I am a senior lecturer 1 in the University of Colombo Institute for Agro Technology and Rural Sciences at Hambantota since 2016. I completed my Ph.D. at Wye College in England in 1994 and undergraduate studies at the faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya.
I started my professional carrier as a researcher in the Department of Agriculture, in 1985 and served at the Regional Agriculture Research Station at Aralaganwila, Field crop Research and Development Institute at Mahailuppallama, Grain Legume and Oil Crop Research and Development Institute at Angunakolapalassa and Agriculture Research Station at Thelijjawila in Matter over 27 years. Also, I worked as the District Agriculture Director in Matara from the year 2012 to 2016. Over a period of 30 years as a researcher, I have developed more than 12 technologies on fruit crops, particularly on Banana.
Being a researcher I have released five banana varieties namely as Kandula, Pulathisi, Aggra, Prasad, and Parakum as superior varieties for commercial cultivations. I have authored more than 45 research and technical publications and have made more than 100 technical presentations in topics related to novel green technologies for fruit crops. My special interests lie in the area of technology development and dissemination of technologies among the farming community.
B .Sc .( Agriculture)Second class Lower division, University of Peradeniya.
Ph.D. (Horticulture), Wye College, England
1982 – 1983– Temporary Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Crop Science , Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.
1985 – 2012 – Research officer in the Department of Agriculture
2012 – 2016 – District Agriculture Director , District Secretariat, Matara
2017 to the date – Senior Lecturer 1, UCIARS, Waligattha, Hambantota