People

Asoka
Asoka Herath
Lead Consultant Geology
Bachelor of Science  - Geology (Hons), University of Sri Lanka, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Master of Science - Engineering Geology, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

 

Professional Affiliations;

  • Member of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, UK
  • Registered as a Chartered Engineer, Engineering Councils, UK

Asoka  is an accomplished professional engineering geologist/geotechnical engineer with 42 years of experience in civil engineering and mining. Asoka currently works with Australian Mining Consultants (AMC) – Perth, Australia, specializes in rock and soil mechanics, and is highly experienced in the design and management of geotechnical investigations in civil engineering and mining projects, specifically in hydropower development and open pit mining. He is an expert in rock mass characterization, ground improvement including grouting, rock engineering in tunneling and underground excavations, slope stability investigation, slope design, and remediation.

Core Expertise

Asoka specializes in rock and soil mechanics and is highly experienced in design and management of geotechnical investigations in civil engineering and mining projects, specifically in hydropower development and open pit mining. He is an expert in rock mass characterisation, ground improvement including grouting, rock engineering in tunnelling and underground excavations, slope stability investigation, slope design and remediation. He is experienced in liaison with design engineers, construction supervisors, clients, consultants and contractors, easily integrates into multi-disciplinary teams, has a proven ability in mentoring and skilled in technical report writing/review and technical presentations.

Projects

Australia

Asoka is an accomplished professional engineering geologist/geotechnical engineer with 37 years of experience in civil engineering and mining. Asoka currently works with Australian Mining Consultants (AMC) – Perth, Australia and Eco Power Ltd - Sri Lanka as a principal geotechnical consultant (contract) providing expert advise and conducting high level reviews. 

His geotechnical engineering carrier started in the late 1970’s with Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau (CECB) of Sri Lanka where he worked for more than 12 years in the feasibility studies, design  and construction of several major hydropower projects and project management. 

In Australia he worked with some major mining companies such as Western Mining, BHP Billiton and Newcrest providing operational geotechnical support to number of large open pit and underground mines. Since 2007 he worked several years with Snowden Group - Mining Consultants - Perth, Australia as a principal consultant. Main duties included project management of geotechnical investigations detailed geotechnical design of a large number of diverse open pit and underground  mining projects. 

Sri Lanka and Africa

Prior to joining AMC Asoka worked for couple of years on part time basis with Ground Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd of Sri Lanka (GEC) providing expert advise on site investigation and geotechnical characterisation of number of  small hydropower projects in Sri Lanka. The work with GEC is ongoing as required.

Some of the major hydropower and irrigation projects in Sri Lanka and Africa where Asoka had been the project engineering geologist and conducted the geotechnical studies are listed below:

  • Maduruoya dam site investigation (70m high 4.5 km earth core rock fill dam).
  • Kothmale hydropower project, (210 MW, 90m high 600m concrete faced rock fill dam, underground power house) investigations and site geotechnical support during the construction of the project. Worked as the senior engineering geologist and the geotechnical team leader.
  • Feasibility studies and dam site investigation for Broadlands hydropower project.
  • Feasibility studies and dam site investigations for Upper Kothmale hydropower project
  • Feasibility studies and site geotechnical support for Samanalawewa hydropower project.
  • Pre-feasibility studies for Kalu-Ganga multi-purpose Project – evaluation of 15 dam sites.
  • Geotechnical appraisal and grouting designs for Rwimi and Sirinko small hydroprower projects in Uganda