I am Prof. R.M.R.P. Ratnayake, currently serving as a Professor in Chemistry at the Open University of Sri Lanka. I obtained my B.Sc Special Degree in Chemistry from the University of Peradeniya, in 1992 and was recruited as a temporary assistant lecturer at the Department of Chemistry in 1992. Afterwards, I joined the Central Province Affiliate University as a college lecturer (probationary) in November 1992. I have been absorbed into the academic staff of the Rajarata University as a lecturer (probationary) to the department of Physical Science, Faculty of Applied Science, in March 1996. I enrolled for a Ph.D offered by the Board of Study in Chemical Sciences, Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya in 1997, and completed the Ph.D in January 2002. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer Grade II in January 2002 and promoted to Senior Lecturer Grade I in January 2008. I was released from the Rajarata University in order to accept the position of Senior Lecturer Grade II in the Open University of Sri Lanka in August 2008, and promoted to Associate Professor in May 2019.
I was at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka from the inception of the Rajarata University. I have designed and developed all Organic Chemistry courses for the B.Sc. degree for the undergraduate students. I introduced two courses for the first year titled Organic Chemistry (CHE 1203), Practical Unit (CHE 1204), three courses for the second year titled Organic Chemistry II (CHE 2202), Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry, (CHE 2106), Practical Unit (CHE 2204), and for the third year Petroleum Chemistry (CHE 3104) and Natural Products (CHE 3209). I was instrumental in developing all the Organic Chemistry courses (12 credits) for the B.Sc. Degree at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and I have been teaching these courses from March 1996 to August 2008 when I was at Rajarata University. I served as a chemistry coordinator under the Department of Physical Sciences from 2002 to 2006, and I was one of the members who were assigned to produce a joint-major degree in Chemistry and Physics. During my career I have undertaken numerous academic and research work. I have served as a senior student counselor for a period of 03 years at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.
I joined the Open University of Sri Lanka in August 2008. The courses that I have been teaching at the Kandy Regional Centre, are Basic principles of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Natural products Chemistry, Chemistry of Sugars, amino acids and related compounds, Organic Chemistry II, Industrial Chemistry, Chemistry of Biomolecules and Advanced Organic Chemistry.
I was awarded president’s Research awards in 2001, 2008 and National Research Council Merit Award for Scientific Publication in 2012. I have served as a student counselor from 2011 to April 2022 at the Kandy Regional Centre and Faculty Coordinator from 2010 to 2013.