Department of Botany also offers students an opportunity to embark upon MPhil and PhD research. These programmes are supervised by high-calibre academic staff in the department offering degrees in disciplines of plant and microbial sciences, biotechnology, and molecular biology. These MPhil and PhD research programmes are full-time.
The Department of Botany has following research groups conducting and supervising a number of postgraduate research projects.
- Plant Virology & Endophytic Fungi : Emeritus Professor N. Salim
- Phytopathogenic Microorganisms & Biological Control : Emeritus Professor N. Deshappriya.
- Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology: Snr. Prof. T.P.S.K. Senarath
- Crop Biotechnology: Prof. P. N. Dasanayake
- Palynology & Plant Breeding: Dr. M. L. A. M. S. Munasinghe
- Mycology & Phytopathogenic Fungi: Dr. D. S. Manamgoda
- Molecular Physiology: Dr. R. Wimalasekera
- Plant Systematics & Floristic Studies: Dr. I. U. Kariyawasam
Funding of the programmes is usually through research grants to the supervisor/s by various funding agencies nationally and internationally. Very often, funding provides a monthly stipend for the student who would be conducting research on a full-time basis. The ongoing postgraduate research work under the Department of Botany carried out in a broad spectrum disciplines as follows.
| Student | MPhil/PhD | Project | Supervisor/s |
| P. K. Lawrence | PhD | Study on cytotoxicity, micropropagation, piscicidal properties and phytochemical profiling of fruits and leaves of Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) | Snr. Prof. W. T. P. S. K Senarath |
| L.A.N. de Silva | PhD | Study of the effect of Sodium Valproate on human membrane lipids and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans | Dr. D.H.H. Munasinghe |
| W.G.B.P. Dharmasena | PhD | Identification of the optimum cultivation conditions for some selected Sri Lankan wild edible mushrooms | Dr. D.H.H. Munasinghe |
| R. S. K. Himashi S. Ferdinandez | PhD | Morphological and molecular characterization and comparative genomics of hyphomycetous phytopathogenic fungi associated with commercially important Poaceous crops and their wild relatives in Sri Lanka | Dr. Dimuthu S Manamgoda
Nelum Deshappriya (Professor Emeritus) Dr. Dhanushka Udayanga |
| Champika Holiya Bandara | PhD | Molecular Species Delimitation, Phytogeography and Pollination Ecology of Oberonia Lindl. and Bulbophyllum Thouars (Orchidaceae) Species in Sri Lanka”. | Dr. Isuru Kariyawasam
Dr. Nayana Wijayathileke (Dept. of Zoology, USJP) collaboration with Singapore Botanic Gardens |
| D. Vihara Sugandika Kaluthanthri | PhD | Molecular and Morphological Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Drought
Stress Related Transcriptome Screening of ex-situ Conserved Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) |
Prof. P.N.Dasanayaka
Prof.S.A.C.N.Perera (University of Peradeniya, Faculty of Agriculture) |
| G.D.A. Madushani | MPhil | Molecular systematics and diversity of lignicolous ascomycetes inhabiting decaying woody litter from selected habitats of Kelani River. | Dr. Dimuthu S. Manamgoda |
| P.U. Navoda Erandathi Srimali | MPhil | Rhizospheric fungal species associated with selected capsicum varieties of Sri Lanka and evaluation of their effect on growth enhancement and management of common soil-borne fungal diseases of capsicum. | N. Deshappriya (Professor Emeritus)
Dr.M.L.A.M.S. Munasinghe Dr.D.S. Manamgoda Snr.Prof. R.N. Aththanayake |
| U. Kavindu Gihan Abeyrathne | MPhil | Analysis of airborne pollen from pollen trap located in Southern Colombo, Sri Lanka. | Dr. M.L.A.M.S Munasinghe |
| Anthonydura Iresha Lankani Silva | MPhil | Water and salt stress tolerance of different varieties of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): A climate resilience future crop for Sri Lanka. | Dr. Rinukshi Wimalasekara |