Wasantha Madurapperuma

Accomplished Agriculture professional with solid history of success, performing extensive research in the field of seed science, plant science and Soil Science. I have both lab and field research experience in these disciplines. I possess broad technical background with ability to adapt to new concepts and demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a team environment to achieve targets and goals.

I have a Victorian driving license for light vehicles (cars, vans).

• UNESCO Fellowship Award to undertake six months of training at the School of Plant Biology University of Western Australia. 2004
• Collaborating Scientist of the research grant received by the Council for Agricultural Research Policy, Sri Lanka for the project on “Identification of some possible causes of leaf scorch decline (LSD), tapering (TD) and rapid decline (CRD) disorders of coconut palm; 2003-2005.
• Presidential Award: Award and commendation from the President of the Government of Sri Lanka for internationally recognized and cited research work carried out within Sri Lanka. 1999.
• Presidential Award: Award and commendation from the President of the Government of Sri Lanka for internationally recognized and cited research work carried out within Sri Lanka. 2012

• Peer-reviewed journal articles, Madurapperuma W.S., Bleby T.M. and Burgess S.S.O. (2009). Evaluation of sap flow methods to determine water use by cultivated palms. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 66: 372-380 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S., W.A.J.M. De Costa, U.R. Sangakkara, C. Jayasekara (2009). Estimation of water use of mature coconut (Cocos nucifera L) cultivars (CRIC 60 and CRIC 65) grown in the low country in Intermediate zone using the compensation heat pulse method (CHPM). Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. 37 (3) 175-186 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S., Kumaragamage, D. (2008). Evaluation of Ammonium Bicarbonate – Diethylene Penta Acetic Acid as a multi nutrient extraction for acidic lowland rice soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 39:11,1773 -1790 pp., Vandenhove, H., Perera, S., Madurapperuma, W., and Merckx, R., (1998). Phosphate sorption by Sri Lankan soils used for rice production: Relation between tempkin sorption coefficients and soils and plant parameters. Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) Vol. 75 No. 3. 355-362pp
• Peer reviewed journals in Sri Lanka, Madurapperuma, W.S., Mendis, H., Premasiri, N., Gunawardena, M., Ranasinghe, C.S. (2008). Detection of water transport pattern in Leaf Scorch Decline (LSD) affected coconut palms. COCOS. Vol. 18: 16-23 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S. and Kumaragamage, D., (1999). Evaluation of AB-DTPA extractant for the estimation of plant available macro and micronutrients in acidic and neutral soils. Journal of Soil Science Society of Sri Lanka., Vol. 11: 29-36 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S. and Kumaragamage, D., (1995). Use of a multi-ionic extractant to determine available P, K, Na, Ca and Mg in acid soils of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research. Vol. 7. 152 – 158 pp.
• Presentations and Publications in Proceedings, Madurapperuma, W.S., W.A.J.M. De Costa, U.R. Sangakkara, C. Jayasekara (2010). Cell Membrane Stability (CMS) as a tool to identify the magnitude of stress in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) seedlings. In: Proceedings of the Third Symposium on Plantation Crop Research – Stakeholder Empowerment through Technology Advances (Eds. R.S. Dharmakeerthi and A.M.W.K. Senevirathna). Rubber Research Institute, Dartonfield, Agalawatta, Sri Lanka.93 – 99 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S., W.A.J.M. De Costa, U.R. Sangakkara, C. Jayasekara (2010). Effect of water stress on root hydraulic conductivity of seedlings of two coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cultivars grown under plant house condition. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International symposium of University of Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka. Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka. 33 p., Ranasinghe, C.S., Madurapperuma, W.S., Nainanayake, N.P.A.D., Mendis, H.C., Fernando, W.P.K.K. (2008). Tender coconuts for export market: Evaluation of cultivars and improved protocol for extended shelf- life. In: Proceedings of the Second Symposium on Plantation Crop Research – Export Competitiveness through Quality Improvement. (Eds. N.P.A.D. Nainanayake and J.M.D.T. Everad). Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka. 35 – 44 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S., W.A.J.M. De Costa, U.R. Sangakkara, C. Jayasekara (2009).Variation of sap flow of two coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cultivars (CRIC 60 and CRIC 65) in response to variation in climatic conditions. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Forestry and Environment Symposium. Abstract of papers part I: 91-92 pp., Madurapperuma, W.S., W.A.J.M. De Costa, U.R. Sangakkara, C. Jayasekara (2009). Variation of stem growth and canopy size of contrasting coconut (Cocos nucifera L) cultivars (CRIC 60 and CRIC 65) under different land and climatic conditions. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Forestry and Environment Symposium. Abstract part II: Poster session, 99-100 pp., Madurapperuma, W. S. and S.S.O. Burgess. (2008). Preliminary investigation of a suitable method to develop vulnerability curve for Karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor) in Western Australia. In: Proceedings of the 28th Annual Session of Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. 25p., Madurapperuma, W. S. (2008). Effect of land suitability classes (LSC) on growth and development of above ground and below ground components of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) seedlings. Proceedings of the 64th Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science. Colombo, Sri Lanka., Madurapperuma, W.S, Dayarathne, K.K.S.R., De Costa, W.A.J.M (2007). Evaluation of Physiological and Biochemical changes of two coconut genotypes grown under different moisture regimes. In: Proceedings of the 12th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, part I. 81 pp, Madurapperuma, W.S. (2006) Heat Ratio Method to determine the sap flow in palms. Proceedings of the 62nd Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science. Colombo, Sri Lanka., Madurapperuma, W.S. (2005). Root exudation of two rice varieties grown at different nutrient concentrations. Proceedings of the 61st Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science. Colombo, Sri Lanka., Madurapperuma, W.S., Ranasinghe, C.S., Mendis, H., Premasiri, N., Seram, A. Gunawardena, M. (2004). Evaluation of the application of Zn and the effect of nutrient application (macro and micro) on the expression of Leaf Scorch Decline Symptoms in coconut (Cocos nucifera L). In: Proceedings of the International Conference of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (Contributed Papersns). 237 – 250 pp. (Eds. T.S.G. Peiris and C.S. Ranasinghe). The Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka.Lunuwila 61150. Sri Lanka., Madurapperuma, W.S. and Ranasinghe, C.S., (2003). Evaluation of a suitable method to apply zinc on the Leaf Scorch Decline (LSD) affected coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) palms. Proceedings of the 59th Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science. Colombo, Sri Lanka., Madurapperuma, W.S. and Ranasinghe, C.S., (2002). Effect of different levels of soil moisture stress on the physiological performance of three major coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) varieties. Proceedings of the 58th Annual Session of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Book Chapters, Marrikar, J. M. N. and Madurapperuma, W.S. (2012). Coconut Production, Processing, and Nutrition. In: Tropical and Sub-tropical fruit processing and packaging. Blackwell Wiley Inc. New Jersey, Madurapperuma W.S. (1996). Socio-Economic Development and the Energy Situation in Sri Lanka. Energy and Environmental Challenges in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Windows for co-operation. TATA Energy Research Institute, Pauls Press, E44/11, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase ii, New Delhi 110 020.
• Project reports, Ranasinghe, C.S., Fernando, L.C.P., Madurapperuma, W.S., Mendis, H.C., Siriwardane, A. (2006). Identification of some possible causes of Leaf scorch decline (LSD), Tapering (TD) and Rapid Decline (CRD) disorders of coconut palm. Terminal Report, Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP), Sri Lanka (12 / 537 / 408)., H. Vandenhove, Mahathanthila, S. Madurapperuma, W.S., Perera, S, Merckx, R. (1997). Rock Powder Fertilizer Project report submitted to the Belgium Government after completion of the Project., Ute Voss, Helmrich H. and Madurapperuma W.S. (1994) Project report submitted to the Ministry of Economic Co-operation, Germany and Subject specific Minister of Livestock Development and Milk Production, Government of Sri Lanka on Socio economic field research evaluation in parts of the UVA province.

• Sam Sedghi, Former Research Scientist, Centor Oceania, Carrum Downs, VIC, 3201, 0470461575
• Sandy Laminsky, Former Officer In-charge / Seed Analyst, Centor Oceania (Seed Solution), Carrum Downs, VIC, 3201, 0439553585

• Gardening
• Cooking