Prof. Kanchana Abeysekera

Academic Qualifications

• PhD 2008-2013

  Food Science & Technology/Health Food Technology

  Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• MSc 2005-2007

  Food & Nutrition

  Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

• BSc 2001-2005

  Agriculture, Specialized in Food Science & Technology, Second Class Upper Division

  Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

• 2019

  CTHE (Certification in Teaching in Higher Education)

  University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 2019

  SEDA (Staff and Educational Development Association)

  University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Professional Qualifications

• Fellow Member, Institute of Food Science and Technology Sri Lanka (IFSTSL), 2026
• Council Member, Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, 2025-2026
• SLBTA, Food Biotechnology, Sectional Committee Member, 2024
• SLBTA, Emerging Bio-technologies, Sectional Committee Member, 2024
• Vice President, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2021/2022
• Secretary, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2020/2021
• Editor, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2019/2020
• Editorial Board Member, Sri Lankan Journal of Biology – 2019/2020
• Assistant Editor, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2018/2019
• Council Member, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2017/2018
• Council Member, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2016/2017
• Fellow Biologist, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka
• Chartered Biologist, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka - since 2016
• Life Member, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka - since 2008
• Member, Young Scientist Forum, Sri Lanka
• Life Member, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Sri Lanka - since 2008
• Life Member, Nutrition Society, Sri Lanka - since 2009
• Life Member, Alumina Association of University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Positions

• Symposium Chairperson - Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2022

• Coordinator - Postgraduate Degree Programmes, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Committee member - Higher Degrees Committee, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Committee member - MPhil/PhD Selection Committee, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Committee member - Research Committee, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Laboratory In-charge - Food & Nutritional Sciences Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Senior Treasurer - Buddhist Society, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2021/2022

• Vice President - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2021/2022

• Secretary - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2020/2021

• Editorial Board Member - E-newsletter, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2019/2020

• Editor - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2019/2020

• Editorial Board Member - Sri Lankan Journal of Biology – 2019/2020

• Assistant Editor - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2018/2019

• Council Member - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2017/2018

• Council Member - Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2016/2017
• Coordinator - Examinations National Inter-University Biology Quiz Competition, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2017-2020
• Organizing Committee Member - National Inter-University Biology Quiz Competition, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2017-2021
• Evaluation Committee Member - National Inter-University Biology Quiz Competition, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka, 2021
• Organizing Committee Member - National Inter-University Biology Challenge, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka – 2021
• Coordinator - Student Handbook Preparation, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2017-2021
• Organizing Committee Member - Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2021
• Editorial Committee Member - Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2021

• Editor - Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2019

• Organizing Committee Member - Annual Research Symposium, Food & Beverage Committee, University of Colombo, 2018

• Technical Evaluation Committee - Industrial Technology Institute, 2016 & 2017 Member

• Technical Evaluation Committee - Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, 2017-2021 Member

• Technical Evaluation Committee - National Research Council Grants, 2020-2021 Member

• Procurement Committee - AHEAD Grants, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• Procurement Committee - Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo

• In-charge of the functional food lab Industrial Technology Institute, 2012-2017

• Reviewer - Institute of Biology Sri Lanka, Annual Session Abstracts – 2016-2020

• Reviewer - Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, Annual Session Abstracts

• Reviewer - Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of science (SLAAS), Annual Session Abstracts
• Reviewer - Industrial Technology Institute, Biennial Research Symposium abstracts
• Reviewer - Uwa Wellassa University, International Conference abstracts
• Reviewer - Rubber Research Institute, International Conference papers

• Reviewer - University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Faculty of Technology, International conference abstracts

• Reviewer - Young Scientists Forum Symposium

• Reviewer - Topical Agricultural Research - 2018-2021

• Reviewer - Sri Lankan Journal of Biology - 2018-2020

• Reviewer - Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

• Reviewer - Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka (JNSF), 2022

Employment

• To Date2026

  Dean

  Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 20262024

  Head

  Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• To Date2022

  Professor

  Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 20222017

  Senior Lecturer, Grade II

  Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 20172012

  Research Scientist

  Food Technology Section, Industrail Technology Institute, Sri Lanka

• 20122009

  Research Scientist

  Biotechnology Unit, Industrial Technology Institute, Sri Lanka

• 20092006

  Research Assistant

  Food Technology Section, Industrial Technology Institute, Sri Lanka

• 20062005

  Demonstrator

  Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Teaching

• Fundamentals of Food & Nutrition
• Food Preservation and Processing Technology
• Food Packaging Technology
• Functional Food & Nutraceutical Technology
• Research Methodology