-related professions.
April 2014
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
International accreditation recognizing excellence in university teaching, professional development, and commitment to high-quality higher education.
October 2022
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded in recognition of outstanding research performance and scholarly contributions within the Faculty of Agriculture.
September 2021
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando > Other Awards
Awarded to the top 20 faculty members in recognition of the highest research publication output in 2020.
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Full Member

Dr Jayaruwani Fernando

Membership since: 2022
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Awards
April 2026 Merit Award – Presidential Awards for Inventions (2025)
December 2025 Best Scientific Paper Award – ICSBE & Next-Gen Innovation Conference (2025)
November 2025 Outstanding Doctoral Research Award – Gold Medal, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (2025)
January 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Award – Most Outstanding Young Researcher, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
May 2017 Gamma Sigma Delta – Honor Society of Agriculture
August 2017 Alpha Epsilon – Honor Society of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering
October 2017 Epsilon Pi Tau – International Honor Society for Professions in Technology
April 2014 Teacher Accreditation – Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), United Kingdom
October 2022 Certificate and Award of Excellence – First Place in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Work, Faculty of Agriculture (2021)
September 2021 Top Twenty Researcher Award (2021)

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer in Agricultural Engineering with over 13 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. My expertise includes agricultural machinery, mechanization, postharvest technology, and engineering design, with a strong focus on developing innovative technologies that support sustainable and efficient agricultural systems. My doctoral research optimized heat pump drying systems for agricultural applications, contributing to more energy-efficient postharvest processing. I am also a co-inventor of a patented agricultural machine and a recipient of several research excellence awards, including the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award – Gold Medal from the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture and the Vice Chancellor’s Award for the Most Outstanding Young Researcher from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.

My research focuses on advancing agricultural mechanization and postharvest technologies through innovative engineering solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and value addition in agricultural systems. I work at the intersection of engineering design, HVAC technologies, and sensor-based control systems to develop practical technologies for agricultural processing and mechanization.

My doctoral research on optimizing heat pump drying systems contributed to improving energy efficiency and product quality in agricultural drying processes. This work led to the co-development of a patented agricultural machine and continues to inform my broader research on sustainable postharvest technologies and climate-responsive engineering solutions for agriculture.

My research contributions have been recognized through nearly 20 research excellence awards, including the Outstanding Doctoral Research Award – Gold Medal from the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture and the Vice Chancellor’s Award for the Most Outstanding Young Researcher from Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. I have also received international recognition through membership in honor societies such as Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Epsilon, and Epsilon Pi Tau, and through professional accreditation from the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), UK.

My scholarly work includes 23 peer-reviewed journal publications, 11 conference papers, 30 conference abstracts, and a book chapter published by Springer Nature. I hold one granted patent with additional patent applications in progress, and have served as a peer reviewer for more than 40 manuscripts in international journals.

Through my research, teaching, and mentorship, I aim to contribute to technology-driven solutions that strengthen sustainable agriculture, support innovation in developing regions, and inspire the next generation of agricultural engineers and researchers.

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Other Memberships/Affiliations
ASABE

Degrees:

2017
Master
Engineering sciences
2022
Doctorate
Engineering sciences
2011
Undergraduate
Agricultural Sciences

Publications resulting from Research
1. Fernando, A. J. (2026). Artificial intelligence techniques for microwave drying of agricultural products: A comprehensive review on modeling, intelligent control, and process optimization. Applied Food Research, 6(1), 101590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2025.101590
2. Fernando, A. J., & Rosentrater, K. A. (2023). Optimal designs of air-source heat pump dryers in the agro-food processing industry. Food Engineering Reviews, 15(2), 261–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12393-023-09337-3
3. Fernando, A. J., & Amaratunga, K. S. P. (2022). Application of far-infrared radiation for sun-dried chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): Drying characteristics and color during roasting. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102(9), 3781–3787. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11726
4. Fernando, A. J., & Rathnayake, R. M. S. (2025). Far-infrared radiation drying of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots: Drying kinetics and quality attributes. Journal of the ASABE, 68(5). https://doi.org/10.13031/ja.16287
5. Fernando, A. J., Gunathunga, C., Brumm, T., & Amaratunga, S. (2021). Drying turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) using far-infrared radiation: Drying characteristics and process optimization. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 44(9). https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpe.13780
6. Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Madushanka, H. T. N., & Jayaweera, H. R. Y. S. (2021). Drying performance of coffee in a batch-type heat pump dryer. Transactions of the ASABE, 64(4), 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.14268
7. Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Dharmasena, D. A. N., & De Silva, T. H. K. R. (2025). Effect of temperature on drying kinetics and quality attributes of coffee beans during hot air drying. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 53(3), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v53i3.12590
8. Kavindi, M. A. R., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Ekanayake, E. M. C., Fernando, A. J., & Abesinghe, A. M. S. K. (2022). CFD simulation of airflow distribution in a heat pump-assisted deep-bed paddy dryer. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 38(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.14483
9. Bandara, D. M. S. P., Amarathunga, K. S. P., Thilakaratne, B. M. K. S., Gunawardana, C. R., Dissanayake, T. M. R., Dharmasena, D. A. N., & Fernando, A. J. (2015). Use of evaporative water cooling in grinding chili. Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 48(3), 13–17. https://doi.org/10.4038/engineer.v48i3.6837
10. Chopra, S., & Fernando, A. J. (2020). Modeling employees’ behavioral intention with the adoption of a suggestion system for lean initiatives. Journal of Technology, Management and Applied Engineering, 36(2), 1–14. https://www.iastatedigitalpress.com/jtmae/article/id/14107/
other-awards
Awards
April 2026 Merit Award – Presidential Awards for Inventions (2025)
December 2025 Best Scientific Paper Award – ICSBE & Next-Gen Innovation Conference (2025)
November 2025 Outstanding Doctoral Research Award – Gold Medal, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (2025)
January 2023 Vice Chancellor’s Award – Most Outstanding Young Researcher, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
May 2017 Gamma Sigma Delta – Honor Society of Agriculture
August 2017 Alpha Epsilon – Honor Society of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering
October 2017 Epsilon Pi Tau – International Honor Society for Professions in Technology
April 2014 Teacher Accreditation – Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), United Kingdom
October 2022 Certificate and Award of Excellence – First Place in Research, Scholarly, and Creative Work, Faculty of Agriculture (2021)
September 2021 Top Twenty Researcher Award (2021)