Professor Buddhi Marambe has more than 36 years of experience as an academic attached to the Department of Crop Science of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His research interests include weed science, climate change adaptation, and food security.

Prof. Marambe has won the prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the International Weed Science Society (IWSS) in 2022 for the contribution made to field of Weed Science. He has also won the “Presidential Award” and “National Research Council (NRC) Merit Award” in Sri Lanka, for scientific research.

Professor Marambe is the President of the Weed Science Society of Sri Lanka (WSSSL), Chairman of the National Invasive Species Specialist Group (NISSG) and the former Chairman and a member of the National Experts Committee on Climate Change Adaptation (NECCCA) of the Ministry of Environment.

Prof. Marambe is a member of the Government Delegation on climate negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and has served in this position since 2013. He is also a member of the Public Enterprise Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) of the Government of Sri Lanka focusing on the Ministry of Agriculture. He was also the Assistant Secretary of Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement for the period 2001-2003. While being an academic, Prof. Marambe has also served as a non-executive member of the Boards of several private sector organizations providing technical guidance to agriculture-related operations, and Council Member/Executive Committee member of many professional entities, including Universities of Sri Lanka.

Professor Marambe has provided his services to the government of Sri Lanka in terms policy development and also as a consultant to the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in nationally and internationally important issues related to climate change adpatation, food security, and agriculture.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

M.Agr. and D.Agr. (Major Field: Plant Environmental Sciences), Hiroshima University, Japan (1988 - 1993).

B.Sc. Agriculture (Peradeniya, Sri Lanka) (1985).

RESEARCH and TRAINING INTERESTS:                            

1. Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security – since 2002
2. Invasive Alien Species and Biodiversity in Ecosystems – since 1993
3. Weed biology and Management in Crop Production Systems – since 1993

JOURNAL PAPERS (2015 - 2023)

1. Dahal K.R., Dahal P., Adhikari R.K., Naukkarinen V., Panday D., Bista N., Helenius J. and Marambe B. (2023): Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in a Hill Farming System of the Himalayan Region: Climatic Trends, Farmers’ Perceptions and Practices. Climate 11(1): 11 https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11010011
2. Marambe B. (2022): Strengthening Climate-Resilient Food Systems to tackle Climate Crisis and to Ensure Food Security. Cey. J. Sci. 51: 331-333
3. Srirwardana A.N., Samarakone T.S., Silva G.L.L.P., Dematawewa C.M.B., Punyawardena B.V.R., Marambe B., Nidumolu U., and Howden M. (2022): Use of traditional knowledge in weather prediction and averting climate risks: a case study in livestock-based smallholder farming systems in Sri Lanka. J. Sci. Food Agric. Reports. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsf2.51
4. Kadupitiya H.K., Madushan R.N.D., Gunawardhane D., Sirisena D., Rathnayake U., Dissanayaka D.M.S.B., Ariyaratne M., Marambe B. and  Suriyagoda L. (2022):
   Mapping Productivity-related Spatial Characteristics in Rice-based Cropping Systems in Sri Lanka. J. Geovisual. Spatial Anal. 6: 26
5. Muthulingam P. and Marambe B. (2022): The invasive weed Gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) in Sri Lanka: Implications of Naturalization over a Century. Weeds – Journal of Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society, 4: 21-35
6. Sandamal S., Tennakoon A., Wijerathna P., Ratnasekera D., Amarasekera D.A.B.N., Ge S., Marambe B., Abd_Allah E.F. and Sabagh A.E. (2022): Phenotypic Characterization of Wild Relatives of Rice (Oryza nivara) Collected from Sri Lanka. Phyton Int. J. Exp. Bot.:  doi:10.32604/phyton.2022.018983
7. Marambe B. (2022): Sri Lanka Needs a Return to “Good Agricultural Practices” – A Professional Perspective. J. Org. Professionals Assoc. Sri Lanka (OPA): 11: 6-10
8. Bandara T., Marambe B., Pushpakumara G., Silva P., Punyawardena R., Premalal S., Manawadu L., Dahal KR., Md. Miah G. (2021): Climate resilience of farming systems in steep mountain terrain of selected regions in South Asia. APN Science Bulletin, 11(1): 89-111.
9. Sandamal P.S., Tennakoon A., Amarasekara D.A.B.N., Marambe B. and Rathnasekera D. (2021):  Functional trait diversity of wild rice species in Sri Lanka: implications for field identification and application. Journal of the National Science Foundation, 49(3): 369-382
10. Marambe B. and Wijesundara S. (2021): Effects of Climate Change on Weeds and Invasive Alien Plants in Sri Lankan Agro-Ecosystems: Policy and Management Implications. Frontiers in Agronomy 3:641006. DOI: http://10.3389/fagro.2021.641006
11. Abeysekera A.B., Punyawardena B.V.R., Marambe B.,  Jayawardena I.M.S.P.,  Sivananthawerl T. and Wickramasinghe V.N.M. (2021): Effect of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on the Second  Inter-monsoonal rainfall in the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research 32: 287-297 DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar. v32i3.8492
12. Dissanayaka D.M.S.B., Rankoth, Lalith M., Gunathilaka, W.M.N.D., Prasantha, B.D.R. and Marambe B. (2021): Utilizing food legumes to achieve iron and zinc nutritional security under changing climate, Journal of Crop Improvement, DOI: 10.1080/ 15427528. 2021.1872754
13. Kadupitiya H., Madushan R., Rathnayake U. , Thilakasiri R. , Dissanayaka S. , Ariyaratne M., Marambe B., Nijamudeen M. , Sirisena D. and Suriyagoda L. (2021): Use of Smartphones for Rapid Location Tracking in Mega Scale Soil Sampling. Open Journal of Applied Sciences, 11: 239-253. http://doi.org/10.4236/ojapps.2021.113017.
14. Weerahewa J., Marambe B., Silva P. and Pushpakumara G. (2021): Productivity of agri-food sector of Sri Lanka: the story unseen, unfolded or untold. Sri Lanka Journal of Economic Research 8: 125-140 DOI: http://doi.org%2F10.4038%2Fsljer.v8i2.140
15. Punyawardena R. and Marambe, B. (2020): Do paddy soils of Sri Lanka emit excessive amounts of methane? – a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) responsible for global warming and climate change. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture, 6(2), pp.1–6. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljfa.v6i2.83
16. Chamara R.M.S.R., Senevirathne S.M.P., Samarasinghe S.A.I.L.N., Premasiri M.W.R.C., Sandaruwani K.H.C., Dissanayake D.M.N.N., De Silva S.H.N.P., Ariyaratne W.M.T.P. and Marambe B. (2020): Role of artificial intelligence in achieving global food security: a promising technology for future. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture, 6(2), pp.43–70. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljfa.v6i2.88
17. Marambe B. and Herath S. (2020). Banning of Herbicides and Its’ Impact on Agriculture - The Case of Glyphosate in Sri Lanka. Weed Science 68: 246–252. doi: 10.1017/ wsc.2019.71
18. Marambe B. and Silva P. (2020): A sixty-day battle to tackle food security – response of the Sri Lankan government to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture, 6(1), pp.1–5. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljfa.v6i1.77
19. Marambe B. (2019): Agriculture negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Sri Lanka Journal Food and Agriculture, 5(2): 1-6.
20. Illangakoon T.K., Marambe B., Keerthisena R.S.K. and Kumar V. (2019): Importance of anaerobic seed germination and seedling development in direct-seeded rice with special reference to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture, 5(2): 47-57.
21. Marambe B. (2019): Labour productivity in agriculture: a case from Sri Lanka and some food for thoughts - Editorial. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture, 5 (1): 1-3
22. Wijerathna M., Wickramasuriya H.V.A. and Marambe B. (2019): How Do Academic Agriculturalists Engage in and View Outreach? The Case of Faculties of Agriculture in State Universities of Sri Lanka. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 23(3): 71-88.
23. Abeysekera A.M., Punyawardena B.V.R., Marambe B., Jayawardena I.M.S.P., Wickremasinghe V.N.M., Senarathna S.D.D.I. and Wijerathna W.M.V.S. (2019): Effect of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on inter-seasonal variability of rainfall in wet and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agriculturist 167(1): 14-27
24. Marambe B., Weerahewa J., Pushpakumara G., Silva P., Punyawardena R., Premalal S., Miah. MD. G., Roy J. and Jana S. (2018): Climate Variability and Adaptation of Homegardens in South Asia: Case Studies from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture 4(2): 7-27
25. Chamara B.S., Marambe B., Kumar V., Ismail A.M., Septiningsih E.M., and Chauhan B.S. (2018): Optimizing sowing and flooding depth for anaerobic germination-tolerant genotypes to enhance crop establishment, early growth, and weed management in dry-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01654
26. Sandamal S., Tennakoon A., Meng Q-L., Marambe B., Ratnasekera D., Melo A. and Ge S. (2018): Population genetics and evolutionary history of the wild rice species Oryza rufipogon and O. nivara in Sri Lanka. Ecology and Evolution 2018: 1-10 (DOI:   10.1002/ece3.4)
27. Atapattu A.J., Prasantha B.D., Amarathunga K.S.P. and Marambe B. (2018): Increased rate of potassium fertilizer at the time of heading enhances the quality of direct seeded rice.  Chem. Biol. Technol. Agric. 5, 22 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-018-0136-x
28. Sandamal S., Tennakoon A., Amarasekera D.A.B.N., Marambe B. and Ratnasekera D. (2018): Eco-geographic Variation of Common Wild Rice - Oryza rufipogon Griff. in Sri Lanka. Plantae Scientia 1(2): 36-43.
29. Amarasingha R.K., Suriyagoda L.D.B., Marambe B., Galagedara L.W. and Punyawardena R. (2018): Impact of climate change on rice yield in Sri Lanka: A crop modelling approach using Agriculture Production System Simulator (APSIM). Sri Lanka Journal of Food and Agriculture 4(1): 21-26. 
30. Dissanayaka D.M.S.B., Plaxton C.W., Lambers H, Siebers M. Marambe B. and Wasaki J. (2018): Molecular mechanisms underpinning phosphorus-use efficiency in rice. Plant Cell Environment 47(1): 1-14 (DOI:10.1111/pce.13191)
31. Nishanthan K., Sivachandiran S. and Marambe B. (2018): Seed bank dynamics and integrated management of Parthenium hysterophorus in vegetable capsicum, Crop Protection 107: 56-63 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2018.01.013).
32. Mayamulla S., Weerarathne L.V.Y, Marambe B., Sirisena D.N. and Suriyagoda L.D.B. (2017): Variation in seed nutrient content, seedling growth and yield of rice varieties grown in a paddy field without application of fertilizers for forty years. Crop & Pasture Science 68: 337-348 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/CP17060)
33. Amarasingha, R.P.R.K., Suriyagoda, L.D.B., Marambe B., Rathnayake W.M.U.K., Gaydon D.S., Galagedara L.W., Punyawardena R., Silva G.L.L.P., Nidumolu, U. and Howden M. (2017): Improving water productivity in moisture-limited rice-based cropping systems through incorporation of maize and mungbean: A modelling approach. Agricultural Water Management 189: 111-122.
34. Weeraratne L.V.Y., Marambe B. and Chauhan B.S. (2017): Does intercropping play a role in alleviating weeds in cassava as a non-chemical tool of weed management? A review. Crop Protection 95: 81-88.
35. Weeraratne L.V.Y., Marambe B. and Chauhan B.S. (2017): Intercropping as an effective component of Integrated Weed Management in tropical root and tuber crops: A review. Crop Protection 95: 89-100
36. Chamara B.S., Marambe B. and Chauhan B.S. (2017): Management of Cleome rutidosperma DC using high crop density in dry-seeded rice. Crop Protection 95: 120-128
37. Dissanayake D.M.S.B., Wickramasinghe W.M.K.R., Marambe B. and Wasaki J. (2016): Phosphorus-mobilization strategy based on carboxylate exudation in lupin (Lupinus, Fabaceae): A mechanism facilitating the growth and phosphorus acquisition of neighboring plants under phosphorus-limited conditions. J. Experimental Agriculture 53: 308-319 (DOI: 10.1017/S0014479716000351)
38. Illangakoon T.K., Ella E.S., Ismail A.M., Marambe B., Keerthisena R.S.K., Bentota A.P. and. Kulatunge S. (2016): Impact of Variety and Seed Priming on Anaerobic Germination-Tolerance of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research 28(1): 26-37
39. Amarasingha R.P.R.K, Suriyagoda  L.D.B., Marambe B., Gaydon D.S., Galagedara L.W., Punyawarden R., Silva G.L.L.P., Nidumolu U. and Howden M. (2015): Simulation of crop and water productivity for rice (Oryza sativa L.) using APSIM under diverse agro-climatic conditions and water management techniques in Sri Lanka. Agricultural Water Management 160: 132-143
40. Weerarathne L.V.Y., Suriyagoda L.D.B. and Marambe B. (2015): Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv) is less competitive on rice (Oryza sativa L.) when phosphorus (P) is applied to deeper layers in P-deficient and moisture-limited soils. Plant and Soil 391: 1-17 (DOI 10.1007/s11104-015-2383-y)
41. Amarasingha  R.P.R.K., Suriyagoda L.D.B., Marambe B., Galagedara L.W., Punyawardena R., Silva G.L.L.P. Wijekoon R., Nidumolu U., and Howden M. (2015): Modelling the impact of changes in rainfall distribution on the irrigation water requirement and yield of short and medium duration rice varieties using APSIM during Maha season in the Dry zone of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research 26: 274-284
42. Wijerathna R.M.S., Wickremasuriya H.V.A. and Marambe B. (2015): Factors Predicting the Intention of Academics of Faculties of Agriculture in the State Universities in Sri Lanka to Engage in Outreach Activities. Tropical Agricultural Research 26: 286-294 
43. Marambe B. and Silva P. (2015): Impact of climate change on biodiversity:  challenge to agroecosystems in South Asia. Proc. MARCO Symposium 2015 – Next Challenges of Agro-Environmental Research in Monsoon Asia. pp 20-26. Tsukuba, Japan.
44. Amarasingha R.K., Suriyagoda L.D.B., Marambe B., Galagedara L.W., Silva G.L.L.P., Punyawardena R., Nidumolu U., Howden M., Parson D., Meinke H. (2015): Yield advantage and water productivity of maize-mungbean inter-cropping systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka; a modelling approach. Proceedings of the 17^th ASA Conference, 20 – 24 September, Hobart, Australia.
45. Fernando M.E.K.K., Amarasekara D.A.B.N., Amarasingha R.K., Suriyagoda L.D.B., Marambe B., Galagedara L.W., Silva G.L.L.P., Punyawardena R., Parson D., Meinke H. (2015): Validation of APSIM for long duration rice varieties in different agro-climatic zones of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 17^th ASA Conference, 20 – 24 September 2015, Hobart, Australia.