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National Node of the BCH
Biosafety Expert
Record information and status
Record ID
115814
Status
Published
Date of creation
2020-11-25 13:00 UTC (sec@env.gov.lk)
Date of publication
2020-11-30 15:40 UTC (anastasia.beliaeva@un.org)

General information
Nominating Government
  • Sri Lanka
Profile of the Expert
Dr. D.M.J.B. Senanayake is working as the Principal Scientist (biotechnology) of the Department of Agriculture. He possess B.Sc. (Agriculture), M. Sc. and Ph.D. in Plant pathology/ Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and Genetics.  He has twenty six years of research experience in above disciplines. He works as the  Chairman of the National Biotechnology Committee (CARP). He is a Faculty Research Committee Member of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and a Faculty board member of the faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University, Sri Lanka. He possess around 40 publications on biotechnology, virology and plant breeding aspects. He is a member of the Technical Working Group for national Biosafety committee of the Ministry of Environments, which develops the National Biosafety regulation in the Country. He works as a member of the subcommittee of the Ministry of Health, which develops biosafety and biosecurity policy in the country.  He was selected the Best Scientist of the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka 2018. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Annual Symposium of the Department of Agriculture and have been working as a reviewer for national and international research journals.
Personal Information
Coordinates
Dr. D.M.J.B. Senanayake
Rice Research & Development Institute, Batalagoda
Ibbagamuwa
Sri Lanka
Phone:+94 (0)71 800 3289,+94 (0)37 225 8561
Fax:+94 (0)37 225 9881
Email:dmjbsenanayake@gmail.com,jenanayake@gmail.com
Gender
  • Male
Nationalities
  • Sri Lankan
Date of birth
1964
Place of birth
Sri Lanka
Current employment
Employer / Organization
Department of Agriculture
Type of organization
  • Government agency (National/Federal)
Department / Division / Unit
Rice Research & Development Institute
Start date
1992
Main responsibilities
Designing, planning and carrying out plant biotechnology research in the Department of Agriculture and guiding other researchers and helping to solve technical problems including biosafety aspects. Guiding the Rice Research & Development institute as the Director (Acting) for research & development in the rice sector.  His educational qualifications in biotechnology and related subjects , research experiences in the area of plant biotechnology and being a member in national biotechnology related committees would be plus points to be considered as a biosafety roster expert in Sri Lanka.
Employment history
Countries or regions where you have worked
  • Sri Lanka
Formal education
First Degree or other academic distinction and subject
Example: B.Sc. in Microbiology
B. Sc. (Agriculture) Hons.
Name of academic institution
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Start date
1984
Ending date
1990
Formal education
Second Degree or other academic distinction and the subject
Example: M.Sc. in Microbiology
M.Sc. (Plant Pathology/ Molecular Biology & Biotechnology)
Name of academic institution
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Start date
2004
Ending date
2007
Formal education
Third Degree or other academic distinction and the subject
Example: Ph.D. in Microbiology
Ph.D. (Plant Pathology/ Molecular Biology & Biotechnology/ Genetics)
Name of academic institution
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
Start date
2008
Ending date
2013
Other professional qualifications
List of other relevant professional qualifications
A short Term Training on GMO & Genetic Engineering - Michigan State University USA - 2008
ICGEB- SHESTCO Workshop on "Techniques in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants and Bacteria" July 4 - 15, 2016 at SHESTCO, Abuja, Nigeria
Theoretical and Practical Course "Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Technique for Rapid Detection of Phytoplasmas" Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 3 August - 12 August 2015
Areas of Expertise
Main areas of expertise
  • Biosafety policy
  • Biotechnology policy
  • Risk assessment
  • Biotechnology
  • Genetic engineering
  • Virology
  • Plant protection Act, Regulations & Implementation
  • Customs/border control
  • Laboratory services (testing/diagnostics)
  • Plant protection/ quarantine
  • Biosafety legislation and regulation
  • Risk management
Publications
List most important publications related to the expert main field of expertise.
Senanayake D.M.J.B.,   Katyar A and. Mandal B. 2015. Construction and validation of MIR 159A  based silencing suppressor gene constructs for controlling potato virus Y and potato virus X 106-110 Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. 17:106-110
Senanayake D.M.J.B.,   Katyar A and. Mandal B. 2015. Construction and validation of MIR 159A  based silencing suppressor gene constructs for controlling potato virus Y and potato virus X 106-110 Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. 17:106-110
Senanayake, D. M. J. B., Mandal. B. 2014. Expression of symptoms, viral coat protein and silencing suppressor gene during mixed infection of a N-Wi strain of potato virus Y and an asymptomatic strain of potato virus X. Virus Disease 25(3):314-321.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Awards received
Best Scientist Award -2018, Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka
CARP Merit Award for Best Research -2019 as a co-author
Professional memberships
Member, Indian Virology Society
Technical committees, expert panels or advisory bodies served
Works as the Chairperson of National Biotechnology Committee and taking decisions regarding proposal evaluation for funding, project monitoring and policy development for national agriculture biotechnology.
A member of the Technical Working Group for national Biosafety committee of the Ministry of Environments, which develops the National Biosafety regulation in the Country.
I work as a member of the subcommittee of the Ministry of Health, which develops biosafety and biosecurity policy in the country.
Focal Point for Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (TCARD) of SAARC for Sri Lanka - Carrying out related activities with SAARC member countries.
Language proficiency
"A" = Excellent, "B" = Good, "C" = Fair
Mother Tongue
  • Singhalese
Speaking / Level (A B C)
  • English
/B
  • Hindi
/C
Reading / Level (A B C)
  • English
/B
Writing / Level (A B C)
  • English
/B
References
References
Dr. Sumith Abeysiriwaradena
Plant Breeder/Consultant
CIC Farm
CIC Agribusiness (Pvt.) Ltd
Dambulla
Sri Lanka
Phone:+ 94 (0) 77366726
Email:sumith@cicagri.com
Prof. Buddhi Marambe
Senior Professor
Department of Crop Science
Faculty Of Agriculture
Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
Phone:+ 94 (0)714460904
Email:bmarambe@yahoo.com
Dr. R.S.K. Keerthisena
Additional Director General (Research)
Department of Agriculture
Peradeniya
Sri Lanka
Phone:+ 94 (0) 713276462
Email:keerthisenarsk@yahoo.com