Ven. Dr. Omalpe Somananda Thero Senior Lecturer (Grade II) Department of Buddhist Culture +940112891877         +94777961138/+94713046433 +940332246771 omalpes@bpu.ac.lk

Academic Qualification

• Ph.D. in Social Welfare, Shukutoku University, Japan, 2022.
• M.S.W. Social Work, (Two year- with research) University of Bangalore, India
• B.A. (Hons.) Buddhist Philosophy, (First class) Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
• Dip.S.W. Social Work, (Two-year full time) National Institute of Social Development in Sri Lanka
• Dip. Certificate Course, Counseling, Chellamuththu National Institute of Mental Health in Madurei, India
• Dip. Certificate Course, Child support counseling, Save the Children in Sri Lanka
• Certificate Course, Staff Development, Staff Development Center Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
• Certificate Course, Counseling and Family Life Education, Family Studies & Services Institute, Colombo
• Certificate Course in China’s Experience in the development of Economic Special Zone for Eurasian Countries, Beijing – China

Memberships

• Alumni Association of Ācharya Institute of Management and Science, India
• Alumni Association of Vidyarathne University College, Horana, Sri Lanka
• Membership of Professional Association of Social Workers in Sri Lanka
• Membership of Research team, Asian Research Institute for International Social Work

Academic Experience

• Senior Lecturer Grade II, Department of Buddhist Culture, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka (2018.06.28 - Up to Date)
• Lecture great-1, Sri Lanka School of Social Work- National Institute of Social Development, March 2009 – June 2018
• Research Assistant, National Institute of Social Development, 2006 – 2009
• Lecture (Visiting), Department Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka 2012
• Lecture, Buddhist Social Philosophy, Ministry of Buddhist, Diploma Program Daham Sarasaviya affiliated by University of Sri Jayawardanapura, 2006 - 2008.
• Lecture, Buddhist Social Philosophy, Department of Buddhist affairs, Ministry of Buddhist, Diploma Program on Daham Sarasaviya affiliated by Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, 2018
• Principal, Sri Jayasumana Pirivena, Dapane, Embilipitiya, 2004 - 2005
• Member of Curriculum Reviewed program 2012- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), Sri Lanka School of Social Work-NISD
• Coordinator, Curriculum Reviewed programe - High Diploma in Social Work 2018/2019, Sri Lanka School of Social Work
• Coordinator, Curriculum Development Programe - Diploma in Sing Language Interpretation 2016/2017, Sri Lanka School of Social Work, NISD
• Course Coordinator, Master of Social Work, (2018-2019 Batch), Sri Lanka School of Social Work, NISD
• Course Coordinator, Bachelor of Social Work, (2016-2010 Batch), Sri Lanka School of Social Work, NISD
• Course Coordinator, Diploma in Social Work, (2017-2018 Batch), Sri Lanka School of Social Work, NISD
• Student Advisor, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka  (2019)

Administration

• Social development officer,  Save the Children in Sri Lanka ( ADEP), Aug 2002 - Nove 2004      
• Co-ordinater,   Field Teaching Center - Welikanda, (NISD), Nov 2004 - May 2006    
• Field Supervisor,  National institute of   Social development ,   January 2003,   February 2005
• Research  Assistant ,  National institute of   Social development, May 2006 - 2009 March

Research interests

• Buddhist Philosophy
• Buddhist Social Work
• Western-rooted Professional Social Work,
• Social welfare and Development

International/ National Seminar Presentations

International Conferences

• Integrated Social Work intervention in supporting the development of families living in poverty, 2012, An international conference on Social work practice in Multicultural contexts, Department of studies and research in social work in Tumkur University Tumkur, India
•  Role of Social Work in Building Ethnic Harmony through Religions Practice, 2015, International Conference on Religious Tolerance and Harmony, Department of Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
• Problems and Challenges faced by People due to Uma Oya water Multi-Purpose Development Project- Sri Lanka, 2018 the 3^rd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches on UN Sustainable Development Goals - (UNSDGs), December 28th - 29th, Bangkok, Thailand
• Buddhist Social Work - Social Work Practice in Community Development, 2019, International conference on Buddhism in Social Development Context in Asian Region, ARIISW – Shukutoku University Japan
• Exploring the Aspects and Role of Buddhism in Community Development in Sri Lank, 2019, A scholarly conference on the role of Social Work in community development- Bangalore. India
• The need for a Buddhist Social Work approach to Asian culture, 2020, International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) online global conference
• Study on Buddhist Social Work education in South Asia: Opportunities, Diversity and Challenges, 2020, The 3^rd International webinar (IWBS-2020), Global well-being and the tenets of ancient Indian Traditions with reference to Buddhism, Gauthama Buddha University, India
• COVID 19, welfare service and Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, 2020, The 8^th International public health and Bioethics Ambassador conference, American University of Sovereign, USA
• Relationship between Sri Lankan culture, diets and COVID 19 disease control, 2020, The 6^th International public health and Bioethics Ambassador conference, American University of Sovereign, USA
• COVID 19, and the role of Temple in Sri Lanka, 2020, Webinar conference, Asian Research Institute for International Social Work, Shukutoku University, Japan
• Buddhism and Buddhist Culture in Sri Lanka, 2020, Webinar conference, Asian Research Institute for International Social Work, Shukutoku University, Japan

National Conference

• Social work practice in integrated social work intervention families living in poverty, 2010, Conference on family Social work: Towards evidence based practice, Sri Lanka Association of professional social workers, National Institute of Social Development
• Role of the psychiatric Social work in in-patient and outpatient and community care, 2011, Introduction to mental health for Social work in Sri Lanka, People Rural development Association (PRDA) Colombo, Sri Lanka. 
• Social Work Intervention: Women Empowerment through Self-help Groups- A case study-2018, Research Symposium of the Academic Staff, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
• A study on Buddhist Social Work intervention: Psycho-Social Challenges faced by teenage mothers, 2019, Research Symposium of the Academic Staff, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

International Training Programme

• Seminar on China’s Experience in the development of Economic Special Zone for   Eurasian Countries from July 14th to August 3rd 2015 in Beijing – China
• Participated in the International Workshop on “Volunteer Management system”, held on 17- 18 02. 2011 in Ivolunteer at Institute of Volunteer management, Mumbai India
• Participated in the International training on “Child protection and Skills in psycho Social care” held on from April 25^th to May 10^th 2008, by M.S. Chellamuthu Institute of Mental health and Rehabilitation. In  Mumbai, Tamilnadu,  India
• “Field Work Training” from 28.08.2007 to 14. 11. 2007, in Bangalore Institute of Oncology ( Cancer Hospital)
• “Field Work Training” for 25 days from 8.01. 2008 to 14. 04. 2008, in Medico-Pastoral Association, Bangalore ( Center for Mental Health Care)

National / Local Trainings

• Appreciation on “in taking part in organizing and actively participating in  all respects” Care and Development of children affected by Armed Conflict a Project, organized by Save the Children in Sri Lanka and ADEP, held at St. Anthony’s College- Katugasthota, Kandy from 10^th December 2003 to 14^th December 2003.
• Participated in the workshop on “TOT Child protection”Conducted by the Save the Children and ADEP, from 7/9. 08. 2004, Welikanda in Polonnaruwa.
• Participated in the Training on“Conflict Management”from 3/ 4. 10. 2005, Training Division- National Institute of Social Development
• Participated in the Training workshop on“Mental Health, Illness and Social Work”held on 7^th and 8^th December 2009, People’s Rural Development Association
• ( PRDA)  and  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Participated in the Training workshop on“Mental Health, and Social Work”held on 11^th and 12^th October 2010, People’s Rural Development Association
• (PRDA)  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and McGill University and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Canada
• Participated in the Training workshop on“Mental Health, Illness and Social Work”held on 7^th and 8^th December 2009, People’s Rural Development Association
• ( PRDA)  and  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Participated in the Training workshop on“Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)”held on 30^th May to 5^th of June 2013, Organized by the Social Development policy, Research and publication Division at   National Institute of Social Development (NISD)

Workshop

• Participated in the workshop on TOT for conducting survey of families of prison inmates. Conducted by the ministry of social services & social welfare. Sri Lanka. From 24th July 2006 to 26 July 2006.
• Participated in the Workshop on " Psychiatric  social work An update " held on 24th,& 25th January 2008.at Department of psychiatric social work National institute of mental health & neuron sciences ( NIMHANS ) Bangalore, India.
• Participated in one day workshop on “Focus Group Discussion (FGD”held on 9^th August 2010, Organized by the Social Development policy, Research and publication Division at   National Institute of Social Development (NISD)
• Participated in two days’ workshop on “Social Work Research Proposal Writing”held on 29^th and 30^th May 2014, Organized by the Social Development policy, Research and publication Division at   National Institute of Social Development (NISD)

Seminar

• Participated in international Seminar on “AUTISM THE FUTURE DEFINED” held on the 11th & 12th of January 2008 at NIMHANS. Bangalore,  India

Research & Publications

Research

• Participated, Research study on “Prisons in-mate’s families in Welikada prison” sponsors by Ministry of Social service 2006/2007
• As a part of my Dip-DSW (Diploma in Social Work) based on research I completed  “A community Development project implemented to avoid children getting into delinquent behaviors in the coastal area of Ratmalana Sri Lanka" 1998

• As a part of my MSW (Master of Social Work) I completed a research at Bengalore University- India on “A study on living conditions of the Psychiatric patients under Institutional care- with special references Medico-Pastoral Association” using qualitative interviewing and submitted a dissertation, 2008.
• Participated research on “Family policies” at research and publication division in NISD with the help of Ministry of Social service and social welfare. 2010

Book

• Somananda, O., 2019, Experience in Social Work Research, Āriya Publisher, Warakapola
• Somananda, O., 2016, Approaches Through Buddhism for Social Work. Author Publication
• Somananda, O., 2018, Social Work in Practice a Sri Lankan Experience, Āriya Publisher, Maradana, Colombo.
• Somananda, O., 2018, Buddhism for Social Development, Āriya Publisher, Maradana, Colombo

Theses

• A study on living conditions of the Psychiatric patients under Institutional care- with special references Medico-Pastoral Association, (in English), 2006-2008, Department of Social Work, University of Bengalore, India.

• රත්මලාන වෙරළබඩ ප්‍රදේශයේ ළමුන් බාල අපචාර ක්‍රියාවන්ගෙන්  වැළැක්වීම සඳහා ක්‍රියාත්මක කරන ලද ප්‍රජා සංවර්ධන ව්‍යාපෘතිය, (in Sinhala), 1995-1997, Sri Lanka School of Social Work, National Institute of Social Development, Sri Lanka.

Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals

• Somananda, O., 2012, “The Importance of Supervision in Social Work Education and Practice, Journal of Professionalization of Social Work in Sri Lanka 1952-2012, (Peer Reviewed Journal), National Institute social development. (NISD) Colombo
• Somananda, O., 2015, Contribution of Buddhist Philosophy of Scientific lows and Concept Related to Criminology, Samaja Sanhitha Volume No 1, (Peer Reviewed Journal), Social Development policy research and Publication Division, National Institute of Social Development, 104-109
• Somananda, O., 2015, Contributions of Therawadha Buddhism for Social Work and Social Service, Social Work Journal Volume 5, (Peer Reviewed Journal), Social Development policy research and Publication Division, National Institute of Social Development, 89-103
• Somananda, O., 2017, Report Writing in Social Case Works Practice, Sri Lanka journal of Social Work, (Peer Reviewed Journal), Social Development policy Research and Publication Division, National Institute of Social Development
• Somananda, O., 2017, Social Work Intervention: Women Empowerment Through Self-help Groups-A Case Study, E journal, (Peer Reviewed Journal), Social Work Social Development policy research and Publication Division at National Institute of Social Development
• Somananda, O., 2018, Social Work as a Profession, Vibudha Lekha, (A review), Department of Buddhist Culture, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

Articles in Other Journals      

• Somananda, O., 2015, Role of Social Work in Building Ethnic Harmony Through Religions Practice, Religious Tolerance and Harmony, Department of Religious Studies and Comparative Philosophy , Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, 181-191
• Somananda, O., 2017, A Study on the Service Delivery System in Yatiyanthota Divisional Secretariat,  Action Research publication, Social Development Policy Research and Publication Division, National Institute of Social Development
• සෝමානන්ද, ඕ., 2018, ප්‍රජා නායකත්වයෙහිලා බුද්ධ චරිතයෙන් ප්‍රකට වන නායකත්ව ගුණාංග, පින්කෙතක අස්වැන්න, අධ්‍යන ශාස්ත්‍රීය සංග්‍රහය, ශ්‍රී ලංකා බෞද්ධ හා පාලි විශ්ව විද්‍යාලය
• Somananda, O., 2019,  Buddhist Social Work Intervention, Psychosocial Problem faced by Teenage Mothers in Sri Lanka,  Conference Proceeding, The 16^th  United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2019, Ha Nam Province, Vietnam
• Somananda, O., 2020, Relationship between Sri Lankan Culture, Diets and COVID19 disease Control, Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics, EJAIS Vol. 30 (4), Official Journal of the Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) 143-148
• Somananda, O., 2020, A New Social Work Approach for Sri Lanka: Buddhist Social Work, Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics, EJAIS Vol. 30 (6), Official Journal of the Asian Bioethics Association (ABA) 307-311
• Somananda, O, Women Empowerment through self-help group: A case study, 2020, A practical handbook on social case study in different Social Work setting, Suvvi Publication, India

Abstracts 

• Somananda, O., 2010, Social Work Practice in Integrated Social Work Intervention Families Living in Poverty, Social work day conference, Conference proceeding, Social Development policy  Research and Publication Division, National Institute Social Development, Colombo
• Somananda, O., 2018, Problems and Challenges faced by People due to Uma Oya water Multi-Purpose Development Project- Sri Lanka ,Conference Proceeding, The 3^rd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches on UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), Bangkok, Thailand
• Somananda, o., 2019, අග්ගඤ්ඤ සූත්‍රයෙන් හෙලිවන සමාජ  සංස්ථාවන්හි ප්‍රභවය පිළිබඳ සමාජ විද්‍යාත්මක විමර්ශනයක්, NIRCBSH 2019, Nagananda 2^nd International Research Conclave on Buddhist Studies and Humanities, 166

Editions

• Chief Editor - BPU Journal of Buddhist Studies and Humanities (Peer Reviewed Journal Volume 4 Issue1 (JBSH) Faculty of Buddhist studies, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka

News letters

• Life skills education, 2010, Professional Social Worker, Social Development Policy Research and Publication Division, National Institute of Social Development

News Papers

• Professional Social Work and Buddhism, 2011, Budumaga, Diwaina News Paper
• Towards the Path of Enlightenment, 2018, IATBU 5th International Conference here on now, Daily News

Current Research Activities

• Ph.D. Reading, An Analytical study on applicability of Teaching in Buddhism for the Development of Buddhist Social Work Education based on Sutta Pitaka, Shukutoku University of Japan

Academic Distinctions, Scholarships, Prizes

• Best Performer, who completed the of Staff Development Course, Staff Development Centre, University of Wayaba, 2015
• Most Ven. Kalukondayāwe Sri Prañāśekhara Mahānāyaka Thera Memorial Scholarship – 2001, For the Best Student of the Year with First Class in Buddhist Philosophy at Bachelor of Arts (Special) Degree Examination – 2001, Buddhist and Pāli University, Sri Lanka.