{{Short description|Lightning protection expert}} {{Infobox person | name = Prof. Chandima Gomes | image = Chandima Gomes Potrait.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | known_for = Electrical Engineering Physics Meteorology | education = Royal College Colombo
University of Colombo Uppsala University | employer = University of Witwatersrand | occupation = Distinguished Professor of High Voltage Engineering | title = Chair, EPPEI-HVAC | networth = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = Nilanthi Gomes | partner = | children = Ashen Indimal Gomes & Amesh Eromal Gomes | parents = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}
'''Chandima Gomes''' (Sinhala: චන්දිම ගෝමස්) is a Sri Lankan engineer, physicist and writer who is now working as a distinguished professor of high-voltage engineering at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a permanent resident of Malaysia. The platform of his research and engineering career is mainly Asia and Africa, where he works on lightning protection, grounding, and electromagnetic interference, on which topics he has put several of his research outputs into practice. Apart from lightning protection and electromagnetic compatibility that reduces economic losses from natural and man-made threats, he has also been working on human and animal safety against lightning mainly in developing countries in Asia and Africa.<ref>[http://www.scidev.net/global/disasters/feature/striking-back-lightning-in-the-developing-world.html Striking back: lightning in the developing world, Sci Dev Net, August 2007]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131103185419/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131102-lightning-deaths-developing-countries-storms/ National Geographic, November 2 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/639619-entebbe-tororo-more-prone-to-lightning-strikes.html Entebbe, Tororo more prone to lightning strikes, New Vision, February 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=64544 Protection of Archaeological sites in the wrong way, The Island, October 25, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/improved-methods-suggested-to-map-areas-prone-to-lightning/article1948746.ece Improved methods suggested to map areas prone to lightning, The Hindu, November 15, 2007]</ref> He is also an engineering consultant and trainer in lightning protection, grounding and bonding, electromagnetic interference and research methodology. He has conducted over 120 training programs all over the world.
== Education and early career == frameless|right|Prof. Chandima Gomes with his wife in Sweden in late 90s Gorakanage Arosha Chandima Gomes was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 12 September 1966. He had his education up to secondary level at Royal College<ref>[http://royalcollege.lk Royal College Sri Lanka]</ref> and then proceeded to University of Colombo,<ref>[http://www.cmb.ac.lk/ University of Colombo Sri Lanka]</ref> where he studied for a special degree in physics. In 1993 he passed out from UoC with first-class honours degree in the field of physics. Soon after his first degree, Gomes joined the UoC as a lecturer in physics and started a joint PhD program with Uppsala University, Sweden.<ref>[http://www.uu.se/ Uppsala University Sweden]</ref> At Uppsala University, he did research in several fields such as lightning physics, high-voltage engineering, discharge physics etc. under the supervision of Vernon Cooray.<ref>[http://www.el.angstrom.uu.se/personer/vernon/Vernon.html Vernon Cooray Home Page Uppsala University]</ref> In 1999, he received his PhD and returned to Sri Lanka. Chandima is also a chartered engineer and Chartered Physicist registered in the UK.
From 1999 to 2009, while working as a senior academic and a researcher at UoC, Gomes was involved with several projects in promoting lightning safety and protection in the South Asian region.<ref>[http://www.sari-energy.org/PageFiles/What_We_Do/SmallGrants/Downloads/NewsletterDec05.pdf SARI/Energy (USAID) Report, 2005] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114932/http://www.sari-energy.org/PageFiles/What_We_Do/SmallGrants/Downloads/NewsletterDec05.pdf |date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/2007/05/29/L2.pdf Beyond Frontiers, The Island, 29th May 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_history/intl_safety_initiative.html NLSI International Lightning Safety Initiatives] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303070012/http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_history/intl_safety_initiative.html |date=March 3, 2015 }}</ref> He was also involved with many commissions in Sri Lanka such as being the chairman of the Young Scientists Forum of NASTEC,<ref>[http://www.nastec.lk/index.php/young-scientists-forum Young Scientists Forum NASTEC Sri Lanka]</ref> chairman of the committee on developing National Policy on Lightning Protection,<ref>[http://www.nastec.lk/ National Science and Technology Commission Sri Lanka]</ref> and Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission's National Policy on Antenna Structures.<ref>[http://www.trc.gov.lk/images/pdf/guide_l.pdf National Policy on Antenna Structures]</ref>
== Career in Malaysia ==
frameless|right|Gomes after a conference in Uganda frameless|right|Gomes during early 20s
Gomes started his career as an engineering consultant in lightning protection and EMI/EMC in the early 2000 and gradually became a trainer on the subject. In 2010 he shifted to Malaysia as a professor of electrical engineering,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eng.upm.edu.my/akademikkee#akademikkee |title=Academic Staff Dept Electrical Engineering Universiti Putra Malaysia |access-date=2015-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924000743/http://www.eng.upm.edu.my/akademikkee#akademikkee |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), where he played a key role in establishing the Centre for Electromagnetic and Lightning Protection (CELP)<ref>[http://www.celp.upm.edu.my/index.php/en/ CELP Malaysia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108235331/http://www.celp.upm.edu.my/index.php/en/ |date=January 8, 2015 }}</ref> of which Chandima became the first head of the institute.<ref>[http://www.celp.upm.edu.my/index.php/en/features/organization CELP organizational chart] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124845/http://www.celp.upm.edu.my/index.php/en/features/organization |date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref> The CELP, the first of its kind in Asia, is dedicated to research, education, awareness and training on lightning-related engineering and physics.
After his work in promoting lightning safety in Asia, he started working in the same line in Africa where the annual lightning death is extremely high.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131103185419/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131102-lightning-deaths-developing-countries-storms/ National Geographic, November 2 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2013/02/13/lightning-kills-hundreds-every-year-in-south-africa Lightning kills hundreds every year in South Africa]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=South African politician says number of lightning deaths is rising |date=2011-01-04 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415115259/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/04/south-african-lightning-deaths |archive-date=2023-04-15 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/04/south-african-lightning-deaths}}</ref> He pioneered in establishing the African Centre for Lightning and Electromagnetics (ACLE), with the patronage of NAM S&T Center<ref>[http://www.namstct.org/ NAM Science and Technology Centre New Delhi]</ref> in New Delhi and Ugandan Statehouse.<ref>[http://www.statehouse.go.ug/ Uganda State House]</ref> He also supported in forming many lightning research and awareness centres established in several countries in the developing world.<ref>[http://lightningindia.wordpress.com/ Lightning Awareness and Research Centre India]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://aclenet.org/executive-committee |title=African Centre for Lightning and Electromagnetics |access-date=2015-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133718/http://aclenet.org/executive-committee |archive-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also serves as an adviser for many institutes including National Lightning Safety Institute, USA.<ref>[http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_history/nlsi_boa_list.html NLSI International Board of Advisors]</ref> Chandima Gomes has contributed to a number of research papers published on the lightning safety and protection in Asia and Africa.<ref>{{cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2014.6973323 | chapter=Lightning environment in Burundi | title=2014 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2014 | last1=Nibigira | first1=Edward | last2=Gomes | first2=Chandima | pages=1258–1261 | isbn=978-1-4799-3544-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2012.6344414 | chapter=Lightning accidents in Nigeria: With special attention to aviation mishaps | title=2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2012 | last1=Buba | first1=Sani Dahiru | last2=Gomes | first2=Chandima | last3=Ab Kadir | first3=Mohd Zainal Abidin | pages=1–6 | isbn=978-1-4673-1897-6 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2012.6344242 | chapter=Case studies of lightning related injuries and property damage in Zambia | title=2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2012 | last1=Chileshe Lubasi | first1=Foster | last2=Gomes | first2=Chandima | last3=Kadir | first3=Mohd Zainal Abidin Ab | last4=Cooper | first4=Mary Ann | pages=1–5 | isbn=978-1-4673-1897-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19475705.2014.922506#.U98TsvmSwYM | doi=10.1080/19475705.2014.922506 | title=Lightning safety of under-privileged communities around Lake Victoria | date=2015 | last1=Mary | first1=Ahurra Kulyaka | last2=Gomes | first2=Chandima | journal=Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk | volume=6 | issue=8 | pages=669–685 | bibcode=2015GNHR....6..669M }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2012.6344316 | chapter=Public perceptions and lightning safety education in Sri Lanka | title=2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2012 | last1=Jayaratne | first1=K P S Chandana | last2=Gomes | first2=Chandima | pages=1–7 | isbn=978-1-4673-1897-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2014.6973440 | chapter=Lightning occurrence density in Guinea | title=2014 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2014 | last1=Bah | first1=Mamadou Lamine | last2=Tounkara | first2=Mamadou | last3=Gomes | first3=Chandima | last4=Davidov | first4=Ari | last5=Anderson | first5=Jim | pages=1902–1908 | isbn=978-1-4799-3544-4 }}</ref> Chandima has also done studies on the lightning effects on animals, an area which has been hardly investigated.<ref>{{cite book | doi=10.1109/ICLP.2012.6344259 | chapter=Lightning related fish mortality: Case study from Bangladesh | title=2012 International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) | date=2012 | last1=Gomes | first1=Chandima | last2=Ahmed | first2=Munir | last3=Zele | first3=Diana | pages=1–5 | isbn=978-1-4673-1897-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00484-011-0515-5 | doi=10.1007/s00484-011-0515-5 | title=Lightning safety of animals | date=2012 | last1=Gomes | first1=Chandima | journal=International Journal of Biometeorology | volume=56 | issue=6 | pages=1011–1023 | pmid=22215021 | bibcode=2012IJBm...56.1011G | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In November 2018, Gomes shifted to South Africa, becoming the chair of the ESKOM Power Plant Engineering Institute (EPPEI)-HVAC and a professor of high-voltage engineering at the University of Witwatersrand.
== Achievements ==
In 2014, with over 10 years of research, Gomes made an explanation on the lightning protection technology of ancient Sri Lankan Buddhist monuments, called stupa; very large hemispherical/conical buildings constructed 1500–2000 years ago. Although the Mahawamsa, the "Great Chronicle" of Sri Lankan history, written in the first few centuries A.D., has also mentioned that these stupa have been provided with lightning protection by Sri Lankan kings, until Chandima's work there was no scientifically sound explanation given on the methodology.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rivira.lk/epaper/sunday/2015/01/25/index.html#17/z |title=Ranweli Sayen Mathuwana Akunu Thakshanaya (in Sinhala Language) |access-date=2015-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127104330/http://www.rivira.lk/epaper/sunday/2015/01/25/index.html#17/z |archive-date=2015-01-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6973392&searchWithin%3Dgomes%26queryText%3DICLP+2014 Lightning current and voltage distribution of large axially symmetric Buddhist stupa in Sri Lanka]</ref><ref>[https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6973441&searchWithin%3Dgomes%26queryText%3DICLP+2014 Lightning; Gods and Sciences]</ref>
Ideas depicted in many general articles contributed by Gomes have already been put into practice in several countries.<ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=42126 Milking the Southern Expressway, The Island, December 29, 2011]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131103185419/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131102-lightning-deaths-developing-countries-storms/ National Geographic, November 2 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=70693 Mother-Care Centers, The Island, January 20, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?code_title=100468&page=article-details&page_cat=article-details The Next Alien Attack, The Island, March 25 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=69636 City of Universities, The Island, January 04 2013]</ref>
Chandima Gomes has also authored the Sinhala book "The pathway to be rich" (Sinhala: ධනවතෙකු වීමේ මග), which is now in wide circulation among Sinhala readers in both Sri Lanka and abroad.<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chandima_Gomes/publication/274956735_Dhanawatheku_Weeme_Maga_The_pathway_to_be_rich/links/552d339c0cf21acb09214536/Dhanawatheku-Weeme-Maga-The-pathway-to-be-rich.pdf ධනවතෙකු වීමේ මග]. {{ISBN|978-955-42008-0-7}}</ref>
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== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gomes, Chandima}} Category:Sri Lankan academics Category:Sri Lankan physicists Category:Sinhalese people Category:Sri Lankan engineers Category:Sri Lankan expatriate academics Category:Expatriate academics in Malaysia Category:Sri Lankan emigrants to Malaysia Category:Sri Lankan Buddhists Category:People from Colombo Category:Alumni of Royal College, Colombo Category:Alumni of the University of Colombo Category:Uppsala University alumni Category:1966 births Category:Living people