Director

Vacant

Additional Director

Mrs S P Withanage, PhD

adrrisl@sltnet.lk   additionaldirector@rrisl.gov.lk   pamuditharama@yahoo.co.uk

Mrs. S.P. Withanage, B.Sc. (Agri.) Honours (Second Class Upper Division) from University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, M.Sc. Honours (First Class) in Genetics and Biotechnology from Punjab Agricultural University, India., Ph.D. (First Class) in Genetic Engineering and Molecular Sciences from University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. She is the Acting Deputy Director of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) and currently holds the position of the Head, Genetics and Plant Breeding Department, RRISL. She won the Silver Medal in International Bio Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (MOSTI) (2009) and the Gold Medal at the Exhibition of Invention, Research, and Innovation (PRPI 2009): University Putra Malaysia. She has more than 60 international and local publications. She serves as a visiting lecturer and has supervised around 40 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Also, she serves as a committee member and the Chairperson of several national committees of government organizations and as the country representative of the Plant Breeding Group of the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB). She has gained twenty five years of research experience in the genetic improvement of Hevea planting material. Her current research interests focus on genetic diversity expansion of the breeding pool incorporating non-Wickham genetics, screening of stress tolerance and acceleration of the breeding procedure using conventional and molecular strategies.

Acting Deputy Director Research (Biology)

Mrs T H P Sarojini Fernando, PhD

deputydirector-biology@rrisl.gov.lk   sarojinifernando787@gmail.com

Mrs THP Sarojini Fernando obtained the BSc Degree (Biological Science) in 1996 and later in the year 2000, obtained the MPhill degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She completed the PhD from the same University on the Corynespora leaf fall disease of rubber in 2011. She is the Acting Deputy Director Research (Biology) of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) and currently holds the position of the Head, Plant Pathology & Microbiology Department, RRISL. She has published over 150 national and international level scientific publications. The Scholarly output and performance in the contribution made to the rubber industry and for effectively accomplishing the research submitting and winning recognition from anonymous referees in open competition at an international level shows the H – index as 14. She was honored by the General Research Committee Post Graduate Award 2013 by the SLASS, Award for Excellence in Scientific Research 2011 by the Young Scientists Forum - NASTEC, seven President's Research Awards for the effective contribution made to the reputation of the country and award of “Best Researcher” for the contribution made to the Rubber Industry during 2014 – 2015 at the Plantation Crop symposium. She is the Country representative, Plant Protection Specialist Group of the International Rubber Research & Development Board (IRRDB) and a member of the ANRPC, Plant Protection technical Committee. She serves several national level committees: National Plant Protection Committee, Pesticide Technical & Advisory Committee (PeTAC) and the Pesticide sub-committee. She has received research grants from the National Research Council (NRC), National Science Foundation (NSF) & International Foundation for Science (IFS), Stockholm, Sweden. Recently, Dr. Sarojini was recognized by the FAO of the United Nations as an international Consultant to undertake a mission of the new leaf fall disease of rubber in the Philippines. She is a member of the Task Force on the management of Circular Leaf Spot Disease (Pestalotiopsis) appointed by the Ministry of Plantations. Recognized for skills in conducting advisory programmes to resolve complicated disease problems and national level training programmes on economically important diseases of rubber. The commitment to fundamental research is continuing with ongoing supervision of undergraduate research students, masters and doctoral research programs conducted at Sri Lankan universities. The contribution to the Rubber Research Institution for over 33 years and to the Rubber Industry has been playing an important role in determining future directions of Rubber Research in a nation whose agricultural production is so important to its economy.

Deputy Director Research (Technology)

Vacant