Awards and Grants

Awards

  • 2018
    Faculty of Science Award for Research Excellence

  • 2017, 2018, 2019
    University of Colombo Senate Award for Research Excellence (Commendation Certificate)

  • 2017
    National Research Council Merit Awards (02) for Scientific Research Publications

  • 2016
    University of Colombo Senate Award (and cash prize) for Research Excellence (Open category)

  • 2014
    Commendation certificate for Popularization of Science awarded by the National Science Foundadtion, Sri Lanka

  • 2010
    President's Award for Scientific Research Publications

  • 1992
    Professor B. L. T De Silva Memorial award for best performance in Special Degree in Botany
  • 1992
    Swarna Senadhirajah Memorial award for best performance in Genetics and Plant Breeding
  • 1990
    Botany Department Staff prize for best performance in subjects offered by the Department of Botany at the First and Second Year Examinations in Science
  • 1984
    Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship (merit) for performance in G. C. E. (A/L)

Fellowships

  • 2015
    Chartered Biologist of Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka

  • 2013
    Fellow Member of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka

  • 2009
    Honorary Research Fellow, Institute of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen , Scotland, UK
  • 2009
    Commonwealth Academic Fellowship (Competitive Award), Commonwealth Commission, UK

  • 1997
    Commonwealth Full Scholarship (Open Category), Competitive Academic Award, Commonwealth Commission, UK

Research Grants

Co-investigator of research grant on Promoting green concept in lean management of manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka, funded by Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development (AHEAD), Ministry of Higher Education and Cultural Affairs, and University Grants Commission (2019-2021)

Co-investigator for investigations on Managing organic amendments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supplement fertiliser nitrogen inputs in tropical Indian and Sri Lankan agricultural soils funded by the Asia Pacific Network (2016-2018)

Co-investigator for investigations on Effects of selected invasive plant species on pollination of native plants in wet zone shrub communities, funded by Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka(2016)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for ‘Developing a Risk assessment for Forest Invaders of Sri Lanka’ funded by Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, Sri Lanka (2016)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for ‘Biodiversity Survey at Seethawaka Wet Zone Botanical Garden’, Sri Lanka , funded by Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, Sri Lanka(2015)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for three year study on ‘Development of a ecological model for assessment of risks of invasion during deliberate plant introductions to Sri Lanka’ , funded by University of Colombo Research Grant Scheme (2013)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for two year full time study on ‘Forecasting of the growth and yield performance Sri Lankan grown Sesame/Thala (Sesamum indicum L.) and its wild relatives to water deficit conditions: A Mathematical Modelling Approach’ , funded by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (2012)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for three year full time study on ‘Anatomical and physiological adaptations of stomata to changing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in different ecotypes across a range of altitudes’ , funded by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka(2010)

Grantee/Principal Investigator for one year full time study on ‘Effect of Lantana camara L (Gandapaana) on microbial populations and nutrient content of paddy soil’ , funded by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (2008)

Grantee /Principal Investigator for one year full time study on ‘Phytotoxic studies of Lantana camara L (Gandapaana) on paddy field weeds’ , funded by National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (2005)

Co-investigator of Aberdeen University Expedition to Sri Lanka (2000) for investigations on soil improvement through traditional agroforestry practices of Sri Lanka, funded by University of Aberdeen Principal’s Small Grants Fund, The Watt Grant for Ecological research, The Carnegie trust for the Universities of Scotland, The Institute of Biology (UK) The Gilchrist Educational Trust, The German National Merit Foundation and Percy Sladen Memorial Fund (UK)

Co-investigator of a two year part time study on ‘Diversity of selected marshlands in Colombo and Greater Colombo Area’ (1994), funded by National Research and Scientific Agency (NARESA, presently National Science Foundation), Sri Lanka