Ominda Nanayakkara PhD, CEng, MICE, FHEA

Associate Professor, Deputy Head of Civil Engineering

Dr Ominda Nanayakkara joined the Department of Civil Engineering at XJTLU as a lecturer in 2011 after obtaining PhD from the University of Tokyo, Japan. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer at Institution of Civil Engineers, UK (CEng, MICE), an Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (AMIESL), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He was the Programme Director of BEng Civil Engineering, Chair of the Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee, and now serving as the Deputy Head of Civil Engineering.

His research interests are the durability of reinforced concrete, material properties of fresh and hardened concrete, cement chemistry, geopolyment concrete and mortar, sustainable construction materials, and non-destructive testing of concrete structures. He has received NSFC, China, International Young Scientists Fund in 2016.

Ominda has contributed to teaching several courses at XJTLU: Introduction to the Built Environment, Design and Practice, Design for Engineers, Introduction to Materials, Engineering Structures, Construction Materials, Capstone Design, Building Services Engineerins, Final Year Project, and Master Dissertation. Prior to joining XJTLU, he has taught Structural Mechanics, Steel Design, Prestressed Concrete Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Geology, and Surveying.


  • CEng, MICE, Chartered Civil Engineer, Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers UK - 2018
  • Certificate in Professional Studies, University of Liverpool, UK - 2017
  • Ph.D. , The University of Tokyo, Japan - 2011
  • MEng , The University of Tokyo, Japan - 2006
  • BSc .Eng , University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka - 2003


  • Deputy Head, Department of Civil Engineering, XJTLU, China - 2020-now
  • Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, XJTLU,China - 2018 to Present
  • Chair, Departmental Learning and Teaching Commitee, XJTLU, China - 2018-2020
  • Programme Director, BEng Civil Engineering, XJTLU, China - 2015-2018
  • Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, XJTLU,China - 2011 to 2018
  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka - 2004 to 2004
  • Temporary Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka - 2003 to 2004
  • Trainee Structural Engineer, Stems Consultants (Pvt) Ltd. Sri Lanka - 2002 to 2002


  • Patch Repairing and Strengthening of Structural Members
  • Geopolymer Alkali Activated Cementitious Materials
  • Use of Recycled Materials in Concrete and Investigation of its Properties
  • Non Destructive Testing (NDT) on Reinforced Concrete
  • Durability Properties of Concrete
  • Electrochemical Techniques to Evaluate Reinforcement Corrosion and Modelling of Corrosion in Concrete


  • Ominda Nanayakkara, Chamila Gunasekara, David W. Law, Jun Xia, Sujeeva Setunge, Alkali-Activated Slag Concrete with Recycled Aggregate: Long-Term Performance, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, ASCE, 2021, 33(7): 04021167
  • Ominda Nanayakkara, Chamila Gunasekara, Malindu Sandanayake, David W. Law, Kate Nguyen, Jun Xia, Sujeeva Setunge, Alkali activated slag concrete incorporating recycled aggregate concrete: Long term performance and sustainability aspect, Construction and Building Materials, 2021, 271, 121512.
  • Nanayakkara, O., Xia, J., Mechanical and physical properties of mortar of partially replaced fine aggregates with sawdust, Academic Journal of Civil Engineering, 37(2), 308-313, 2019.
  • J. Xia, X. Wang, O. Nanayakkara, Y. Li, Properties of High-Performance Cementitious Composites Containing Recycled Rubber Crumb, Construction and Building Materials, Volume 156, 1127-1136, 2017.
  • C. A. Eldho, O. Nanayakkara, J. Xia, S. W. Jones, Macrocell Corrosion Formation in Concrete Patch Repairs - A Laboratory Study, Key Engineering Materials, Vol. 711, 68-75, 2016.
  • Nanayakkara, O., Wang, J., Drying shrinkage and strength of GGBS and sawdust incorporated OPC mortar, Academic Journal of Civil Engineering 35 (2), 324-328, 2017.
  • Nanayakkara, O., Kato, Y., Macro-cell corrosion in reinforcement of concrete under non-homogeneous chloride environment, Advanced Concrete Technology, vol. 7, no. 1, 31-40, 2009


  • Muhammad Naveed Zafar, Jun Xia, Ominda Nanayakkara, Muhammad Azhar Saleem, Properties of concrete material containing recycled coarse aggregates andground granulated blast-furnace slag, 14th International Conference on Recent Advances in Concrete Technology and Sustainability Issues. October 30 –November 2, 2018, Beijing, China.
  • O. Nanayakkara, J. Wang, Drying Shrinkage and Strength of GGBS and Sawdust Incorporated OPC Mortar In: 2nd International Conference on Bio-Based Building Materials, 2017, pp.324-328
  • C. A. Eldho, O. Nanayakkara, J. Xia, S. W. Jones, Performance of concrete patch repairs - From a durability point of view, 5th International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures, 2016, Shenzhen, China, pp. 66-72
  • Nanayakkara, O., Gong, P., Strength and permeability of porous concrete with polypropylene fibres, 2nd RN Raikar Memorial International Conference & Banthia-Basheer International Symposium on advances in science and technology of concrete, 2015, Mumbai, India
  • (2010-2011) Effect of oxygen and water on macro-cell corrosion In: Proceedings of 11th International Summer Symposium of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, pp.
  • (2010-2011) Analytical methods to evaluate macro-cell corrosion currents in concrete In: Proceedings of Annual Conference, Japan Concrete Institute, pp. 1061-1066
  • (2009-2010) Comparison of theoretically and experimentally evaluated macro-cell corrosion currents in concrete In: Proceedings of 11th International Summer Symposium of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 269-272
  • (2008-2009) Macro-cell corrosion and its time-dependent behaviour in non-homogeneous environment of chloride ions In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Life Cycle Management of Coastal Concrete Structures, pp. 81-86
  • (2006-2007) Macro-cell corrosion and its time dependency under non-uniform chloride environment In: Proceedings of Annual Conference, Japan Concrete Institute, pp. 1383-1388
  • (2006-2007) Macro-cell corrosion considering chloride contents along the reinforced bar24 In: Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on New Technologies for Urban Safety of Mega Cities in Asia, pp. 415-424
  • (2006-2007) Time dependency of macro-cell corrosion in reinforced concrete member due to material and environmental non-homogeneity In: 2nd International Conference of Asian Concrete Federation, pp.


  • 2012-2013, Annual Learning and Teaching Staff Colloquium, XJTLU. / Interactive Student Response Initiatives in Civil Engineering – Clickers
  • 2013-2014, Annual Learning and Teaching Staff Colloquium, XJTLU. / Development of Computer Aided Learning (CAL) Packages for Core Modules
  • 2010-2011, Seisan-Kenkyu, Journal of Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo / The influence of the cathodic area on the macro-cell corrosion speed
  • 2010-2011, Japan Concrete Institute / Analytical methods to evaluate macro-cell corrosion currents in concrete
  • 2010-2011, Annual conference of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Effect of cathodic area on the macro-cell corrosion rate
  • 2009-2010, Kanto region annual symposium of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Macro-cell corrosion rate with changing cathodic area
  • 2009-2010, 11th International Summer Symposium of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Comparison of theoretically and experimentally evaluated macro-cell corrosion currents in concrete
  • 2009-2010, Seisan-Kenkyu, Journal of Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, / Simplified theoretical approaches for estimating macro-cell corrosion in chloride-attacked reinforcement
  • 2009-2010, Seisan-Kenkyu, Journal of Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, / Influence of macro-cell corrosion in reinforced bar on measured electrochemical properties
  • 2008-2009, Kanto region annual symposium of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Effect of non-homogeneity of materials on the half-cell potential measurements of reinforcement in concrete
  • 2008-2009, Annual conference of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Effective length of steel element for time dependent macro-cell corrosion
  • 2008-2009, Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Life Cycle Management of Coastal Concrete Structures / Macro-cell corrosion and its time-dependent behaviour in non-homogeneous environment of chloride ions
  • 2007-2008, Japan Concrete Institute / Macro-cell corrosion and its time dependency under non-uniform chloride environment
  • 2006-2007, Annual conference of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Effect of patch repair on macro-cell corrosion in reinforced concrete members
  • 2006-2007, 2nd International Conference of Asian Concrete Federation / Time dependency of macro-cell corrosion in reinforced concrete member due to material and environmental non-homogeneity
  • 2006-2007, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on New Technologies for Urban Safety of Mega Cities in Asia / Macro-cell corrosion considering chloride contents along the reinforced bar
  • 2006-2007, Annual conference of Japan Society of Civil Engineers / Effect of environmental non-homogeneity on macro-cell corrosion in reinforced bar
  • 2006-2007, Seisan-Kenkyu, Journal of Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo / Effect of environmental non-homogeneity by chloride ions on macrocell corrosion in reinforcement bar


  • Nanayakkara Ominda, Theofanis Krevaikas & Luigi Sarno, 2018, Principal Investigator, Repair and strengthening of corroded RC columns using organic corrosion inhibitors and Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM), RDF, XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2018, Principal Investigator, Optimized mix design scheme of pervious concrete paving blocks containing recycled coarse aggregates, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): SURF-201803, XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2016, Principal Investigator, Drying shrinkage of mortar with polypropylene fibres, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): SURF-201607, XJTLU
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2016, Co-Investigator, Tube antennas for small quadrotor UAVs, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF): SURF-201638, XJTLU. (Project terminated)
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2016, Effects of Permeability Properties of the Repair Material on the Formation of Macro-cell Corrosion in Repaired Concrete Members, 183300 RMB, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2015, Collaborator, Research Institute for Sustainable Materials and Environment (ISME), XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2015, Principal Investigator, Performance of Repair Materials on Chloride ion Diffusion, 6500 RMB, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), XJTLU
  • Tang Kangkang, Zhao Cezhou, Nanayakkara Ominda & Judge Ryan, 2014, Co-Investigator, Stray current induced corrosion to reinforced concrete and steel fibre reinforced concrete, PGRS, XJTLU. (project terminated)
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, Xia Jun & Jones Steve, 2014, Principal Investigator, Patch Repair of Concrete Members due to Chloride Induced Reinforcement Corrosion, 366000 RMB, PGRS, XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda & Millard Steve, 2013, Principal Investigator, Effective Patch Repair of Concrete Members due to Reinforcement Corrosion, 100000 RMB, RDF, XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, 2013, Principal Investigator, Chloride induced macro-cell corrosion in GGBS concrete, 6000 RMB, SURF, XJTLU.
  • Nanayakkara Ominda, Kamnis Spyros, Papadikis Konstantinos, Wilkinson Stephen & Zhang Cheng, 2013, Principal Investigator, Computer Aided Learning (CAL) Packages for Core Subjects in Civil Engineering, 43000 RMB, Teaching Development Fund (TDF), XJTLU.


  • 2020 External Examiner, PhD, Title: An Uncoupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Numerical Framework to Estimate Wind Induced Loads on Super-tall Structures, School of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Australia.
  • 2020 Reviewer (Extended abstract): Open University Research Sessions 2020 (OURS 2020), 12-13 November 2020, The Open University, Sri Lanka.
  • 2019 Consulting Engineer, Art Installation Project, Department of Architecture, XJTLU, (https://www.seatsforseeing.net/)
  • 2019, Session Chair: ICSBS2019, The Second International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures, 25-27 October 2019, Suzhou, China.
  • 2019 Scientific Committee Member: ICSBS2019, The Second International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures, 25-27 October 2019, Suzhou, China.
  • 2019 Session Chair, 1st Workshop for Sustainable Construction in Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
  • 2019 Reviewer: Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier.
  • 2018 Technical Commitee, International Conference on Environment, Green Energy and Sustainable Development (EGESD 2019).
  • 2018 Technical Commitee, 9th International Conference on Construction and Project Management (ICCPM 2018).
  • 2018 Reviewer: Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier.
  • 2018 International Conference on Environmental Science & Civil Eng. (ESCE2018).
  • 2017 Session Evaluator: International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS)..
  • 2017 Reviewer: Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier..
  • 2017 Reviewer: International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS)..
  • 2015 Session Co-chair: 2nd RN Raikar Memorial International Conference & Banthia-Basheer International Symposium on advances in science and technology of concrete.
  • 2015 Reviewer: Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier..
  • 2015 Organizing Committee Member: ICSBS 2015, The First International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures, Suzhou, China..
  • 2015 Reviewer: ICSBS 2015, The First International Conference on Sustainable Buildings and Structures, Suzhou, China..
  • 2013 Reviewer: International Conference on Sustainable Construction Materials & Technologies (SCMT3).
  • 2013 Reviewer: International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS)..
  • 2012 Reviewer: International Symposium on Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering Practices for Sustainable Development (ACEPS)..
  • 2011 Reviewer: Annual Research Journal of Sri Lanka Students' Association in Japan.
  • 2006 Session Co-chair: Annual Research Journal, Sri Lanka Students' Association in Japan.
  • 2006 Editor : Annual Research Journal, Sri Lanka Students' Association in Japan.


  • CEN203 Engineering Structures
  • CEN207 Construction Materials
  • CEN222 Building Services Engineering


  • BNV001 Introduction to the Built Environment
  • CEN001 Design and Practice
  • CEN101 Design for Engineers
  • CEN106 Introduction to Materials
  • CEN203 Engineering Structures
  • CEN207 Construction Materials
  • CEN208 Capstone Design 1
  • CEN222 Building Services Engineering
  • CEN311 Final Year Project
  • CEN406 Master Dissertation


  • MICE - Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers UK, 2018-now
  • FHEA - Fellow of Higher Education Academy, 2017-now
  • AMIESL - Associate Member of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, 2014-now


  • 2018 Outsanding Teacher (Highly Commended), Learning and Teaching Awards, XJTLU
  • 2017 Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier
  • 2017 2nd Prize, First Sino-Foreign Corporation in Running Schools Teaching Innovation Award, China Education Association for International Exchange
  • 2009 Scholarship for postgraduate studies, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
  • 2004 Full Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies, Japanese Government
  • 2000 Best Undergraduate in Building and Structural Engineering, 2000, University of Moratuwa
  • 1998 Merit Scholarship for Undergraduate Studies, Sri Lankan Government
Ominda Nanayakkara