Dr. (Mrs) I. A. Kamani C. Samarasinghe

Dr. Kamani Samarasinghe is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Technology (IT) at the University of the Visual & Performing Arts (UVPA), Colombo, Sri Lanka, where she has served as a faculty member since 2006. She currently contributes to academic, research, and quality assurance activities within the university and has held several administrative and leadership positions. She served as the Director of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL) from 2018 to 2021 and was the Cell Leader of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the Faculty of Music from 2011 to 2023. She is the Co-Editor as well as the Editorial Manager of the Journal of Research in Music (JRM) published by the Faculty of Music, UVPA, and is also a member of the Sports Advisory Committee of the university.

Dr. Samarasinghe completed her PhD in the field of safeguarding traditional music heritage and digital technologies at the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), University of the Visual & Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She also holds an MPhil and an MSc in Computer Science from the Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Her interdisciplinary research focuses on digital heritage preservation, sound and audio-visual archiving, e-learning and distance education, knowledge management, data mining, and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage through innovative technologies. Her current research particularly explores the use of Virtual Reality (VR) and digital technologies in preserving, documenting, and sustaining Sri Lanka’s traditional music and dance traditions. She has also contributed to archival restoration initiatives, including the retrieval, restoration, and preservation of historical field recordings related to Sri Lankan traditional music heritage.

Dr. Samarasinghe is actively engaged in both national and international professional organizations. She is a member of the National Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage, ICOMOS Sri Lanka; the International Association of Sound and Audio-visual Archives (IASA), including its Research Archives Section (RAS); the International Society for Music Education (ISME); and the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTM). She also serves as the Sri Lanka Focal Person for the Asia Pacific Higher Education Network for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH).

Research Interests:

Distance education teaching and learning, data mining, E-learning, Knowledge management, Digital Archiving, Traditional Music Field Recording

Publications:

• I. A. Kamani C. Samarasinghe, S. R. Kodituwakku , Roshan D. Yapa Understanding the Internet Usage Habits of the Students of University of the Visual & Performing Arts through Data Mining , International Journal of Soft Computing and Engineering (IJSCE), 2014, V4(2), pp: 45 – 48
• I. A. Kamani C. Samarasinghe, S. R. Kodituwakku , Roshan D. Yapa Data Mining and Service Customization in Leisure and Hospitality , International Journal of Soft Computing and Enginee ring (IJSCE), 2013, V3(5), pp: 24 – 29
• I. A. Kamani C. Samarasinghe, S. R. Kodituwakku , Y. P. R. D. Yapa Impact of Data Mining on Telecommunication Company Revenues, , International Journal of Soft Computing and Enginee ring (IJSCE), 2016, V6(3), pp: 37 – 41
• Samarasinghe, K., Nethsinghe, R. (2022). Adopting Distance Learning Approaches to Deliver Online Creative Arts Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic. In: Aurelia, S., Hiremath, S.S., Subramanian, K., Biswas, S.K. (eds) Sustainable Advanced Computing. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 840. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9012-9_50
• Social Processes that Shaped Sinhala Folk Music and Its Characteristics Based on the Purposes of Usage – Journal of Research in Music (JRM)
• STRATEGIES OF ONLINE MUSIC TEACHING: THE STORY OF EIGHT CASES DURING THE COVID – 19 LOCKDOWN IN SRI LANKA – Journal of Research in Music (JRM)
• I A Kamani Champika Samarasinghe, Incorporating e-learning into performing art undergraduate education in Sri Lanka, in the Proceedings of the University of the Visual & Performing Arts Research Symposium 2013, Sri Lanka, 2013.
• Kamani Samarasinghe, S. R. Kodituwakku and Y. P. R. D. Yapa, A preliminary study on impact of data mining on telecommunication company revenue, in the Proceedings of the PGIS Research Congress 2014, Sri Lanka, 2014.
• I A Kamani Champika Samarasinghe, Pilot Study on Career Pathway Planning, in the Proceedings of the University of the Visual & Performing Arts Research Symposium 2015, Sri Lanka, 2015.
• Samarasinghe I A K C, The impact of video learning resources on the student learning: A survey of visual and performing arts students, in the proceeding of the 2nd International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (ICHSS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2016.
• Samarasinghe I A K C, The use of video learning resources for educational purposes: A mini survey study exploring the attitudes of Performing Arts undergraduates, in the proceeding of the International Conference on Education, Psychology, and Social Sciences (ICEPS), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, 2-4 August 2017.
• Samarasinghe I A K C, An investigation of the correlation between students entrance scores and grade point average, in the Proceedings of the University of the Visual & Performing Arts Research Symposium 2015, Sri Lanka, 2017.
• Samarasinghe I A K C, ICT literacy among undergraduates in University of Visual & Performing Arts: case of faculty of music, in the proceeding of the International Conference on Melbourne International Business and Social Science Research (MIBSRC), Melbourne, Australia, September 2018.
• Samarasinghe K C, Tacit Knowledge: A Literature Review, in the proceeding of the International Conference on Education and Global Studies (ICEGS), Sapporo, Japan, 2019.
• Samarasinghe I, Improving Quality through Review: Case of University of the Visual and Performing Arts, in the proceeding of the Pan-Commonwealth Forum 9 (PCF9), Scotland, 2019.
• Bandara, K., Samarasinghe, K., Embogama, S., & Nethsinghe, R. (2023). The science behind the art of making the gataberaya. In 24th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Musical Instruments. University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• Dhanapala, S., & Samarasinghe, K. (2024). Music Emotion Classification: A Literature review. Journal of Research in Music, 2(2), 14–28. https://doi.org/10.4038/jrm.v2i2.27
• Maddumage, G. D., Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2025). A comparative analysis of Bharatamuni’s Natyashastra on Sri Lankan– Sabaragamuwa Pahan Madu ritual. Research in Dance Education, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2025.2524149
• Maddumage, G., & Samarasinghe, K. (2019). The influence of Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra in Sri Lankan Rituals-Sabaragamuwa Pahan Madu. In In the Proceedings of International Conference on Education and Global Studies.
• Samarasinghe, I. a. K. C. (2019). Tacit Knowledge: A literature review. In Proceeding of the International Conference on Education and Global Studies (1st ed., Vol. 3). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374003935_Tacit_Knowledge_A_Literature_Review
• Samarasinghe, I., Kodituwakku, S., & Yapa, R. D. (2014). Data mining and service customization in leisure and hospitality. International Journal of Soft Computing and Engineering (IJSCE), 3(5), 2231–2307.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2022). In search of distinctive Sri Lankan music: Cyril de Silva Kulatillake. In International Research Symposium (IRS), University of the Visual & Performing Arts. University of the Visual & Performing Arts.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2023a). Exploring the potential of virtual reality in traditional music education. In 4th International Society for Music Education (ISME) South Asia Regional Conference.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2023b). Keeping the tradition alive: Analysing the work of C. de S. Kulatillake. ASIAN-EUROPEAN MUSIC RESEARCH JOURNAL, 11, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.30819/aemr.11-3
• Samarasinghe, K. (2023c). Preservation of traditional folk music in Sri Lanka: conservation practices and key challenges. In 7th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University. Uva Wellassa University.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2023d). Sinhalese Distinct Singing Style: An Exploration of Musician W. B. Makulloluwa [Paper Presentation]. 9th International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka. https://www.icsusl.sab.ac.lk/ICSUSL_2023_Book_of_Abstracts.pdf
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024a). A biographical study of William Banda Makulloluwa’s contributions. ASIAN-EUROPEAN MUSIC RESEARCH JOURNAL, 14, 77–86. https://doi.org/10.30819/aemr.14-7
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024b). Conservation and preservation of traditional folk music in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Aesthetic Studies, 2(1), 1–4. http://www.svias.esn.ac.lk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Conservation-and-Preservation-of-Traditional-Folk-Music-in-Sri-Lanka.pdf
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024c). Exploring the Socio-Cultural significance and community dynamics of the Ankeliya Pattini Ritual Game in Sri Lanka. Journal of Intangible Cultural Heritage., 3(01). https://doi.org/10.31357/jich.v3i01.7596
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024d). Rhythms of Resilience: Traditional drum production as a response to climate change in Sri Lanka. In 3rd International Symposium of the ICTMD Study Group on Music and Allied Arts of Greater South Asia. University of Dhaka.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024e). Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s musical Heritage: Restoration and digitization of WB Makulloluwa’s historical field recordings. 55th International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) Annual Conference, Valencia, Spain. International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives.
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024f). A review of the International Music Conference themed “Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being.” Journal of Research in Music, 2(1), 54–62. https://doi.org/10.4038/jrm.v2i1.26
• Samarasinghe, K. (2024g). A review of the International Music Conference themed “Symbiosis of Arts and Cultures: Nurturing Expression, Connection, and Well-being.” Journal of Research in Music, 2(1), 54–62. https://doi.org/10.4038/jrm.v2i1.26
• Samarasinghe, K. (2025). Musical instruments of the Tamil people of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. In 25th Symposium of the ICTMD-Study Group on Musical Instruments. 25th Symposium of the ICTMD-Study Group on Musical Instruments, United States of America.
• Samarasinghe, K., & Catlin-Jairazbhoy, A. (2024). Re-study of Arnold Bake’s recordings of Vedda Music in Ceylon (Sri Lanka): 1938-2024. ICTMD study group on Indigenous Music and Dance and ICTMD study group on Music and Minorities.
• Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2022a). A shift with a twist: transforming experiences of teaching and learning music online. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Research Symposium: Digital Transformation and Best Practices in Mitigating Challenges in Education. University of Colombo.
• Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2022b). Adopting distance learning approaches to deliver online creative arts education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Lecture notes in electrical engineering (pp. 627–634). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9012-9_50
• Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2023a). Social Processes that Shaped Sinhala Folk Music and its Characteristics Based on the Purposes of Usage. Journal of Research in Music, 1(2), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.4038/jrm.v1i2.12
• Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2023b). Strategies of Online Music Teaching: The Story of Eight Cases during the COVID–19 Lockdown in Sri Lanka. Journal of Research in Music, 1(1), 8–18. https://doi.org/10.4038/jrm.v1i1.2
• Samarasinghe, K., Nethsinghe, R., & De Silva, S. (2023). Retrieving, restoring, and preserving historical field recordings of C. de S Kulatillake: a pioneering Sri Lankan ethnomusicologist. International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA) 54th Annual conference.
• Samarasinghe, K., Nethsinghe, R., Sandaruwan, N., & Ariyarathna, L. (2023). Ankeliya: Beyond a Game Methodology and tradition. In 4th International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH). University of Sri Jayawardenapura.
• Sanjeewa, M., Samarasinghe, K., & Nethsinghe, R. (2023). Marginalized Moor’s music and misunderstanding. In 12th Symposium of the International Council for Traditional Music and Dance (ICTMD) Study Group on Music and Minorities. University of Kelaniya.

Other Publications:

• Newspaper Article – How one man created a national identity through a folk song revival, Link – https://www.themorning.lk/articles/NZcv0TJgbZaNeYp4joJM
• Newspaper Article – Remembering Devar Surya Sena, Link – https://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Remembering-Devar-Surya-Sena/10523-760360
• Musical Meet-Up, Link – https://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Musical-meet-up-and-interactive-joint-cultural-performance-between-SVIAS-EUSL-and-University-of-VAPA/10523-758591
• ICH Courier Magazine – ICH Sri Lankan String Puppetry: Safeguarding a UNESCO-Inscribed Heritage through Digital Engagement, Link: https://ichcourier.unesco-ichcap.org/sri-lankan-string-puppetry-safeguarding-a-unesco-inscribed-heritage-through-digital-engagement/

TV Programmes:

• W. B. Makulloluwa, Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juTsDtmPB3k

Awards:

• Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU)-Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Fellowship 2021
• Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum of Open Learning (PCF9)  Travel Sponsorship 2019
• Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies (APRICOT ) Fellowship  2018
• WOMEN TAKE ICT SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN SRI LANKA Submitted by Saori Imaizumi (ICT & Education) Consultant, Wrlod Bank 03/06/2014 http://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/women-take-ict-skills-next-level-sri-lanka
• ISME South Asia Regional Conference 2023 Travel Award
• 3rd Symposium of the Study Group on Music and Allied Arts of Greater South Asia (MAAGSA) to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh fellowship
• International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA)  2024 Travel Awards
• ISME South Asia Regional Conference 2026 Travel Award

Other Links :

Google Scholar   |  ResearchGate

ORCID