Jagath Rajapaksha

Name : Jagath Rajapaksha

Contact : jagath_r@hotmail.com 

Educational Qualifications :

  •  Ph.D. in Earth Sciences (Fisheries Oceanography), Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The thesis title is ”Satellite based forecast system for Yellowfin tuna fishery in the Indian Ocean”- March 2015
  •  M.Sc. in Physical Oceanography (High Pass), Gothenburg University of Sweden. The thesis title is ”Low frequency tidal response of a chocked lagoon; the Negombo lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka”. A numerical model was developed on water exchange between the ocean and lagoon which alternatively influence by sea-level and river inputs.-May 1997
  • B.Sc. in Physical Science (2nd class upper division) at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Geology, Physics and Chemistry are the subjects offered.-March 1992

Research Awards

  • Presidents Research Bonus 1999 for the publication which have effectively appeared in international refereed periodical, figuring in the Science Citation Index of 1999, AMBIO 27:745–751 (SCI of 99).

Training

  • IOC/WESTPAC training course on climate models UNESCO/IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate Qingdao, China, 3-14 November 2014.
  • Advanced training and research in the marine and Inland water resources monitoring and assessment, United Nation’s University–Fisheries Training programme, Marine Research Institute, Reykjavik, Iceland, 6 months from September 2009–March 2010.
  • Advanced course on ’GIS and Applications’ at Post Graduate Institute of Science, University Of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 1–6 August 2009
    Professional Development Course on Application of GIS and RS for Potential Fishing Zone, Geoinformatics Center, AIT, Bangkok, Thailand, 16–27 February 2009.
  • Training on ”Marine Explorer GIS for fish forecasting” at Environmental Simulation Laboratory (ESL), Kawagoe–city, Saitama–ken, Japan, 9–14 December 2007.
  • The Chlorophyll Pilot Study (Extended ANTARES network), Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK, 18–22 September 2006.
    Short course on Geographical Information System (GIS), Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 5–10 July 2006.
    Professorship training programme on ”Ocean Observation and Data Analysis”, POGO sponsorship, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 5–23 June 2006.
    Damage and loss estimation for risk management, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 31 May to 2 June 2006.
  • Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Ocean color (Chol a) determination from MODIS (MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) for fisheries applications, Asian Center for Research on Remote Sensing (ACRoRS), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand, 6 months from November 2003–April 2004.
  • SAR data Potential and Applications, GIS Application Center (GAC), Asian institute of technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand, 21st July to 1 August 2003
  • Regional (RCA) Training course on ’Oceanographic Sampling of Marine Environmental Materials for the analysis of radioactive contaminants’ Bangi, Malaysia 9-20 April 2001.
  • Regional (RCA) Training course on Application of Tracers to Study Transport processes and sedimentation rates in the marine environment, Bangkok, Thailand 21 February–4 March 2000.
    Remote sensing technology for fisheries applications, NRSA (National Remote Sensing Agency), Hyderabad, India, 17–25 January 2000

Workshops and meetings

  • Identification of Gaps for Effective Use of Geo-spatial Information for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia, Vietnam 27-30 Oct 2016.
    Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2016 (ACDR2016), Phuket, Kingdom of Thailand, 25-26 February 2016.
  • Space Applications for Environment (SAFE) joint workshop with Climate R3 and Mid-year EO-WG in the ISTS29, Nagoya Japan, June 3–7, 2013.
  • Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) working parties on Tropical tuna, Fishing capacity, Ecosystem and bycatch, Victoria, Seychelles, 18–30 October 2010.
    Regional workshop on SAP (Strategic Action Plan) fisheries indicators, Phucket, Thailand, 30–31 May 2012.
    The 4th SAFE (Space Application for Environment) and Climate R3 Joint Workshop, Perth, Australia, 22–25 May 2012.
  • Asia Pacific Remote Sensing Agency Forum (APRSAF), Melbourne, Australia, 22–26 November 2010.
    Space Application for Environment (SAFE) activities of Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) at GeoInformatics center, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, 4–8 October 2010.
    The 2nd Space Application for Environment (SAFE) workshop of activities of Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka 28–29 June 2010.
  • International EOS/NPP Direct Readout Meeting at Patumwan Princes Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, 31st March– 4th April 2008.
  • Workshop on Application of Remote sensing and GIS in Earth Science, Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 24–25 June 2000
  • Workshop on scientific data presentation and publication, Department of Fisheries Biology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, 9–13 December 1996.

Launching a systematic fishery data collection program

Available fishery data had no sufficient information such as fishing date, fishing positions, number of hooks used etc. to match up with oceanographic data, therefore, a systematic fishery data collection program was lunched from 2008–2013. The following strategies have been adopted to make sure the accurate and complete information recording.

• Introduced a Fishing Dairy as fishermen have been used normal diaries to record fisheries information.

• Informed them that the Fishing Diary is not collecting back, insisting it’s their own property to make sure reliable data recoding.

• Given them free navigational charts that are produced through ICEDA funding.

• Conducted series of awareness programs to enhance their knowledge on fishing activities while introducing fishing ground forecasting system.

• Useful information such as Cord of conduct, an English page consisting personal information, emergency contacts and important telephone numbers are included in the Diary. These information is useful when fishermen require support form other nations in international waters or in another country.

• A map was included with geographical locations and way-point list which can be used for emergency landings.

• Full-moon, New-moon and quarter moons were included with a calender and mportant telephone numbers of the ministry and sister agencies including hospitals.

Awareness and communications

  • ”Fishing with the aid of satellites”, THE ISLAND on December 28
    A series of awareness programs were conducted for Multi-day Vessel’s Owners and Skippers on ”New technologies for offshore fishery development of Sri Lanka”. The main objectives of this programs were to 1. Introduce fishing ground forecasting system 2. on-board fish processing and quality control, 3. Fishery charts, marine equipments and navigation, 4. Fishing gear technology, 5. Tuna fishery resources of the Indian Ocean, 6. Safety on-board and radio communication.
  • Two awareness programs were conduced at NARA on March 6 (50 participants) and Chillaw on Nov. 16 (51 participants) with NARA funding
  • Five awareness programs were conduced at Negombo on August 28 (40 participants), Bentota, Galle, Hambantota, and Matara on Oct 1, 2, 7 and 8 (39, 27, 58 and 36 participants) with BOI funding.
    ”New technologies for fishing”, LANKADEEPA on October 21. ”Moving towards more productive fishing”, DAILY NEWS on September 2. ”New technology for offshore fishing”, DAILY NEWS on August 28.
  • ”Satellite technology to provide accurate fishing grounds to fishermen”, LAKBIMA on Sep. 14. ”Fishery forecasting gives shot in the arm for fishermen”, THE NATION on October 5. ”Fishery Information dissemination method with aid of satellites”, LANKADEEPA on February 19. ”Satellite Technology to improve fishing”, SUNDAY OBSERVER on January 27.
  • ”Iceland facilitates satellite data receiving”, LANKADEEPA on February 27.
  • ”Technology that not given to fishermen for fishing”, DINAMINA on August 10.

Memberships

  • Sri Lanka Institute of Environmental Professionals -2007
  • Sri Lanka Association for the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources -2006
  • Geoinformatics society of Sri Lanka - 2004
  • Geological Society of Sri Lanka - 2000