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Prof. B.G.D.N.K. De SilvaB.Sc., Ph.D. (USJP)Senior Professor
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Qualifications:
- B. Sc. (Special) degree in Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
- Ph. D., University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Special Achievements/Awards:
- The most outstanding research communication award in 1994 from Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award from World Health Organization in 1996.
- Young Scientist Award from National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka in 1999.
- President’s cash award for the publication in an International Journal in 2001.
- Commonwealth Fellowship Award in 2004.
- President’s cash award for the publication in an International Journal in 2006.
- National Research Council Merit Award for scientific publication in 2010.
- National Research Council Merit Award for scientific publication in 2012.
- National Science Foundation Award – SUSRED – Award for supervision of PhD in 2015.
- National Research Council (NRC) two (02) Merit Awards for scientific publication in 2015.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Award – SUSRED – Award for supervision of two PhDs in 2016.
- NRC President’s Award for Science Citation indexed journal publication in 2016.
- NRC President’s Award for Science Citation indexed journal publication in 2018
- Sri Jayewardenepura Research awards – Research publications in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019.
Scholarships / Fellowships:
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship from World Health Organization in 1996.
- Commonwealth Fellowship Award in 2004
Administrative experience:
- Treasure – Institute of Biology (1997 – 2000).
- Secretary – Science Teacher’s Association (1997/98).
- President – Science Teacher’s Association (1999/2000).
- Vice President – Institute of Biology ( 2001/02).
- Committee member – Committee for popularization of Science– SLAAS (2001/2003).
- Student Counselor USJ (1999.09.10 – 1999.12.10) and (2000.10.16 – 2001.01.14).
- Senate member – Faculty representative 2002-2004.
- President – Science Teacher’s Association (2007 -2009)
- President – Section D – Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (2009).
- Council Member – University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Senate Representative) (August 2014 to 2016)
- Finance committee member – University of Sri Jayewardenepura (as a council member) (June 2015 to December 2015)
- Audit and Management committee member – University of Sri Jayewardenepura (as a council member) (June 2015 to August 2015).
- Director, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (January 2016 to date)
- Coordinator- Biology programme in Faculty of Applied sciences (2017 to 2019)
- Coordinator – Genetics and Molecular Biology programme in Faculty of Applied Sciences. (2017 to date).
- Editor – Vidyodaya Journal of Science (2015 to 2018)
- Coordinator – Certificate course on Molecular Biology techniques (2018 to date)
- Member/ Faculty representative, Research Council (2021 to date)
Research Interests:
- Development of molecular assays for the identification of malaria vectors and sand flies.
- Population genetic structure analysis of malaria vectors, Dengue vectors, and sand flies.
- Virological surveillance of DENV in Aedes mosquitoes and develop field kit to screen Aedes mosquitoes.
- Exploring the molecular basis of insecticide resistance to commonly used insecticides and quantitative trait loci mapping.
Research projects:
- NSF – Indo -Sri Lanka cooperation – SIDA/98/B T/06 Title of the project: Use of molecular and cytotaxonomic techniques to study the an culicifacies species complex and its relationships to malaria transmission to Sri Lanka.
- NSF – SIDA/98/BT/02 Title or the project: Analysis of genetic variations of the An. culicifacies species complex in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Jayewardenepura Univetrsity Grant: ASRIP/6/PARI/2002/10 Title of the project: A study- on the releases of Toxorhynchities splendera to control Aedes populations in semi-urban areas in Sri Lanka.
- NSF-SIDA/2003/BT/01 Title of the project: Development of microsatellite markers for distinguishing species B and E of Anopheles culicifacies
- Sri Jayewardenepura University Grant: ASRIP/06/PARI/2009/18 Title of the project : Screening of Anopheles culicifacies Giles for their sibling species status using DNA based methods.
- Sri Jayewardenepura University Grant – ASRIP/06/PARI/2010/18 Title of the project : Screening of Anopheles subpictus for their sibling species status using morphological methods/metaphase karyotypes and DNA based methods.
- National Research Council Grant – 09 / 21, Title of the project :Molecular systematics of Anopheles culicifacies in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Jayewardenepura University Grant – ASP / 06 / RE /SCI /2012 /08 Title of the project : Development of a population structure map for Aedes mosquitoes for Sri Lanka based on dengue virus serotypes within mosquitoes and identifying a genetic marker for mosquito competency for the particular virus serotypes.
- National Science Foundation Grant, – RG / 2012 /BT / 03, Title of the project : Detection of dengue viruses in Aedes mosquitoes and their population genetic structure in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- World Class University Project, USJP, Grant- WCUP / Ph.D./ 17/ 2012, Title of the project : Genetic structure of Aedes mosquito populations in Sri Lanka.
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura Grant – ASP/06/RE/SCI/2013/19, Title of the project : Virological surveillance of DENV in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in dengue high-risk areas of Colombo District.
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura Grant – ASP/01/RE/SCI/2016/37, Title: Exploring the molecular basis of insecticide resistance to commonly used insecticides and quantitative trait loci mapping of genome regions controlling resistance in the mosquito Aedes aegypti.
- Sri Jayewardenepura University Grant: ASP/06/RE/SCI/2017/53. Title of the Project: Population genetic analysis of Phlebotomus argentipus and flies in Sri Lanka.
- National Research Council Grant – 19-028. Title of the project: Identification and characterization of the etiological agents of brugian filariasis in Sri Lanka and their vectors”
Collaborative Research Projects:
- Research collaboration with Prof. Nadira D. Karunaweera, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Sri Lanka.
- Research collaboration with Prof. Preethi Soysa, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Sri Lanka
- Research collaboration with Dr. Rushika Perera, Assistant Professor of RNA Virology and Dr. William Black, Professor of Medical Entomology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, USA.
- Research collaboration with Prof. N. de Silva, Senior Professor of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. Sri Lanka
- Research collaboration with Prof. Michael Kimber, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa state University, USA.
- Research collaboration with Prof. N. Chandrasena, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
- Prevalence of asymptomatic and/or mildly symptomatic dengue cases in a dengue high risk area and its contribution for the disease spread. Principal Investigator- Professor Harendra de Silva, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
Research publications :
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Postgraduate supervision:
Ph.D degrees:
- Dr. Sinnathamby Noble Surendran (awarded in 2005). – Co supervisor Title or the thesis: The Anopheles culicifacies species complex in relation to malaria transmission of Sri Lanka.
- Dr. P. H. K. Imalka Shalindra Ranasinghe (awarded in 2014) – Co supervisor Title of the thesis: Molecular detection and sero prevelance of Leishmania donovani and risk factor analysis in selected areas in Sri Lanka.
- Ms. Iresha Nilmini Harischandra (awarded 2015) – Main supervisor Title of the theis: Screening of Anopheles culicifacies Giles, for their sibling species status using DNA based methods
- Ms. M.A.P.C. Piyathilaka (awarded 2015) – Co supervisor. Title of the thesis: Molecular Identification of Toxigenic Cyanobacteria and Effects of Cyanotoxins on Human Renal Cell Lines
- Ms. F.S. Idroos (awarded 2015) – Co supervisor Title of the thesis : Molecular detection of toxigenic cyanobacteria, quantification of microcystin and exploiting microbial diversity to remove microcystin for water treatment solutions
M.Phil degrees:
- Ms. Walakada Garnage Shirormi Ariyawansha (awarded in 2005). – Main supervisor Title or the thesis: Analysis of the genetic variations of the Anopheles culicifacies and An. subpictus complexes in Sri Lanka using DNA based techniques.
- Ms.D.P.W. Jayathunga (awarded 2015) – Main supervisor Title of the project: Morphological characterization and analysis of molecular mediated genetic variations in Anopheles subpictus s.l. (Diptera : Culicidae) in Sri Lanka.
- Mr.M.A.S.T. Fernando (awarded 2015) – co supervisor Title of the project : Assessment of risk factors for transmission of malaria in Ampara and Batticaloa Districts in Sri Lanka
Contribution to National Development:
- Board member – NIFNI academic board (2007 to 2012)
- President – Section D – Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (2009).
- A member of the evaluating panel of the external evaluation on malaria elimination program for Tropical and Environmental Diseases and Health Associates (Private) Limited TEDHA (from 23rd to 26 May 2011).
- A member of the evaluating panel of the external evaluation on a comprehensive in-depth analysis of the Anti-Malaria Campaign in Sri Lanka from 2001 to 2011. (from 02 February to 30 March 2012)
- Board member – National Science Foundation (July 2013 to January 2015)
- Chairman, Biodiversity and Environment Committee of NSF – January 2014 to January 2016.
- Member, Sub Committee of NSF for the Federation of Asia Biotechnology Association (FABA) (January 2015 to January 2016).
- Member, A/L biology syllabus revision committee of National institute of Education (NIE) – January 2016 to date.
- Member, Integrated vector management technical committee of Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine – May 2016 to date.
- Jury member representing Sri Lanka for International Biology Olympiad- 2015 to date.
Text Books and Articles:
- De Silva, B.G.D.N.K., and Gunasekara, M.B. (1995), DNA probes for the field identification of genetically different populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies, Resonance.
- De Silva B.G.D.N.K. & Tilakarathna W.T (2000) Pravani Vidyawa A text book on Genetics in Sinhala for G.C.E. (AL) and undergraduates.
- De Silva B.G.D.N.K. & Tilakaratna W.T. (2002) Anuka Pravani Vidyawa. A text book on Molecular Genetics in Sinhala for G.C.E. (AL) and undergraduates.
- De Silva B.G.D.N.K (2010). Mosquito Vector Control : Past, Present and the Future. Proceedings of the 66th Annual Sessions Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science Part II, 29-39.
- De Silva B.G.D.N.K. & Tilakaratna W.T. (2011). Praveniya. A text book written in Sinhala for unit 11 of the G.C.E. (AL) syllabus and fundamental genetic courses of undergraduates.
- De Silva B.G.D.N.K. (2016). Genetics and Biotechnology for human survival in Vidurava Magazine published by National Science Foundation p 26-31.
Membership in Professional Societies:
- Life member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
- Fellow of Institute of Biology
- Member of Commonwealth Alumni Assocoation
(Last updated- 9th October, 2017)