Fundraiser CAR WASH

The First Monograph of Sri Lankan Thalloid Liverworts With Three New Species Records to the Country

Researchers from the University of Peradeniya including Dr. Sumudu Ruklani and Prof. Sumudu Rubasinghe present the first monograph of Sri Lankan thalloid liverworts with three new species records to Sri Lanka; Plagiochasma appendiculatum, Riccia crispatula and Fossombronia cristula

This comprehensive taxonomic treatment of thalloid liverworts is presented based on specimens collected from throughout the country covering all possible geographical localities. Twelve families, fifteen genera, and twenty four species of thalloid liverworts are described along with taxonomic keys, descriptions, photographs and taxonomic illustrations. This work fulfills a critical information gap on global biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation of plants.

GUEST LECTURE

Title: "A Search for Electric Dipole of Neutron"

By Prof. Shirvel Stanislaus from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA.

Dare: 24-11-2022, Thursday
Time: 3.30 pm
Venue: P1 Theater, Physics New Building

All are cordially invited

Science Camp at Bandarawela Central College from 5^th to 6^th November 2022

The Science Education Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya organized the second Science Camp of the year 2022 at Bandarawela Central College from 5th to 6th November 2022, for approximately 300 G.C.E. (O/L) students and 500 G.C.E. (A/L) Science and Mathematics students. A group of 54 staff members including academic staff members, demonstrators and non-academic staff members of the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya participated in the Science Camp. The resource persons of this programme participated voluntarily.

The main aim of this programme was to motivate young students for Science and Mathematics education. The Science Camp consisted of lecture and practical sessions on Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics including the “Wonders of Chemistry” programme. The above Science Camp was organized in collaboration with the Past Students’ Association of the Bandarawela Central College. The participants have highly valued the knowledge and motivation they received from this programme in their feedback.

Professional Certificate Course in Data Engineering

"Professional Certificate Course in Data Engineering" Jointly organized by
Department of Statistics and Computer Science and Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS), successfully conducted from 2^nd to 4^th September 2022 at the Data Science Laboratory / Department of Statistics and Computer Science.

First & Second Places At The Inter-University Undergraduate Research Competition In Chemical Sciences - 2022

“UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA SECURE FOUR PLACES AT TOP 10 AND WIN FIRST & SECOND PLACES AT THE INTER-UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH COMPETITION IN CHEMICAL SCIENCES, SLAAS-E2, 2022.”

The undergraduate research studies carried out by Ms. B.K. Ruvini Oliviya Rodrigo (Chemistry), Ms. M.R. Dyaanika Gimhani Kumari (Chemistry), Ms. J.G.A. Sachini Sewwandika Gamage (Molecular Biology & Biotechnology), and Mr. E.P. Tharosa Missaka Rajaratne (Environmental & Industrial Sciences) of the Faculty of Science were able to reach the top 10 submissions at the final round of the Inter-university Undergraduate Research Competition in Chemical Sciences organized by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) – Section E2 (Chemical Sciences), held on the 15th of October at the SLAAS “Vidya Mandiraya”, Colombo 7.

Ms. Rodrigo emerged victorious for her research work on “Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Anti-fungal Shampoo Using Coconut Oil and Natural Ingredients” (Supervised by Prof. A.D.L.C. Perera & Dr. J.M.S. Jayasinghe). Ms. Gimhani won 2nd place for her work on “Chitosan-coated Magnetite Nanoparticles Loaded with Polar Extracts of Osbeckia octandra (Heen Bōvitiyā) Leaf and In-vitro Anticancer Properties.” (Supervised by Prof. R.M.G. Rajapakse, Prof. B.M.R. Bandara, Dr. M.P. Thomas, & Prof. R.P.V.J. Rajapakse). Research works on “Assessment of retained microflora and the presence of human DNA on used toothbrushes using PCR technique” (Supervised by Prof. Sanath Rajapakse & Prof. J.A.M.S. Jayatilake) of Ms. Gamage, and “Dispersion Modelling of Vehicular Carbon Monoxide in the Kandy Municipality” (Supervised by Dr. R.J.K.U. Ranatunga) of Mr. Rajaratne, were recognized with scientific merit for reaching the top 10.

Photograph (L to R): Ms. Rodrigo, Ms. Gimhani, Ms. Gamage, Mr. Rajaratne

Community Awareness Program
‘Regreen Hantana: Restoration of Degraded Lands’

The 'Regreen Hantana Project' was initiated in January 2022 with the aim of restoring the degraded sites in Hantana Mountain Range to reinstate ecosystem services for the future. The community awareness program of the project was conducted on the 4th of October 2022 by the Regreen Hantana Team at the Uda Peradeniya Temple. Seventy people representing various ethnic groups in the area participated for this event. During the program discussions were conducted on significance of the project, vegetation types and fauna of Hantana, ecosystem services provided by Hantana, and the importance of community participation in the project. The university students conducted an activity to encourage community participation, where the local community was given an opportunity to suggest their visions for the restoration site. Moreover, a social survey was conducted using questionnaires prepared in Sinhala and Tamil. The event was organized by the Faculty of Science in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Studies (CES), University of Peradeniya. The media coverage for the event was provided by the 'Perabeats'.

Before Begin ...

Ms. Dinushika Yapa Abeywardhana explaining the role of community in restoration

Mr. Saumya Bandara Intoduing the objectives of the awareness program

Community activity

Community activity on their vision for restoration site

Community activity

Ms. Chinthani Malsha explaining flora of Hantana

Community activity

Discussion ...

Mr. Chandula Idirisinghe explaining about ecosystem services

Mr. Ranjith Pushpakumara (Grama Niladari) addressing the gathering

Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana

Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana

Regreen Hantana Team

A New Plant Species Named in Honour of University of Peradeniya

A research group including Mr. Indrakheela Madola (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala (University of Peradeniya) and Prof. Kapila Yakandawala (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka) who works on the Taxonomy of genus Lagenandra have found a new plant species, with two varieties, from the wet zone of Sri Lanka. They named this new plant species as Lagenandra peradeniyae in honour of University of Peradeniya and the two intraspecific varieties as L. peradeniyae var peradeniyae and L. peradeniyae var speciosa. This plant group is locally known as "Ketala/Kethala".

As the newly found species is restricted to a lowland rainforest patch in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, it is considered to be a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to IUCN Red Listing criterion.

Lagenandra peradeniyae var peradeniyae

Lagenandra peradeniyae var speciosa

Mr. Indrakheela Madola

Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala

Prof. Kapila Yakandawala

INSPIRE #19: Webinars/ Seminars Series

"Discover the Scientist in You"

Topic :
The Wisdom Beyond Chemistry; My Story in Developing Technologies to Expedite the Drug-Lead Discovery

Speaker : Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, USA

Date : Thursday | August 18^th, 2022
Time : 05:00pm onwards
Zoom Meeting URL : bit.ly/3QEHxqv

Seminar Flyer

Website : INSPIRE