Committee Biographies [2018-2021]

Lakmal lives in Kendall Park, New Jersey,USA.

Lakmal graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Special degree in 1985. He received his Ph.D. Degree in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 1990, followed by postdoctoral training at the Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Lakmal has been working with Rafael Pharmaceuticals as a Group Leader for over 10 years and he is specialized in the field of medicinal chemistry, drug design and development.

Harshica lives in Houston, TX.

Harshica graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, in Chemistry Special (First class) in 1991. She received her Ph.D in 1998 in biophysical chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL. Upon completion of the Ph.D. she returned to University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and served as a senior lecturer until 2003. Her postdoctoral training was at University of Texas Medical branch in Galveston, TX and was a research scientist at UTMB before joining PVAMU.

Harshica has been working with Prairie View A&M University since 2017. Her research interests are on alcohol and non-alcohol induced fatty liver disease, environmental toxicology and computational chemistry.

Reshan Fernando lives in Cary, North Carolina, USA.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reshan-fernando-898b715/

Reshan graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, (Chemistry Honors) in 1987. He received his Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, USA in 1994.

Reshan has been working at RTI International as a senior scientist/principal investigator for over 25 years and he is specialized in the field of analytical chemistry and has been engaged in development and application of novel analytical techniques to resolve complex problems in health, energy, environment, food, and other research areas.

Personal Interests:
Community outreach through various charity organizations, volunteer activities at local environmental and scientific organizations, traveling, and biking.

Chryshanie lives in Harrison, New Jersey, USA.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chryshanief/

Chryshanie graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Statistics Special (First Class Honors) in 2009. She received her Master’s Degree in Financial Engineering from Columbia University, New York in 2014.

Chryshanie has been working with Morgan Stanley as a Quantitative Strategist for over four years and is specialized in the field of Quantitative Equity Trading Strategies.

Director – Research & Development
Porex Technologies Corporation
Filtration Group
St. Charles, Michigan.

Chandrasiri Jayakody lives in Saginaw, Michigan, USA

LinkedIn Profile: Chandrasiri Jayakody

Chandrasiri Jayakody graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in 1981, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics in 1986 and an M.Phil. Degree in Natural Products Chemistry in 1990 from the University of Colombo. Sri Lanka. He received his Ph.D. Degree in Organic Chemistry from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1994 followed by a postdoctoral training (1995-1999) at the Applied Research Laboratory, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.

Chandrasiri has been working with Porex Technologies Corporation (formerly Filtrona/Essentra Porous Technologies) as a Director of R&D for over 8 years and he is specialized in foam technologies for various industrial applications which include, controlled release, wicking, absorbency, nanomaterials, antimicrobials, wound care, medical and cosmetic applications. Prior to joining Porex, he worked as an R&D Scientist at Chestnut Ridge Foam Corporation, Latrobe, Pennsylvania for 11 years developing fire-resistant foams for high-risk cushioning applications. Before moving to the USA, he was a Scientific Officer at the National Science Foundation (formerly NARESA), Sri Lanka.

Personal Interests:
Chandrasiri is a founding board member of CUFSAA-NA and is a Joint-Secretary of the Association since its inception. Chandrasiri actively participates in Rotary Club activities. He served in the role of Club President and Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 7330. Currently he is a member of Saginaw Valley Rotary Club. Other personal interests include song/poem writing and golf.

Chandrasiri serves as a member of the ASTM Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices and the Committee E05 on Fire Standards. He is also a member of American Chemical Society and the Divisions of Polymers and PMSE.

Manager – Quality Operations
Sanofi Pasteur
1755 Steeles Ave W, Toronto, ON M2R 3T4, Canada.

Harshani Munidasa lives in Toronto Canada.

Harshani graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Special (Honors) Degree in (1982). She received her PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK in 1987. After completion of her PhD she returned to Ruhuna University Sri Lanka and served as a lecturer until 1990. Upon migrating to Canada she held a postdoctoral position from 1990-1992 in the Dept. of Chemistry at York University, Toronto Canada.

Harshani has been working with Sanofi Pasteur as a Quality Operations Manager for over 10 years and she is specialized in Quality over sight of sterile manufacturing of Vaccines.

Lalith lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Web: https://junction.niehs.nih.gov/divisions/dir/resources/analysis/comp_mole/index.htm
LinkedIn Profile : linkedin.com/in/lalithperera

Lalith graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry Honors) Degree in 1983. He received his Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from The University of Maine at Orono, ME in 1990 followed by his postdoctoral training at the Department of Chemistry, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC.

Lalith has been working at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH as the Head of Computational Chemistry and Molecular Modeling Core for over 10 years and he is specialized in the field of computational chemistry and structural biology.

Vicumpriya Perera lives in Cortland, Ohio, USA.

Web: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicumpriya_Perera

Vicumpriya Perera graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Mathematics Special (Honors/ First Class) in 1984. He received his Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in 1988 and his Ph.D. Degree in Pure Mathematics from the Indiana University – Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in 1993.

Vicumpriya Perera has been working at Kent State University as an Associate Professor of Mathematics with over 20 years of teaching experience and specializes in the field of Operator Algebras, a branch of Functional Analysis.

Personal Interests:
Vicumpriya Perera is a founding board member of CUFSAA and is a Vice-President of the Association since its inception. Maintains CUFSAA (www.cufsaa.com) website and enjoys helping with many aspects of this wonderful organization.

He has an enthusiastic liking to various types of music, especially to various genres of Sinhala music. He is also a Sinhala lyrics composer with over 200 recorded songs and 10 music albums to his credit.

Kirthi Premadasa lives in Madison, USA

Kirthi graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Mathematics Special in 1985. He received his/her Master’s Degree in Pure Mathematics from the Purdue University, IN, USA in 1990 and his/her Ph.D. Degree in Algebraic Topology from Purdue University in 1994.

Kirthi Premadasa has been working with University of Wisconsin System for over 10 years and he is specialized in the field of Mathematics.

Personal Interests:
Mentoring program, Prof. Joseph’s scholarship, writing articles to newsletter

Randara lives in Collegeville, PA, USA.
LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn_Randara Pulukkody

Randara graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Special Degree (First Class) in 2009. She received her Ph.D. Degree in Inorganic Chemistry from Texas A&M University, Texas, USA in 2015.

Randara joined The Dow Chemical Company upon completion of her PhD, and is specialized in new molecule development and application testing for Home and Personal Care applications.

Personal Interests:
Randara actively participates in STEM outreach activities in the Philadelphia area. During her time at UOC, she served in the role of Secretary, Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Science.

Oshadha lives in Boston, Massachusetts USA

LinkedIn Profile: LinkedIn: Oshadharanasingha

Oshadha graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Physics Special Degree in 2008. He received his Master’s Degree in Physics from the West Virginia University in 2012 and his Ph.D. Degree in Physics from the West Virginia University in 2015 followed by postdoctoral training at Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

Oshadha has been working with University of Massachusetts-Lowell as a Postdoctoral Research Associate for 3 years and he is specialized in the field of materials development for printed electronics.

Personal Interests:
Science Education, Science video production and animations, Mountaineering

Nalin lives in Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Web: https://www.psi.edu/about/staffpage/nalin

Nalin graduated from the University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Physics Special (First Class Honours) Degree in 1981. He received his Master’s Degree in Astronomy from the University of Maryland, USA in 1985 and his Ph.D. Degree in Astronomy from the same university in 1992 followed by postdoctoral training at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Arizona, USA.

Nalin has been working at the Planetary Science Institute as a Senior Scientist for nearly 15 years and he is specialized in the field of Astronomy and Planetary Science with his research focus being Comets and other Small Bodies of the Solar System.

Personal Interests:
Domestic and foreign news, cricket news, conducting guest lectures and participation at events to popularize science and motivate school children in science and affiliated fields.

In recognition of Nalin’s contributions to cometary science, asteroid 12871 was named 12871 Samarasinha in 2002 by the International Astronomical Union.

Viranga Tillekeratne lives in Toledo, Ohio, USA.

Web: http://www.utoledo.edu/pharmacy/depts/mbc/faculty-vtillekeratne.html

Viranga Tillekeratne graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science Special Degree in Chemistry with 1st class Honors in 1969. He received his D.Phil. Degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Oxford, UK, in 1975, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Viranga Tillekeratne has been working with the University of Toledo as a professor for over twenty years and he is specialized in the field of synthetic medicinal chemistry and natural products chemistry.

Personal Interests:
Traveling

Gomika Udugamasooriya, lives in Houston, USA.

Web: http://www.uh.edu/pharmacy/directory-home/pps-faculty/gomika-udugamasooriya/

Gomika graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Special (Honors) in 1999. He received his Ph.D. Degree in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry from the Wayne State University, Michigan, USA in 2006 followed by postdoctoral training at University of Texas – Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Gomika has been working with University of Houston as an Associate Professor for 4 years and was a faculty at UT – Southwestern Medical Center previously. He is specialized in the fields of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology in anti-cancer Drug Discovery.

Chandika Wijesundara lives in Tampa, FL USA.

LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/ChandikaWijesundara

Chandika, graduated from The University of Colombo with a Bachelor of Science, (Computer Science Special with Honors) Degree in 1996. He received his master’s degree in Master of Science in Cybersecurity/Cyber Intelligence from the University of South Florida, USA.

Chandika has been working with HRMC as a Senior Information Security Analyst for over 21 years specializing in the area of Information Security domain.

Personal Interests:
During my stay at the University of Colombo, I have organized and participated in most of the cultural events not only in the faculty of science but also in the university.

My particular interests are playing, singing and composing classical music. I am in profoundly researching the most sensitive and sophisticated machine on the planet which is ‘myself’ through the Buddha’s teachings.