Senior Lecturer

College of Chemical Sciences

Institute of Chemistry Ceylon

Dr. Dinusha Udukala graduated from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka with a BSc in Chemistry and completed her PhD at Kansas State University. Her research interests include isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from natural products, development of bio-pesticides to control agricultural pests in Sri Lanka, and synthesis and evaluation of Quinazolinone derivatives as urease inhibitors.Dr. Udukala has served as a visiting lecturer at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon where she has worked as an academic for the past eight years, while holding many key positions including the Secretary of the Women Chemists Committee (2019-present), Secretary for Educational Affairs (2021/22), Assistant Treasurer of IChemC (2016-2018) and as a member of the Editorial & Publicity Committee (2020/21). She also serves as an active Council member of the Sri Lanka Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS), and the committee member of the section E2 of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)

Senior Lecturer

Department of Biosystems Technology

Faculty of Technology

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Dr. Chathuri Senanayake is a Senior Lecturer attached to Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Her research interests focus on investigating the efficacy of various methods for extracting plant-based natural polyphenolic compounds and their antioxidant properties. She also explores the application of these plant-based antioxidants to improve the shelf life of food systems. In addition, Dr. Senanayake is researching the potential of various biopolymers to create edible films and coatings, examining their effects on shelf life and sensory properties during storage.

Dr. Senanayake has made significant contributions to her field, holding two local patents and publishing several journal articles, book chapters, and conference abstracts based on her research findings. She has also been recognized with multiple awards for her contributions to the field.

Research Assistant

Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences

Faculty of Science

University of Colombo

Praneeth Ratnayake graduated in Immunology and Integrative Molecular biology in 2017 from the Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo.  Currently he is reading for his MPhil degree and engaged in the field of stem cells. He is currently working on developing naturally derived compositions to enhance skin regeneration and melanogenesis

Senior Lecturer

&

Head of the Department

Department of Chemistry

CINEC Campus

Dr. Nimshi Fernando holds the positions of Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, CINEC Campus. Additionally, she serves as the Deputy Head of the Center for Quality Assurance, and she oversees the Research Office and career guidance unit.

With a profound dedication to scientific research, Dr. Fernando’s primary interests lie in the fields of Materials Science, Nanotechnology, and Surface Chemistry.  Her extensive research findings have been published in numerous reputable journals and presented at various symposiums, including those organized by the European Materials Research Society and the American Chemical Society.

Recognizing her significant contributions to postgraduate research in Sri Lanka, Dr. Fernando has received several awards, notably from the American Chemical Society and The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.

Senior Lecturer

Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Dr. Danushika Manatunga is a Senior Lecturer attached to Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. She is a Nanomaterialist who works more towards drug delivery and water purification applications. She has graduated from University of Colombo with a first class honours in Chemical Biology. Later she pursued her PhD in Nanomedicine in UOC. In her career she has also served as Research Scientist in Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology. Her post doctoral research work include trandermal drug delivery using smart fabrics. To date she has published her work in more than 16 peer review journal articles while holding a US patent. She also works as a visiting research fellow for UOC and UCL, UK.

Director, Undergraduate
Studies / Senior Lecturer

Department of Earth Resources Engineering

University of Moratuwa

Dr. Chulantha Jayawardena holds a PhD in Neotectonics from the School of
Earth & Environmental Sciences of the University of Wollongong and a
bachelor’s degree in Earth Resources Engineering from the University of
Moratuwa. His enthusiasm towards multidisciplinary collaborations has
paved path towards research on mine rehabilitation related rock
mechanics, sustainable consumption of earth resources and incorporating
inclusive engineering aspects to the engineering education, in which his
scholarly contributions have been recognized with distinction awards. Dr
Jayawardena has also served the industry in the capacity of Mining &
Geotechnical Engineer associated with nationally significant development
projects, during his early career prior to joining the academia. At present,
his contributions and involvements are primarily focused on academic
administration and student management in addition to the regular
teaching, research and mentoring activities as an academic.

Senior Lecturer, Institute of Technology

University of Moratuwa, Diyagama, Homagama

Dr. Ruchira is an accomplished materials researcher and senior lecturer at the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa. With extensive experience in nanotechnology and advanced materials, he has made notable contributions in academia, government, and the private sector. Dr. Ruchira holds visiting positions at various universities and has a significant track record of commercialized innovations, granted patents, and scholarly publications.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Ruchira actively participates in committees and forums across different sectors, influencing policies and initiatives. His impact is evident through prestigious national-level awards, recognizing his outstanding achievements.

Dedicated to knowledge dissemination, Dr. Ruchira seeks to bridge the gap between academia, industry, and society. His goal is to foster progress, intellectual curiosity, and innovation in a broader public context.