Member Profile

Membership type: full
Arachchige Jayaruwani Fernando
Country of origin: Sri Lanka Currently in: Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura General field of specialization: Agricultural Sciences-
Degrees
2017 Master Engineering sciences2022 Doctorate Engineering sciences2011 Undergraduate Agricultural Sciences -
Current Research Activities
Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Engineering: Drying technology, Design and development of food processing machines, Farm Mechanization, LED Applications for Postharvest Storage, HVAC Systems for Controlled Environment Agriculture LEAN management
Publications resulting from Research:
Fernando, A.J. and Rosentrater, K.A.(2023).Optimal designs of air source heat pump dryers in Agro food processing industry. Food Engineering Reviews, 15(2), 261-275.
Fernando, A. J. and Amaratunga, K. S. P. (2022). Application of far-infrared radiation for sun-dried chili pepper (Capsicum annum l.): drying characteristics and color during roasting. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102(9):3781–3787.
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Dharmasena, D. A. N., Abeyrathna, R. M. R. D., Gajasinghe, I. L., Weerakoon, H. S. T., Ekanayake, E. M. A. C., and Bandara, D. M. S. P. (2022). Pulse-width-modulation control of a heat pump dryer with cascade evaporators and parallel-flow condensers. Tropical Agricultural Research, 33(1):9–17
Kavindi, M. A. R., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Ekanayake, E. M. C., Fernando, A. J., and 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
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Madushanka, H. T. N., and Jayaweera, H. R. Y. S. (2021b). Drying performance of coffee in a batch-type heat pump dryer. Transactions of the ASABE, 64(4):1237–1245
Fernando, A. J., Gunathunga, C., Brumm, T., and Amaratunga, S. (2021d). Drying turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) using far-infrared radiation: Drying characteristics and process optimization. Journal of Food Process Engineering, 44(9)
Fernando, A. J. (2024). Transitions of Food Drying Processes toward Industry 5.0. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research,11 (8), 150-157.
Fernando, A. J. and Amaratunga, K. S. P. (2023). Psychrometric analysis of an open-loop batch-type heat pump drying process. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Allied Science, 6(1):61–68.
Galappaththi, G. M. A. S., Weerasooriya, G. V. T. V., Fernando, A. J., and Senanayaka, D. P. (2021). Development of solar assisted multi-crop dryer. Sri Lankan Journal of Agriculture and Ecosystems, 3(1):17–29
Chopra, S. and Fernando, A. J. (2020). Modeling employees behavior intention with the adoption of a suggestion system for lean initiatives. Journal of Technology, Management & Applied Engineering, 36(2)
Ekanayake, E. M. A. C., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Kariyawasam, H. K. P. P., Fernando, A. J., and Abeyrathne, R. M. R. D. (2019). Design and development of a closed cycle heat pump drying system for industrial drying of rice and chili. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 6(12):1–7
Sewwandi, U. G. C., Ekanayake, E. M. A. C., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Fernando, A. J., and Abeyrathne, R. M. R. D. (2019). Drying characteristics of katuwelbatu (Solonum virginianum L.) during heat–pump drying. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 10(10):1670–1672
Sandaruwan, E., Weerasooriya, G., and Fernando, A. J. (2019a). Design and development of a two-wheel tractor coupled bund plastering and canal (kiwul-ela) making equipment. Sri Lankan Journal of Agriculture & Ecosystems, 1(1):102–116
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Priyadarshana, L. B. M. D. L., Galahitiyawa, D. D, K., and Karunasinghe, K. G. W. U. (2015). Roasting chilli (Capsicum annum L.) using far-infrared radiation. Tropical Agricultural Research, 25(2):180– 187
Dissanayake, T. M. R., Amarathunga, K. S. P., Thilakaratne, B. M. K. S., Bandara, D. M. S. P., and Fernando, A. J. (2015). Gelatinization of rough rice using farinfrared (FIR) radiation. Tropical Agricultural Research, 26(4):707–713
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., and Fernando, A.J. (2015). Use of evaporative water cooling EWC in grinding chili. Engineer: Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, 48(3)
Bandara, D. M. S. P., Amarathunga, K. S. P., Thilakaratne, B. M. K. S., Dissanayake, T. M. R., Dharmasena, D. A. N., and Fernando, A. J. (2014). Feasibility study for evaporative cooling of grinding chili (Capsicum annum L.). Tropical Agricultural Research, 26(1):189 – 194
Fernando, A. J., Adhikarinayake, T. B., and Weerasooriya, G. V. T. V. (2013). Design and development of a two wheel tractor driven coconut fertilizer applicator. COCOS, Journal of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka, 20(1):27–37
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Gajasinghe, I. L., Weerakoon, H. S. T., Amarasinghe, A. A. P. S., and Wickramahewa, W. H. T. D. (2023). Development and thermal analysis of a multi-stage vapor compression heat pump dryer. In Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Postharvest Technology, National Institute of Postharvest Management Research and Development Center Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Loordhumary, A., Fernando, A.J. and Geekiyanage, N. (November 21-22, 2024) Application of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) on Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk). In Proceedings of the International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies 2024, Faculty of Technology University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka.
Rathnayake, R. M. S. and Fernando, A. J. (2022). Feasibility of applying infrared radiation for drying cassava (Manihot esculent). In Proceedings of the 14th Annual Research Symposium. Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Rathnayaka R. K. A. B. L., Amaratunga K. S. P., Fernando A. J. and Dissanayake T. M. R (2022). Design and development of far-infrared specialty coffee roaster. In Proceedings of the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Peradeniya.
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Weerakoon, S., Gajasinghe, I., and DeSilva, R. (2021). Algorithm for calculating design parameters of batch type heat pump dryer. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR), Canada.
Gajasinghe, I. L., Fernando, A. J., and Amaratunga, K. S. P. (2021). Maximizing the water condensate in the evaporator of heat pump dryer. In Proceedings of the 13th Annual Research Symposium. Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., Madhushanka, H. T. N., and Jayaweera, H. R. Y. S. (2020). Drying performance of coffee in a batch-type heat pump dryer. ASABE Annual International Meeting, USA.
Jayaweera, H. R. Y. S., Fernando, A. J., and Amaratunga, K. S. P. (2020). Feedback control system with pulse width modulation to control wavelength of infrared radiation. In Proceedings of the 12th Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
Fernando, A. J. and Chopra, S. (2016). Process improvement software plat- form for lean management in the health care sector. The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering, ATMAE Annual Conference.
Fernando, A. J., Amaratunga, K. S. P., and Priyadarshana, L. B. M. D. L. (2014). Far-infrared drying of stored coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) up to grinding moisture content. In Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Postharvest Technology, Institute of Postharvest Technology, Jayanthi Mawatha, Anuradhapura.
Current profession
Current professional activities type:ResearchTeachingHigher Education StudyTeaching courses: Food Process Engineering, Engineering Physics, Machine design, Thermodynamics
Affiliations
ASABE -
Other Awards
Jan 2023RUSL Vice Chancellor’s Award 2022 for the Most Outstanding Young Researcher at the Faculty of AgricultureThis award was granted based on academic excellence, requiring a minimum of three original research articles published in indexed journals within the preceding three years. Additionally, recipients were required to achieve a minimum score of 20 points according to the university’s official marking schemeMar 2025Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (RUSL) Vice Chancellor’s Awards 2024 for the Researcher with the Highest Number of Citations in the Faculty of AgricultureThis award was granted based on the highest number of citations calculated over 2021-2023 among all faculty members in the Faculty of Agriculture. I secured First Place in this categoryMar 2025RUSL Vice Chancellor’s Awards 2024 for the Researcher having the Highest h-index at the Faculty of AgricultureThis award was granted based on the highest number of citations calculated over 2021-2023 among all faculty members in the Faculty of Agriculture. I secured First Place in this categoryJan 2024RUSL Vice Chancellor’s Awards 2023 for the Researcher having the Highest Number of Indexed Journal Articles at the Faculty of AgricultureThis award was granted based on the highest number of Web of Science indexed journal articles published over 2020–2022 among all faculty members in the Faculty of Agriculture. I secured First Place in this categoryJan 2024RUSL Excellence Award 2022 for Top Ten Researchers with the Highest Number of Indexed Journal ArticlesThis award was granted based on the highest number of Web of Science-indexed journal articles published from 2020–2022 among all faculty members in the RUSL. I secured Fifth Place in this categoryDec 2023RUSL Vice Chancellor’s Award 2022 for the Top Three Researchers with the Highest Number of Indexed Journal Articles at the Faculty of AgricultureThis award was granted based on the highest number of Web of Science indexed journal articles published over 2019–2021 among all faculty members in the Faculty of Agriculture. I secured First Place in this categoryNov 2022Award of Excellence for Research, Scholarly, and Creative work at the Faculty of Agriculture, RUSL, for the year 2021Certificate and Award of Excellence for achieving First place in Research, Scholarly, and Creative work at the Faculty of Agriculture, RUSL, for the year 2021Sep 2022Top twenty researcher award at RUSL for the year 2021This award was granted to the top 20 faculty members with the highest number of research publications in 2020 at RUSLDec 2017Gamma Sigma Delta Membership – The Honor Society of AgricultureThis membership was awarded for academic excellence and contributions to agriculture, recognizing outstanding Scholarship, leadership, and service in the fieldDec 2017Alpha Epsilon Membership - The Honor Society of Agricultural Engineering and Biological Systems EngineeringThis membership was awarded for academic excellence and contributions to Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering, recognizing outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service in the field