Currently a Senior Professor and the Head, Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya and a leading Plant Taxonomist in the country. Graduated from the University of Peradeniya obtaining B.Sc. Special Degree in Botany (First Class Honours) in 1992 and joined the University in 1993 as a Probationary Lecturer. Proceeded to the University of Reading, United Kingdom for post-graduate studies in September 1996, having secured a Commonwealth Postgraduate Scholarship and was awarded the Ph.D. in 1999 in Plant Molecular Systematics and Phylogenetics. Promoted to Professor in Botany on merit in 2008 and Senior Professor in 2016. Authored over 45 peer reviewed journal publications and 75 conference papers and has been awarded Presidential Awards for Scientific Research and Research Fellowships. My areas of expertise lies in Plant Taxonomy/Molecular Systematics and Phylogenetics, Aquatic plants, Sri Lankan flora, Red-listing and conservation, and Molecular characterization of fungi.
Member: Expert committee on the discrepancy of the national flower of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources - (2012)
Member: Senate Research Committee, University of Peradeniya, - (April, 2011- January 2015)
Member: Editorial Board, Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Science), University of Peradeniya, - (2007 – 2016)
Member: National Species Conservation Advisory Group (NSCAG) Ministry of Environment, Environment Division : Biodiversity Secretariat - (2002 – to-date)
Member: Expert Group, National Red-listing of Flora and Fauna, Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment and IUCN, Sri Lanka - (2006 and 2011)
Member: Senate, University of Peradeniya, - (2008 – to-date)
Member: Senate Library Committee, University of Peradeniya, - (2011 -2016)
Member: Research Council of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana, Sri Lanka. - (2016 to-date)
Secretary: Board of Study in Plant Sciences, Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya. - (May 2004 – May 2009)
Program Co-coordinator : M.Sc. in Experimental Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya - (2002/2003 & 2004/2005)
Senior Student Counselor: Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya - (2002 – 2006)
Senior Treasurer: Botanical Society, University of Peradeniya - (2008-09)
Chairperson: Working group for the revision of the draft Sri Lanka standard Botanical nomenclature for Spices and Condiments, Sri Lanka Standard Institute, Colombo - (2014)
Chairperson: Faculty Research Committee (Science), University of Peradeniya, - (April 2011 – January 2015)
Chairperson: Peradeniya University International Research Sessions iPURSE 2014 – Organizing Committee
Chairperson: Committee for Research Allowances/Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, - (December 2011 – January 2015)
