Research Publications
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Publication Open Access Adaptive Path Planning for Mobile Robots Using a Hybrid PRM–GA Optimization Approach(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2026-04-10) Jathunga, T; Rajapaksha, S; Jayasinghe, S; Abeygunawardena, NThis study addresses the challenge of path planning in mobile robots, that requires efficient navigation in complex environments. Traditional approaches often struggle to meet the increasing demands of modern multi-robot systems operating in dynamic environments. To address these limitations, this study proposes an improved path planning technique by combining the probabilistic roadmap (PRM) with the genetic algorithm (GA), forming a hybrid PRM–GA approach designed to optimize the routes of mobile robots. Experiments were carried out for scenarios involving 2, 3, and 9 robots to analyze the performance of the proposed method under increasing complexity. The proposed PRM–GA method was compared with widely used path planning algorithms including (Formula presented.), Rapidly exploring random tree (RRT), and conventional PRM. Performance of each method was evaluated focusing on path efficiency and energy consumption. The enhanced fitness function within the GA evaluates robot paths based not only on distance but also on smoothness and turn count, promoting routes with fewer directional changes. The proposed PRM–GA method reduces robot energy consumption while improving navigation efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate that the PRM–GA hybrid method outperforms (Formula presented.), RRT, and PRM by encouraging smoother paths with fewer turns, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of multi-robot systems. The effectiveness of the proposed approach highlights its potential for practical applications in sectors where efficient mobile robot navigation is essential.genetic algorithmPublication Open Access Copper-Based Nanoparticles as Precision Nanoantibiotics against Bacterial Blight in Anthurium andraeanum Lind.: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Efficacy under In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions(American Chemical Society, 2026-05-05) Wanaguru, S; Jayasinghe, S; Seneviratne, K; Kottegoda, N; Peiris, Sriyani E; Peiris, Colin NThe bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas spp., a dilemma for farmers worldwide. The existing conventional methods have failed to effectively combat the disease. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on developing and implementing more affordable techniques to effectively manage bacterial blight effectively. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of copper-based nanoparticles (Cu NPs) synthesized via three different methods toward controlling bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum plants. For that, Cu NPs were engineered via chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis approaches. Cu NPs were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. Quantitative antibacterial assays revealed that the chemical and green-synthesized Cu NPs exhibited the highest potency, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 62.50 μg/mL, whereas the semichemical formulation showed lower activity (MIC = 62.50 μg/mL; MBC = 125 μg/mL). In vitro well-diffusion assays further supported this trend: at 30 ppm, the inhibition zones measured 25 ± 0.81, 15 ± 0.81, and 20.6 ± 0.94 mm for the chemical, semichemical, and green synthesis methods, respectively, compared to 26.3 ± 0.47 mm for the positive control-antibiotic sulfamethoxazole. At in vivo, optimized concentration of 200 ppm, Cu NPs produced via all three methods controlled bacterial blight disease in 90% of treated anthurium plants within 4, 7, and 5 weeks, respectively, without causing phytotoxicity. Disease progression was monitored over 12 weeks by measuring lesion areas, and statistical significance of treatments was determined using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). ©Publication Open Access Status Quo Bias and EV Adoption: A Prospect Theory Perspective from a Developing Country Context(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2026-04-01) Theekshana, D; Gamage, K. A.A; Herath, R; Kavirathna, C.A; Jayasinghe, S; Weerakkody W.A.SElectric vehicles (EVs) are promoted to decarbonise road transport, yet uptake remains slow in many emerging markets. This study examines consumer resistance to EV adoption in Sri Lanka by modelling status quo bias (SQB) using a Prospect Theory lens. An online survey of urban vehicle owners and near-term buyers yielded 157 responses; after screening and removing influential outliers, 151 cases were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The model tests five Prospect Theory-aligned antecedents, namely, loss aversion, reference dependence, risk perception, framing effects, and uncertainty aversion, and evaluates environmental concern as a moderator. Results indicate that loss aversion has a significant positive effect on SQB (β = 0.216, p = 0.005) and uncertainty aversion is the strongest predictor (β = 0.453, p < 0.001), while reference dependence, risk perception, and framing effects show positive but statistically non-significant direct effects. Moderation tests show that environmental concern significantly moderates the effects of reference dependence (β = 0.181, p = 0.039) and framing effects (β = 0.179, p = 0.037) on SQB, but does not significantly moderate the loss aversion, risk perception, or uncertainty aversion paths. Overall, perceived losses and—especially—ambiguity surrounding EV ownership appear to sustain reliance on internal combustion vehicles in this developing-country context, underscoring the need for interventions that reduce uncertainty (credible infrastructure signals, stable policy, serviPublication Embargo Facile synthesis of silver/iron-TiO2 nanoparticles for sterilization of Nodal explants of Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. cvs ‘Gold’ and ‘Victory’ and growth regulator effects on in vitro growth(OICC Press, 2025-02-08) Seneviratne, K.L; Peiris, S. E.; Peiris, C. N; Shashikala, R. P. A; Jayasinghe, S; Kottegoda, NThis study investigates the application of silver/iron-titanate (Ag/Fe-TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) as a sterilizing agent for in vitro cultures of Dracaena sanderiana cultivars ‘Gold’ and ‘Victory’. The motivation behind this research is to find an effective sterilization method that does not harm plant growth. The Ag/Fe-TiO2 NPs, activated by visible light, exhibit catalytic properties that eliminate harmful microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Fusarium spp. The main findings indicate that the combination of Benzyl Amino Purine (BAP) at 1.5 mg/L and Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) at 0.01 mg/L significantly enhances shoot number and length in both cultivars. The use of 200 mg/L Ag/Fe-TiO2 NPs achieved 90% contamination-free cultures in the first cycle, with a slight decrease to 80% in the second cycle and 70% in the third cycle. Importantly, the treatment not only sterilizes but also promotes plant growth, suggesting that Ag/Fe-TiO2 NPs could be a sustainable solution for in vitro plant mass production. © 2025 The Author(s)Publication Open Access Green Synthesis, Characterizati on of Cu Nano Units and Evaluati on of Anti bacterial Properti es towards the Bacterial Blight Control in Anthurium andraeanum Lind under In-vitro and In-vivo Conditions(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Wanaguru, S; Peiris, C.N; Peiris, S.E; Jayasinghe, SMost types of metal nanoparti cles exhibit anti bacterial properti es. Copper nanoparti cles can generate reacti ve oxygen species (ROS) within bacterial cells, initi ati ng a cascade of events that lead to bacterial cell death. In this study, copper nano units (Cu NUs) were synthesized through green synthesis method using anthurium leaf extract toward the control of bacterial blight disease in Anthurium andraeanum cv ‘Rainbow’ plants. Synthesized Cu NUs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diff racti on (XRD) techniques. Anti bacterial properti es of 30, 50 and 100 ppm of Cu NUs against Xanthomonas sp. which cause bacterial blight in anthurium plants were studied under invitro conditi ons using well diff usion test. Moreover, anti bacterial properti es of said NUs were studied at in-vivo levels by spraying Cu NUs at concentrati ons of 50, 100 and 200 ppm on bacterial blight infected anthurium cv ‘Rainbow. According to SEM and TEM analysis, synthesized NUs remained within size of 25.36 ± 12.55 nm length and 16.18 ± 3.75 nm width exhibiti ng a polygonal shape. In well diff usion test, opti mized 30 ppm concentrati on of Cu NUs formed an inhibiti on zone with a diameter of 20.6 ± 0.94 mm. In comparison, the anti bioti c sulfamethoxazole (positi ve control) formed an inhibiti on zone with a diameter of 26.3 ± 0.47 mm. At in-vivo level, 200, 100 and 50 ppm all three concentrati ons were able to control disease in 90% of treated plants within 5, 6 and 7 weeks respecti vely. Overall, this research highlights the potenti al of Cu NUs as an eff ecti ve alternati ve for controlling bacterial blight disease in anthurium cv ‘Rainbow’.Publication Open Access Job seeker value proposition conceptualised from the perspective of the job choice theory(2023-04-27) Jayasinghe, S; Suraweera, T; Samarasinghe, DThe job seeker value proposition (JSVP) can be defined as a set of benefits or values a firm promises its job seekers to deliver once they join it, signifying an indicator of its employer brand as well as focusing on job seeker attraction because it carries some information that helps the decisionmaking process of the prospective employees. In this concern, the job choice theory interprets the actual factors of a job seeker’s decision-making process, and therefore, it could be effectively used in conceptualising the JSVP. However, it is claimed that, in most cases, the job choice theory is not considered the basis for developing the construct of the JSVP. Therefore, taking the job choice theory into consideration, this paper aims to develop a framework for conceptualising the JSVP from a new perspective. Thus, through a systematic literature review, eight factors that explain the conceptual domain of the JSVP are discovered and, on the basis of them, eight propositions are made in developing a measurement scale for the JSVP. This study discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the proposed factor-based structure for the JSVP. Subsequently, the limitations in the present research are discussed, and suggestions are made for future research concerning JSVP constructs.Publication Open Access Influence of Socio-economic and Demographics factors on Households’ Savings in Sri Lanka(University of Sri Jayawardenapura, 2022-04-23) Jayathilaka, R; Palihawadana, T; Amalka, I; Jayasinghe, S; Jayarathne, PThe purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing saving behavior among households in a developing country. Sri Lanka being a developing country, has recorded a relatively lower households’ saving rate when compared with its peer regional counterparts. The study approximates the socio-economic and demographic factors towards the level of saving of households in Sri Lanka using a quantile regression approach based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka. Results were obtained by using the stepwise quantile regression technique. The findings of this study conclude that when Sri Lankan households have a higher per-capita income, they tend to have a higher saving level. Moreover, age and marital status have a significant impact on the level of saving in Sri Lankan households. Additionally, poverty and employment status have a significant impact to the level of saving on Sri Lankan households. This research paper bridges empirical gaps in this area of study. Furthermore, this study has been conducted encompassing the entire country rather than limiting it to a district or segment, hence, is comprehensive. As per the generated results gender, income and education levels have shown a significant positive impact towards the level of saving, whilst marital status and poverty have shown a significant negative impact towards the level of saving. It is considered that when the demographic and socio-economic factors are affecting favorably, the level of saving tends to increase and vice versa. Accordingly, findings of the study can provide insights to policymakers to devise policies and incentives to encourage savings behaviour and level of savings among households in Sri Lanka. This is beneficial as coping strategies specially during crises, where dependency of households on government assisted welfare schemes is likely to be less.