Academic and administrative position

• Present May 1997

  Professor of Environment Science

  Department of Zoology, University of Colombo, Colombo 3.

• April 1997January 1990

  Senior Lecturer - Grade I

  Zoology Division, Open University of Sri Lanka

• December 1989February 1989

  Senior Lecturer - Grade II

  Zoological Division, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka

• February 1997March 1985

  Lecturer

  Division of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka

• April 1984June 1982

  Lecturer

  Division of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka

• August 1984August 1974

  Assistant Lecturer

  Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka

• July 1974February 1974

  Temporary Research Assistant

  National Science Council (Presently National Science Foundation) on Grant 2/RG/72/37

• July 1974February 1974

  Temporary Research Assistant

  National Science Council (Presently National Science Foundation) on Grant 2/RG/72/37

• 20241987

  Course contribution - Master’s degree in Protected Landscape Management: Integrating Conservation and Development Programmes

  Masters Degree. International Center for Protected Landscape, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, Wales

• 20022000

  Adjunct Professor

  Brandies University, Bostan

• 20242004

  Visiting Lecturer

  Konan University, Japan

• Present2004

  Post Graduate Examiner

  Bharathi University, Coimbator, India

• Present2002

  Staff Performance Evaluator

  Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbator, India

• 28/02/958/11/94

  Head

  Department of Zoology, Open University of Sri Lanka

• 19971996

  Head

  Department of Zoology, Open University of Sri Lanka

• 8/4/9423/9/93

  Acting Head

  Department of Zoology, Open University of Sri Lanka

Positions held in professional bodies

• June 1992October 1989

  Director

  Department of Wildlife Conservation

• 20242007

  Member Project Evaluation: Team

  USAID: Community Participatory Conservation Initiatives - Nishogara, Bangladesh

• 20142013

  Advisor to Hon Minister for Wildlife Resource Conservation

• Present2007

  Member, National Museum Advisory Committee

  Department of National Museums

• 19921989

  Member, Environmental Council

  Central Environmental Authority

• 20081994

  Member, Environmental Council

  Central Environmental Authority

• 20082007

  Member, Fauna and Flora Advisory Committee

  Department of Wildlife Conservation

• 20031997

  Member of Board

  Central Environmental Authority

• 20052003

  Member, Board of Management

  Sri Lanka Foundation

• 20241992

  Chairman, Environment Council

  Central Environmental Authority

• 20242024

  Member

  National Academy of Science, Sri Lanka

• 20242012

  President

  President, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Sri Lanka

• 20242024

  Member

  President, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Sri Lanka

• 20242024

  Member

  Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka

• 20242024

  Member

  Country representative, Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas/World Conservation Union (IUCN).

• 20242024

  Technical Advisor

  Important Bird Areas Programme Asia, BirdLife Asia Council

• 20001994

  Member

  IGBP National Committee, Ministry of Environment

• 19991997

  Member

  National Steering Committee, GEF Small Grants Scheme, UNDP

• 20042002

  Chairman

  Environmental Research Identification Committee – Biodiversity, CEA

• 20242000

  Member

  Presidential Task force on Development of Wildlife Conservation

• 20242000

  Member

  Ministerial Task Force on Development of Wildlife Sector

• 20241999

  Co-Chairman

  Development and Conservation of Bird Paradises Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Governments,

• 20001998

  Environmental Advisor

  Udawalwe Special area Development Project, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka

• 19991998

  Member

  Technical Advisory Group, ADB Biodiversity Conservation Project, Government of Sri Lanka

• 20001994

  Member

  Standing Committee on Science, University Grants Commission.

• Oct 1994Dec 1993

  Member

  Standing Committee on Biological Sciences, University Grants Commission.

• 19951993

  Member

  Steering Committee for the Compilation of the Directory of Environmental Education Activities and Resources, National Institute of Education,

• 19931991

  Board Member

  Wayamba Provincial Environmental Authority

• 19941990

  Member

  Education Sectoral Committee for the Implementation of the NCS Central Environmental Authority

• 19941990

  Member

  Land Resources (Biotic) Sectoral Committee for the Implementation of the NCS Central Environmental Authority.

• 19921990

  Member

  Land Use Policy Planning Committee /Land Use Policy Planning Division, Ministry of Lands, Irrigation and Mahaweli Development

• June 1992April 1990

  Chairman

  Wannialoatto Trust –( Indigenous Peoples Trust) / Department of Wildlife Conservation

• June 1992September 1991

  Chairman

  Wildlife Trust

• 1994February 1990

  Member

  Committee on Secondary Level Environment Education, Central Environmental Authority

• 19931985

  Member

  Advisory Council, Zoological Survey of Sri Lanka, Natural Resources, Energy & Science Authority of Sri Lanka (presently National Science Foundation)

• 19911988

  Member

  Technical Committee for Genetic Resources Conservation Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka

• 19891987

  Member

  National Sea Turtle Survey Committee , National Aquatic Resources Agency

• 20241989

  Member

  Committee on Environment, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science

• 19891988

  Member

  Coordination Committee on Research at Sinharaja, Department of Forest Conservation

• 19911989

  Wildlife Specialist

  Committee for the Protection and Management of the Muthurajawela Marshes, Greater Colombo Economic Commission

• 19911989

  Member

  Working Group - Preparation of Environmental Profile of Muthurajawela and Negombo Lagoon, Greater Colombo Economic Commission

• 19871982

  Member

  Technical Committee on Environment, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka

• 19871986

  Member

  Steering Committee for the Conference on Environmental Education - Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka

• 20241985

  Secretary, Section “D”

  Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science

• 20241987

  President, Section “D”

  Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science

• 19861985

  Wildlife Ecologist

  On the Department of Forest Conservation/ International Union for Conservation of Nature/World Wildlife Fund, Team for the “Consolidation of Sinharaja International Man and Biosphere Reserve” - Preparation of Management Plan

• 19841983

  Specialist Advisor

  Environment, Mahaweli Development Area - Video Film Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka

• 20241986

  Member, Technical

  Sub-committee to organize the workshop on “The Ecology and Conservation of Tropical Humid Forests of the Indo-malayan Realm” National MAB Committee, NARESA

• 20122007

  President

  Eco-tourism Society of Sri Lanka

• 20072000

  Member Scientific Advisory Board

  The Eco-lodge Project - Deniyaya

• 20051998

  Founder Member/Vice President

  Eco-tourism Society of Sri Lanka

• Present2000

  Lecturer in Eco-tourism

  University of Colombo: EN3007. (since 2000). For Masters Programme in Forestry & Environment - Sri Jayewardenepura University. Diploma in Tourism Economics & Management - University of Colombo

• Present2000

  Technical Advisor

  Bird Friendly Tourism, BirdLife Asia Council

• 19851982

  Honorary Secretary

  National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union of Sri Lanka

• 19901989

  Honorary Secretary

  National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union of Sri Lanka

• 19901987

  Coordinating Secretary

  Sri Lanka Environment Congress

• 19881986

  Member, Board of Trustees

  Mihikatha Trust Fund (Sri Lanka Environment Congress)

• 19971989

  Member, Advisory Committee

  “Vidusara” Weekly Science Journal, Upali Newspapers Limited, Sri Lanka.

• 19871980

  Coordinator, March for Conservation

  University of Colombo

• 19921988

  Scientific Advisor, March for Conservation

  University of Colombo

• 19911998

  President

  Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, University of Colombo

• Present1996

  President

  Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, University of Colombo

• 19801977

  Vice Patron

  Young Zoologists’ Association, National Zoological Gardens

• 19971994

  Vice Patron

  Young Zoologists’ Association, National Zoological Gardens

• 19771975

  Secretary

  Sri Lanka Natural History Society

• 20241983

  Vice President

  Sri Lanka Natural History Society

• 19801977

  Secretary

  Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka

• 20241983

  Joint Secretary

  Institute of Biology

• 19831980

  General Secretary March for Conservation

  University of Colombo

• 20241984

  Joint Coordinator, March for Conservation

  University of Colombo

• 19841983

  Member

  Sports Advisory Council, University of Colombo

• Present2014

  Global Council Member

  BirdLife International, Cambridge

• Present2014

  President BirdLife Council,

  Bird Life Asia Council, Bird Life International, Cambridge

• 20142000

  Vice President

  Bird Life Asia Council, Bird Life International, Cambridge

• 19881987

  National Coordination

  Asian Wetland Survey - World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)/World Conservation Union (IUCN)

• Present1987

  National Representative

  Oriental Bird Club - United Kingdom

• 19981994

  National Co-coordinator

  ASIAN RED DATA PROGRAMME. Birdlife International/ Birdlife Asia Council

• 20241994

  Expert

  Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. Inter Parliamentary Panel on Climate Change

• Present1997

  Technical Advisor

  Important Bird Area Programme Birdlife Asia Council

• 20001996

  Secretary General

  Pan Asian Ornithological Congress

Consultations

• 20242009

  Team Leader/ Lead Author, Sri Lanka Environmental Outlook

  Ministry of Environment

• 20062002

  Deputy Team Leader/Protected Area Management Specialist

  Protected Area Management & Wildlife Conservation Project (ADB)

• September 1995October 1994

  Biodiversity Consultant

  Ministry of Transport, Environment & Women’s Affairs

• October 1994September 1992

  Wetland Consultant

  Wetland Conservation Project/ Euro consult.

• 19911990

  Consultant

  Indira Gandhi Open University of India

Special projects

• 07 March 198701 March 1987

  Participant, Rapid Assessment Techniques for Coastal Wetland Evaluation, Interwader, IWRB - Malaysia

• 20081992

  Trainer, Environmental Impact Assessment Training workshops. 1-15

• 20052000

  Trainer

  Wildlife research methodology. Department of Wildlife Conservation Training Center, Giritala

• 20092008

  Principle Trainer

  Field Study Centers Programme – established in the schools under the ADB funded, Secondary Education Modernization Programme (SEMP) 08 - Workshops at Sinharaja for 160 Teachers, from Provinces

• Present2011

  Member

  National Biodiversity Experts Committee Ministry of Environment

• Present2005

  Chairman

  Biodiversity & Environment Research Committee, National Science Foundation

• 20062002

  Chairman

  National Biodiversity Experts Committee Ministry of Environment

• 20102005

  Chairman

  Thematic Committee on Environment Protection & Sustainable Development, National Science Foundation

• 20241997

  Author

  National Wetland Conservation Policy - Ministry of Environment

• 20241994

  Sri Lanka Delegate at the Biodiversity Conventions, Conference of Parties 1

• 20241995

  Sri Lanka Delegate at the Biodiversity Conventions, Conference of Parties 2

• 20241994

  Author

  Strategy for the Preparation of A Biodiversity Action Plan for Sri Lanka, Ministry of Transport, Environment & Women’s Affairs.

• 19971994

  Member

  National Biodiversity Experts Committee Ministry of Transport, Environment & Women’s Affairs,

• 19971994

  Member

  National Biodiverity Co-ordinating Committee Ministry of Transport, Environment & Women’s Affairs.

• 20241992

  Settler

  Wildlife Trust of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka

• 20241991

  Contribution to National Environmental Action Plan,

  Government of Sri Lanka, World Bank Programme

• 20241990

  Author

  National Wildlife Policy of Sri Lanka – Department of Wildlife Conservation, Government of Sri Lanka

• 20241988

  Sector Author, Environmental Education

  National Conservation Strategy - Government of Sri Lanka

• 20241989

  “Kurullan Narambamu” (Lets Watch Birds) - accepted as a Library Book for Schools.

• 19811980

  Team Member

  Wildlife Sector Study on the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Accelerated Mahaweli Project TAMS Report - Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka