Renuka Nilmini Attanayake

Prof. Renuka Nilmini Attanayake is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant and Molecular Biology at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, specializing in plant pathology and crop disease management using advanced molecular biological tools. Inspired by her childhood experiences witnessing the hardships and haphazard chemical applications faced by local farmers, she pursued a career dedicated to boosting agricultural productivity and safeguarding rural livelihoods. After graduating with the highest GPA in her Bachelor of Science honors degree from the University of Kelaniya in 2002, she earned both her Master of Science and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Washington State University, USA. This international training equipped her with cutting-edge expertise in pathogen population genetics and molecular biology, which she brought back to Sri Lanka to build a robust foundation for modern plant pathology research.

Throughout her career, Prof. Attanayake has bridged the gap between global laboratory innovation and local farming impact. Her landmark research led to the first identification of the devastating cabbage white mold pathogen (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) in Sri Lanka, prompting her to spearhead community outreach and introduce ecological solutions like Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD). Her exceptional contributions have earned her prestigious global recognition, including the 2023 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for Women Scientists in the Developing World and being named one of Asia's top 100 researchers by the Asian Scientist journal in 2024. In addition, she won several travel awards to from the American Phytopathoogical Society. Today, she continues to champion international collaborations, securing significant grants from TWAS and ICGEB, to explore novel frontiers like fungal mediated polyethylene degradation, and pathogen population genetics.