Dr. S.R. Weerakoon - Head of the Department - Senior Lecturer in Botany B.Sc. (Colombo), Ph.D (Western Australia)
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Academic & Professional Qualifications :

B. Sc. (Hons.) Degree in Botany, University of Colombo
Ph.D (Australia)
C. Biol. (Sri Lanka)

1. Prof. B.L.T. de Silva memorial prize for Botany (1991), University of Colombo
2. Dr. Swarna Senathiraja memorial prize of Genetics and Plant Breeding(1991)University of Colombo
3. Commonwealth Postgraduate Scholarship award (1994)
4. President's Research Bonus award (1999)
5. Research Fellow award (Sept. 2007 to Sept. 2009), The University of WesternAustralia, Australia

Specialised Area/s:
Genetics, Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics

Research interests:
Breeding Polyploid crop plants.
Breeding canola-quality local mustard lines in Sri Lanka
Breeding herbicide resistant pulse crops and rice in Sri Lanka
Studies on phytoremediative potential among plant species.

1. Breeding Hexaploid (6n – AABBCC) Brassicas.
2. Breeding canola-quality Sri Lankan mustard (Brassica juncea) lines using double haploids and conventional methods.
3. A study on potential Lupin (Lupinus spp.) varieties and prospective growing areas in Sri Lanka and the impact of bio-films on growth of Lupins.
4. A study on phytoextractive potential among mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern) genotypes in Sri Lanka.
5. A survey on herbicide resistant Oryza spp. in Sri Lanka.

Research papers:

Dahanayake S.R. and Wijesundera R.L.C. (1994). Penicillium purpurogenum on fruits of Averrhoa bilimbi Sri Lanka J. Nat. Sci. Coun. Sri Lanka 22(1): 23-24

Amarasekara, A.S., Weerasena, O.V.D.S.J. and Dahayanke S.R., (1994). Construents of Vernonia zeylanica. Fitoterapia LXV No. 5:447

Dahanayake, S.R. and Galwy, N.W. (1998). Effects of interactions between low and high temperature treatments of flowering of spring rape (Brassica napus 'Annua') Ann. Of Botany 81:609-617

Dahanayke S.R. (1998) Genetics and Physiology of the vernalization process of Sprin rape (Brassica napus var. annua) Ph.D Thesis, University of Western Australia. pp. 1-309.

Dahanayake S.R. and Galway, N.W. (1999). Dialled analysis of vernalization responses in spring rape (Brassica napus var. annua): a basis for adaptation to a Mediterranean environment. Aust. J.Agric. Res. 50:1417-23

Dahanayake, S.R. and Galway, N.W. (1999). Effects of interactions between low-temperature, treatments, gibberellin (GA3) and photoperiod on flowering and stem height of spring rape (Brassica napus var. annua). Ann. of Botany. 84:321-327.

Pathirana P.S.K., S. R. Weerakoon and S. Somaratne (2004) Prior learning experience and student performance in distance education: A cross sectional survey on B. Sc. students at the Open University of Sri Lanka. Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences 3: 31-48.

Iqbal, M.C.M., Weerakoon S. R. and Peiris, P.K.D. (2006). Variability of fatty acid composition in interspecific hybrids of mustard Brassica juncea and Brassica napus. Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 35(1): 17-23.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Iqbal , M. C. M. (2009). Production of Interspecific Hybrids to improve fatty acid profile of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) germplasm in Sri Lanka. SABRO Journal of BREEDING and GENETICS (Special Supplement August 2009) 41: (online first)

Weerakoon, S. R., Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J., Peiris, P. K. D and Somaratne, S. (2009). Assessment of Genetic Variation within Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss) Germplasm in Sri Lanka using Fluorescent-based Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphic DNA Markers. International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology 6 No. 5: 757-768.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2009). Phytoextractive potential among mustard (Brassica juncea (L). Czern) genotypes in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 38 (2) : 39-47.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2010). Agro-Morphological characterization and relationships among mustard germplasm (Brassica juncea {L.) Czern & Coss) in Sri Lanka: A  Classification Tree Approach. Journal of Agricultural sciences, 5 (2): 89-97.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2010). Seasonal variation of growth and yield performance of mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss) genotypes in Sri Lanka.
Journal of Agricultural sciences, 5 (3) (in press).

 Weerakoon, S. R. (2011). Producing inter-specific hybrids between Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss and B. oleracea (L.) to synthesize trigenomic (ABC) Brassica Journal of Science, University of Kelaniya, Volume 6 (Accepted on 27.12.2010).

Iqbal, M. C. M.,  Weerakoon, S. R.,  Geethanjalie, H. D. N..,  Peiris, P. K. D. and  Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. (2011). Changes in the fatty acids in seeds of inter-specific hybrids between Brassica napus and Brassica juncea. Journal of Crop & Pasture Science, (Accepted on 18^th March 2011)

Abeysekera, A. S. K., Weerakoon, S. R., Karunaratne and Johnson (2012). Morphological variation in offspring derived from single panicle of weedt rice. Annals of Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. (ASDA)14: 1-9.

Conference proceedings: 

Dahanayake, S.R. and Silva, T. (1993). Effect of medial formulation and genotypic differences on the callus forming ability and plant regeneration in the genus Psopocarpus. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences, 49th annual sessions : 49-50

Dahanayake, S.R. and Galway, N.W. (1997). Effect, of flowering and stem height of interactions between vernalization, gibberellin and photoperiod in spring genotypes of canola. 11th Australian Research Assembly on Brassicas, Perth. 93.

Dahanayake, S.R. and Galway, N.W. (1997). Diallel analysis of vernalization responses in spring rape (Brassica napus var. annua), Genetics Society of Australia, - 44th annual conference, Perth : 73.

Dahanayake, S. R. and Galwey, N. W. (1999). Adaptation of canola to a mediterranean environment : genetics of the vernalization response. 10^th International Rapeseed Congress, Canberra. 270.

Weerakoon, S.R. (1999). A preliminary study of the possibilities of introducing canola (Brassica napus) to Sri Lanka and breeding mustard (Brassica juncea) using inter specific hybrids between mustard and canola with a view to improve favourable fatty acid content in mustard. Sri Lanka Institute of Biology 19th Annual sessions : 40

Weerakoon, S.R. (2000). The role of the Open University of Sri Lanka to reach the un-reached through open and distance learning. VIIth Annual Conference of Indian Distance Education Association, New Delhi : 18

Weerakoon, S.R. (2002). Testing hybrids of mustard (Brassica juncea) and canola (Brassica napus) to improve favourable fatty acids in mustard., and testing canola for cultivation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 58th Annual Sessions : 190

Jayasinghe, J.A.S.S.C., Weerakoon, S.R. and Weerakoon L.K., (2002). Studies on cryopreservation of mature zygotic embroyos of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences, 58th Session : 66

Weerakoon, S. R., Wimalasiri, K. M. S. and Perera, B. B. I. A. (2003). Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and phytopathogenic properties of the fungus Penicillium purpurogenum. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 59th annual sessions : 150.

Weerakoon, S. R., Daulagala, P. W. H. K. P. and Fernando, L. (2003). Bioassay methods for the detection of antagonistic activity by selected non-pathogenic bacterial isolates against the phytopathogenic fungus Penicillium purpurogenum. Inaugural Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka.

Gamlathge, M. V., Weerakoon, S. R. and Wimalasiri, K. M. S. (2004). A comparative study of chemical and biological properties of some selected spring canola (Brassica napus) varieties, Fi progeny and mustard (Brassica juncea), with a view of introducing a value added trait - high content of favourable fatty acids to mustard.  Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Sciences, 60th Annual Session : 161

Weerakoon, S. R., Iqbal, M. C. M. and Pieris, K. (2004). Transfer of value added traits and agronomic characters from Brassica napus to Brassica juncea by conventional crossing. Annual Academic sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka: 16.

Weerakoon, S. R., Iqbal, M. C. M. and Pieris, K. (2005). Interspecific hybridization of Brassica juncea (local mustard ) with Brassica napus to improve the fatty acid content of B. juncea. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 61^st annual sessions : 46.

Somaratne, S. and Weerakoon, S. R. (2005). Deterministic variables of the student performance of B.Sc. graduates of the Open University of Sri Lanka : A case study with Multivariate Regression Tree Analysis (MRT). OUSL Silver Jubilee Academic Sessions. : 123-128.

Somaratne, S. and Weerakoon, S. R (2005). Relationship between entrance qualifications and performance of science undergraduate students of the Open University of Sri Lanka. ICDE International Conference, India : 1-15.

Weerakoon, S. R., Somaratne, S., Wimalasooriya, R. and Iqbal, M. C. M. (2005). Phenotypic variation and the relationships among mustard (Brassica juncea L.) germplasm from Sri Lanka. OUSL Silver Jubilee Academic Sessions. : 67-73.

Wimalasuriya, W. S. R., Weerakoon, S. R.,  Somaratne, S., and Iqbal, M. C. M. (2006). Characterization and differentiation of local mustard (Brassica juncea L.) germplasm in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 62^nd annual sessions : 77.

Weerakoon, S. R. Iqbal, M. C. M., Somaratne, S., Peiris, P. K. D. and Wimalasuriya, W. S. R. (2007). Delimitation of local mustard (Brassica juncea) germplasm in Sri Lanka and improvement of their nutritive quality. 12^th International Rapesed Congress, Wuhan, China. Vol. 5 : 75-78.

Peiris, P. K. D., Weerakoon, S. R. and Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. (2007). Preliminary study of the suitability of commercial spring canola (Brassica napus) varieties to the local environment. Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Uni. of Colombo, 2^nd Annual Scientific Sessions : 14.

Somaratne, S., Weerakoon, S. R. and Iqbal, M. C. M. (2007). Agro-Morphological characters in classification of mustard accessions (Brassica juncea L.) in Sri Lanka: A  Classification Tree  Approach. The Open University Annual Academic Sessions 28^th – 29^th June : 77-80.

Yan, G. and Weerakoon, S. R. (2007). Breeding “Super Brassica” cultivars at hexaploid level. Fifteenth biennial Australian Research Assembly on Brassicas, 10-14 September, Geraldton, Western Australia : 69-73.

Geethanjalee, H. D. N., Weerakoon, S. R. and Iqbal, M. C. M. (2008). Interspecific Hybridization of Brassica napus and Brassica juncea via Embryo Rescue. Brassica 2008 Symposium, Lillehammer, Norwey (Abstract).

Weerakoon, S. R., Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J., Peiris, P. K. D. and Somaratne, S. (2008). Differentiation of Sri Lankan mustard (Brassica juncea) accessions using FAFLP markers and Agro-Morphological data. International Society of Bio Technology Conference (ISBT-2008), Gingtok, Skkim, India : 239-243.

Peiris, P. K. D., Weerakoon, S. R., Iqbal, M. C. M. and Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. (2009). Developing low Erucic acid and high Oleic acid-containing genotypes via Embryo rescue, using  Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) germplasm in Sri Lanka. International Conference on   Frontiers in Molecular Life Sciences, Colombo, Sri Lanka ; 45. 

Weerakoon, S. R., Si, P., Zili, W., Meng, J. and Yan, G. (2009). Production and confirmation of hybrids through interspecific crossing between tetraploid B. juncea and diploid B. Oleracea towards a hexaploid Brassica population. 16^th Australian Research Assembly on Brassicas, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia ; 205-211.

Peiris, P. K. D., Perera, H. A. V. S., Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2009). Evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal activity of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes in Sri Lanka against pytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 65^th annual sessions. (Abstract).

Weerakoon, S. R., Somaratne, S and Chaminda, L. A. D. D. (2009). Impact of seasonal variations on the seed yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 65^th annual sessions. (Abstract).

Weerakoon, S. R. (2010). Direct and Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis from petiole and leaf explants of Purple Fan Flower (Scaevola aemula R. Br. Cv. ‘Purple Fanefare’). World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. Part IV: 814-823.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2010). Lupin (Lupinus ssp.): A new cash crop for Sri Lanka. 30^th Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka : 05.

Weerakoon, S. R., Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. and Peiris, P. K. D. (2010). Genetic Differentiation of Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss) germplasm in Sri lanka by AFLP markers. Proceedings of the 5^th Asian Biotechnology Conference, 15^th to 17^th December, Sri Lanka. Pp. 5-6.

Wickramasekera, S., Weerakoon, S. R. And Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. (2010). Production and Molecular confirmation of true hybrids (3n, ABC) of Brassica juncea (AABB) and B. oleracea (CC). Proceedings of the 5^th Asian Biotechnology Conference, 15^th to 17^th December, Sri Lanka. Pp. 15-16.

Nimantika, W. J. and Weerakoon, S. R. (2011). Screening Sri Lankan rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties for tolerance/resistance of pre-planting broad-specturm herbicide, Glyphosate. Proceedings of the 31^st Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. Pp. 20.

Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2011). Lupin (Lupinus spp.): A new pulse crop and its yield performance under different climatic conditions in Sri Lanka. Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka on 14^th to 15^th September. 2012. Pp. 270-273.

Peiris, P. K. D., Weerakoon, S. R. and Somaratne, S. (2011). Assessment of Genetic Diversity of mustard (Brassica juncea [L.] Czern & Coss) germplasm in Sri Lanka: An Application of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) with dimension reduction . 13^th International GCIRC Rapeseed Congress, Prague, Czech Republic on 5^th to 9^th June 2011 (Poster presentation).

Wickramasekera, S., Weerakoon, S. R. and Weerasena, O. V. D. S. J. (2011). Production and Molecular confirmation of true hybrids (3n, ABC) of Brassica juncea (AABB) and Brassica oleracea (CC). 13^th International GCIRC Rapeseed Congress, Prague, Czech Republic in 5^th to 9^th June 2011 (Poster presentation).

Nimanthika, W. J. and Weerakoon, S. R. (2011). Impact of pre-plant and post- emergence herbicides on growth performance and yield of Oryza genotypes in Sri Lanka. 23^rd Asia Pacific Weed Science Society Conference, Cairns, Queensland, Australia. 22^nd-24^th November, 2011. Pp 405-410.

Somaratne, S. and Weerakoon, S. R. (2012). A Comprehensive Study on Phytoextractive Potential of Sri Lankan Mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss) Genotypes. ICAFNS ( International Conference on Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences), January, 2012 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Pp. 20-24.

Abeysekera, A. S. K., Weerakoon, S. R. and Johnson, D. E. (2012). Competitive interactions between weedy rice and cultivated rice in Sri Lanka. VI^th International Weed Science Congress, Hangzhou, China, 17^th-22^nd June. Pp. 48-49.

Abeysekera, A. S. K., Weerakoon, S. R., Karunaratne, D. K. and Johnson, D. E. (2012).Variation in the morphology of offspring derived from single panicle of weedy rice. VI^th International Weed Science Congress, Hangzhou, China, 17^th-22^nd June. Pp. 48.

Monograph  Series in Research in an Academic Discipline No. 4- Mustard (Brassica juncea [L.] Czern & Coss) germplasm  in Sri Lanka and its potential uses
ISBN 978-955-23-1235-9
By Dr Shyama R. Weerakoon
The Open University of Sri Lanka Press (2010)

Breeding Plants: A Pleasurable Hobby for you
By Dr Shyama R. Weerakoon
ISBN 978-955-54201-0-5
Tissera Printers & Publishers  (2012)