BIOGRAPHY

Dr Nisansala Vidanapathirana is a senior Lecturer in the University of Colombo Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences at Hambantota since 2014 and Head of the Department, Department of Agro-technology since 2015 up to date. She graduated in the year 2005 as a B.Sc. Agriculture graduate with Second Class Upper Division honor and completed Masters (Master in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) in 2009. Dr Nisansala got an EU scholarship for her PhD studies to University of Turku, Finland and she has  done her PhD research in Finland in the area of information system sciences especially on e-learning for farmers with collaboration of University of Colombo.  She started her carrier in 2005 as a temporary Demonstrator in University of Ruhuna, Faculty of Agriculture, then Research Assistant at University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine. She joined to  University of Colombo Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences at Hambantota in year 2007 and able to introduce Bachelor of Agro-technology Degree for farming community as the first ever Degree program in Sri Lanka for Agriculture entrepreneurs.

Qualifications, Fellowships and Certifications

  • PhD 2018

    PhD

    University of Turku, Finland and University of Colombo Sri Lanka

  • Master 2006 - 2009

    Master in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

    University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

  • BSc in Agriculture

    BSc in Agriculture

    Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna,,Sri Lanka

Positions

  • 2022/03/01 2021/08/08

    Acting Director, UCIARS

    Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences, University of Colombo

  • 2020/06/07 2019/10/24

    Acting Director, UCIARS

    Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences, University of Colombo

  • present 2015

    Head of the Department, Department of Agro-Technology

    Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences, University of Colombo

  • present2007

    Course Coordinator, Senior lecturer, Bachelor of Agro-technology Degree program

    Department of Agro-technology, UCIARS

  • 20072006

    Research Assistant

    University of Colombo Institute for agro-technology and Rural Sciences, Sri Lanka

  • 2006 September2006 January

    Demonstrator

    University of Ruhuna, Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture Sri Lanka