Dr Asanga Wijetunga

Awards and Scholarships

• NRC (National Research Council, Sri Lanka) Merit Award for Scientific Publications – 2013.

• NRC (National Research Council, Sri Lanka) Merit Award for Scientific Publications – 2010 and 2012.

• Scholarship from North-South Dialog Programme of Austrian Exchange Service to pursue Doctoral Studies in Vienna and Sri Lanka (2005 – 2008).

Academic Publication Reviewing, Editing, Chairing

Academic Publication Reviewing

• Manuscript Reviewer: Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Science)

• 4th International Research Symposium of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka: Investing in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – ISIBES 2018

• Rajarata International Research Conference 2019 (RIRC 2019), the 5th annual Rajarata University Research Conference.

Chairing Research Sessions

• Chairing a session at 4th International Research Symposium of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka: Investing in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – ISIBES 2018.

Curriculum Revision/Development

• Revision of courses (viz., Economic Botany, Forest Conservation, Culture and Propagation of Ornamental Aquatic Plants) in the old curricular of General and Special Degree Programmes (disciplines in Botany, Biodiversity and Fisheries) of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in the process of their Curriculum Revision in 2014/2015.

• Development and introduction of a new course (Flora of Sri Lanka / 2 Credits) to the revised curriculum of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in the process of their Curriculum Revision in 2014/2015.

Workshops Contribution (Resource Person)

• Advanced Level Biology Training Programme for teachers of North Central Province held at Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on November 10-11, 2018. Resource Person

• Capacity Building Workshop on Diversity and Taxonomy of Sri Lankan Flora for A/L Science and Agriculture School Teachers workshop organized by the Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment in collaboration with Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya on October 29-30, 2018. Resource Person

• Advanced Level Biology Training Programme for teachers of North Central Province held at Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on October 19-20, 2017. Resource Person

• Workshop for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Science Students held at Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka on June 28-30, 2017. Coordinator of Botany

• Workshop on Field, Laboratory and Herbarium Techniques held at Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna funded by QIG Grant of World Bank on November 22-23, 2014. Resource Person

Editing Books

• Kossinna, Chintha and Welianga, Wasantha (2012). Mal: Sobadame Suwandathi Nimawuma (in Sinhala). Visidunu Prakashakayo (Pvt) Ltd. / Consulting Editor

• Kossinna, Chintha and Welianga, Wasantha (2012). Flowers: Scented Beauties. Visidunu Prakashakayo (Pvt) Ltd. / Consulting Editor

Current Researches and Projects

• Impact of Tropical Forest Fragmentation on Figs and Wasp Pollinator Interactions

Publications

Full Papers

• Rathnayake, D.G.R.M.M.K. and Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B. (2016). Species Composition and Visiting Frequencies of Flower Visitors of Chromolaena odorata in a Dry Zone Forest Patch of Sri Lanka. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. Vol. 2016, Article ID 8746251, 7 pp.

• Fernando, M.T.R., Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Walck, J.L. and Wijetunga, A.S.T.B. (2013). Identifying dormancy class and storage behaviour of champak (Magnolia champaca) seeds, an important tropical timber tree. J. Natn. Sci. Foundation Sri Lanka 41 (2): 141-146.

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2013). Seed dormancy and storage behaviour in tropical Fabaceae: a study of 100 species from Sri Lanka. Seed Science Research, 1–13. Available on CJO 2013, doi: 10.1017/S0960258513000214.

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2012). Physiological epicotyl dormancy and recalcitrant storage behaviour in seeds of two tropical Fabaceae (subfamily Caesalpinioideae) species. AoB Plants 2012: pls044; doi:10.1093/aobpla/pls044

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2010). Recalcitrancy and a new kind of epicotyl dormancy in seeds of the understory tropical rainforest tree Humboldtia laurifolia (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae). American Journal of Botany 97 (1): 15 – 26.

• Ekanayake, E.M.G.D., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B. and Abeyagoonasekera, R.M.K. (2001). Ferns and Fern-allies (Pterydophytes) of Peradeniya University Park. PHYTA 5 (1): 17 – 23.

Conference Proceedings:

• Muthuthanthirige, D.L., Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B and Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G. (2018). Seed Biology of Three Strychnos Species (Loganiaceae) from Sri Lanka, Towards their Conservation. Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2018 of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 20 p. (Abstract).

• Perera, D.P.R.A. Wijethunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B. and Wickramasinghe, S. (2018). Nesting behaviour of Sri Lanka Yellow Eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus) in Knuckles Massif of Sri Lanka. 4th International Research Symposium of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka: Investing in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – ISIBES 2018. (Abstract).

• Costa, W.A.J.M. De, Wahala, W.M.P.S.B., Weerasinghe, K.W.L.K., Ukuwela, K.D.B., Caldera, H.I.U., Sathurusinghe, A., Gomes, P. and Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B. (2018). Estimation of the possible impacts of environmental change on carbon sequestration, plant functional traits and biodiversity of wet zone forests across an altitudinal gradient in Sri Lanka. Symposium on Research in Sinharaja, October 2018, organized by the Forest Department, Sri Lanka. (Abstract).

• Muthuthanthirige, D.L., Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B and Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G. (2018). Seed germination of two medicinally important vulnerable Strychnos species (Loganiaceae) from Sri Lanka, towards their conservation. The 9th Student Conference on Conservation Science – Bengaluru, 27th-30th September 2018, IISc, Bengaluru, India. (Poster).

• Illapperuma, S.C., Dinojan, S., Wijethunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B., Jayaweera, J.A.A.S., and Premathilake, K.M.R. (2017). Antibacterial Activity of Leaf Extract of Mikania cordata Plant used in Sri Lankan Folk Medicine for Wound Infections. Proc. of the 6th Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM). 5: 10. (Abstract)

• Senevirathne, W.I.N.S., Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B., and Wijesundara, D.S. (2015). Floristic Composition of Jathika Namal Uyana Forest in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, Sri Lanka (November 05-06, 2015), 19: 378. (Abstract)

• Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B., Karunaratne, W.A.I.P., Gunaratne, A.M.T.A. and Harrison, R.D. (2015). Effect of Different Disturbance Regimes on Pollinator and Non-Pollinator Fig-Wasp Relationships and Syconial Characters of Ficus exasperata Vahl (Moraceae) in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University International Research Sessions, Sri Lanka (November 05-06, 2015), 19: 322. (Abstract)

• Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B., Karunaratne, W.A.I.P., Gunaratne, A.M.T.A. and Harrison, R.D. (2015). Fig-Wasp Relationships and Syconial Characters of Ficus hispida L. (Moraceae) in Three Different Localities in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Postgraduate Institute of Science Research Congress, Sri Lanka (October 09-10, 2015), 73. (Abstract)

• Dissanayake, A., Wijetunga, A. and Hettiarachchi, P. (2012). Floristic composition of homegarden system in some villages in northern flank of Dumbara: with a special emphasis on endemic homegarden plant species. Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2012 of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 6 p. (Abstract)

• Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B. and Tan, B.C. (2012). Discovery of Some Fissidens Species (Bryophyta, Fissidentaceae), New to Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2012 of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 2 p. (Abstract)

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2010). Dormancy and storage behaviour of seeds of fifty tropical Fabaceae species from Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2010 of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 48 – 49 p. (Abstract)

• Fernando, M.T.R., Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G. and Wijetunga, A.S.T.B. (2010). Morpho-physiological dormancy in seeds of Michelia champaca. Proceedings of the International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2010 of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. 6 p. (Abstract)

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2010). Dormancy and storage behaviour of seeds of four Fabaceae species in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 15: 284 – 286. (Abstract)

• Jayasuriya, K.M.G.G., Wijetunga, A.S.T.B., Baskin, J.M. and Baskin, C.C. (2009). A new kind of epicotyl dormancy in seeds of rainforest understory tree, Humboldtia laurifolia (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae). Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 14: 180 – 182. (Abstract)

• Nissanka, S. P., Mohotti, K. M. and Wijetunga, A. S. T. B. (2005). Allelopathic influences of Pinus caribea on vegetation regeneration and soil biodiversity. In: Harper, J. D. I., An, M., Wu, H. and Kent, J. H. (Eds.). Proceedings of the Fourth World Congress on Allelopathy, “Establishing the Scientific Base”, August 21-26, 2005, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 336-338.

• Subasinghe, S.A.A.U., Wijetunga A.S.T.B. and Abeyagoonasekera, R.M.K. (2004). Diversity of Ferns and Fern-allies in Five Tree Dominant Habitats of Hantana Range. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 9: 134. (Abstract)

• Jayawardana, J.K.M.B., Abeyagoonasekera, R.M.K. and Wijetunga, A.S.T.B. (2003). Diversity of Mosses in Some Selected Sites at Hantana Range – A Preliminary Study. Proceedings of the Peradeniya University Research Sessions, Sri Lanka. 8: 153. (Abstract)

Case Reports

• Witharana, E.W.R.A., Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B and Wijesinghe, S.K.J. (2018). Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) following murunga leaf (Moringa oleifera) consumption. Ceylon Medical Journal 63 (4): 188-189.

• Witharana, E.W.R.A., Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B., Sathanandan, P.P., Wijesinghe, S.K.J and Wickramaratne, L.G.B.Y (2014). Cardiac toxicity with nodal bradycardia due to Panama rubber (Castilla elastica: Moraceae) poisoning. Ceylon Medical Journal 59 (3): 97-98.

Consultancy Reports

• Wijetunga, W.M.G.A.S.T.B (July 2015). A Synopsis of the Preliminary Forest Inventory Survey of Mahausakande Regenerating Rain Forest Stand (MKFS) in Kiriella, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Mahausakande Project, Ellawala Foundation Trust, Kiriella.

Unpublished Research Reports

• The Present Status of the Homegardens in Galle District of Sri Lanka Affected by the December 26, 2004 Tsunami: A Comparison with Non-affected Homegardens in Connection with Restoration (2008). Doctoral Thesis. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.

• Comparative Study of Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Associations of Some Understorey Plant Species Common to Pinus Plantation and Semi-natural Forest at Hantana Range (2001). M.Sc. Directed Study Report. Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

• The Ecology of Tree-hole and Rock-pool Breeding Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Some Selected Sites at Hantana Range (1995). B.Sc. Research Project Report. Open University of Sri Lanka.