The award is offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. It promotes academic cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars from abroad and from Germany. The Foundation sponsors the best scientists and scholars as well as prospective leaders irrespective of regional origin or disciplinary focus.

Selection of awardees is based on the principle of academic self-governance: committees composed of scientists and scholars of all academic disciplines decide who will be sponsored, independently and solely according to standards of academic excellence.

Dr. Wasantha will spend up to two years in Germany and will be working on a project related to his research area. This research stay will certainly help him to make a significant contribution to his research area and establish himself as a high-quality researcher.

Dr. Wasantha completed his PhD degree in Civil Engineering (Geomechanics/Rock Mechanics) at Monash University under the supervision of Professor Ranjith Gamage, and graduated on May, 2014. Title of his PhD thesis is “On the coupled hydro-mechanical behaviour of jointed rock masses: an application to mine slope stability” and he conducted experimental, numerical and theoretical investigations to achieve the objectives of the research. He has received number of awards due to his outstanding track record of high-quality publications.