Research
Explore my research contributions, grants, collaborations, and student mentorship in the field of biodiversity, conservation, and nature documentation.
Research Grants
- 2025 - Senior Research Grant, Malacological Society of London
- 2025 - Conference/Meeting Grant, Malacological Society of London, for land-snail identification workshop at Central University of Kerala, India (co-applicant with Dinarzade Raheem, Ramachandran Kotharambath, David Gower, and Amrut Bhosale)
- 2024 - University of Peradeniya Research Grant
- 2023 - Travel Grant, Malacological Society of London, for the Molluscs of South Asia conference, Bangalore, India
- 2023 - Conference/Meeting Grant, Malacological Society of London, for a three-day residential land-snail identification workshop at Kanneliya Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka (co-applicant with Dinarzarde Raheem and Oshaan Wedage)
Collaborations
Research Students
2025
Thakshila Dissanayake
Thakshila is a Zoology Honours undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya, currently conducting her final-year research project on the dietary ecology of Pseudophilautus species in Hanthana, Sri Lanka. Her study explores how different Pseudophilautus species coexist by examining their feeding patterns and ecological relationships in the lower Hanthana region. The project is co-supervised with Dr. Gajaba Ellepola.
Paramee Madawala
Paramee is a Zoology Honours undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya, focusing on the threat of invasive ornamental fishes in the Bolgoda Lake ecosystem. She is examining the establishment of non-native species and their competition with native fish for resources. The project is co-supervised with Dr. Gajaba Ellepola.
Hashini Dilmini
Hashini is a Zoology Honours undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya, conducting her research on the phylogenetics and phylogeography of Tor khudree, Sri Lanka’s largest cyprinid. Her project employs mitochondrial COX1 barcoding to investigate genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships across the island. The project is co-supervised with Mr. Hiranya Sudasinghe and Dr. Gajaba Ellepola.