Ph.D. - Hiroshima University, Japan
M.Sc. - University of Reading, United Kingdom
B.Sc. (Agriculture)- University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Appointments

• Professor of Plant Protection (Chair of Plant Protection), University of Peradeniya- from September 2017 onwards
• Professor in Plant Pathology, University of Peradeniya-  from September 2013 to September 2017
• Senior Lecturer in Plant Pathology, University of Peradeniya – from March 2002 to September 2013
• Lecturer, University of Peradeniya - from February 1992 to March 2002

JOURNAL PAPERS

• Journals in peer-reviewed indexed journals

Deluxeani Sureshkumar, Christy Jeyaseelan Emmanuel, Devika M. De Costa (2025) Anthracnose of grapevines in Sri Lanka: Pathogen identification, epidemiological insights, and in vitro evaluation of bioactive extracts, Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 139, 102771, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2025.102771.

Priyadarshani, T. D. C., Karunarathna, D. D. N., Chathurangika Kumarihami Wijesundara, W. W. M. T., Egodawatta, W. C. P., De Costa, D. M., Herath, H. M. A. M., Karunarathna, S. C. (2025) Evaluating the growth-promoting potential of Trichoderma virens on rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) under in-vitro and semi in-vivo conditions. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1–16.  https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2025.2464263

A.M. Gihan Kavinda Athapaththu, Christy Jeyaseelan Emmanuel, Udaya Priyantha Kankanamge Epa, Devika Malkanthi De Costa (2024) Integration of Morphology and the Mitochondrial Cox1 Gene to Identify Killifishes, Aplocheilus Species, in the Attanagalu River, Sri Lanka, Asian Fisheries Science, 37(4), 214-223.

Abeysiri Narayana Waduge Sumedha Thushari and Devika Malkanthi De Costa (2023) Determining morphological and biochemical indices to select for smut-resistant sugarcane varieties, Journal of Crop Improvement,DOI: 10.1080/15427528.2023.2284163.

Aruna Kumara, U.M. and De Costa, Devika M. (2023). Exogenous application of a Burkholderia sp. and jasmonic acid at the postharvest stage for management of anthracnose in dessert banana (Musa acuminata). Journal of Phytopathology,  https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13196

Tharangani, H.D.A., De Costa, D.M., Jayasinghe, G.G. and Ananda, E.H.M. (2023). Determining fungal profiles associated at different stages of disease development and confirmation of pathogenicity for deducing etiology of Rough Bark Disease of Cinnamon. Journal of Phytopathology. 171( 4-5), 189-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.13169

Sumedha Thushari, A.N.W. and De Costa, D.M. (2023). Molecular and Genetic Variability of Sporisorium scitamineum (Sugarcane Smut Pathogen) in Sugarcane Plantations in Sri Lanka. Sugar Tech https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-022-01239-8

De Costa, D.M., De Costa, J.M., Weerathunga, M.T., Prasannath, K. and Bulathsinhalage, V.N., (2021) Assessment of management practices, awareness on safe use of pesticides and perception on integrated management of pests and diseases of chilli and tomato grown by small?scale farmers in selected districts of Sri Lanka. Pest Management Science. 77, 5001-5021.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6542

Sumedha Thushari, A.N.W., Wijesuriya, A., Wijesuriya, B.W., Perera, A.M.M. and De Costa, D.M. (2021)  Identification of Sugarcane Germplasm in Sri Lanka for Breeding of Varieties Resistant to Smut Disease (c.a. Sporisorium scitamineum). Sugar Tech 23, 1025–1036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-021-00986-4

Jeyaseelan, T.C., De Costa, D.M. and Shaw, M.W. (2021) Two different begomovirus species are associated with yellow vein mosaic disease of okra in Sri Lanka. Molecular Biology Reports . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06213-3 

Jeyaseelan, T.C., Jeyaseelan, E.C., De Costa, D.M. and Shaw, M. W.  (2020), Detection and absolute quantification of betasatellites associated with okra yellow vein mosaic disease by qPCR, Journal of Virological Methods. 276:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2019.113789

Prasannath, K., Dharmadasa, N., Menike, N. and De Costa, D.M. (2020) Evaluation of the effects of an eco-friendly crop protection system on management of whitefly-vectored chilli leaf curl virus disease in Sri Lanka. Phytoparasitica , 48, 117-129. doi:10.1007/s12600-019-00773-8

Journals in peer-reviewed non-indexed journals

-Jeewanthi, P.B.D., Dandeniya, W.S., Dharmakeerthi, R.S. and De Costa, D.M., (2025). Characterization of phosphate solubilizing bacteria from rice (Oryza sativa L.) rhizosphere soils and their potential for plant growth promotion. Ceylon Journal of Science, 54(3). DOI: 10.4038/cjs.v54i3.8706

-Ranasinghe, T.D., De Costa, D.M. and Dharmakeerthi, R.S., (2021). Evaluation of Some Potential Protocols to Extract DNA from Paddy Soil. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(4), pp.409–417. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v32i4.8509

-Wijekoon, W.M.S.U.K., Nishantha, K.M.D.W.P. and De Costa, D.M., (2021). Comparison of DNA Extraction Protocols for Molecular Identification of Root Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Spp.) Using Egg Masses. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(3), pp.318–324. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v32i3.8495

-Kalpani, W.M.P., De Costa, D.M. and Haputhantri, T.R., (2021). Pre-Harvest Finger Rot of Cavendish Banana (Musa acuminata) Reported from Moneragala and Badulla Districts, Sri Lanka: Identification and Confirmation of Pathogenicity of the Causal Agent. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(1), pp.27–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v32i1.8439

-Ranasinghe, C. and De Costa, D.M., (2020). Field Performance of Mixtures of Pseudomonas and Bacillus spp. in Managing Papaya Ringspot Virus Disease and their Effect on Plant Defense Enzyme Activity. Tropical Agricultural Research, 31(2), pp.75–85. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v31i2.8369

-Amarasena, P.G.D.S., Mohotti, K.M., De Costa, D.M. and Fosu-Nyarko, J., (2020). Morphometric and molecular characterization of isolates of the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus loosi infecting Tea in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 31(1), pp.57–71. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v31i1.8344

-Bulathsinhalage, V.N.D., De Costa, D.M. and Menike, G.D.N., (2020). Determination of Desirable Attributes of an Indigenous Burkholderia Isolate Towards Biological Control of Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Its Microbial Enzyme Production. Journal of Agricultural Sciences – Sri Lanka, 15(1), pp.63–74. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jas.v15i1.8672
 

BOOK CHAPTERS, BOOKS & MONOGRAPHS

• Books
  • De Costa, D.M. (2014) Molecular Biological Techniques: Applications in Plant Pathology and Microbiology, ISBN 978-955-51849-2-2, 240 pp.
  • De Costa, D.M. (2009) Clinical Plant Pathology: Principals and Laboratory Practices- ISBN 978-955-51849-0-8. 167pp.
  • De Costa, D.M. (2009) A monograph on plant viruses, ISBN 978-955-51849-1. 102pp.
  • De Costa, D. M. (2005) Recombinant DNA technology and genetically modified organisms (In Sinhala), Published by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka. ISBN 955-9120-28-X, 54pp.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

• International conferences/Symposia
  - Weerathunga, W.A.M.T., Athapaththu, A.M.G.K., Sumedha Thushari, A.N.W., Sirisena, U.G.A.I., Aruna Kumara, U.M., Wijayagunasekara, H.N.P. and De Costa, D.M. (2018) Extraction of high quality DNA from individual mealy bugs and use of ITSI region specific molecular marker for species delineation. Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Postharvest Technology, 19th October, 2018, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, 100-106.
  
  Nawarathna, H.M.O.N., Basnayaka, B.M.N.J., Erangika, W.G.T., Bulathsinhalage, V.N.D., Ranasinghe, R.H.T.D. and De Costa, D.M. (2018) Variations of pathogenicity and inter-and intra-species infectious ability of four Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes isolates of papaya. Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Postharvest Technology, 19th October, 2018, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, 107- 112.
  
  Ranaweera, S.K., Thilakarathna, D.M.N., Gamage, K.M., Bulathsinhalage, V.N.D., Ranasinghe, R.H.T.D. and De Costa, D.M. (2018) In-vitro efficiency of biological agents isolated from fructosphere against selected postharvest pathogens of fruits and vegetables. Proceedings of the International Research Symposium on Postharvest Technology, 19th October, 2018, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, 113-118.
  
  Menike, G.D.N. and De Costa, D.M. (2018) Determination of genetic variation of Bemisia tabaci species complex using PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit – 1 (COI) gene. SLCARP International Agricultural Research Symposium 2018 Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy 13-14 August 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 38p.
  
  Kuruppu, M., Jayawardana, N.H., Nilmini, R.K., De Costa, D.M. and Fernando, T.H.P.S. (2018) Isolation and identification of Trichoderma species antagonistic to root rot and collar rot pathoges of jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) in Sri Lanka. SLCARP International Agricultural Research Symposium 2018 Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy 13-14 August 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 41p.
  
  Prasannath, K. and De Costa, D.M. (2018) Determination of relationships among chilli leaf curl virus disease incidence, population of beneficial insects and climatic parameters present in chilli fields in Sri Lanka. 2nd International conference on climate change 2018 (ICCC 2018), 15-16 February, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Other Credentials 

• Member of the teaching panel of the Board of Study in Plant Protection, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
• Programme coordinator of M.Sc. degree programme in Molecular and Applied Microbiology offered by the Board of Study Plant in Protection, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from 2003 onwards.
• Chairperson, Board of Study in Plant Protection, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  from 2010 onwards
• Member, Coordinating committee, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  from 2003 onwards
• Member, Board of Management, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  from 2019 onwards
• Chairperson of the Biopesticides subcommittee appointed by the Director General, Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka- 2021
• Head of the Department of Agricultural Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  from 13 September 2013 to 13 September 2016
• As a senate member of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  from 13 September 2013 onwards
• As a senate appointed member of Selection panels and selections committees in University of Peradeniya, University of Ruhuna, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka and  Eastern University, Sri Lanka from 2013 onwards