Lecturer
(on study leave)
kbandara@tec.rjt.ac.lk

Biography

Mrs. Krishanthi Bandara received her BSc Degree in Microbiology from the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka in 2012. She focused on plant genetic transformation as an undergraduate. She completed an MPhil Degree in Biotechnology from the University of Peradeniya in 2019 specializing the research in the genetic network of plant stress tolerance. Currently, she is reading for her PhD in Bioprocess Engineering at the University of Missouri, USA. She joined the Department of Bioprocess Technology in 2016 as a lecturer. She has worked at Faculty of Applied Sciences, the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka before joining the Faculty of Technology.

She is passionate about elucidating genetic networks underlying plant stress tolerance leading to genetic improvements in rice. She also interested in bioprocess of converting low-cost material to value-added bio-synthetics. Some specific interests are genetic developments of microbial strains and optimize bioprocess for low-cost methods with high throughput for industrial bioprocesses.

Selected publications

Peer Reviewed Articles

1. Bandara M. M. K., Herath H. M. V. G., Wickramasinghe H. A. M. and Bamunuarachchige T.C (2017) Assessment of morphological characters of selected Sri Lankan traditional rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.). Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture 3(1), 21-28.
2. Udayantha G. A., Bandara, M. M. K. and Bamunuarachchige, T. C. (2017) Evaluation of efficacy of mosquitocidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis local strains Bt4 and Bt6e. International Journal of Innovative Research and Knowledge. 2(8), 44 -52.

Abstracts / Extended Abstracts (National & International) 

1. Bandara M. M. K., Kekulandara D. S., Dissanayake D. M. R. B. N., Samarasinghe W. L. G. and Bamunuarachchige T. C. (2013) Efficiency of Callogenesis and Amenability to Agrobacterium mediated Transformation of selected Traditional Sri Lankan Rice Varieties. Proceedings of ISAE2013 International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment conducted by Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. 261-264.
2. Bandara, M. M. K. and Bamunuarachchige T. C (2017) Improving rice varieties to tolerate drought by modulating gene expression. Proceedings of the National conference on Understanding and Managing Unsettled Drought – Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (NCUMUD-2017), 25th-26th July 207. 86.
3. Mayadunne, S., Bandara, M. M. K., Dissanayake, D. M. J. C. and Bamunuarachchige, T. C. (2017) Use of partial mecA, femA and 16SrDNA sequence for the identification of clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Proceedings of the International Research symposium IRSUWU2017 on Global Trends Towards Technoprenurial Development. 199.
4. Dilshara, M. G., Bandara, M. M. K., Kim, G. Y. and Jayasooriya, R. G. P. T. (2017) Aetylshikonin isolated from Lithospernum erythrorhizon induces antagonistic effects in LPS-stimulated BV2 Microglia cells. Proceedings of the International Research symposium IRSUWU2017 on Global Trends Towards Technoprenurial Development. 200.
5. Dilshara, M. G., Bandara, M. M. K., Kim, G. Y. and Jayasooriya, R. G. P. T. (2017) Indirubin-3-monoxime suppresses invasion of cancer cells via the AP-1 activity by Nrf2 mediated HO-1 pathway. Proceedings of the International Research symposium IRSUWU2017 on Global Trends Towards Technoprenurial Development. 201.
6. Bandara M. M. K., Herath H. M. V. G., Wickramasinghe H. A. M. and Bamunuarachchige T. C. (2016) Variability assessment of morphological characteristics of selected Sri Lankan traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. Proceedings of the International Conference on Dry Zone agriculture ICDA2016 by Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jafna, Sri Lanka. 46.
7. Bandara M. M. K. and Bamunuarachchige T. C (2016) Isolation and identification of naphthalene degrading bacteria from a polluted environment. Proceedings of the International Research symposium on Pure and applied Sciences IRSPAS2016 on Multidiciplinary and innovative scientific research for sustainable development by Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. 34.
8. Dilshara, M. G., Bandara, M. M. K., Jayawardana, B. C., Vidanarachchi, J. K., Jayasooriya, R. G. P. T. and Kim, G. Y. (2016) Silibinin sensitizes TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by upregulating DR5 through reactive oxygen species-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress-Ca2+-CaMKII-Sp1 pathway. Proceedings of the International Research symposium on Pure and applied Sciences IRSPAS2016 on Multidiciplinary and innovative scientific research for sustainable development by Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. 21.
9. Dilshara, M. G., Bandara, M. M. K., Kumara, M. H. S. R., Molagoda, I. M. N., Jayasooriya, R. G. P. T. and Kim, G. Y. (2016) Camptothecin enhances c-Myc-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to cytoprotective autophagy. Proceedings of the International Research symposium on Pure and applied Sciences IRSPAS2016 on Multidiciplinary and innovative scientific research for sustainable development by Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. 20.

Administrative & Other Activities within the University

Lecturer In-charge – Department of Bioprocess Technology, RUSL – February 2019 – June 2019.