EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  2023
Thesis Title:Flower and Bark Development in Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): Histology and Gene Expression

MSc in Biotechnology
University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2019)

BSc in Microbiology
University Savitribai Phule Pune University, India (2017)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Temporaray Research Assistant (Nov 2018 to July 2023)    Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, University of Peradeniya
• Volunteer Research Assistant (Aug 2017 - Oct 2018)   Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, University of Peradeniya

PUBLICATIONS

1. Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and Pushpakumara D.K.N.G., Bandaranayake P.C.G. * ‘‘Macroscopic and Microscopic study on Floral Biology and pollination of Cinnamomum verum (Sri Lankan)’. - PLos One 2022 doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.07.12.499711
2. Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M., Pushpakumara D.K.N.G., Bandaranayake P.C.G. * ‘Deep RNA-Seq Profile unveils possible pollinators and invisible pollination networks of Cinnamon flower’ Ecological Genetics and Genomics- (Accepted May 2023)
3. Hathurusinghe, H.A.B.M., Bandusekara, B. S., Pushpakumar, D.K.N.G., Ranawaka, R.A.A.K. and Bandaranayake, P.C.G. (2023). Possibility of utilizing inter simple sequence repeat regions, bark powder morphology and floral morphometry to characterize the Cinnamomum species in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 34(1): 17-26.
4. M.G.C. Sooriyabandara1, A.U. Bandaranayake1, H.A.B.M. Hathurusinghe1, S.M. Jayasundara1, et al., “A unique single nucleotide polymorphism in Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) gene changes coat colour of Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) to dark black” PLoS One 2022 (3.24) https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.02.494537
5. M.G.Chandana Sooriyabandara1, J.M. Shyaman M. Jayasundara1, M.S.L. Ranjan P. Marasighe1, H.A.BhagyaM. Hathurusinghe1, et al., 'Genetic features of Sri Lankan elephant, Elephas maximus maximus Linnaeus revealed by high throughput sequencing of Mitogenome, Nuclear Genome and ddRADseq', PLOS ONE, ACCEPTED April 2023
6. Marasinghe M.S.L.R.P.1, Nilanthi R.M.R.1, Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M.1, et al., “Revisiting traditional SSR based methodologies available for elephant genetic studies” (1-first author) Nature Scientific Reports 2021 (Impact factor 4.37) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88034-9
7. Liyanage N.M.N, Bandusekara B.S., Kanchanamala R.W.M.K., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M., et al., (2020). Identification of superior Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume germplasm for future true cinnamon breeding inthe world. Elsevier Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, p.103747https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103747
8. Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and P.C.G. Badaranayake* Possibility of Utilizing the insertion mutation in Leucanthocyanidin Dioxygenase as a marker for pomegranate breeding in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Journal of  Agricultural Sciences, University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka- 2017 Pg:1-5 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351062636
9. Wattegedera, M.; Silva, D.; Sooriyabandara, C.; Wimaladasa, P.; Siriwardena, R.; Piyasena, M.; Marasinghe, R.M.S.L.R.P.; Hathurusinghe, B.M.; et al. A Multi-Point Identification Approach for the Recognition of Individual Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) Animals 2022, 12, 660. Animals(MDPI)/ https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050660
10. Nilanthi, R.M.R., Samarakoon, H., Jayawardana, N., Hathurusinghe, B., Wijesundara, S. and Bandaranayake, P.C.G., 2022. Strobilanthes glandulata (Acanthaceae), a new species from Sri Lanka based on the morphological and molecular evidences. Phytotaxa, 573(1), pp.1-14.

Abstracts

1. Dharmaprema G.A.D.B.S., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M., Prasantha B.D.R. and Bandaranayake P.C.G.* Grain Quality Characteristics and Related Gene Analysis (GBSS1 and SSIIa) of Endemic Wild Rice Species (Oryza rhizomatis Vaughan) in Sri Lanka Proceedings of the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium, 28th December, 2022 Pg 45
2. Thilakshika H.M, Silva G.L..P., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M., Bandaranayake P.C.G. “Genetic Diversity as Revealed by Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I gene in Inherently Small Indigenous Cattle in Sri Lanka”. Proceedings of the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium, 13th August 2021 Pg 34
3. Rajapaksha G.D.S.P., Jayawardena B.C., Bandaranayake P.C.G., Kodithuwakku M., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and Wettasinghe P. “Beef Adulteration in Kandy Municipal Council (KMC) Area: PCR Assay and Morphological Identification” Proceedings of the Faculty of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Symposium, 13th August, 2021 Pg 74
4.  Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and Bandaranayake P.C.G. * ‘Flowering Behavior of Cinnamomum zeylanicum: Examples from two elite Varieties” SLCARP International Agricultural Research Symposium 2018 Pg 22
5. Chandrasekara C.H.W.M.R.B., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and Bandaranayake P.C.G.” Consumer Preference for medical plants from family Apiaceae; Centella, Oenanthe javanica and Hydrocotyle bonariensis” Asian Symposium on Medical Plants, Spices and other Natural Products 2018 Colombo, Sri Lanka Pg 188
6. Thilakshika H.M.M., Silva G.L.L.P., Kurukulasuriya M.S., Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. and Bandaranayake P.C.G. Characterization of Inherently Small Indigenous Cattle in Sri Lanka”. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment
7. Hathurusinghe H.A.B.M. Can we identify all Cinnamomum species in Sri Lanka’ Hanthana Essence 2022 PGIACongress Brief Pg 20