Email: mdpdc@chem.cmb.ac.lk

    Phone: (9411)  2503 367    Fax : (9411)  2503 148

    Office: 118

• Ph. D. (1990): Organic Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.

• B.Sc. (1984) : (Chemistry Special, First Class), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Research Interests:

• Photo-induced Electron Transfer (PET) Studies of Bichromophoric Compounds.

• Designing, Synthesis, Studies and Application of Fluorescence Probes in the Analysis of Trace Metal Ions

• Fabrications and Development of Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes.

Awards:

• Devanathan Memorial Award – 2004 awarded by Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon.

• Presidential Award for Research 2000 and 2001.

Selected Publications:

1.   "Two Dimensional Fluorescence Probes" . D. P. De Costa, A. P. de Silva and S. T. Pathirana, J. Can. Chem. 65, 1416, 1987.

2.    "Control of Product Distribution by Marcus Type Electron-Transfer Rates for the Radical Pair Generated in Benzylic Ester Photochemistry" . D. P. Costa and J. A. Pincock, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 8984, 1989

3.   "Substituent and charge Transfer Distribution Effects on the Redox Potentials of Radicals" . D. P. Costa and J.A. Pincock, P. H, Mile and D. D. M. Wayner, J. Can. Chem. 70, 121, 1992.

4.   "Intramolecular Electron Transfer in the Photochemistry of Substituted 1- naphthylmethyl Ester of Benzoic Acids" . D. P. Costa and J. A. Pincock, Can. J. Chem. 70, 0000, 1992

5.   "Photochemistry of Substituted 1- naphthylmethyl Esters of Phenylacetic and Phenylpropionic Acids: Radical Pairs, Ion Pairsand Marcus Electron Transfer" . D. P. De Costa and J. A. Pincock, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115, 2180, 1993

6.   "Photoinduced Intramolecular Electron Transfer of Substituted Benzoate Esters of 9-anthracenemethanol in methanol" . D. P. De Costa, P. K. Cumaratunga and K. A. D. Sriyanimallikla, J. Nat. Sci. Caoun. Sri Lanka 25(2), 127-139, 1997

7.   "The Norish Type II Photofragmentation of Esters Induced by Intamolecular Electron Transfer" . D. P. De Costa, A. K. Benett and J. A. Pincock, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 3785-3786, 1999

8.   "Further Studies on Photoinduced Intramolecular Electrn Transferof Substituted Benzoate esters of 9-anthracene methanol-II-substituent and Medium Effects". D. P. De Costa and K. A. D. Sriyanimallika, J. Natn. Sci. Foundation of Sri Lanka 27(4), 277-291, 1999

9.   "Photochemistry of aryl tert-butyl Ethers in methanol: the Effectv of Substituents on an excited state cleavage reaction" . D. P. De Costa, a. Benette, A. L. Pincock, J.A. Pincock and R. Stefanova. J. Org. Chem. 65, 4162-4168, 2000

10. "1,3-Dimethoxy-5-methylene-1,3-cyclohexadiene compounds with Leaving Group at C6 : Generation, Solvolytic Reactivity and their Importance in the Photochemistry of 3,5-diethylbenzyl derivatives" . D. P. De Costa, N. Nowell, A. L. Pincock, J. A. Pincock and S. Rifai, J. Org. Chem. 65, 4698-4705, 2000

Teaching Experience:

     Responsible for supervising chemistry laboratories, conducting lectures and coordinating discussion classes in organic and physical chemistry for undergraduates and postgraduates at the Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo. Supervision of M.Sc. and M. Phill. Students in their research projects.

Professional Qualifications:

• President - Section E2 of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science in 2004

• Secretary - Section E2 of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science in 1995

• Assistant Secretary - Education Committee of Institute of Chemistry from 1995 June - 1996 June

• Secretary - Education Committee of Institute of Chemistry from 1996 July - 1997 July

• Secretary - Education Committee of Institute of Chemistry from 1998 July - present

• Secretary - Young Scientist Forum, NASTEC from 2000 Feb - present

• Member - Sartorial Committee of Polymer and Chemicals - SLSI from 1999 - present

• Coordinator in M.Sc. and Postgraduate Diploma Courses conducted by Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, 1993-present

• Head, Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, October-December 1995 and 2003 - to date

Employment History: 

• Senior Lecturer (1990 Sept. - Present) : Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• Graduate Teaching Assistant (1986 Sept. - 1990 Aug. ): Department of  Chemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada

• Assistant Lecturer (1985 Jan- 1986 Aug) : Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.