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Academic Staff member

Dr. R. D. A. Gunasekara

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

B.Sc- (Ruhuna, SL)
M.Sc- (Ghent, Belgium)
Ph.D- (University of Peradeniya)
Specialization- Forest Ecology and Taxonomy of Seaweed

Email - rda@bot.ruh.ac.lk

LinnkedIn ResearchGate Google Scholar

  • Plant Diversity, Plant Ecology, Economic Botany, Herbarium Methodologies, Food technology, Forestry
  • Forest Ecology
  • Taxonomy of Seaweeds
  • Oral presentations
  • i). Gunasekara, R.D.A., Declerck, O. 2010. Genetic structure and distribution of Dictota spiralis (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) Thesis defense EMBC, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium pp.27.
  • ii). Gunasekara, R.D.A., Senevirathne G., Gunatilleke I. A. U. N., Gunatilleke C. V. S. and Gunaratne A. M. T. A. (2014). Use of Gliricidia sepium as a Nurse Plant to reforest man-made grasslands in the Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. Eighteenth International Forestry and Environment Symposium. University of Sri Jayawadanapura pp.82.
  • iii). Gunasekara, R.D.A. (2014). Effect of Gliricidia sepium on establishment of native trees. student Conference on Conservation Science, University of Cambridge pp.27.
  • iv). Gunasekara, R.D.A., Senevirathne G., Gunatilleke I. A. U. N., Gunatilleke C. V. S. and Gunaratne A. M. T. A. (2014). Effect of Gliricidia sepium establishment of native tree species at Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. Peradeniya University International Research Sessions:18 pp.562.
  • v). Gunasekara, R.D.A. , Senevirathne G., Gunatilleke I. A. U. N., Gunatilleke C. V. S. and Gunaratne A. M. T. A. (2014). Effectiveness of the Biofilmed Biofertilizer on the establishment of native tree species in Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka (PGIS Congress 2014)
  • vi) Comparative study on the sediment characters in selected seagrass meadows of Southern coast Sri Lanka (2016). Ayesha, H.M.U., Kumara, P.B.T.P. and Gunasekara, R.D.A. Proceeding of 3rd Ruhuna International Science and Technology conference. pp,53
  • vii) Abeyrathna, P.R.S.A, Kumara, P.B.T.P, Gunasekara, R.D.A. and Dayananda, T.G. (2017). Flora and Fauna diversity in selected Seagrass beds in the Southern Sri Lanka. Abstract of presentations 4th Ruhuna International Science and Technology Conference,University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka pp 56.
  • viii). Chandrathilaka, W.A.A.S., Asnathi,H.B.,Dayananda,T.G., Gunasekara, R.D.A. (2018). Influence of Stream Characteristics on Diversity and Distribution of Benthic Algae in Gongawwaela in Kottewa Rainforest, Galle, Sri Lanka. 15th Academic Sessions -2018, University of Ruhuna,Matara. pp 11.
  • ix). Weerarathna, W.A.P.U., Gunasekara R.D.A., Asanthi, H.B. (2019). Assessment of water quality in Kattakaduwa reservoir in Southern Sri Lanka. RISCON2019, University of Ruhuna,Matara.pp 08.
  • x). Gunasekara, R.D.A. , Senevirathne G., Gunatilleke I. A. U. N., Gunatilleke C. V. S. and Gunaratne A. M. T. A. (2020). Effect of Biofilm Biofertilizer on the Performances of Native Plant Species in Degraded Grasslands at Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2020. University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka pp 69.
  • xi). Weerasinghe, G. Y. H., Masakorala, K.,Gunasekara, R. D. A., 2020. Effect of benzene sulfonamide Based Herbicide Formulation (Granite®) on Soil Inhabiting Nostoc sp.. Procedding of the international conference on Environmetla Monitoring and Mangement EMM2020. Centre for Environmental Studies (CES), University of Peradeniya pp52.
  • xii).Weerasinghe, G. Y. H., Masakorala, K., Gunasekara, R. D. A., (2020). Effect of Granite Herbicide on Paddy Soil Microbiota. Proceeding of the International Research Conference of Uva Wellasa University pp 84.
  • xiii). Hettiarachchi, H.A.M.S., Sripal, D.D.N., Gunasekara, R.D.A., Yapa, Y.M.A.L. Investigation of the potential of Piper chuvya as a healthy alternative for tobacco in cigar (bidi). RISCON2021, University of Ruhuna,Matara.pp 130.
  • xiv). Karunarathna, M.W.B.S.,Gunasekara, R.D.A, Masakorala, K. (2022). Effect of soil physicochemical factors on the growth of algae as a mat on soils in paddy fields; A case study in Hambanthota district, Sri Lanka. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment ISAE 2022, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka pp 16.
  • xv) Chamini, W.V.I., Gunasekara, R.D.A, Maskorala, K. and Widana Gamage, S.M.K. (2022). International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment ISAE 2022, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka pp 20.
  • xvi) Gunasekara R.D.A, Gunaratne A.M.T.A., Seneviratne G.,Gunatilleke I.A.U.N. and Gunatilleke C.V.S. (2023). Applied nucleation affects soil restoration of degraded grasslands in the Knuckles conservation forest, Sri Lanka. RISCON2023, University of Ruhuna, Matara.pp 4.
  • xvii). Rangika, W.C.1, Gunasekara, R.D.A., Masakorala, Widana Gamage, S.M.K. (2023).Seed germination Inhibition of Echinochloa Crus- galli and E. glabresens by Two Strains of Streptomyces. 9th International Conference of Sabaragamuwa Sri Lanka pp
  • xviii) Rangika, W.C.1, Gunasekara, R.D.A., Masakorala, K., Yapa, Y.M.A.L.W., Walpita J.K.1, Widana Gamage, S.M.K. (2024). Soil Actinomycetes as Promising Alternative to Synthetic Herbicides. Twenty Eight International Forestry and Environment Symposium, University of Sri Jayawadanapura pp
  • Posters
  • i).Gunasekara, R.D.A., Samaranayke, C.N, Olivier De, C., Coppejans, E. (2009).Seaweeds in Sri Lanka: an untouched resources. Proceeding of the Symposium African Botany in Brussels.Belgium
  • i).Gunasekara, R.D.A., Senevirathne G., Gunatilleke I. A. U. N., Gunatilleke C. V. S. and Gunaratne A. M. T. A. (2014). Effect of Gliricidia sepium on establishment of native tree species at Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka”, Student Conference on Conservation Science, University of Cambridge, United Kindom.
  • ii).Ayeshya. H.M.U., Kumara.P.B.T.P., Gunaseakara. R.D.A. (2016) Comparative study on the sediment characters in selected Seagrass meadows of Southern coast of Sri Lanka. RISCON 2016, University of Ruhuna, Matara.PP.53
  • iii). Gunasekara,R.D.A, Senevirathne, G, Gunatilleke, I. A. U. N, Gunatilleke, C. V. S and Gunaratne, A. M. T. A.( 2016). Attitudes of villagers towards conservation of Knuckle Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. PGIS congress 2016, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
  • iv). Abeyrathna, P.R.S.A, Kumara, P,B.T.P., Gunasekara,R.D.A. (2017). Flora and Fauna diversity in selected Seagrass beds in the Southern Sri Lanka. PP56
  • x) Sumanasekara,G.B.H., Gunasekara, R.D.A., Manel Kumari, W.G.S., Masakorala, K. (2022). Paper production from filamentous algae( Mougeotia sp.) –Experimental study. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2022, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka pp 126.
  • Books
  • Co- author ships in book
  • i) Volume 6: Sri Lankan Seaweeds - Methodologies and field guide to the dominant species.http://www.abctaxa.be/downloads/volume-6-algae-sri-lanka (you can refer this book by clicking this web address)
  • ii) Sri Lanka’s Sixth National Report Biodiversity Profile – Sri Lanka To the Convention on Biological Diversity 2019, Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment.
  • iii) THE NATIONAL RED LIST 2020, Conservation Status of the Flora of Sri Lanka, Biodiversity Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Department of National Botanic Gardens.
  • iv) The Natural Vegetation in the Hambantota District which special reference to impact of Goat Rearing on the Natural Vegetation.
  • v) An Ecological Survey of Sand Dunes with reference to their role as Natural Barriers against Tsunami, in Hambantota District of Sri Lanka. Third International Conference on Plants and Environmental Pollution (ICPEP-3). National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India. from 28th November to 2nd December 2005.
  • Book chapters
  • i)Nimal Gunatilleke, J. David Neidel, T. R. Shankar Raman, Thilanka Gunaratne, Mark Ashton, Sunil Gamage, Savitri Gunatilleke, Kushan Tennakoon, Hashendra Kathriarachchi, Sisira Ediriweera, Nalaka Geekiyanage, David Burslem, Gamini Senevirathne, Sumedha Madawala, Rasanga Gunasekera, Divya Mudappa, Anand M. Osuri, Srinivasan Kasinathan, Kshama Bhat, Marlito Bande, Ishak Yassir, Paciencia Milan, Arbainsyah & Serica Joy Compendio. (2023). i) Ecological Approaches to Forest Restoration: Lessons Learned from Tropical Wet Asia. Ecological Restoration pp 103-147. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25412-3_4
  • Thesis:
  • i) Ph.D. thesis - Gunasekara, R.D.A. (2022). Native Tree Island Establishment to Restore Lower Montane Forest in Knuckles Conservation Area, Sri Lanka. PGIS, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • ii) MSc thesis - Gunasekara, R.D.A. (2009).Genetic structure and distribution of Dictyota spiralis (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) at Ghent University, Phycology research group, Ghent,Belgium.
  • iii) BSc special thesis - Gunasekara, R.D.A. (1999). Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain SA44 as a biological control agent of the damping –off in Chilli seedlings. Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Erasmus Mundus master scholarship on Marine Biodiversity and Conservation 2008, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.