Renowned academic and researcher in Plant Biotechnology. After graduating from faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, I completed the M.Sc Degree in Pennsylvania State University, USA, and Ph.D. in University of London, UK. I started my career at Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka as a Lecturer in Department of Crop Science and promoted to senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor and Senior Professor during my 30 years of service. In this period I supervised 69 postgraduate students, published 31 papers in peer reviewed journals, two books, two monographs and received nine national awards including presidential award for my contributions to plant tissue culture, molecular biology, biotechnology and floriculture. I was an adjunct Professor at Clemson University, USA, Murdock University, Australia and University of Guelph, Canada. I served as a Senior Professor and Head/ Biotechnology at the Horizon Campus, Malabe Sri Lanka, and as a Visiting Professor in Biotechnology at Business Management School, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka.