Dr. T.M.S. Asanka Tennakoon

Educational Qualification:

• Ph.D. in Plant Science, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (2023)
• B.Sc. Agric. (Hons), University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (2016)
• Certificate in Teaching and related Initial Practices (CTrIP) in Higher Education, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2022)

Work Experience:

• Senior Lecturer Gr. II, Department of Agricultural Biology, EUSL (From November 2024 to date)
• Lecturer (Prob.), Department of Biosystems Technology, EUSL (From March 2022 to October 2023)
• Instructor, Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Colombo (From June 2021 to March 2022)

• Google Scholar
  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ojduVlMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
• ResearchGate
  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Asanka-Tennakoon
• ORCiD
  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3743-6361

1. Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A., Meng, Q.L., Marambe, B., Ratnasekera, D., Melo, A. and Ge, S., 2018. Population genetics and evolutionary history of the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon and O. nivara in Sri Lanka. Ecology and Evolution, 8(23), pp.12056-12065. doi:10.1002/ece3.4665. 
2. Asanka Tennakoon; Sandamal Salinda; Parakkrama Wijerathna; Song Ge; DABN Amarasekera; Buddhi Marambe; Sara M. Elwany; Sobhy Sorour; Ayman El Sabagh; Mohamed M. Hassan; Disna Ratnasekera; 2022. Phenotypic Characterization of Wild Relatives of Rice (Oryza nivara (Sharma et Shastry)) Collected from different ecological niches of Sri Lanka, Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2022.018983.
3. Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A., Amarasekera, D.A.B.N., Marambe, B. and Ratnasekera, D., 2021. Functional trait diversity of wild rice species in Sri Lanka: implications for field identification and application. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 49, p.369. DOI: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v49i3.10223.
4. Rathnayake, R.R.M.U.N.B., Bellanthudawa, B.K.A., Pawuluwage, S.M., Arachchige, S.U.K., Nawalage, N.M.S.K. and Tennakoon, A., 2024. Unlocking the potential: an exploratory analysis of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) of University students towards sustainable mangrove conservation. Environment, Development and Sustainability, pp.1-23.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04691-6.  
5. Tennakoon, A., Sandamal, S., Ge, S., Marambe, B. and Ratnasekera, D., 2023. Weedy rice: An insight into genetic diversity and population structure for effective weed management. Journal of Tropical Agricultural Research and Extension, 26 (2), p. 135-150. https://doi.org/10.4038/tare.v26i2.5660.
6. Bellanthudawa, B.K.A., Nawalage, N.M.S.K., Handapangoda, H.M.A.K., Suvendran, S., Wijayasenarathne, K.A.S.H., Rathnasuriya, M.L.D., Wickramasinghe, P.G.M.U., Aberathna, A.A.A.U., Tennakoon, A. and Perera, I.J.J.U.N., 2023. A perspective on biodegradable and non-biodegradable nanoparticles in industrial sectors: applications, challenges, and future prospects. Nanotechnology for Environmental Engineering, 8(4), pp.975-1013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-023-00344-7. 
7. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal, Nishadini Wasana; Disna Ratnasekera., 2024. Plant-Assisted Bioremediation of Heavy Metals in Soil and Water. Phytoremediation and Biofortification (pp. 99-131) Apple Academic, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003402084-5. 
8. Tennakoon, A., Galahitigama, G.A.H., Tharindi, P.W.M., Suthajini, T., Abeysinghe, N.P.M., Sandamal, S., Rajendran, K., Hadifa, A.A., El Sabagh, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2023. Accumulation and Toxicity of Arsenic in Rice and Its Practical Mitigation. In Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Vol 2: Agro-Biotechnological Advancement for Crop Production (pp. 463-498). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37428-9_21. 
9. Galahitigama, G.A.H., Thakshila, I., Sandamal, S., Tharindi, P.W.M., Suthajini, T., Abeysinghe, N.P.M., Tennakoon, A., El Sabagh, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2024. Nanofilms for Enhancing the Shelf-life of Harvested Products. In The Nanotechnology Driven Agriculture (pp. 225-244). CRC Press.
10. Ratnasekera, D., Tennakoon, A., Sandamal, S., Wijerathna, P. 2022. Perception of Advanced Techniques in Conservation and Utilization of Wild Genetic Resources of Rice. In: Ramamoorthy, S., Buot, I.J., Chandrasekaran, R. (eds) Plant Genetic Resources, Inventory, Collection and Conservation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7699-4_21

Research papers published in abstract form

1. S. E. K. Fernando; W. K. S. M. Abeysekera; A. Tennakoon; W. P. K. M. Abeysekera; D. Ratnasekera; M. N. A. Mubarak; D. M. E. Senewirathna. Antioxidants and antioxidant properties of whole grains of selected wild Oryza species in Sri Lanka Climate. Annual Technological Advances in Science, Medicine, and Engineering TASME – 2024.
2. S. E. K. Fernando; W. K. S. M. Abeysekera; A. Tennakoon; W. P. K. M. Abeysekera; D. Ratnasekera; M. N. A. Mubarak; D. M. E. Senewirathna. Early and Middle Stage Anti-Glycation Activities of Whole Grains of Selected Wild Oryza Species in Sri Lanka. International Conference on Innovation and Emerging Technologies – 2024, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
3. S.E.K. Fernando; W.K.S.M. Abeysekera; M.N.A. Mubarak; A. Tennakoon; W.P.K.M. Abeysekera; D. Ratnasekera. Mineral Profile of Whole Grains of Wild Oryza Species in Sri Lanka. Annual Research Symposium 2024, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
4. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Parakkrama Wijerathne; Disna Ratnasekera. Origin, evolution and genetic basis of weedy rice in Sri Lanka. International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biotechnology (ICETB) – 2020, Vellore Institute of Technology, India.
5. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Disna Ratnasekera; Arthur Melo. Genetic structure and diversity of weedy rice populations in Sri Lanka. The 27th Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society conference - 2019, Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
6. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Disna Ratnasekera. Habitat preference of common wild rice species in Sri Lanka by species distribution modeling techniques. International Conference on Climate Change and its Impact on Global Food Security & Sustainability of Agriculture - 2019, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
7. Disna Ratnasekera; Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Parakkrama Wijerathna; W.M.R.H. Wickramasinghe; Amith Iroshan; W.M.C.S. Jayaweera. Divergence pattern of life-history traits in Oryza nivara and Oryza rufipogon natural populations in Sri Lanka. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation - Asia Pacific Conference (ATBC-AP 2019), Sri Lanka. 
8. Disna Ratnasekera; Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Parakkrama Wijerathna. Molecular characterization of selected wild rice (O. rufipogon and O. nivara) populations in Sri Lanka. ICMAS 2021, International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Science, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
9. Parakkrama Wijerathna; Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Disna Ratnasekera. Comparison of phenology stages of wild rice species: Oryza nivara and Oryza rufipogon using Ex-situ common garden experiment. ISAE 2021, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. 
10. P.S Sandamal; T.M.S.A Tennakoon; B.M.P.D.B. Wijerathna; D. Ratnasekera. Population genetic structure of common wild rice Oryza rufipogon Griff. in Sri Lanka. Young Scientists’ Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (YSCMR) – 2021, National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka.
11. P.P.N. Hasangi; H.H.H. Chathurika; P.V.S. Harshana; S Sandamal; A Tennakoon; D Ratnasekera. Impact of different burial depths on weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) seedling emergence. ICDA 2019, 5th International Conference Dry Zone Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
12. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Disna Ratnasekera. Genetic diversity of selected Sri Lankan traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. ISAE 2020, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
13. T.M.S.A Tennakoon; P.S Sandamal; D Ratnasekera; D.A.B.N. Amarasekera. Study on morphological traits of wild rice species collected from different agro-ecological regions in Sri Lanka. ISAE 2019, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
14. Sandamal S; Tennakoon A; Ratnasekera D. Habitat fragmentation and isolation-by-distance driven population divergence of Oryza rufipogon in Sri Lanka. 23rd International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2018. University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 
15. Sandamal S; Tennakoon A; Ratnasekera D. Among and within-population diversity of Oryza nivara in Sri Lanka revealed by phenotypic characterization. ICDA 2018, 4th International Conference Dry Zone Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
16. Asanka Tennakoon; Salinda Sandamal; Disna Ratnasekera. Genetic structure of common wild rice (Oryza nivara) populations from Sri Lanka. 4th International Research Symposium of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka – RUSL 2018.
17. Salinda Sandamal; Asanka Tennakoon; Disna Ratnasekera. Functional trait diversity among wild species of rice in Sri Lanka, 16th Academic Sessions - 2019, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
18. Sandamal S; Tennakoon A; Ratnasekera D. Variation in leaf physiological and anatomical characteristics of wild rice species in Sri Lanka. WinC – 2018, Wayamba International Conference, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
19. Wijerathna, P., Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2022. Phenotypic Plasticity of Wild Rice (Oryza nivara) Between the Native and Introduced Environments in Sri Lanka. International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture 2022, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka,
20. Wijerathna, P., Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2022. Plant Survival Rate of Oryza rufipogon Assessed by Reciprocal Common Garden Experiment, 3rd National Symposium on Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences – 2022 (NSATRS - 2022), Institute for Agro-Technology & Rural Sciences, University of Colombo.
21. Wijerathna, P., Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2022. Comparison of Seed Morphology among Sri Lankan Wild Rice Species, 1st Annual Research Session, Faculty of Technology (ARSFOT-2022), Faculty of Technology, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
22. Wijerathna, P., Sandamal, S., Tennakoon, A. and Ratnasekera, D., 2023. Life-History Traits Dvergence of Selected Natural Populations of Oryza rufipogon in Sri Lanka, International Cnference on Building Resilience in Tropical Agro-ecosystems – ICBRITAE-2023, The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo 3 – Sri Lanka.

1. Plant Science
2. Plant Physiology
3. Plant Speciation and Adaptation
4. Evolutionary Biology
5. Molecular Biology
6. Population Genetics
7. Plant Breeding
8. Agriculture
9. Biodiversity and Conservation
10. Environmental Science

1. AB 4101: Advanced Plant Physiology (2:15/30/55)
2. AB 2101: Plant Physiology (1:10/10/55)
3. AB 3202: Cell Biology (2:15/30/55)
4. AB 3204: Water Relations of Plants (2:15/30.55)
5. AB 1101 Agricultural Botany (2:15/30/55)
6. CC2102: Career Development Module II (1:15/30/55)
7. CC3201 Career Development Module III (1:15/30/55)
8. CC3202 Scientific Writing (1:15/30/55)
9. BST 36032 Production  Technology of Plant Based Products (2:15/30.55)

• Overseas Special Training Program (OSTP Travel Award) National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (2016-2017)

1. Associate Editor, Journal of AGRIEAST, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (From February 2024 to date).
2. Coordinator for International Symposium on Agriculture – 2025, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (From April 2024 to date). 
3. Faculty Representative for International Affairs Division, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (From February 2024 to date).
4. Faculty Representative - Center for Industry Community Linkage (CICL), Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (From February 2024 to date).
5. Chairman, Timetable Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (From February 2024 to date).   
6. Coordinator, Logistic Committee, National Symposium on Agriculture 2024, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka held on 6th March 2024
7. Visiting Lecturer (BST 36032: Production Technology of Plant Based Products), Faculty of Technology, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. (From April 2024 to date)           
8. Committee Members - Proposal Writing for the AHEAD Project, Phase II, FoA, EUSL (2023)
9. Member - Self-Evaluation Report (SER), Centre for Quality Assurance, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2022-2023).
10.  The Senate Nominee, Faculty of Technology, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2022).
11.  Coordinator – Annual Research Session 2022 (ARSFOT-2022), Faculty of Technology, Eastern University, Sri Lanka (2022).