• On study leave for the PhD at NC State University- North Carolina- Raleigh, USA

(Staff profile: https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-human-sciences/people/ruwini-bandara/ )

• Lecturer (Probationary) in the Food Business Management degree program at the Department of Agribusiness Management, FAGS

(Researchgate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ruwini-Bandara )

Membership in Young Scientists Forum (YSF)- National Science and Technology Commission  http://www.nastec.gov.lk

1. Agri food value chains
2. NGO in Rural livelihood empowerment
3. COVID 19 pandemic and agricultural community
4. Natural woodlands and rural community
5. High end fisheries value chains
6. Marketing of food products
7. Rural food security

• Member in the  project; Economies of Climate Change on Fisheries: Implications for household food security in Sri Lanka under the National Agricultural Research Plan (NARP).  http://www.slcarp.lk/research-management/research-policy-plan-allowance/ 

• A memeber in the BRITAE project.

• A member in Mahaweli Development project.

Extended abstract - authored

• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G, De Silva D.A.M. (2020). Innovations to Empower Value Chains: A Case of Mushroom Value Chain, Abstract submission, ISBN 978-955-4978-08-9, 3rd International Research Symposium on Social Sciences and Humanities (IRSSSH)-2020 ,22^nd -23^rd January 2021.
• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G, De Silva D.A.M. (2021). Role of NGO on Livelihood Development and Gender Mainstreaming; A case of Mushroom Value Chain. Abstract submission, ISSN: 1800-4830, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE-2021) - University of Ruhuna, 07th May 2021.
• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G, De Silva D.A.M. (2022). Contribution of Woodlands for Rural Livelihoods: A Study in Agro-ecological Zones IM2 (Belihuloya) and DL1a (Kaltota), Abstract submission, ISSN: 2235-9427, 26th InternationalForestry and Environment Symposium 2022 – University of Sri-Jayewardenepura, 20^th  and 21^st  January 2022.
• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., De Silva D.A.M., Esham M., Liyanage C.L. & Carmichael Andrew (2022). Responses of rural agricultural households to COVID-19 pandemic: A case study on food security of rural farmers in Belihuloya, Sri Lanka, extended abstract submission, ISBN: 978-624-5727-15-5, 04^th International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, 26^th and 27^th of January 2022.
• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., De Silva D.A.M., Esham M., Liyanage C.L. & Carmichael Andrew (2022). Nutritional Diversity of Rural Households: A Study on the Dietary Wealth of Rural Households in Sri-Lanka, abstract submission, Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC 2022), 23-25^th May 2022.
• Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G, De Silva D.A.M. (2022). Role of downstream value chain actors on upgrading the Moringa oleifera value chain of Sri Lanka, Abstract submission, ISSN: 1800-4830, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE-2022) - University of Ruhuna, 06^th June 2022.

Extended abstract - co-authored

• Nayanathara G.K.H., Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., Wattage P. (2022), An analysis of consumer awareness and preference of eco-labels in Galle district, extended abstract submission, ISBN: 978-624-5727-15-5, 04th International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, 26th and 27th of January 2022.

• Upasena W.T.N, Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., Wattage P. (2022), Factors affecting the consumption of confectionery products among the youth: A case of Maharagama Divisional Secretariat division, ISBN: 978-624-5727-15-5, 04th International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, 26th and 27th of January 2022.

• Thilakarathne P.M.G.D., Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., Wattage P. (2022), Consumer perception on food safety during COVID-19 Pandemic: A choice-based study in Polgahawela area, ISBN: 978-624-5727-15-5, 04th International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, 26th and 27th of January 2022.

• Edirisinghe O.M., Bandara A.M.S.M.R.S.G., Wattage P. (2022), Factors affecting consumers’ purchasing intention on safe vegetables in Rambukkana area, ISBN: 978-624 5727-15-5, 04th International Conference of Agricultural Sciences, 26th and 27th of January 2022.

Knowledge dissemination

Articles for magazines 

• Bandara, A.M.S.M.R.S.G., De Silva, D.A.M. & Jayatunga, S., (2021). Innovative Potential of Mushroom Value Chain Actors and Household Wellbeing. In: Policy Insights 2020. s.l.: Department of Agribusiness Management, FAGS, SUSL, pp. 21-26.
• Bandara, A.M.S.M.R.S.G., De Silva, D.A.M. (2022). Heirloom paddy in Sri-Lanka. In Agri-Food Quarterly (pp. 36-38). Department of Agribusiness Management, FAGS, SUSL.
• Indika Karunarathna, Bandara, A.M.S.M.R.S.G., (2022). Strengthening economy through apiculture (pp. 52-53). Department of Agribusiness Management, FAGS, SUSL.

Leaflets for knowledge dissemination

• Bandara, A.M.S.M.R.S.G., De Silva D.A.M. (2022). SL GAP [Leaflet]. Department of Agribusiness Management, FAGS, SUSL.

Current contribution

• The Coordinator of the Audio Visual Unit- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SUSL.
• A member in Cooperation between Universities and Mahaweli Authority of Sri-Lanka Towards Accelerated Agriculture and Livestock Development Program.  http://mahaweli.gov.lk/about%20us.html
• Sub-activity coordinator of activity 1.1 “Establish a center of Agri food ventures”, faculty grant-AHEAD project. Assisting and organizing workshops organized under the Department Grant- AHEAD project; “Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development”.  https://www.sab.ac.lk/agri/ahead
• Assisting in the development of new MSc program offered by the department of Agribusiness Management i.e. MSc in food safety and quality management.
• Member in the curriculum revision of Food Business Management Degree Program offered by Department of Agribusiness Management, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SUSL.
• Member in “BRITAE Project” “Development of Innovative and adaptive Curricular on Agro-ecosystem resilience related food security and climate change”, which is co-funded by the ERASMUS Programme of the European Union.
• Assisting in “MDF-Market Development Facility” project- funded by Australian government, which is involved in creating a virtual platform for Sri-Lankan farmers in collaboration with Dialog Axiata PLC.
• Participating as a resource person in the orientation program of the 2019/2020 undergraduates of the faculty of Agricultural sciences as a resource person.
• Compering in the 3rd International Conference of Agricultural Sciences AgInsight 2016, organized by the faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka held on 08th -09th December 2016.
• Contributed as the session coordinator of the International Conference of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri-Lanka (ICSUSL) technical session track 1: FAGS 02 ABE I.

• Undergraduate courses:
  • Marketing communication in Food Business (FBM 12023)                                   
  • Food Retailing (FBM 21063)                                   
  • Customer Relationship Management ( FBM 20142)
  • Marketing Management ( FBM 21013)
  • Total Quality Management in Food Business ( FBM 32053)
  • Legal aspects of Bood Business ( FBM 32033)
  • Agricultural Exatension ( AB 22012)
• Student supervision
  • Supervised 21 students in third year Food Business Management degree program for their mini research ( 2021)
  • Supervising 17 students in third year Food Business Management degree program for their mini research ( 2022)
  • Supervising one student in her final year research in Food Business Management degree program ( 2022)
  • Supervising one student in Agribusiness Management module for her venture creation work.

Awards

1. Awarded the Robert Jayasekara Memorial Gold Medal for achieving the highest final grade point average at the Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences and Management Special Degree Examination held in November 2020 at the 22^nd General Convocation of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2^nd March 2021.
2. Awarded the Subasena Mahaliyanaarachchi Memorial Gold Medal for achieving the highest final grade point average at the Department of Agribusiness Management, Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences and Management Special Degree Examination held in November 2020 at the 22^nd General Convocation of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, 2^nd March 2021.
3. Awarded a Gold Medal for the “Deans List” in recognition for the overall outstanding performance in the Fourth Year Examination of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri-Lanka, 2^nd February 2021.
4.  Awarded a Gold Medal for the “Deans List” in recognition for the overall outstanding performance in the Third Year Examination of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri-Lanka, 2^nd February 2019.
5. Awarded a Gold Medal for the “Deans List” in recognition for the overall outstanding performance in the First Year Examination of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri-Lanka, 2^nd February 2018.

Scholarships awarded

Awarded a full scholarship to participate for a workshop titled “Jenesys-2018-SAARC Countries Agriculture First Batch” held in Japan December 2018.  (Full scholarship covered the round-trip travel, the accommodation for up to 10 days.)

Work experience 

2020 July to October - Internship trainee at Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation ( SLCDF) https://slcdf.net

2021 January to June -Temporary demonstrator at the department of Agribusiness Management

2021 May to 2022 May - Temporary Lecturer in Food Business Management at the Department of Agribusiness Management

2022 May to present - Lacturer( probationary) in Food Business Management at the Department of Agribusiness Management

Workshops participated

• Participated for the Quality Education workshop-SDG 04, organized by the International Youth Wing of the Sri-Lanka’s United Nationalities Friendship Organization (SUNFO) Global Federation on 09^th May 2021.

• Participated for the workshop held on 06^th of August 2021 on "University Mental Health and Role of Student Counsellors” done by Dr. Vajira Dharmawardhane.

• Participated for the workshop held on 28^th October 2021 on ‘Curriculum Development in Line with SLQF' conducted by Dr Upali Mampitiya.