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Department of Plant Sciences
University of Colombo
P.O.Box 1490, Colombo 03
Sri Lanka

 Phone : +94(0)11 2585038
 Fax : +94(0)11 2585038
 Email: office@pts.cmb.ac.lk

Dr. W. Kumara Hirimburegama - Director - Institute of Worker Education (IWE)
B.Sc (University of Peradeniya), Ph.D (University of Peradeniya)

Address: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Colombo, P.O.Box 1490, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka

E-Mail: whirim@pts.cmb.ac.lk

Phone:+94 (0)11 2585038 (office) ,
            +94 (0)11 2331619 (Residence, Tel/Fax)

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION:

• Microbial Biotechnology, Plant Virology

CURRENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

• Development of a local ELISA kit via chicken IgY antibodies for selected banana viruses is in progress.
• Counterpart Scientist of the International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Cooperation project on Banana Improvement in Sri Lanka. This work was started in 1998, and handled obtaining laboratory equipment, biochemical, expert services and foreign training worth of around two hundred thousand USD (200,000 USD) to the country ( University of Colombo) through this project.
• Field Research and Extension involvement in Modern Agrotechnologies, especially at rural areas of Hambantota – Planning and Construction of Tissue Culture/ Biotechnology laboratories, Food technologies, Plant virology etc. Handling of equipment selection and ordering, installation and operation of biotech laboratories.
• Studies on the use of straw as organic matter and Azolla as a biofertlizer in flooded rice culture with special reference to the soil microbiology/ soil biology, and sustainable improvement of the quality of the soil leading to economical rice yield. Part of this work was supported by a CARP grant with a Research student from the Dept of Agriculture.
• Studies on Banana viruses ( Eg. BSV and BBrMV), and local detection procedures/ kits development for ELISA and PCR methods. (Counterpart of the University of Colombo and IAEA Technical cooperation project).
• Microbiology of straw/ organic matter incoperation in rice soils and effects on rice crop.
  (CARP funded research contract project).
• First Coordinator to establish an Information Technology Unit (ITU) of the Faculty of Science of the University of Colombo from 2001 to date. Activity involved establishing a new networked computer laboratory of 40 computers. A modern management system was introduced without traditional IT consultants, network specialists, technicians, attendants, clerks and peons of the university system. The Unit is managed by a committee with 3 graduate temporary instructors. Students are guided for self management and e-learning activities. This is the only common computer laboratory belongs to the Faculty of Science for basic undergraduate courses.

IMPORTANT RESEARCH PROJECTS IN SRI LANKA

• Co-worker of the project on Use of better on-farm distribution of water and irrigation of other food crops other than paddy and production of planting material with tissue culture. Community Services center, Weligatta, Hambantota.
• Principal Investigator of the CARP funded project on Use of straw in rice culture and soil-microbiological aspects. Field trials were done in Kurunegala and Puttalum locations. One post graduate student is preparing the thesis for a Ph D.
• Principal Investigator of the NARESA funded project on Preliminary study on the viability of using Azolla in Sri Lanka.
• Consultative member for the GTZ/ CASS Youth Livelihood Improvement Research Project at the Hambantota District, Dept of Sociology, University of Colombo. 1999-2000
• Member of the Technical Committee for the Participatory Research Programme of the Sarvodaya Economic Enterprises Development Services (Guarantee) Ltd. 2000 to date.
• Ph D research – In the filed of Soil Microbiology, Nitrogen Fixation and Biofertilizers for rice culture.
• Research in Sri Lanka from 1978 to 1985 including 1.25 yr research in Vienna (IAEA) and Hungary.

CONSULTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS

• Beira Lake Restoration project - Investigations on microbiological and some biochemical aspects of the Beira Lake for the National Building Research Organization. 1993.

  Details are in the Beira Lake Restoration project feasibility study report by UDA and Roche International of Canada.