The Department of Export Agriculture is one of the first departments established at the inception of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. Courses offered by the Department of Export Agriculture are mainly focused to enhance the students’ knowledge and skills on the field of agriculture to support the national productivity in agricultural sector and related sectors. During the first and the second years, 13 subjects are offered by the department and from the third year to fourth year, at present, subjects are offered from two specialization modules named as Commercial Horticulture and Plantation Management. Subjects in these two modules are highly specialized to enhance students’ knowledge and skills to cater the national needs in those specialization areas in specific and all agriculture sector in general.

Inclusion of an intensive Farm Practice Course and an Industrial Training Program at reputed agro-industries to the curriculum strengthens our graduates to play a pivotal role in the commercialization process of agriculture.

With concern of future demands in the Agriculture and related sectors, with parallel to curriculum revision, the Department of Export Agriculture introduces new subjects to the undergraduates who are entering the university in year 2017. With this curriculum revision, the department offers three specialization areas namely; Agri-Environmental Resource Management, Crop Improvement and Plant Protection, and Crop Production Technology, from year three of undergraduate studies. This new revision is intended to widen the subject specialization spectrum in the department to cater to the broader areas of national demand in academic and agriculture production sectors in the country. Further, foreign collaborations and links established by the Department of Export Agriculture pave the path for international exposure and potential job opportunities at various scales for our students

Our Mission

The mission of the Department is to produce Graduates who possess knowledge and skills in advance agricultural technologies and agricultural research as well as are capable of managing horticultural and plantation operations of any scale

Curriculum

Facilities

Faculty Farm

Faculty farm is among one of the most important units maintained by the Department of Export Agriculture. Under the Farm Practice Course offered for the Second year students by the department, an extensive crop establishment program carried out every year which benefits both the students and the university staff.

For the educational purposes, Outsiders can visit the faculty farm with the assistance of the Export Agriculture department, to enhance and refresh their knowledge in the field of agriculture

Laboratories

There are three laboratories equipped and facilitated with modern laboratory equipment, including a Biotechnology laboratory, Tissue culture laboratory, and microbiology laboratory.

Staff

• Academic
• Non-Academic

 

	Mr. M K Dissanayake Technical Officer
	Mrs. Chathurandi Thishara Bopitiya Management Assistant
	Mr. J. K. B. Wickramasinghe Technical Officer
	Mr. M. L. M. S. Chandrasiri Labourer
	Mr. K. L. S. Anil Lab Attendant
	Mrs. H. A. Sumanawathi Lab Attendant
	Mr. U. R. V. S. Udapola Lab Attendant
	Mr. K.M.V.L.Kulathunga. Lab attendent
	Ms. U G N P Seneviratne Work Aid

Research and Knowledge Dissemination

The final year undergraduates of the Department carry out research projects under the supervision of the academic staff and also in collaboration with expert researchers from external organizations. Their research covers basically Commercial Horticulture and Plantation Management disciplines.

This undergraduate research program help to promote agricultural research and provide the opportunity for undergraduates to present their findings to an audience consisting of scholars, researchers, and industry stakeholders.

It helps to develop undergraduates’ research and analytical skills, and other life skills such as communication, organizational skills, and teamwork

Some of the research areas are:

• Postharvest physiology
• Global Warming and Climate Change
• Crop-climate modeling for current and future climate scenarios
• Ecological Agriculture
• Ecological Plant diseases management
• Hydrology and Water Resources Management
• Crop simulation modeling
• Pesticide toxicology
• Plant physiology
• Field crop management
• Plant Parasitic Nematodes and their management

Achievement

• Staff
• Student

Best Paper Award

• Dr. Kapila Dissanayake (Senior Lecturer), Ms. W G C Wekumbura (Senior Lecturer), Professor M L M C Dissanayake awarded for the Best Paper in the 8th Kuala Lumpur International Agriculture, Forestry and Plantation Conference in July, 2019.
• Royal Society Commonwealth Science Conference Follow on Travel Award
• Prof. A S Karunaratne, Department of Export Agriculture and Faculty of Agricultural Sciences awarded with the Commonwealth Science Conference Follow on Travel Award for Research proposal preparation for Global Challenge Research Fund- BBSCRC, UK in 2018
• President’s Awards for Publications in top 10% SCI Journals
• Prof. A S Karunaratne, Department of Export Agriculture and Faculty of Agricultural Sciences won four president’s awards for Publications in top 10% SCI Journals in 2017
• Presidents Awards for Scientific Publication
• Mr. J. B. D. Aruna P. Kumara Lecturer, Department of Export Agriculture, and Faculty of Agricultural Sciences won the Presidential award for the scientific publication in 2016

Ms. H D S R Premaseela, a Student from Department of Export Agriculture had won Best research paper and best presentation titled on Effect of Commonly Used Artificial fruit ripening methods on ripening behavior, quality and safety of Banana. at IFST Research Session held at BMICH in August 2019 organized by institute of Food science and technology.

 

 

Mr. P W M H P Panditharathna a students from Department on Export Agriculture had won the best presentation award of tha ASDA (Annual Symposium of Department of Agriculture), 2018 in the session of “Beyond Farm”.

 

Industrial and Academic Collaborations

Industrial Training

As a requirement to fulfill the degree program, Students have to undergo an Industrial Training program related to Plantation and Horticulture sector. The duration of the project period should be a minimum of 15 weeks. A project report should be submitted at the end of the semester and should be presented and defended by the respective student in front of an Examination Committee appointed by the Department.

Throughout the degree program, the students get the opportunity to have industrial visits with regarding to each subject as well.

Students specializing in Export Agriculture department get the opportunity to work with both private and government sector institutions, including:

• Coconut Research Institute
• Rubber Research institute
• Tea Research Institute
• Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute
• Industrial Training Institute
• Ceylon foliage.. etc

Career Prospects

Industrial and Academic Collaborations

Graduates of the Department of Export Agriculture mainly Agriculture related professions in both government and private sector, such as:

• Research officers
• State superintendents
• Farm Managers
• Agricultural scientists
• Entomologists
• Consultants
• Landscape architect

Alumini Profiles

	Professor. Saman Herath Head of the Department of Export Agriculture Uva Wellassa University
	Mr. JBDAP Kumara Lecturer Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
	Mrs. W.M.A.U.K.M Wijesekara Lecturer (prob.)
	Mrs. Chandima Wekumbura W.G. Department of Export Agriculture Senior Lecturer
	Mrs. R.N.N Perera Lecturer (prob.)
	Ms. H.M.P.C Kumarihami Lecturer (prob)

Events

Teacher Training program

Department of Export Agriculture conducts training for school teachers on Landscape design annually according to the government policy of “Thirteen Years of Certified School Education” as per the request of the National Institute of Education

Bonsai-Commercial floriculture

Department of Export Agriculture offers commercial floriculture for the Year III Semester I students & bonsai culture is a component of the mentioned course. Therefor one day workshop on Bonsai held annually that is conducted by experts from the Sri Lanka Bonsai Association for the students & a limited number of members of the university community.

Farm Night

Annually, farm night is organized by the end of the first semester of the second-year students, who finish their farm practice course work, this event takes place in Faculty farm with the participation of both academic staff and students

Contact Us

Dr. P. Kapila Dissanayake

Head

Department of Export Agriculture

faculty of Agricultural sciences

Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka

P.O. Box 02, Belihuloya. Sri Lanka.       

Phone  :   +94(0)45 - 2280046

Email:  exportagric@agri.sab.ac.lk