Dr. Gunawardena is an environmental scientist with extensive experience in environmental protection, education, and geospatial analysis. He serves as the Director of Environmental Education and Awareness at the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) of Sri Lanka, where he leads and coordinates national-level environmental education, outreach, and public awareness initiatives under the National Environmental Act.

Dr. Gunawardena's work focuses on geo-informatics, remote sensing, environmental mapping, spatial analysis, and land-use management. He has co-authored numerous research articles, conference papers, and technical studies on environmental science, including wetland change detection, vegetation and urban green cover analysis, soil and water quality assessment, and environmental monitoring. He also serves as a key spokesperson for the Central Environmental Authority, contributing to public discussions on air quality, pollution trends, and environmental health.

In his leadership role, Dr. Gunawardena oversees national programs that promote environmental stewardship, including environmental pioneer initiatives, school eco-club development, awareness workshops, and youth leadership programs. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Agriculture and related fields at the University of Peradeniya and holds a PhD in a field related to environmental science and geo-informatics.