Dr.
W. M. N. Fernando
0000-0002-8487-2812
Senior Lecturer Grade I
Department of Information Technology
mahesh@sjp.ac.lk
BIO
Mahesh Fernando is a researcher and a SEDA accredited teacher in higher education for more than 25 years. He is currently working in the position of Senior Lecturer at the Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lana. His research focused on health informatics with his PhD in 2018, yet he was in multidisciplinary fields combining science, management and information technology. His passion for research in Data Science, information systems and reviewing research articles make him a research paper reviewer in reputed journals including BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making.
TEACHING INTERESTS
- Management Information Systems
- Data Engineering
- Business Analytics
- Process Mining for Big Data
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Health Informatics
- Big Data Analytics
- Social and Cultural Dynamics of Information Technology
- AI and Data Science
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Phylosophy, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2018)
- Master of Sciences in Computer Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2010)
- Master of Business Administration, Postgraduate Institute of Management, Sri Lanka (2003)
- Bacholor of Science in Physical Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka (1999)
PUBLICATIONS
Journal Article
A survey of cyber threat attribution: Challenges, techniques, and future directions
2025-10-01 Computers & Security
Journal Article
Strategies in Developing Big Data Analytics Skills Among IT/BPM Professionals In Sri Lanka
2025-08-01 Journal of Business Research and Insights
Conference Paper
Web-based Sales and Inventory Management System for Bloomsdecor
2022 Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
The Impact of Social Network Site Use Intensity During Work Hours on the Employees’ Job Performance
2022 Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
Factors Contributing to adoption of Social Media as a Business Platform Among Young Entrepreneurs in Western Province Sri Lanka
2022 Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
Factors Influencing Customers to Switch Mobile Internet Service Providers in Sri Lanka (Awarded as the Best Paper)
2021 Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Journal Article
Validation of eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) on Sri Lankan population of working age
2020-12-15 Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine
Conference Paper
Design Guidelines for Effective Occupation-Based Personal Health Records
2020-02-04 Australasian Computer Science Week Multiconference
Conference Paper
Factors affecting the Intention to Use Mobile Technologies for Learning
2020 in Proceedings of the Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
E-Waste Information Management System
2020 Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
Impact of Social Media Use on Academic Performance (Awarded as the Best Paper)
2020 Proceedings of the Business Information Student Symposium, Sri Lanka
Conference Paper
An Overall Health and Well-Being Data Model for Employer-Sponsored Personal Health Records (Awarded as the Best Paper)
2019-01-29 Australasian Computer Science Week Multiconference
Conference Paper
Employees perceptions of sharing employer-sponsored personal health records
2018-01-01 Australasian Computer Science Week Multiconference
Conference Paper
Eradicating Health Communication Inequalities in the Internet of Things Era
2017-01-01 International Conference on IoT and Application (ICIOT)
Conference Paper
Personal health records as sources of productivity evidence
2016-01-01 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC)
Conference Paper
Use of Consumer Health Informatics as an employer strategy to improve productivity
2015-01-01 Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions (ICTer)
Conference Paper
Relationship between Facebook Usage and the Student Engagement of Sri Lankan Management Undergraduates
2014-01-01
Journal Article
Relationship between Facebook Usage and the Student Engagement of Sri Lankan Management Undergraduates. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
2014-01-01 International Journal of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Conference Paper
Customer buying intention and seller's perception on ecommerce websites selling Mobile Phone Handsets in Sri Lanka
2013-01-01
Conference Paper
Mining Learning Management Systems data to track students’ attitudes for producing self-regulated graduates
2012 Conference on Higher Education in Sri Lanka, In proceedings, Sri Lanka Association for Improving Higher Education Effectiveness, Sri Lanka.
Conference Paper
Information Technology Framework for the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce
2011-01-01 FMSC Research Symposium
Conference Paper
Information Technology supported Approach to Large Class Assessment for Active Learning
2011 Conference on Higher Education in Sri Lanka In proceedings, Sri Lanka Association for Improving Higher Education Effectiveness”, Sri Lanka.
Conference Paper
Internet usage of Sri Lankan SMEs and perceived barriers
2008-01-01 Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Sciences, Sri Lanka, University of Kelaniya, pp 215.
Conference Paper
The Impact of Socio-Technical Characteristics on the Success of Information Systems Development
2003-01-01
Administrative Assignments
Head of the Department - Department of Information Technology
2020.06.01 - 2023.06.01
Representing the department in all activities in the faculty, university and country at large.
Director - Student Welfare - University of Sri Jayewardenepura
2021.01.01 - 2024.12.31
Support the university in maintaining the academic atmosphere in the university. Support students to uplift their physical, mental, social and spiritual standards as an undergraduate.
Chaireperson - Faculty Information Technology committee
2020.06.01 - 2023.06.01
Lead and manage decisions related to all Information technology equipment of the faculty
Chaireperson - FMSC Web Committee
2018.04.15 - 2024.04.15
Manage and promote the faculty web page.
Co-Chair - International Conference of Business Management (ICBM) 2019
2019.01.01 - 2019.12.31
Manage and coordinate the International conference for the first time in history, both in Melbourne, Australia and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Member - Ethics Review Committee for the FMSC (ERCFMSC)
2023.07.01 - 2025.07.01
Participate in committee meetings of ERCFMSC and involved with the review activities.
Member - Faculty MOU Review Committee
2023.06.01 - Up to now
Review the MOUs that are proposed to sign between FMSC and other external parties.
Member - University Sports Advisory Board
2021.01.01 - 2024.03.12
Support the decision-making of sport-related matters of the University.
MEDIA APPEARANCES
News Paper
Unlocking Big Data Potential: Skill Development Strategies for Sri Lanka’s IT/BPM Sector - Sunday Observer -Research and Innovation
2025.08.03
Big data is a globally expanding technology, yet its adoption in Sri Lanka is still in the early stages. Compounding these issues such as low awareness and limited skilled labour. The study recommends that employers frequently update upskilling mechanisms, refine skillsets and technologies, align training with employee needs, and consider personalised learning methods. The findings of the study offer practical industrial value, providing a roadmap for developing BDA skills across Sri Lanka’s workforce. The implications stretch beyond the corporate sector, calling on policymakers to facilitate upskilling through flexible, forward-looking policies, and urging educational institutions to collaborate with the industry to co-develop relevant curriculum.