{"id":1006,"date":"2020-08-10T14:54:17","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T14:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/?page_id=1006"},"modified":"2026-04-03T16:59:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:59:14","slug":"dr-laksiri-weerasinghe","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/dr-laksiri-weerasinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Prof. Laksiri Weerasinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2015\/08\/laksiri-weerasinghe.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1004 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/04\/IMG_7452.jpg\" alt=\"laksiri-weerasinghe\" width=\"234\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Senior Lecturer<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>B.Sc. (Honors) (Colombo), Ph.D. (Washington State University, USA)<\/p>\n<h4><a style=\"background-color: #00b4d8;border: none;color: white;padding: 15px 32px;text-align: center;text-decoration: none;font-size: 16px;margin: 4px 2px;cursor: pointer\" href=\"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/04\/CV_LW.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Download Full CV &gt;&gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Biosketch:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>B.Sc. \u2013 University of Colombo\/Sri Lanka\/2004<br \/>\nPh.D. \u2013 Washington State University\/USA\/2013<\/p>\n<p>Postdoctoral scholar \u2013 University of Montreal, Canada, 2013-2014<\/p>\n<p>Postdoctoral scholar \u2013 Washington State University, USA, 2014-2015<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Senior Research Scientist \u2013 Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, 2015-2020<\/p>\n<p><strong>Research Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am broadly interested in meeting the current challenges in drug discovery and drug delivery at the interface of organic synthesis and Nanotechnology. In addition to small molecular synthesis, I am also interested in small antimicrobial peptides, realizing their promise as potential therapeutics as well as their applications in plant science and agriculture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Divisions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333\">Undergraduate Teaching:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHE 401 1.0 \u2013 New Trends in Organic Synthesis<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">ICH 483 2.0 \u2013 Natural Products in Industrial Chemistry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">ICH 478 2.0 \u2013 Pharmaceutical Chemistry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHE 381 2.0 \u2013 Synthetic Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">CHE 382 1.0 \u2013 Polynuclear Hydrocarbons and Heterocyclic Chemistry<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333333\">Postgraduate Teaching:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"p1\">IOC 902 1.0 &#8211; Nano and Advanced Technologies in Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">IOC 503 1.0 &#8211; Basics and Principles of Industrial Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">IAC 504 1.0 &#8211; Bimolecular Analysis<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Selected Publications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Shamara Kawmadi, Surani Chathurika, Laksiri Weerasinghe*, \u201cApplications of Antimicrobial Peptides in Plant Pest and Disease Control\u201d, <b>Discover Plants<\/b> (2025), doi:10.1007\/s44372-025-00134-2<\/li>\n<li>Selvaraj, S.; Perera, M. Yapa, P. Munaweera, I. Perera, I. C. Senapathi, T. Weerasinghe, L*., In vitro Analysis of XLAsp-P2 Peptide Loaded Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber for Wound Healing. <b>Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences<\/b> (2024), 114, 2, 911 &#8211; 922.<\/li>\n<li>Saranya Selvaraj, Yasuri Amarasekara, Inoka C Perera and Laksiri Weerasinghe*, \u201cTheranostic nanomaterials to overcome the challenges in peptide-based cancer therapy\u201d, <strong>Current Bioactive Compounds (2024)<\/strong>, 20, ISSN: 1875-6646, DOI: 10.2174\/0115734072285630240110115046.<\/li>\n<li>Saranya Selvaraj and Laksiri Weerasinghe*, \u201cThe role of nanotechnology in understanding the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury\u201d, <strong>Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (2024)<\/strong>, DOI: 10.2174\/0118715249291999240418112531.<\/li>\n<li>Laksiri Weerasinghe, Imalka Munawera and Senuri Kumarage, Nanotechnology in Drug Discovery, (2024), ISBN (Online): 978-981-5238-81-5, Published by Bentham Science Publishers, Singapore.<\/li>\n<li>Laksiri Weerasinghe and Saranya Selvaraj,<strong> Peptides in Nanotechnology, (2024)<\/strong>, CRC Press, ISBN 9781032661971. (In press)<\/li>\n<li>Yasuri\u00a0Amarasekara,\u00a0Inoka C. Perera,\u00a0Nuwanthi. P. Katuwavila, Ranga S. Jayakody\u00a0<sup>\u00a0<\/sup>Gehan A. J. Amaratunga, Laksiri Weerasinghe*<sup>\u00a0<\/sup><em>&#8220;Evaluation of novel nanocomposites for\u00a0enhanced anticancer activity of XLAsp-P2\u00a0peptide<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<strong><em>J. Mol. Struct<\/em>.\u00a0(2022)<\/strong>, 1257,<em>132618.<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Erandika H Hemamali, Laksiri Weerasinghe, Hideaki Tanaka, Genji Kurisu, Inoka C Perera* <em>\u201c<\/em>LcaR: a regulatory switch from Pseudomonas aeruginosa for bioengineering alkane degrading bacteria<em>\u201d<\/em> \u201c<strong><em>Biodegradation<\/em><\/strong>, (<strong>2022<\/strong>), 1-17.<\/li>\n<li>Katuwavila, N. P; Amarasekara, Y.; Jayaweera, V.; Gunasekara, C.; Perera, I. C.; Amaratunga, G. A. J.; Weerasinghe, L* \u201cGraphene oxide based nanocomposite for sustained release of cephalexin\u2019\u2019 <strong><em> Pharmaceutical sci.<\/em><\/strong>, (<strong>2020<\/strong>), 109, 1130-1135.<\/li>\n<li>Silva, R. T.; Dissanayake, R. K.; Mantilaka, M. M. M. G. P. G.; Wijesinghe, W.P.S.L.; Kaleel, S; Premachandra, T. N.; Weerasinghe, L.; , Silva, K. M.; \u00a0Amaratunga, G. A. J. \u00a0\u201cDrug-loaded halloysite nanotubes reinforced electrospun alginate-based nanofibrous scaffolds with sustained antimicrobial protection\u2019\u2019 <strong><em>ACS Applied Materials &amp; Interfaces<\/em><\/strong>, (<strong>2018), <\/strong>10(40), 33913-33922.<\/li>\n<li>Park, C-M.; Weerasinghe, L.; Day, J. J.; Fukuto, J. M.; Xian, M.* \u201cPersulfides: Current Knowledge in Chemistry and Chemical Biology\u201d <strong><em> BioSyst<\/em>.<\/strong> (<strong>2015)<\/strong>, <em>11<\/em>, 1775.<\/li>\n<li>Biggs, T., Weerasinghe, L.; Park, C-M.; Xian, M.* \u201cPhosphine Mediated Conjugation of <em>S- <\/em>Nitrosothiols and Aldehydes\u2019\u2019 <strong><em>Tetrahedron Lett<\/em>.<\/strong> (<strong>2015<\/strong>),<em> 56<\/em>, 2741.<\/li>\n<li>Garner, P.*; Weerasinghe, L.; Van-Houten, I.; Hu, J. \u2018\u2018A concise [C+NC+CC] Coupling-Enabled Synthesis of kaitocephalin\u2019\u2019 <strong><em>Chem.Commun.<\/em><\/strong> (<strong>2014<\/strong>) <em>50<\/em>, 4908.<\/li>\n<li>Garner, P.*; Weerasinghe, L.; Youngs, W. J.; Wright, B.; Wilson, D.; Jacobs, D. \u2018\u2018[C+NC+CC] Coupling-Enabled Synthesis of Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitor A-315675 \u2019\u2019 <em><strong>Org<\/strong><\/em>.<strong><em>Lett.<\/em> <\/strong>(<strong>2012<\/strong>) <em>14<\/em><strong>, <\/strong>1326<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Ahmed, A. A.; Hamada, M.; Shinada, T.; Ohfune, Y.; Weerasinghe, L.; Garner, P.; Oswald, R. E.* \u201cThe Structure of (-)-Kaitocephalin Bound to the Ligand Binding Domain of the AMPA\/Glutamate Receptor, GluA2\u201d <strong><em> Biol. Chem.<\/em> <\/strong>(<strong>2012<\/strong>) <em>287<\/em>, 41007.<\/li>\n<li>Garner, P.*; Kaniskan, H. U.; Keyari, C. M.; Weerasinghe, L<strong>. \u201c<\/strong>Asymmetric [C+NC+CC] Coupling Entry to the Natphthyridinomycin Natural Product Family\u201d: Fomal synthesis of Cyanocycline A\u201d <em><strong> Org. Chem.<\/strong><\/em> (<strong>2011) <\/strong><em>76<\/em>, 5283.<\/li>\n<li>Liyanage, W; Weerasinghe, L<strong>.<\/strong>; Strong, R. K.; Del Valle, J. R.*\u2019\u2019Synthesis of Carbapyochelins via Diastereoselective Azidation of 5-(Ethoxycarbonyl)\u00a0methyl proline Derivatives<strong>\u2019\u2019<\/strong><em> <strong> Org. Chem.<\/strong> <\/em>(<strong>2008<\/strong>) <em>73<\/em>, 7420.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Awards:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>President&#8217;s Award for Scientific Research &#8211; 2020<\/li>\n<li>ACS (Division of Organic Chemistry) Travel Award &#8211; 2013<\/li>\n<li>SUSRED Award, 2023<\/li>\n<li>Fellow, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Affiliations:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>President, Section E2, Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science (SLAAS), 2024<\/li>\n<li>Council Member, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, 2022 \u2013 present<\/li>\n<li>Chairperson, Inter School Chemistry Quiz Committee, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon,<br \/>\n2023- present<\/li>\n<li>Member of the Committee, National Chemistry Olympiad, 2022-present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>CONTACT INFORMATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Telephone Number:\u00a0+94 775401882<br \/>\nWeb: <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=N17QvoUAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=ao\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=N17QvoUAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=ao<br \/>\n<\/a>Email Address: laksiri@sjp.ac.lk<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior Lecturer B.Sc. (Honors) (Colombo), Ph.D. (Washington State University, USA) Download Full CV &gt;&gt; Biosketch: B.Sc. \u2013 University of Colombo\/Sri &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/dr-laksiri-weerasinghe\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Prof. Laksiri Weerasinghe<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1006"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1006"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4744,"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1006\/revisions\/4744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/science.sjp.ac.lk\/che\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}