17th Edition January 27 – 29, 2027 | Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Official 3-Day Symposium Programme

Symposium Programme & Leadership

Courtyard by Marriott Colombo • 27 – 29 January 2027 • Delegate Arrival & Registration, 8 Scientific Tracks, Dedicated Poster Session, Research-Industry Linkage Forum, Gala Dinner & Technical Excursion

View 3-Day Schedule Organizing Leadership Download Schedule PDF
January 27 – 29, 2027 • Courtyard by Marriott Colombo

Official 3-Day Symposium Schedule

Comprehensive timetable covering delegate arrival, registration, plenary keynote, 6 parallel technical streams, dedicated poster evaluation, industry linkage forum, gala dinner, and the technical excursion tour.

Throughout the day
Courtyard Main Lobby / Hospitality Desk
DELEGATE ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN

Arrival of international and local delegates and hotel check-in

Lead / Desk: Hospitality Committee & Secretariat

Arrival of international and local delegates, hotel check-in at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, and welcome assistance throughout the day.

16.00 onwards
Pre-Function Foyer & Registration Desk
DELEGATE REGISTRATION

Registration of participants

Lead / Desk: Secretariat & Registration Committee

Collection of symposium delegate packs, name badges, lanyard credentials, conference proceedings, and upload/validation of presentation slides (16:00 onwards).

Executive Leadership

Executive Board Members & Office Bearers

AFOB Sri Lanka Regional Branch (AFOB SL-RB) Leadership orchestrating ARS 2027.

Vice President & Board Member - AFOB
Dr. P. Neville R. J. Amunugoda Vice President

Dr. P. Neville R. J. Amunugoda

Vice President - AFOB SL-RB & Board Member - AFOB
Research Fellow | Director, Food Technology Section, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI)
President - AFOB SL-RB
Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramarachchi President

Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramarachchi

President AFOB SL-RB & Executive Board Member - AFOB
Director General, Department of Agriculture
Secretary - AFOB SL-RB
Dr. Wasundara Divisekara Secretary

Dr. Wasundara Divisekara

Secretary AFOB SL-RB & Executive Board Member-AFOB
Principal Research Scientist, Food Technology Section, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI)
Acting Secretary
Dr. D. R. Gimhani Acting Secretary

Dr. D. R. Gimhani

Acting Secretary AFOB SL-RB & Executive Board Member AFOB
Senior Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
Secretariat & Treasury
Assistant Secretary
Dr. Niranjan Mahadevan Asst. Secretary

Dr. Niranjan Mahadevan

Assistant Secretary AFOB SL-RB & Executive Board Member-AFOB
Senior Research Scientist | Head of Plant Pathology Division, Tea Research Institute
Treasurer - AFOB SL-RB
Dr. Chandima Wijesiriwardane Treasurer

Dr. Chandima Wijesiriwardane

Treasurer AFOB SL-RB & Executive Board Member-AFOB
Research Fellow | Director, Herbal Technology Division, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI)
Strategic Governance

Conference Advisory Committee

Distinguished academic leaders, university chairs, and industry pioneers providing strategic guidance for AFOB Sri Lanka.

Emirates Prof. Athula Perera

Emirates Prof. Athula Perera

Advisory Board Member
Emeritus Professor, University of Peradeniya
Prof. C.M. Nanayakkara

Prof. C.M. Nanayakkara

Advisory Board Member
Chair Professor of Plant Science, Department of Plant Science, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Snr. Prof. Sagarika Ekanayake

Snr. Prof. Sagarika Ekanayake

Advisory Board Member
Senior Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Prof. Renuka Attanayake

Prof. Renuka Attanayake

Advisory Board Member
Professor, Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Prof. Jagathpriya Weerasena

Prof. Jagathpriya Weerasena

Advisory Board Member
Professor in Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biotechnology (IBMBB), University of Colombo
Prof. Sirimal Premakumara

Prof. Sirimal Premakumara

Advisory Board Member
Professor | Head of the Department - Biosystems Technology, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Prof. Amila P. Henagamage

Prof. Amila P. Henagamage

Advisory Board Member
Prof. in Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Prof. Deepthi Nayananjali

Prof. Deepthi Nayananjali

Advisory Board Member
Professor, Dept. of Animal & Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Dr. D. G. C. Jeewani

Dr. D. G. C. Jeewani

Advisory Board Member
Additional Director, Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC), DOA, Gannoruwa
Mr. Ajith H. Gunasekara

Mr. Ajith H. Gunasekara

Advisory Board Member
Chairman / Managing Director, Agrinova Pvt Ltd