I have obtained a B.Sc. (Special) degree in Zoology from the University of Peradeniya, Department of Zoology. For my Ph.D., I studied the immunological events associated with the paroxysms of Malaria Disease. As a fellow researcher, I have worked at Aberdeen University, Section of Immunology and Infection Institute of Medical Sciences Foresterhill. My research areas are Immunology, parasitology, and wound healing. I have 24 years of teaching experience at the Open University.
Immunology and parasitology
Parasitology and wound healing properties of Seaweeds
- Worked as a Senior Lecturer Grade II at the Department of Zoology, OUSL from September 28, 1998, to September 2004. (Duration 6 years)
- Working as Senior Lecturer Grade I at the Department of Zoology, OUSL from September 29, 2004, to date (Duration 18 years)
BYU4301 and ZYU5313
Featured research
- Immunological events associated with malaria disease.
- Evaluation of the wound healing properties of Sargassum illicifolium species in Sri Lanka
- Establishment of PCR-based assay to detect Dirofilaria transmission in mosquitoes
- Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the prevalence of dengue and bionomics of dengue vectors in Kalutara district, Sri Lanka
- SK Wijesekera, R Carter, L Rathnayaka, KN Mendis A malaria parasite toxin associated with Plasmodium vivax paroxysms.Clinical & Experimental Immunology (1996) 104 (2), 221-227
- D. Karunaweera, S. K. Wijesekera, D. Wanasekera, K. N. Mendis, R. Carter,The paroxysm of Plasmodium vivax malaria, Trends in Parasitology (2003) Volume 19, Issue 4,
- R Carter, SK Wijesekera, ND Karunaweera, KN Mendis Mediators and Mechanisms Associated with Paroxysm in Plasmodium vivax Malaria. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (1997) 49 (S2), 35-41,
- The soluble isoform of CTLA‐4 as a regulator of T‐cell responses. FJ Ward, LN Dahal, SK Wijesekera, SK Abdul‐Jawad, T Kaewarpai, XU Heping, A Vs Mark, NR Barker. European journal of immunology 2013 43 (5), 1274-1285
- Amal D. Premarathna, T.H. Ranahewa, S.K. Wijesekera, R.R.M.K.K. Wijesundara, Anura P. Jayasooriya, Viskam Wijewardana, R.P.V.J. Rajapakse,Wound healing properties of aqueous extracts of Sargassum illicifolium: An in vitro assay. Wound Medicine, (2019) Volume 24, Issue 1, Pages 1-7,
- Amal D. Premarathna, S.K. Wijesekera, Anura P. Jayasooriya, Roshitha N. Waduge, R.R.M.K.K. Wijesundara, Rando Tuvikene, D.L. Harishchandra, T.H. Ranahewa, N.A.N.D. Perera, Viskam Wijewardana, R.P.V.J. Rajapakse,In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the wound healing properties and safety assessment of two seaweeds (Sargassum ilicifolium and Ulva lactuca),Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports (2021) Volume 26,
- K Weerasekara, F.P Amerasinghe, Diel oviposition activity of Armigeres subalbatus (Diptera, Culicidae). Ceylon journals of Science (Bio.Sci) 1995
- ND Karunawera, SK Wijesekera, KN Mendis, R Carter. Study of in vitro effects of factors associated with clinical disease in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Proceeding of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. 1996 ·
- AD Premarathna, SK Wijesekera, KBAT Bandara, WMD Wickramaarachchi, NAND Perera, RPVJ Rajapakse, Evaluation of the Potential Wound Healing Properties of Aqueous Extracts Of Sargassum Crassifolium and Ulva Lactuca. International Conference on Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya 2015·
- AD Premarathna, SK Wijesekera, RN Waduge ,AP Jayasooriya, RPVJ Rajapakse. A preliminary study of the potential wound healing properties of aqueous extracts of Sargassum crassifolium and Ulva lactuca, 8th Biennial Scientific Sessions, Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, 2016·
- AD Premarathna, SK Wijesekera, RN Waduge, RPVJ Rajapakse Therapeutic Importance & Safety Assessment Of Aqueous Extracts Of Sargassum Crassifolium. In Wound Healing 9th International Research Conference General Sir John Kotelawala Defence, 2016·
- AD Premarathna, MNR Somasiri, MLWP De Silva, KA Wijesekera, RRMKK Wijesundara, SK Wijesekera, TH Ranahewa, AP Jayasooriya, RPVJ Rajapakse .A comparative study of the wound healing activity and safety assessment of aqueous extract of Sargassum ilicifolium Wound Care: From Innovations to Clinical Trials, Hilton Hotel Deansgate Manchester, UK 2017.
- F. J. Ward, S K. Wijesekera and R. N. Barker. Stimulation of CD4+ regulatory T cells to secrete the inhibitor soluble CTLA-4,Scottish Immunology Groups Meeting – Celebrating 50 Years of British Immunology, St Andrews 6-7th September 2007 Poster: 24 F.J.Ward, S.K. Wijesekera and Robert N. Barker·
- F.J.Ward, S.K. Wijesekera and Robert N. BarkerSoluble CTLA-4 responses – a novel mechanism for regulatory T cell suppression? BSI Annual Congress at Glassgow, United Kingdom, 20-23rd February 2007, Poster 2.·
- S K Wijesekera, ND Karunaweera, R Carter and K N Mendis. Killing of the intra-erythrocytic malaria parasites during a P.vivax paroxysm is dependent upon T cells and presence of IL-2. 2nd International symposium of infectious diseases and health sciences held at the Department of Veterinary and Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the University of Peradeniya on July 28 27, 2007·
- SK Wijesekera, R Carter, KLD Ratnayake, JKA Jayasinghe, BDMU Kularathne, , KN Mendis Tumor necrosis factor alpha mediated parasite inactivation as a marker of malaria pathogenesis Proceeding of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 1994 ·
- SK Wijesekera, R Carter, BDMU Kularathne, KN Mendis. The immunological mechanism underlying a malaria paroxysm and associated parasite killing. Proceeding of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 1996 ·
- D.M.G.A.Dasanayaka, S.K.Wijesekera, K.B.A.T.Bandara. RPVJR Rajapaksha Use of a PCR assay to detect Dirofilariosis in dog and development of a laboratory method for vector identification. Annual Academic Sessions-2014 Proceedings, The Open University of Sri Lanka 2014 ·
- SDTG Sudasinghe, SK Wijesekera, RPVJ Rajapakse, Prevalence of bird malaria in the Sri Lankan domestic fowl in selected districts of Sri Lanka. Annual Academic Sessions-2008 Proceedings, The Open University of Sri Lanka 2014
Senior Lecturer in Zoology
Department of Zoology
Faculty of Natural Sciences
The Open University of Sri Lanka
- Involved in organizing the 2nd international symposium on infectious diseases and health sciences 26th-27th July 2007 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. member of the editorial committee and Scientific organizing committee.
- IOURS 2018: International Open University research sessions 2018 I was in the organizing committee and involved as a Theme Coordinator for Natural Sciences
- IOURS 2019: International Open University research sessions 2019 I was member of the organizing committee and involved as a Theme Coordinator for Natural Sciences
- Participated as a resource person in the Clinical Disease and Pathogenesis in Malaria Meeting held in 1994 as a Special programme of the World Health Organization in order to bring together scientists with a wide spectrum of experience relating to malaria disease and pathogenesis.
- Delivered a lecture on “Plate Tectonics – Biodiversity and its future” to the Management and staff at the EARL’S Regency Hotel and the school children on 25th May 2010 to commemorate the World’s Biodiversity Day.
- Organized an exhibition at Kandy Regional Centre to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Open University on 01.07.2010-2.07.2010 mainly targeting the A/L students. As the Senior Academic coordinator overall coordination of the science section of the exhibition was done and involved as a resource person in conducting the zoology part of the exhibition.
- A seminar was organized at the Kandy Regional Centre by the Assistant Director at the Centre targeting the A/L students around the Kandy Province in 2016. I involved in organizing and conducting the biology section of the Seminar.
- Presidential awards for scientific research publication 2010
- NRC merit awards for scientific research publication 2013
- Academic fellowship awarded by Commonwealth Fellowship Commission in the United Kingdom in 2006
- Memberships of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science- Life member
- Secretary(2022) of the ZooNet Society of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences.
