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You are here: OUSL / Faculty of Natural Sciences / Dept. of Zoology 

Ms. A. A. D. N. Thathsarani

BSc (Hon’s) (OUSL), PhD (reading, OUSL)

Lecturer (Probationary)

Department of Zoology
  • Central Campus, Ground floor, Science and Technology building, Room No : 13
  • nayanatharathathsarani92@gmail.com

I am Ms. Nayanathara Thathsarani Lecturer (Probationary) in the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and The Open University of Sri Lanka. I have gained my B.Sc (Hon’s) degree in Zoology, with a First Class from The Open University of Sri Lanka. I have also completed my doctoral studies at the OUSL, with the final viva voce examination currently pending. PhD was done by conducting a research mainly in the field of Environmental Toxicology.

My research expertise lies in Environmental Toxicology, with a particular focus on microplastic pollution and its ecological impacts on aquatic ecosystems. My research interests span aquatic biology, microplastic pollution immunology and pharmacology. My undergraduate research was conducted in the fields of immunology and pharmacology, contributing to my interdisciplinary approach to environmental and biological sciences. Doctoral research integrated environmental toxicology with aquatic biology, emphasizing the ecology of rocky shore ecosystems. Also, I conducted extensive investigations on vertical zonation patterns in rocky shores, population dynamics of marine molluscs, and the use of molluscan species as sentinel organisms for monitoring environmental pollution. Currently, my research focuses on the trophic transfer of microplastics in Sri Lankan coastal ecosystems.

Environmental toxicology, aquatic biology, immunology and pharmacology

Microplastic contamination in the ecosystem entities, trophic transfer of microplastic in the food webs, plastic pollution management in aquatic ecosystems, pollution induced immune toxicity, wild life toxicology and mammalian neuroplasticity

Lecturer Probationer (2026 July onwards), Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Temporary lecturer (2025-2026), Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Project research assistant (2021-2024), Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka.

B.Sc Degree Programme – ZYU3500-Animal Life and Diversity (Assistance for Sinhala medium)
Advance certificate in Science – Coordinator from the Department of Zoology

Microplastics in marine ecosystems: contamination in different trophic levels of coastal food web in Morawala rocky shore and Negombo Lagoon of Sri Lanka.

Mitigation and remediation of microplastic contamination in coastal food webs of Sri Lanka

Effect of oral administration of the fresh juice of Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) young shoots on enumeration of bone marrow cells, platelets, splenocyte and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages of rats

Thathsarani, A. A. D. N., Rajakaruna, R. S., and Jayawardena, U. A. (2025). Bioremediation for restoring microplastic-contaminated environments. IOBSL (Institute of Biology Sri Lanka) thematic publications.

Thathsarani, A. A. D. N., Rajakaruna, R. S., and Jayawardena, U. A. (2025). Microplastic Bioaccumulation in Corbicula sp. and Water: Allometric Relationships and Spatial Variability in selected areas of Batticaloa Lagoon and Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 30(2).

Thathsarani, A. A. D. N., Rajakaruna, R. S., and Jayawardena, U. A. Seasonal Variations of Microplastic Bioavailability in Marine Waters and Beach Sand in the Indian Ocean: A Case Study in the Morawala Rocky Shore, West Coast, Sri Lanka.

Thathsarani, A. A. D. N., Rajakaruna, R. S., and Jayawardena, U. A. (2025). Ecological Impacts of Microplastics in Coastal Environment. Sri Lankan Journal of Biology, 10(2).

Thathsarani, N., Rajakaruna, R., and Jayawardena, U. (2023). Microplastic pollution in the Indian Ocean: Passageways and the contamination of the open ocean and its marine environment. Toxicol Adv, 5(2), 9.

Thathsarani, N., Jayasinghe, C. D., Jayawardena, U., and Nilakarawasam, N. (2021). Effect of oral administration of the fresh juice of Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) young shoots on enumeration of bone marrow cells, platelets, splenocyte and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages of rats. Phytomedicine Plus, 1(3), 100059.

Nayanathara Thathsarani, Gayathree Nayanajeehwi, Nayanakanthi Nilakarawasam, Uthpala Jayawardena and Chanika D Jayasinghe (2020). Cancer chemoprevention through functional food of plant origin. Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2020; 6(2)

Nayanathara Thathsarani, Chanika Jayasinghe, Uthpala Jayawardena, Nayanakanthi Nilakarawasam. 2020. Young shoots of bamboo, bambusa vulgaris schrad. Ex j. C. Wendl.: an emerging functional food. Feature article. 16 (2). 12-17.

Abdulla M.P., A.A.D.N., Thathsarani and U.A. Jayawardena (2026). From macro-to-micro plastics: Characterizing large debris as precursors for future microplastic contamination in Wellawaththa coast Sri Lanka, SETAC (2026).

 

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Jayawardena, U.A. (2025). Cytogenotoxic effects of polyethylene terephthalate (pet) microplastics on  Allium cepa root tip cells: implications for abnormal cell proliferation. International Conference on Plastics, Innovations, and Environmental Sustainability (ICPIES) 2025.

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R. S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2025). Microplastics in sri lanka’s coastal and lagoon mollusks: a silent threat to marine life and human health. Conference: International Conference on Microplastic, Nanoplastic and Human Health (ICOMIN 2025).

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruana, R.S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2025). Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) microplastics on Allium cepa root tip cells: Implications for abnormal cell proliferation. ICPIES 2025 Conference.

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruana, R.S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2025). Microplastics in sri lanka’s coastal and lagoon molluscs: a silent threat to marine life and human health. Proceedings of International Conferences on Microplastics, Nanoplastic and Human Health 2025.

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruana, R.S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2024). Microplastics in algae and molluscs representing the dominant trophic levels of Morawala Rocky Shore Negombo, Sri Lanka. 1st International Conference on Plastics and Environmental Sustainability (ICPES), Sri Lanka.

 

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2024) Bioavailability of Microplastics in the Edible Mangrove Clam Corbicula fluminea in Batticaloa Lagoon and Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka. 2nd International Conference on Mangroves for Sustainability (ICMS),  Sri Lanka

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S. and Jayawardena, U.A. (2024) Bioconcentration of microplastics in mangrove-associated lagoon cockle, Corbicula fluminea in Batticaloa Lagoon Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 25th Peradeniya University International Symposium and Exposition (iPURSE), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. August 29 and 30, 2024.

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023) Can mangrove bivalve, Geloina coaxan be considered a sentinel for microplastic pollution in water?: A case study from Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Mangroves for Ecological and Economic Sustainability Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Open University of Sri Lanka. P 62-63

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S. and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023) Ecological survey to assess the marine shell (Molluscan) diversity at the intertidal rocky shore of Morawala, Negombo Sri Lanka. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Asia Pacific (ATBC) Meeting, India

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S. and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023) Microplastics in two commercial brackish water clams (marsh clams) in Negombo lagoon Sri Lanka. 29th annual technical sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR).

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S. and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023) Level of microplastics contamination in the associated marine environment of the Morawala intertidal rocky shore, Negombo Sri Lanka with possible threats towards molluscs over the major monsoon seasons. Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science SLAAS. 65

Thathsarani, A.A.D.N., Rajakaruna, R.S. and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023) Microplastics in sand burrower cuneate wedge shell, Donax cuneatus of Nilaveli, Trincomalee Beach Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 12th Annual Science Research Session of the Southeastern University. P 18.

Atapattu, A. M. P. E. K., Thathsarani, A. A. D. N., and Jayawardena, U.A. (2023). Production of agar extracts from red seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis by means of simplified extraction protocols with prescreening of microplastics.

Award for the best scientific study in the track of Health Impacts of Plastics, at the first international conference on plastics (ICPES 2024) for the abstract titled “Microplastics in Algae and Mollusks Representing the Dominant Trophic Levels of Morawala Rocky Shore Negombo, Sri Lanka”.

Award for the best scientific study in the track of threats to ecological sustainability of Mangrove ecosystems at the 2nd international conference on mangrove for sustainability (ICMS 2024), for the abstract titled “Bioavailability of Microplastics in the Edible Mangrove Clam Corbicula fluminea in Batticaloa Lagoon and in Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka Threats to Ecological Sustainability of Mangrove Ecosystems”.

Award for the best presenter in the track of Plastic Pollution and Health Impacts: Microplastics in Terrestrial & Marine Ecosystems at the  2nd International Conference on Plastics, Innovations, and Environmental Sustainability 2025, for the abstract titled “Cytogenotoxic effects of polyethylene terepthalate (PET) microplastics on Allium Cepa root tip cells: Implications for abnormal cell proliferation”.

De Ellepola Gold medal for the overall best performance in science in the academic year 2017/2018, The Open University of Sri Lanka (convocation award).

Nalini Ratanasiri Gold medal for excellence in zoology in the academic year 2017/2018, The Open University of Sri Lanka (Convocation award).

Faculty of natural sciences prize for the best performance in zoology in the academic year 2017/2018, The Open University of Sri Lanka (Convocation award).

Sri Lanka association for the advancement in Science: Member since 2024

Institute of Biology Sri Lanka: Member since 2024

Zoonet of the Open University of Sri Lanka- Committee member (2018-2019).