• B.Sc. (Physics) Hons - University of Colombo
• Ph.D. - University of Colombo
  

• Physics of Lightning, Lightning Protection.

1. Served as the secretary of the Institute of Physics Sri Lanka, in year 2001/2002 and 2002/2003.
2. Served as a co- editor of the Institute of Physics Sri Lanka in 2003/2004 and 2004/2005
3. Secretary of the SLAAS Section E1 in year 2004/2005
4. Treasure of the University of Colombo Science Teachers Association since August 2003.
5. Delivered a lecture on Lightning in Sinhala at Vidulova program broadcasted by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in May 2005
6. Organized 2 workshops on Lightning Surge Protection on behalf of the Department of Physics and SLAAS section E1 in year 2005 and 2006

• July/2001 – Present: Senior Lecturer II, Department of Physics, University of Colombo.
• July/1993 – June/2001: Lecturer (Probationary), Department of Physics, University of Colombo.
• May/1993 – June/1993: Assistant Lecturer (Temporary), Department of Physics, University of Colombo.
• July/1992 – June/1993: Demonstrator, Department of Physics, University of Colombo.

Local Conference Reports

1. Operative characteristics of a parallel-plate antenna to measure vertical electric fields from lightning fields from lightning flashes, Arturo Galvan and Mahendra Fernando, (2000), , Report UURIE 285-00, Uppsala University
2. Preliminary results of implementing an automated system in Sri Lanka to locate lighting ground flashes, I.M.K. Fernando, D.U.J. Sonnadara, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne, S. Namasivayam and T.R. Ariyaratne, SLAAS, Proc. 54th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (1998).
3. The role of site selection on localising ground flashes in an automated lighting detection network, D.U.J. Sonnadara, I.M.K. Fernando, S. Namasivayam, T.R. Ariyaratne, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne and K.R.A. Bandara, IPSL, Proc. 15th Technical Session, Sri Lanka (1999).
4. Some features of lightning ground flash activities observed in tropical thunderstorms, A.B. Weerasekara, I.M.K. Fernando, D.U.J. Sonnadara, R. Lelwala, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne, S. Namasivayam, K.R.A. Bandara, C. Gomes, T.R. Ariyaratna, SLAAS, Proc. 55th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (1999).
5. On the accuracy of locating lightning ground flashes using two or more direction finding stations, D.U.J. Sonnadara, I.M.K. Fernando, S. Namasivayam, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne, K.R.A. Bandara, R. Lelwala, A.B. Weerasekera, C. Gomes, T.R. Ariyaratne, SLAAS, Proc. 55th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (1999).
6. Measurements of lightning peak currents in the first return stroke of negative cloud to ground flashes, A.B. Weerasekera, J.P. Liyanage, D.U.J. Sonnadara and I.M.K. Fernando, SLAAS, Proc. 56th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (December 2000).
7. A comparison between some characteristics between positive and negative cloud to ground flashes observed in Sri Lanka and their seasonal variations, J.P. Liyanage, A.B. Weerasekera, D.U.J. Sonnadara and I.M.K. Fernando, SLAAS, Proc. 56th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (December 2000).
8. Lightning ground flash activities in monsoon thunderstorms over Sri Lanka, A.B. Weerasekera, J.P. Liyanage, I.M.K. Fernando, D.U.J. Sonnadara and T.R. Ariyaratne, Proc. Annual Sessions - 2000, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, (December 2000).
9. Simulation study of the effect of random and systematic errors in magnetic direction finding stations, J.P. Liyanage, A.B. Weerasekera, D.U.J. Sonnadara and I.M.K. Fernando, Proc. Annual Sessions - 2000, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, (December 2000).
10. Performance comparison between the magnetic direction finding technique and time-of-arrival technique, D.U.J. Sonnadara, C.M. Edirisinghe and I.M.K. Fernando, IPSL, Proc. 17th Technical Session, Sri Lanka (March 2001).
11. Construction of a high speed buffer amplifier to measure lightning generated vertical electric fields, C.M. Edirisinghe, I.M.K. Fernando and D.U.J. Sonnadara, IPSL, Proc. 17th Technical Session, Sri Lanka (March 2001).
12. A simulation study on the correction of the systematic errors in a network of magnetic direction finding network, J.P. Liyanage, D.U.J. Sonnadara and I.M.K. Fernando, SLAAS, Proc. 57th Annual Session, Sri Lanka (2001).
13. Effects of distance on the measurement of multiplicity and peak currents of lightning direction finding systems, J.P. Liyanage, C.M. Edirisinghe, D.U.J. Sonnadara and I.M.K. Fernando, SLAAS, Proc. 58th Annual Session, Sri Lanka, (2002).
14. Development of microcontroller based high capacity standalone data acquisition systems, BWSP Fernando, PCCPW Goonetilleke, IMK Fernando and DUJ Sonnadara, SLAAS, Proc. 58th Annual Session, Sri Lanka, E1-543 (2002) 242
15. Microcontroller embedded web server with flash support, PCCPW Goonetilleke, WSP Fernando, IMK Fernando and D U J Sonnadara, SLAAS, Proc. 58th Annual Session, Sri Lanka, E1-511 (2002) 216
16. Lightning types identification using neural network, S Edirisinghe, IMK Fernando, Annual Sessions - 2004, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, (June 2004)
17. Development of a USB port based data acquisition system for unmanned weather station, HAPK Hettiarchchi and IMK Fernando, 20th Technical Session, Institute of Physics, March 2004.
18. Use of AMR sensors for Lightning magnetic field measurement; M Fernando, SR Sharma, P Hettiarachchi, and N Jayawantha; 21st Technical Session, Institute of Physics Sri Lanka, March 2005.

International Conference Reports

1. The peak, risetime and half-width of lightning generated electric field derivatives over finitely conducting ground, M. Fernando and V Cooray, (1997), , 10th International Conference on Electromagnetic Compatibility
2. The fine structure of positive return stroke radiation fields – a collaborative study between researches from Sweden and Denmark, V. Cooray, M. Fernando, C. Gomes, T. Sorensen, V. Scuka, and A Pedersen, (1998), , 24th International Conference on Lightning Protection, UK
3. Analysis of Swedish Lightning using LLP data, M. Fernando, A. Galvan, T. Gotschl, V. Cooray, and V. Scuka, (1998), , 24th International Conference on Lightning Protection, UK
4. Submicrosecond structure of electric field pulses generated by cloud flashes, M. Fernando and V. Cooray, (1998), , 24th International Conference on Lightning Protection, UK
5. Chaotic pulse trains that mainly associated with negative subsequent strokes, C. Gomes, V. Cooray, M. Fernando, and C. Jayaratne, (1998), , 24th International Conference on Lightning Protection, UK
6. Transients Response of DC Converter station subjected to LIOV, R Montaño, M Edirisinghe, M Fernando and V Cooray, Proceedings of the VIII International Symposium on Lightning Protection- SIPDA, Brasil (2005)
7. Lightning radiation field spectra of cloud flashes, U. Sonnadara, V. Cooray and M. Fernando, 27th International Conference on Lightning Protection France, 2004
8. Frequency Spectrum of the Electromagnetic Fields of Positive Return Strokes, S.R. Sharma, M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 27th International Conference on Lightning Protection France, 2004
9. Positive Bipolar Type Radiation Field from Lightning in Sri Lanka, Sharma S.R., M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan
10. Signatures of The Lightning HF Radiations at 10 MHz, 5 MHz and 3 MHz Associated with Leader and Return Stroke Process, Mahesh Edirisinghe, J.S. Mäkelä, Raul Montaño, M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan
11. Characteristics of Cloud Flashes Inferred From Measurements of Electric Fields Over Sri Lanka A Tropical Country, JAP Bodhika, M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan
12. Lightning HF Radiation at 10 MHz During Dart Leader and Subsequent Return Stroke Processes, Jakke Mäkelä1, M. Edirisinghe, M. Fernando, R. Montaño and V. Coorar, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan
13. The Lightning HF Radiation at 10 MHz, 5 MHz and 3 MHz Associated with Cloud Flashes, Velauthampillai Jeyanthiran, Mahesh Edrisinghe, M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan
14. Performance of Low Voltage Varistors Under Repetitive Current Impulse Environment, Mahesh Edirisinghe, Velauthampillai Jeyanthiran, M. Fernando, Vernon Cooray, 28th International Conference on Lightning Protection 2006, Kanazawa, Japan

Refereed Journal Papers

1. Propagation of lightning generated transient electromagnetic fields over finitely conducting ground, V. Cooray, M. Fernando, T. Sorensen,T. Gotschl, and A Pedersen, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Vol. 62, (2000). 583-600
2. Study of the performance of direction finding stations prior to the implementation of a Lightning Location System in Sri Lanka, I.M.K. Fernando, D.U.J. Sonnadara, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne, T.R. Ariyaratne, S. Namasivayam & K.R.A Bandara, Ceylon Journal of Science, 4 (1998) 77.
3. Locating Cloud-to-Ground lighting flashes with simultaneous two station measurements, D.U.J. Sonnadara, A.B. Weerasekera, I.M.K. Fernando, R. Lelwala, K.P.S.C. Jayaratne, T.R. Ariyaratne, S. Namasivayam & K.R.A Bandara, Sri Lankan J. of Phys., 1 (2000) 11-22
4. Activity of Cloud-to-Ground lightning observed in Sri Lanka and in surrounding area of the Indian Ocean, A.B. Weerasekera, D.U.J. Sonnadara, I.M.K. Fernando, J.P. Liyanage, R. Lelwala and T.R. Ariyaratne, Sri Lankan J. of Physics, Vol 2 (2001) 21-30
5. Measurements of lightning peak currents in the first return stroke of negative cloud to ground flashes, A.B. Weerasekera, D.U.J. Sonnadara, I.M.K. Fernando, J.P. Liyanage, R. Lelwala and T.R. Ariyaratne, Singapore J. of Physics, Vol.17, No. 1 (2001), 37-45.
6. The fine structure of Positive lightning return stroke radiation fields, V Cooray, M. Fernando, C Gomes, T Sorensson, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 46, No.1 February 2004
7. The lightning radiation field spectra of cloud flashes in the interval 20kHz to 20MHz, U. Sonnadara, V. Cooray, and M. Fernando, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, accepted (2005)
8. Signatures of electric field pulses generated by cloud flashes, S.R. Sharma, M. Fernando and C. Gomes, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, vol. 67(4), pp. 413-422, March 2005
9. Characteristics of chaotic pulse trains generated by lightning flashes
   Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Volume 66, Issue 18, December 2004, Pages 1733-1743,Chandima Gomes, Vernon Cooray, Mahendra Fernando, Raul Montano and Upul Sonnadara
10. Propagation effects on the electric field time derivatives generated by return strokes in lightning flashes, Mahendra Fernando and Vernon Cooray, Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, in print (2007)

PhD Thesis published under my supervision

1. Correlation between the Optical and Current Signatures of Electrical Discharges with Special Attention to Remote Sensing of Lightning Flashes, JP Liyanage, PhD Thesis 2006
2. Electromagnetic Fields Radiated by Lightning in Tropical and Temperate Regions, Shriram Sharma, PhD Thesis 2007
3. Behavior of Low Voltage Surge Protective Devices in Fast Transient and Repetitive Current Impulse Environment, CM Edirisinghe, PhD Thesis 2007