Mr. Leelananda Rajapaksha

• Biography

Prof. Rajapaksha (Prof. Raja) is a full time academic attached to the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, who holds a PhD in refrigeration and heat pumps (UCL, University of London, UK) and Maters’ degree in Energy technology (AIT, Thailand). He is a Chartered Mechanical engineer and a member of ASHRAE. In addition, he is a member of the Institution of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR – USA) and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK (FIMechE).  In the undergraduate curriculum he teaches Applied thermodynamics and associated subjects (including Refrigeration, Air conditioning designs etc) and conducts research/applied research in a range of interests covering sustainable refrigeration practices, natural refrigerants and life cycle assessments (LCA) associated with food & cold chain. He serves as a reviewer for a number of international research journals on subjects of energy, energy policy, refrigeration & air conditioning  etc.  In the University administration aspect, during last 10 years, he served 02 years as head of Mechanical Engineering Dept, and 06 years and Dean of the Engineering Faculty.

Prof Rajapaksha is actively involved with the industry where he provides professional technical expertise for the cold chain associated with the food chain (especially dairy industry and cereals industry), promoting both sustainable practices and natural refrigerants. He provides technical expertise in the planning, design and installation of industrial ammonia refrigeration plants and modern storage systems with controlled indoor environments, for major food processing facilities. Further, he is very much involved promoting safety culture in refrigeration industry, where he conducts safety audit of large ammonia refrigeration installations (based on IIAR guidelines etc.). He has written two books in local language (sinhala) in refrigeration practices, one focusing on ammonia and safety, which serve as a good source of information for local technical personnel.

Prof Rajapaksha is an academic cum professional consultant in industrial refrigeration and food industry with over 20 years’ experience, who is working hard to promote natural refrigerants to create a more environmentally friendly, a more sustainable global food chain.