Academic Distinctions / Fellowships

  • 1994
    Awarded the “Professor B.L.T. de Silva Memorial Prize” for the most outstanding student at the final Special Degree (Botany) examination in Science, University of Colombo.
  • 1992
    Awarded the “University of Colombo Botany Department Staff Prize” for the best performance in Botany at the first and second examinations in Science, University of Colombo.
  • 1986
    Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship (Merit) based on the performance at the G. C.E (A/L) Examination
  • 2012/2013
    IWMI Award 2012/2013 sponsored by International Water Management Institute for the winner of the Competition on ‘Water Resources Development and Management for future challenges; Role of Engineer Meeting Future Challenges of Water Resources Development/Management in Sri Lanka’. Best Technical Paper (over 35 y of age) by Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka was awarded to the joint paper ‘Floating wetlands for management of algal washout from waste stabilization pond effluent: A case study at Hikkaduwa waste stabilization pond’ authored by Kalubowila, S., Jayaweera, M., Nanayakkara, C.M. and Gunatilleke, N De S.
  • 2010
    Cochran Fellowship – 2010- Tenable in the USA – Training received on “Biotechnology – Executive Training for Minister Level” offered by the USDA/FAS.
  • 2002
    ADB grant for human resource development in Universities- for Doctoral studies

Awards Received

  • 2021
    National Awards for Excellence in Agricultural Research: Non-plantation Sector- Second Prize -2021; Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research
  • 2021
    National Awards for Excellence in Agricultural Research: Non-plantation Sector- Third Prize- 2021; Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research
  • 2021
    National Awards for Excellence in Agricultural Research: Livestock, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Second Prize- 2021; Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research
  • 2019
    Presidential Award (Category-Patent)
  • 2017; 2018; 2019; 2020
    Faculty of Science Research Award for Excellence in Research
  • 2016; 2017; 2018; 2019; 2020; 2021; 2022
    University of Colombo Senate Award for Excellence in Research (Commendation)
  • 2017
    Support Scheme for Supervision of Research Degrees (SUSRED) 2017. Category: Ph. D.: Was awarded to the dissertation titled “Investigating metabolites of selected macrofungi for anticancer activity, induction of apoptosis and isolation of active compounds, by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka
  • 2017
    Best poster presentation-Section D, at the 73rd Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. Title: Antimicrobial peptides in web silk of Nephilengys malabarensis (hermit spider) are secreted by the aggregate gland
  • 2015; 2016; 2018
    NRC Merit Award for Scientific Publication
  • 2012/2013
    IWMI Award 2012/2013 sponsored by International Water Management Institute; Best Technical Paper (over 35 y of age) by Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka was awarded to the joint paper ‘Floating wetlands for management of algal washout from waste stabilization pond effluent: A case study at Hikkaduwa waste stabilization pond’ authored by Kalubowila, S., Jayaweera, M., Nanayakkara, C.M. and Gunatilleke, N De S.

Research Grants Received

Title Grant No., awarding body and period of award

Total Award(Rs)

Involvement
Development of a phosphate biofertilizer for improved phosphorus nutrition of rice NARP/16/UC/SC/01

National Agricultural Research Plan of Ministry of Agriculture

2016-2018 (2 y)

2,020,900/ Principal Investigator
Development of a biofertilizer for cinnamon and pepper

 

AP/3/2/2016/CG/28

University of Colombo

2016-2019

2,564,300/ Principal Investigator
Use of microorganisms to improve solubility of phosphate fertilizer RG/2011/AG/06

National Science Foundation

2013-2016

 

1,914,250/

 

Principal Investigator
Use of Phosphate solubilizing bacteria as biofertilizers to improve Sri Lankan agriculture

 

09-71.

National Research Council

2011-2014

Principal investigator

 

Principal Investigator
A study of the diversity of macrofungi in selected dry zone forest reserves and investigation of their bioactive compounds

 

11-40

National Research Council

2013-2015

7,446,980/

 

Collaborator
Isolation, identification and characterization of health beneficial bacteria and pathogenic microflora of dairy origin in Sri Lanka. RG/2016/AG/02

National Science Foundation

2016-2019

2,000,500/ Collaborator
Identification and characterizations of the effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on rice plant growth and its microbiome with special emphasis on biofertilizer establishment and effectiveness

 

Project CRP/LKA23-01

2024-2027

Euro 30,000 Principal Investigator