Dr. Priyanwada Warakagoda

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

Department of Biotechnology
Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation Management
Wayamba University of Sri Lanka,
Makandura, Gonawila (NWP

Office: +94 3122 99704
Mobile: +94 7182 19967
Email: priyanwada@wyb.ac.lk, priyanwadawarakagoda@gmail.com

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Dr Priyanwada Warakagoda received her PhD in the field of Plant Cell and Tissue Culture from University of Ruhuna in year 2016. In addition she holds an MPhil degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in same discipline and B.Sc. special degree in Agriculture. Her academic and research career commenced in 2005 as a Research Assistant at the Department of Crop Science , Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. There she got a chance to develop feasible micropropogation protocol for Red Sandalwood a red listed woody plant with medicinal value.  Subsequently she joined with Link Natural Products (Pvt) Ltd as a Research Scientist and engaged in developing agro-technological packages for commercially important medicinal plants, some of which are near extinction in the wild. She also served as a Scientific Officer at National Science Foundation where she gained extensive knowledge and experience in Intellectual Property Management, Patent Information Searches, Patent Drafting, developing intellectual property related policies, technology commercialization and skills in evaluation of project proposals and monitoring progress of ongoing projects.

Full CV

  • Micropropagation of commercially important crops including medical and aromatic plants
  • In vitro conservation of endangered plant species
  • Yield improvement strategies for the production of secondary metabolites in plant cell and tissue cultures
  • -optimizing effective immobilization methods
  • -developing more efficient bioreactor concepts
  • Mass screening techniques for selecting disease resistant and biotic & abiotic stress tolerant plants
  • Low cost tissue culture techniques

Five Scholarships has been granted by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to follow online distance learning courses

  1. DL-301 Patents (07.05.2015-09.08.2015)
  2. DL-318 Patent Information Search (09.09.2015-05.12.2015)
  3. DL-320 Basics of Patent Drafting (05.04.2016-21.07.2016)
  4. DL-450 Intellectual Property Management (24.09.2017-08.01.2018)
  5. DL-203 Intellectual Property, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions(04.2019-14.07.2019)

Selected publications in refereed journal

  • Warakagoda, P.S., Subasinghe, S. and Gunasekere, M.T.K. (2017). In vitro clonal propagation of Coscinium fenestratum (Gertn.) Colebr. (Weniwel) through nodal explants. Natn. Sci. Foundation Sri Lanka 45(2):133-141 pp.
  • Subasinghe, S., Warakagoda, P.S. and Abeywickrama, W.H.T. (2016). In vitro shoot proliferation of rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia: Fabaceae): a potent high-quality timber species. Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension 18(2):94-101 pp.
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2013). In vitro propagation of Red Sandalwood through tissue culture. Natn. Sci. Foundation Sri Lanka 41(1): 53-63 pp.
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2009). In vitro culture establishment and shoot proliferation of Jatropha curcas Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension 18(2):77-80 pp.
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2009). Determination of ex vitro and in vitro seed germination of Celestrus paniculatus – An endemic medicinal plant as affected by different seed treatments. Tropical Agriculturist 157:15-23 pp.

Conference Proceedings

  • Warakagda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2013). Studies on Seed germination of Coscinum fenestratum (Gaertin.) Colebr. -A Threatened Medicinal Plant. The paper presented at the 2nd International Sympossium on Minor Fruits and Medicinal Plants for better lives. Abstract published in the proceedings 2013. 56p.
  • Witharanage, N.P., Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, (2011). In vitro propagation studies on Evolvulus alsinoides, an important medicinal herb. A paper presented at 3rd International Conference on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines held in 19th-21st December 2011– Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abstract published in the proceedings 2011. 64p.
  • Nawaratna, S.L., Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2011). In vitro propagation of Cedrus deodara (Dewadara) through embryo culture. A paper presented at 3rd International Conference on Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines held in 19th-21st December 2011– Colombo, Sri Lanka. Abstract published in the proceedings 2011. 65p.
  • Ariyarathne, D.N., Thennakoon, T.M.S.G., Subasinghe, S. and Warakagoda, P.S. (2011). Optimization of a micropropagation protocol for Rauwolfia serpentine Benth. Ex. Kurz. (Ekaweriya) using tissue culture techniques. A paper presented at the final year student’s research session 2011 at Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. Abstract published in the proceedings 2011. 13-14 pp.
  • Warakagoda, P.S., Kumari, D.L.C. and Subasinghe, S. (2007). Mass propagation of Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) through stem cuttings using in vitro A paper presented at the 1st Annual symposium 2007, held in December 2007, at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Abstract published in the proceedings 2007. 50 p.  

Poster presentations

  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2011). In vitro callus formation of Pterocarpus marsupium (Gammalu) as affected by explant type, basal medium and plant growth regulators. A poster presented under the theme of Management of genetic resources in the International Symposium on Minor Fruits and Medicinal Plants for Health and Ecological Security, held in 19th-22nd December 2011, at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India. Abstract published in the proceedings 2011. 85p.
  • Pallawela, V.S., Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. (2010). Development of cost effective propagation techniques for Coscinium fenestratum (Gertn.) Colebr.- Weniwel. A poster presented at the 8th Academic Sessions of University of Ruhuna held in 22nd February 2011. Abstract published in the proceedings 2010. 201p.
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Kumari, D.L.C. and Subasinghe, S. (2007). Micropropagation of Amukkara (Withania somnifera) through nodal cuttings. A poster presented at the 63rd annual session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS), held in 3rd– 8th December 2007. Abstract published in the proceedings 2007. 182- 183 pp.
  • Warakagoda, P.S., Subasinghe, S. and Kumari, D.L.C. (2006). In vitro auxiliary bud culture of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). A poster presented at the 62nd annual session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS), held in 10th-15th December 2006. Abstract published in the proceedings 2006. 172p.
  • Warakagoda, P.S., Premathilake, D.P. and Kumari, D.L.C. (2005). In vitro shoot proliferation of papaya through auxiliary bud culture (Variety Rathna). A poster presented at the 3rd Academic Sessions of University of Ruhuna 2005, held in 30th January 2006. Full paper published in the proceedings 2005. 170-172 pp.

Books and book chapters

  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. Propagation of Horticultural Crops (2008). Published in Sinhala. ISBN number: 978-955-9846-6-3. Pages 30
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. Plant Tissue Culture (2008). Published in Sinhala. ISBN number: 978-955-9846-6-3. Pages 30
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. Visithuru Mal Wagawa (2009). Published in Sinhala. ISBN number: 978-955-1507-06-0. Pages 50
  • Warakagoda, P.S. and Subasinghe, S. Anthurium Culture (2009). Published in Sinhala. ISBN number: 978-955-9846-6-3. Pages 46