Department of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Academic Staff member

Prof. Nishantha K. Kalutharage

Professor in Chemistry

B.Sc in Chemistry First Class Honer (Ruhuna, SL) , Ph.D. (Marquette. WI, U.S.A.),
Email - Knishantha@chem.ruh.ac.lk
Office - +94412227023
Extention - 4402

LinnkedIn ResearchGate Google Scholar

  • General Chemistry,
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Solid State Chemistry
  • Food Chemistry
  • Non-aqueous Chemistry
  • Aquatic Chemistry
  • Chemistry of main group elements
  • Chemistry of Transition Metal
  • Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Soil Chemistry
  • Molecular Orbital Theory
  • Organometallic Chemistry
  • Micro-pollutants in aquatic environment
  • Laboratory Quality Management
  • Coordination Chemistry
  • Basic Inorganic Chemistry
  • Physical methods in inorganic chemistry
  • Homogeneous Catalysis
  • Organometallic Chemistry
  • Green chemistry
  • conversion of waste into valuable products
  • nanotechnology
  • chitosan and applications
  • valuable products from fish waste
  • Journal Publications
  • Kirinde Arachchige, P.T., Handunneththige, S., Talipov, M.R., Kalutharage, N. and Yi, C.S., 2021. Scope and Mechanism of the Redox-Active 1, 2-Benzoquinone Enabled Ruthenium-Catalyzed Deaminative α-Alkylation of Ketones with Amines. ACS Catalysis, 11(22), pp.13962-13972.
  • Halanayake, K.D., Kalutharage, N.K. and Hewage, J.W., 2021. Microencapsulation of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Plumeria leaf extract and kinetic studies in the release of ZnO-NPs from microcapsules. SN Applied Sciences, 3(1), pp.1-12.
  • N.K. Kalutharage, D.L. Rathnasinghe: A study of chitosan and glucosamine isolated from Sri Lankan local mushroom Schizophyllum commune and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Materials today: proceedings 08/2019;, DOI:10.1016/j.matpr.2019.07.713
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Sanuja R. G., Cumaranatunga P. R. T: Selection of the most suitable crustacean exoskeleton waste from fish processing industry to isolate chitosan. 03/2017; 22(1):45-53., DOI:10.4038/sljas.v22i1.7516
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Effects of major micro-pollutants in aquatic ecosystem.
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Greener Alternatives for Classical Reduction of Aldehydes /Ketones.
  • Nishantha Kalutharage, Chae Sung Yi: Scope and Mechanistic Analysis for Chemoselective Hydrogenolysis of Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by a Cationic Ruthenium-Hydride Complex with Tunable Phenol Ligand. Journal of the American Chemical Society 08/2015; 137(34):11105., DOI:10.1021/jacs.5b06097
  • Nishantha Kalutharage, Chae S Yi: ChemInform Abstract: Chemoselective Formation of Unsymmetrically Substituted Ethers from Catalytic Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols in Aqueous Solution.. Organic Letters 03/2015; 17(7)., DOI:10.1021/acs.orglett.5b00553
  • Junghwa Kim, Dong-Hwan Lee, Nishantha Kalutharage, Chae S. Yi: Selective Catalytic Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Ethers from the Dehydrative Etherification of Two Different Alcohols. ACS Catalysis 09/2014; 4(11)., DOI:10.1021/cs5012537
  • Nishantha Kalutharage, Chae S Yi: Deaminative and Decarboxylative Catalytic Alkylation of Amino Acids with Ketones. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 12/2013; 52(51)., DOI:10.1002/anie.201307766
  • Conference Proceedings
  • Kalana Dasunpriya Halanayake, Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Jinasena Hewage: Biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by leaf extract of Plumeria and characterization. 7th Ruhuna International Scicene and Technology Conference (RISTCON), Matara, Sri Lanka; 01/2020
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, H. A. D. I. Hettiarachchi, Ruchira T. Cumaranatunge: Colour enhancement of platy fish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Gunther, 1866) using natural bixin as a feed additive. SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION FOR FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (SLAFAR) 24th Annual Scientific Sessions 2019, Faculty of Fisheries & Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; 08/2019
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Rathnasinghe Dinali L: A comparative study of chitosan and glucosamine isolated from local mushroom �lenahathu� (Schizophyllum commune) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). international conference on Advanced Materials for Clean Energy and Health Applications (AMCEHA-2019), University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka; 02/2019
  • W. A. S. W. Lakmini, Ruchira Cumaranatunga, Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Suitability of Oreochromis niloticus and Cirrhinus mrigala Captured from Bandagiriya Reservoir, Hambantota, Sri Lanka for human consumption considering detected heavy metals in the reservoir. SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION FOR FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (SLAFAR) 24th Annual Scientific Sessions 2018, The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.; 06/2018
  • H. M. G. K. Herath, Ruchira Cumaranatunga, Nishantha Kumara Kalutharage: Isolation and characterization of acid soluble collagen from Sailfin cat fish (Pterygoplichthys sp.). SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION FOR FISHERIES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (SLAFAR) 24th Annual Scientific Sessions 2018, The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.; 06/2018
  • Sanuja R. G., K.H.M. Ashoka Deepananda, Ruchira Cumaranatunga, Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Qualitative and Quantitative Comparison of Chitosan Isolated from Pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) Bone, Indian Squid (Loligo duvauceli) Pen and Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) Exoskeleton. 15th academic session University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka, Faculty of Fisheries & Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka; 03/2018
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Wedamulla P. G., Atapaththu K. S. S: Investigation of the best method for extraction of fish anesthetic compounds from common tephrosia (Kathurupila); Tephrosia purpurea leaves and effects of the extracts on fish (guppies). 5th Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Wellamadama, Matara, Sri Lanka; 02/2018
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Kaushalya H. A. S. T.: Investigation of a suitable metal catalytic system for the aldol reaction between acetophenone and benzaldehydes. 5th Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna, Wellamadama, Matara, Sri Lanka; 02/2018
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, V. Suganya, P. R. T. Cumaranatunga: Extraction of Acid Soluble Collagen (ASC) using lime juice (Citrus aurantifolia) from swim bladder of Kathala Croaker (Kathala axillaris) and Giant Catfish (Arius thalassinus) and evaluation. Sri Lanka Association For Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR) 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions 2017, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Colombo 15, Sri Lanka; 05/2017
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, D. S. A. D. S. Wickramanayake, P. R. T. Cumaranatunga: Flesh pigmentation of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by Palm Oil (Elaeis guineensis) and Carrot Oil (Daucus carota) Incorporated Fish Feeds. Sri Lanka Association For Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR) 22nd Annual Scientific Sessions 2017, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Colombo 15, Sri Lanka; 05/2017
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Tri-Oxygen Coodinated Ru Complexes. 4th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna; 01/2017
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, R.G. Sanuja, P.R.T. Cumaranatunga: Selection of the most suitable crustacean exoskeleton waste from fish processing industry to isolate chitosan. Sri Lanka Association For Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR) 22nd Annual Scientific Sessions 2016, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Colombo 15, Sri Lanka; 06/2016
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara: Cationic ruthenium hydride catalyzed chelated assistant C-O bond cleavage of 2-acetyl-aryl ethers: A model compound for lignin de-polymerization. 3rd Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference, University of Ruhuna; 01/2016
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Hema M. K. K. Pathirana: Greener alternatives for the use of CHCl3 and CCl4 in undergraduate chemistry practical classes.. Proceedings of the fifth Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, 2008, University of Ruhuna; 03/2008
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Hema Pathirana, Ruchira Cumaranatunga, G. S. P. Garusinghe, S. Wanniarachchi, C. Wanninayake: Quality of water of Tsunami affected wells after cleaning and chlorination. 244D, Proc. Sri Lanka Assoc. Advmt. Sci., SLAAS, Colombo; 12/2005
  • YMA Lalith Weerasinghe, Kalutharge Nishantha Kumara, C. Liyanapathirana, Sarath Wanniaracchi, NPG Pushpitha, Hema MKK Pathirana: Quality of water in two tsunami camps in Weligama area. Workshop on the Tsunami and Post- Tsunami Recovery in the Southern Region of Sri Lanka. 2005,, University of Ruhuna; 01/2005
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Vajira P. Bulugahapitiya: A preliminary Chemical studies on secondary metabolites present in fruit of Momordica dioica. 2nd Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna,, Matara, Sri Lanka; 12/2004, University of Ruhuna; 12/2004
  • Kalutharage Nishantha Kumara, Vajira P. Bulugahapitiya: A preliminary chemical study on secondary metabolites present in fruits of Memordica dioica. 2nd Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna,, Matara, Sri Lanka; 01/2004; 01/2004
  • � The Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellowships: Fellowship award for recognition of a demonstrated record of ability, leadership, and professional promises as Marquette University Graduate Student Milwaukee, WI, USA (August 2014- May 2015).
  • � R. H. Wijayanayake Gold Medal: Awarded for the highest scores at the final Degree Examination in B.Sc. (Special) Degree in Chemistry (First Class Honors Pass), University of Ruhuna, and Matara, Sri Lanka. (November 2003).
  • � L. C. de Silva Memorial Gold Medal: Awarded for the highest scores at the final Degree Examination in B.S. Degree in Biological Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka (2003).
  • � Martin Wickramasinghe Scholarship: Awarded for the highest scores at the final Degree Examination in the B.Sc. (General Degree) Part I Examination in Biological Sciences. University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka (2000)
  • � �The Sea Research Cruise 2007� organized by Geo science, Australia and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. New Zealand (NIWA), (28th Oct. 2007-22nd Nov. 2007).
  • � Southeast Asia International Joint-Research and Training Program on �Low Carbon Green Energy and Environmental Sustainability� by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Taiwan from 1st Nov. 2015 � 14th Nov. 2015.