An experienced Geneticist and Plant breeder. Work involves mainly the genetic improvement of the natural rubber tree through conventional and molecular breeding. Current research projects are on genomics of the rubber tree.
Full CV
- Rubber tree genomics
- Microbial enzymes
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Fellow of the Institute of Biology
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Regional Secretary – Society for Advance Breeding Research in Asia and Oceania
- Cochran Fellowship in 2006
- President’s Award for Scientific Publication in 2007
- GRC Wickham Award – 2014 (An International award – Technology Innovation for global rubber industry)
- National Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research – 2017, 3rd Prize (Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research and Policy)
- Presidential Awards 2018 – Merit recognition on Invention in the field of Agriculture
Selected publications in refereed journal
- K. Liyanage, Sumanasinghe, V.A., Attanayaka, D.P.S.T.G., Baddewithana, B.W.A.N. (2014). Identification of recommended Hevea braislensis Mull.Arg. clones Grown in Sri Lanka by RAPD analysis. Tropical Agricultural Research 25(2): 18-200.
- Attanayaka, D.P.S.T.G., Kekwick, R.G.O., Franklin, F.C.H. (1991). Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the rubber elongation factor gene from Hevea brasiliensis. Plant Mol. Biol., 16, 1079-1081.
Teaching Themes: Molecular genetics, Molecular breeding, Genetic engineering
Research Supervision: MPhil 2, PhD 2
Research Grants
- Development of molecular markers for early selection of Hevea
Funds: Council for Agricultural Research Policy - Characterisation of the promoter sequence of Rubber elongation factor gene from Hevea brasiliensis
Funds: Council for Agricultural Research Policy - Identification of genomic sequence variation of the rubber elongation factor gene of Hevea brasiliensis
Funds: Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Contribution in Editorial Boards
- Journal of National Science Foundation – (2014 – 2015)
- Journal of Food and Agriculture (2008 – 2017)
- Associate Editor – SABRAO Journal of Breeding and Genetics