Dr Nishanthi Rupika Abeynayake

Research Projects

Project 1:Mapping high potential areas for cashew cultivation in Sri Lanka Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) –CARP Grant (2011)

Project 2:   Geographical distribution and investigation of possible causative factors and relationship of Chronic Renal failure patient in North Western Province of Sri Lanka. – Provincial Director of Health Services, North Western (2011)

Project 4:   Problems associated with the adoption of recommended agricultural practices in   vegetable cultivation in Nuwara-Eliya district - Wayamba University Competitive Research Grants (2009-2010)

Project 5:Spatial distribution of crop area and evaluation of cropping pattern through multi-temporal remote sensing data - Wayamba University Competitive Research Grants (2009-2010)

Project 6:   Development of a weather-based index for Rice crop Insurance and farmers’ perception and awareness towards crop insurance as a tool for Risk Management –Wayamba University Research Grant (2014)

Project 7:Mapping high potential areas for cashew cultivation in Sri Lanka Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) –Wayamba University Research Grant (2016)

Project 8:Evaluation of Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Sector in Northwestern Province (NWP) using Multidimensional Alkire Foster Method –Wayamba University Research Grant (2018)

Worked as a consultant

World Vision

• Eastern Area Development Program
• Rural Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project (RIWASH 2)

MG Consultants

• Community Development & Livelihood Improvement Project - Phase II

Save the Children

• Empowerment of Vulnerable Women in Sri Lanka

Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission

• VET plan for North Western Province

Food and Agriculture Organization FAO (2003)

• Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in Sri Lanka

Provincial Director of Health Services, North Western

• Prevalence and Determinants of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Polpithigama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Division

Kindernothifle – Sri Lanka (German based NGO)  

• Assessment of Food Security and of Supply Chain Management Systems in Communities of Operational Villages of Partner Organizations of Kindernothilfe – Sri Lanka

Some of the postgraduate students supervision 

• Ms. Samanthi Korala (Ph.D - Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Statistical Modeling in Financial Market

• Dr. Yatigam Pitiyage Janith Nianthaka Warnasekarasarima(Ph.D - Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Assessing the Underestimation of Leptospirosis Disease Burden in Sri Lanka

• Ms. Sandya Ariyawansa (Ph.D - Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title : Weather based forecasting of Sugar cane production in Sri Lanka.

• Mr. M. A. Chaminda Sri Sampath Fernando (M.Phill – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Construction of a Composites Index for Urbanization

• Mr. S.M.C.P.Sriwardana (M.Phill – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Construction of a Composites Vegetable index by using Modified Factor Analysis

• Ms. N.K.K.Brintha (M.Phill – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Forecasting annual national production of perennial Crops: Case of coconut production in Sri Lanka

• Dr. Yatigam Pitiyage Janith Nianthaka Warnasekarasarima(M.Sc - Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya). Title: SARIMA and ARDL models for predicting leptospirosis in Anuradhapura district Sri Lanka.

• Ms. Oshinee Mendis (M.Sc.– University of Moratuwa. Title: Enhancement quality level of processes in an apparel manufacturing company via Value Stream Mapping

• Ms. Ms. D. W. L. U. De Silva. (M.Sc – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Application of time series and panel data techniques for modeling fish trades of Sri Lanka

• Dr Thamarasi Senaratne. (M.Sc – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Climate based time series model for the prediction of dengue incidence in Sri Lanka

• Ms. E.V.D. DILHANI. (M.Sc – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Short and Long Run Relationship Between International Tourism and Economic Growth of Sri Lanka Using Multivariate Time Series Models

• Dr. Ipitagama Liyana Arachchige Nuwan Darshana (M.Sc – Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya) Title: Ordered Logistic Approach to determine the Selected Maternal and Foetal Outcomes using Maternal anthropometry at Tertiary Care Maternity Hospital in Galle District

Publications in Refereed Journals

1. Samantha Kumara Senavirathna, Nishanthi Rupika Abeynayake, (2023) Analysis of Blood Collection of National Blood Transfusion Service, Sri Lanka: A Time Series Analysis, Global Journal of Transfusion Medicine, Volume 8, Issue 1, Pg. 40-45. 

2. Janith Warnasekara, Suneth Agampodi, Abeynayake N.R (2022) SARIMA and ARDL models for predicting leptospirosis in Anuradhapura district Sri Lanka, PLOS ONE 17(10)

3. Dissanayke, D. M. P. N. K., De Silva, S. N. T., Pathmarajah, S., Fernando, C. A. N., Abeynayake, N. R., Kodagoda, K. A. D. A., and Dassanayake, D. M. M. N. K., (2022) Occurrence of heavy metals in surface water bodies in rice cultivation areas in Trincomalee district, Sri Lanka, Paddy and Water Environment, 21, Pg.1–14. 

4. Warnasekara J, Agampodi S, Abeynayake N. R (2021) Time series models for prediction of  Leptospirosis in different climate zones in Sri Lanka, PLOS ONE 16(5)

4. A.G.K. Wijesinghe, U.M.R.M.I. Senadeera and N.R. Abeynayake, (2021) Exploring Consumer Intention and Perceptions towards Purchasing Local Milk Powder, Journal of Food and Agriculture 2021, 14(I): 18 - 35,  

4. Anoma Chandrasekara, Apeksha Herath, Rupika Abeynayake, Adriano Costa de Camargo and Fereidoon Shahidi (2021) Synergies of herbal teas on improved plasma antioxidant capacity and postprandial hypoglycemic response in healthy adults, Journal of Food Bioactives, International Society for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, 2021;13:82–92, DOI: 0.31665/JFB.2021.13262

4. Fernando, A.N.M., Wijesinghe, A.G.K. and Abeynayake, N.R (2021) Factors Influencing Organizational Commitment of Employees in the Plantation Sector in Sri Lanka, Applied Economics and Business, 5(1) 25-36

8. Ariyawansha, B.D.S.K., Abeynayake, N. R. and Sivananthawer T Unobserved Components Model for Forecasting Sugarcane Production in Sri Lanka, Tropical Agricultural Research (2020) 31(2): PP 65-74

9. Abeynayake, N.R., Seema Jaggi and Cini Varghese. (2011) Neighbour Balance Bipartite Block Designs. Communications in Statistics - Theory and Methods, Vol. 40, Pg. 4041-4052.               

10. Abeynayake, N.R., Seema Jaggi and Cini Varghese. (2011). Robustness of Neighbour Balanced Block Designs Against Missing Observation(s). Model Assisted Statistics and Application (MASA), Vol. 6(3), Pg. 80-89. DOI 10.3233/MAS-2011-0176

11. A. G. K. Wijesinghe, N. R. Abeynayake, R. L. C. Priyadarshani, Factors Influencing Milk Powder Brand Preference: A Case from Kegalle District of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Journal of Marketing. (2020) 06 (2), PP 1-24

12. Ariyawansha, B.D.S.K., Abeynayake, N. R. and Sivananthawer T Unobserved Components Model for Forecasting Sugarcane Production in Sri Lanka, Tropical Agricultural Research (2020) 31(2): PP 65-7413. 
13. D.W.L.U De Silva., N.R. Abeynayake, L.F.D.Z Gunathilaka and K.P.G.A Sadaruwan. Determinant of Seafood in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics, (2019) 20(1), PP 43-59
14. Wijegunawardhana, A.V., Abeynayake, N.R. and Kadupitiya, H.K. (2019). Mapping High-Potential Areas Using Maximum Entropy Modeling Approach and Constraints Analysis of Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Cultivation in Sri Lanka. Applied Economics & Business, 2019 3(2) 35 - 46. 
15. Siriwardhana, S.M.C.P., Thattil, R.O. and Abeynayake N.R. (2019). Construction of a Composite Vegetable Price Index Using Modified Factor Analysis. Applied Economics & Business, 2019 3(2) 58 - 75.
16. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R., Gunaratne, L.H.P, (2016). Circular Methods on Forecasting Risk & Return of Share Market Investments. International Journal of Research and Review, Vol. 3(4), Pg.51-56. 

17. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R., Gunaratne, L.H.P, (2016). Circular Model on Forecasting Returns of Sri Lankan Share Market. International Journal of Novel Research in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, Vol. 3(1), Pg.49-56. 

18. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R., Gunaratne, L.H.P, (2016). Comparison of ARIMA & Circular Model in Forecasting Sri Lankan Share Market Returns. International Journal of Novel Research in Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 3(2), Pg. 3-8.

19. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R., Gunaratne, L.H.P, (2016). Spectral Analysis on Forecasting Sri Lankan Share Market Returns. International Journal of Management & Applied Science. Vol. 2(1), Pg. 25-28.  

20. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R. and Gunaratne, L.H.P. (2015). Comparison of Time Domain and Frequency Domain Analysis in Forecasting Sri Lankan Share Market Returns. International Journal of Management and Applied Science. Vol.1; Issue: 9, Pg. 16-

21. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R. and Gunaratne, L.H.P. (2015). Forecasting Share Prices of Banks of Colombo Stock Exchange. International Journal of Research and Review. Vol.2(6), Pg 372 -378. 

22. Abeynayake, N. R. and Weerapura, W. H. E. B. P. Trend and Forecasting of Sri Lankan Tea Production. (2015). International Journal of Research and Review. Vol.2; Issue: 4, Pg 134 -140.

23. Abeynayake, N.R., Welagedara, W.A.C.M., De Silva, S.N.T., Fernando, L.N.P. and Rathnayake, A. (2015). Economic Burden Due to Morbidity among Farmers and Non-Farmers with Type 2 Diabetes in Dambadeniya Area, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Pg. 51-57.

24. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R. and Gunaratne, L.H.P. (2015). ARIMA Models on Forecasting Sri Lankan Share Market Returns. International Journal of Novel Research in Physics Chemistry & Mathematics, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Pg. 6-12.

25. Konarasinghe, W.G.S. & Abeynayake, N.R. (2015). Fourier Transformation on Model Fitting for Sri Lankan Share Market Returns. Global Journal for Research Analysis,Vol. 4(1), Pg. 159-161. 

26. Abeynayake, N.R., Marasinghe, M.P.Y.D. and Anjalee G.H.I. (2015). Do Consumers Care About Corporate Social Responsibility? An Empirical Investigation in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Novel Research in Marketing Management and Economics, Vol. 2(1), Pg. 49-54.

27. Konarasinghe, W.G.S., Abeynayake, N.R. and Gunaratne, L.H.P. (2015). Covariance Structure of Share Market Returns. International Journal of Novel Research in Interdisciplinary Studies,Vol. 2(1), Pg. 13-22. 

28. Brintha, N.K.K, Samita, S. and Abeynayake, N.R., Idirisinghe, I.M.S.K. and Kumarathunga A.M.D.P. (2014). Use of Unobserved Components Model (UCM) for forecasting of non-stationary time series data: Case of national coconut production in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, Vol. 25(4), Pg. 423-431.
29. Warakaulle, S.T.S.K., Weerathilake, W.A.D.V. and Abeynayake, N.R. (2014). Production and Evaluation of Set type Yogurt Incorporated with Water melon (Citrallus lanatus). International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Vol. 4(10), Pg. 1-4. 
30. Brintha, N.K.K, Samita, S. and Abeynayake, N.R. (2013). Smoothing Techniques for Short term Forecasting of Coconut Production in Sri Lanka.  Mathematical Sciences, International Research Journal, Vol. 2(2), Pg. 584-587.
31. Bandara, B.M.D.P., Abeynayake, N.R., Bandara, L., and Anjalee G.G.I. (2013). Assessing Farmers’ Perception and Willingness to Pay for Pesticides Concerning Quality and Efficacy. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 8(3), Pg. 153-160. 

32. Kadupitiya, H.K., Wickramasinghe, W.M.A.D.B. and Abeynayake, N.R. (2013) Evaluation of Land Utilization Pattern Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Satellite Data. Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. Vol. 15, Pg. 159-168.

33. Fernando M. A. C. S. S., Samita S. and Abeynayake N. R., (2012). Modified Factor Analysis to Construct Composite Indices: Illustration on Urbanization Index. Tropical Agricultural Research, Vol. 23(4), Pg. 327-337.

34. Abeynayake N.R, Seema Jaggi and Cini Varghese (2012).  Neighbour Balanced Block Designs for Test Treatments-Control Comparisons. International Journal of Mathematics and Statistics. Vol. 12(2), Pg. 81-96.

35. Jayathilaka, D.P.D.M. and Abeynayake, N.R. (2012) Farmers’ Perception, Awareness and Influential factors towards Crop Insurance as a Tool for Risk Management. Journal of Insurance. Vol.2, Pg. 1-13.

36. Samaraweera S.A.N.C. and Abeynayake N.R. (2012) “Moving out of Chronic Poverty; Community level Study of Poverty over the time. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 7(2), Pg. 97-107. 

37. Abeynayake, N.R. and Adhikari A.M.K.W. (2011). Regional Socio-economic Disparity in relation to Science and Technology Development in Sri Lanka: Index Based Approach Using Principal Component Analysis. Journal of Food & Agriculture. Vol. 4(2), Pg. 40-49.

38. Kadupitiya H.K., Abeynayake N.R., Ketipearachchi K.W, Vipulasena S.M.P.M., and Darmakeerthi P.G.S.W. (2011) Potentials and Constrains for Wood-Apple (Limoniaacidissima L.) Cultivation in Sri Lanka. Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. Vol. 13, Pg. 71-80.

39. Seema Jaggi, Cini Varghese and Abeynayake, N.R., (2010). Neighbour Balanced Block Designs for Two Factors. Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods, Vol. 9(2), Pg. 452-460. 

40. Nakulini, P. Abeynayake, N. R. andShyamalie, H.W. (2010). Use of Multilayer Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) for Predicting the Production of Tea. Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics, Vol. 11, Pg. 27-37.

41. Abeynayake N. R. & Seema Jaggi. (2009). A review of Block Designs with Neighbour Effect. Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics, Vol. 10, Pg. 85-103.

42. Muthukuda Arachchi, M.A.C., Abeynayake N.R. and Singh S.K. (2009). Efficiency of Oryzalin as a Potent Chemical for Introduction of In Vitro Polyploidy in Asiatic Hybrid Lily (var. Polllyanna). Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. Vol. 11, Pg. 83-93.

43. Abeynayake N. R. & Seema Jaggi., A review of Neighbour Balanced Block Designs with Test treatment – Control Comparison. (2009). Journal of Food & Agriculture, Vol. 2(1), Pg. 22-29.

44. Peiris T.D.G.J. Abeynayake N.R and Perera M.S., (2009). Factors Affecting the Technology Adoption level of Sugarcane Cultivation in Rainfed Sector in Sevenagala. Journal of Food & Agriculture. Vol. 2(2), Pg. 22-27. 

45. Thattil R.O., Abeynayake N. R., & Wijegunasekara N.H.P. (1996) Multivariate Techniques as an Aid in the Classification of Honey Bees into Geographical Groups. Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 33, Pg. 190-203.

46. Wasala, S.K., Ubeysekara, N.M., Gunasekara, P.S., Wikcramasooriya, N.K., Senavirathne, S.I., Karunarathne, S.P., Senavirathne, C.M., Silva, L.C., Senanayake, D.M.J.B., Illangakoon, T.K., Somarathna, N.P. and Abeynayake, N.R. Screening of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Germplasm for Drought Resistance at Reproductive Stage under Induced Drought Stress Conditions. Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture (Submitted).