Senior Lecturer Grade I
B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons), PhD (Agronomy)Head of the Department
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An experienced research scientist on Physiology and Agronomy of Agricultural Crops and Medicinal Plants
Last Updated on 3 months
Areas of Specialization:Agronomy
Research interests:Agronomy and Physiology of Agricultural crops, Horticulture, Medicinal Plants, and Invasive aquatic plants
Affiliations:• Elected member of the Institute of Biology of Sri Lanka. • Life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS). • Member of Science and Technology Management Information System (STMIS), National Science Foundation (NSF) of Sri Lanka. Registration No: NSF/STMIS/09/6646.
Course Coordination:AEI6138- Fruit Crops and Cut flower Production(Academic Coordinator and Day School Lecturer)
AEJ5240 – Indigenous Knowledge of Herbal Products (Academic Coordinator and Day School Lecturer)
AEX3230 – Crop Production and Farming Systems (Academic Coordinator and Day School Lecturer)
Awards:• Won the “President’s Award” for Scientific Publications – 2012 Two research papers published in International Scientific Journals cited in the Science Citation Index of 2007, 2008 and 2009. • Won the “Best Presenter Award” (overall award out of 39 research paper presentations) of the Fourteenth Annual Congress of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya, held on 21-22 November 2002. • Research paper presentation was adjudged the “Best Presentation” of the technical session on “Agronomy, Plant Breeding and Physiology” at the 14th Annual Congress of the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA) held at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC).
Researches:i. Gunasekara, H.K.L.K., Nugawela, E.A., De Costa, W.A.J.M. and Attanayake, D.P.S.T.G. (2007). Possibility of Early Commencement of Tapping in Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis ) using different Genotypes and Tapping systems. Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, 43(2): 201-221.
ii. Gunasekara, H.K.L.K., De Costa, W.A.J.M. and Nugawela, E.A. (2007). Genotypic variation in Canopy photosynthesis, Leaf gas exchange characteristics and their response to tapping in Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, 43(2): 223-239.
iii. Gunasekera, H.K.L.K., Nugawela, A., De Costa, W.A.J.M. and Attanayaka, D.P.S.T.G. (2002). Exploitation systems for some Hevea brasiliensis Muell.Arg. clones for improved economic performance. Journal of Tropical Agricultural Research, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka,14:128 – 137.
iv. Ekanayake, R.T. and Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*. (2008). Study the tillering habit of Finger Millet (Elusine coracana) at different levels of nitrogen. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2008, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 72-75.
v. Senarathne, S.A.C.J. Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*. and Marikkar, J. M .N. (2008). Preliminary study on identification of the most effective microbes for Coconut Coir Retting. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2008, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 25-29.
vi. Panampitiya, W.M.S.P.K., Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*. and Medagoda, I. (2008). Drafting effect of Mango variety Karuthacolomban (Mangifera indica L.) by using Willard as Interstock. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2008, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 99-101.
vii. Jeewandara, T.K., De Silva, C.S., Gunasekera, H.K.L.K. and Wickramasinghe, M.C. (2008). Preliminary study on the effects of N, P and K fertilizer on growth of Sandriana (Dracena sandriana) to improve export quality. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2008, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 92-94.
viii. Senevirathne, S.A.M.C., Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*. and Ratnasoma, H.A. (2009). Storage life of the Betel leaves (Piper betle) in Bamboo baskets. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2009, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 161-164.
ix. Herath, H. K. M. S. K., Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*. and Dayananda, H.L (2009). Effect of stage of maturity at harvest on postharvest quality of Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus). Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2009, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 100-104.
x. Gunawardhana, M.D.M., De Silva, C.S. and Gunasekera, H.K.L.K. (2011). Impact of Temperature and Water stress due to Global warming on growth and yield of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2011, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 6-9.
xi. Krishantha, G.D., Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*., Sugathadasa, K.S.S. and Prasangika, K.W.D.S. (2012). Feasibility of growing Lunuwila (Bacopa monnieri L.) under Hydroponics. Proceedings of the Annual Academic Sessions 2012, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 1- 4.
xii. Yoganathan, R., Gunasekera H.K.L.K*. and Hariharan, R. (2012). Investigation of yield performance of Vegetable Cowpea J(Vigna unguculata) with animal manure application at Kaluwachikudy area. Proceedings of the Jaffna University International Research Conference (JUICE-2012), 28.
xiii. Gunasekera, H.K.L.K., De Costa, W.A.J.M. and Nugawela, A. (2013). Effect of opening girth and some latex physiological Jparameters on yield of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis). International Journal of innovation and Applied Studies, ISSN 2028 -9324: 4(1):88-100.
xiv. Yoganathan, R., Gunasekara, H.K.L.K*. and Hariharan, R. (2013). Integrated use of Animal manure an Inorganic fertilizer Jon growth and yield of vegetable Cowpea (Vigna unguculata). Journal of World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 80: 370-373.
xv. Gunasekera, H.K.L.K., De Costa, W.A.J.M. and Nugawela, A. (2013). Canopy Photosynthetic Capacity and Light response parameters of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) with reference to Exploitation. Current Agriculture Research Journal, 2013-1:1-12.
xvi. Gunathilaka, P.A.D.S.P.,Gunasekera H.K.L.K*.,Rajapakse J.C. and Ranathunga N.P. (2013). Feasibility study of utilization Jof Spent Mushroom Substrate in Urban Agriculture. The full paper is accepted for oral presentation and Proceedings at the JICPES 2013: International Conference on Plant and Environment Sciences held on 14-15, October, 2013 in Osaka, Japan.
xvii. Krishantha, G.D.,Gunasekera, H.K.L.K*., Sugathadasa, K.S.S., Prasangika, K.W.D.S. and Weerasinghe K.M.S. (2013). Evaluation of Growth Performance and Saponin Composition in Bacopa monnieiri cultivated under Hydroponics. Sri Lankan Journal of Indigenous Medicine (SLJIM), Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, ISSN 2012- 92383(1):16-169.
Ongoing Research:
Four undergraduate Research projects
Research Supervisions:Co-Supervisor of a M.Phil student (Ms. MDM Gunawardhana- Reg:2010/2011) at the Open University of Sri Lanka –NSF Grant (Thesis defense stage)