Senior Professor Pathmalal M. Manage has been appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. The newly appointed Vice Chancellor is set to assume duties on Friday, the 28th July, at 8.30 am in the Vice Chancellor’s office.
Currently, Senior Professor Pathmalal serves as a Senior Professor of Zoology (Chair), the Dean of Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Co-Chair – Research Council and as the Director of Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research.
Born in 1965, his academic journey is a testament to excellence, encompassing a remarkable BSc (Honours) Degree achieved with first-class honors from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 1992, an MSc from the Department of Life Conservation Science in 1998, and successful completion of his PhD at Japan’s Ehime University in 2001, specializing in Microbial Ecology and Eco-toxicology.
Throughout his illustrious career, Prof. Pathmalal has been involved in eco-toxicology, water quality, bioremediation of natural and xenobiotic chemicals, as well as cyanotoxin research and his groundbreaking contributions have garnered widespread recognition, leading to high citation counts and earning him numerous world-first records in the scientific community.
His leadership extends both in Sri Lanka and worldwide, encompassing roles such as University Coordinator for Sri Lanka Biology Olympiad Competition, Treasurer of the Institute of Biology, and Chief Examiner for G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Biology. Furthermore, he has contributed to various projects, including being a National Consultant and Algae and Toxin Expert for Eastern Province water supply development projects and acting as a Team Leader in preparing a strategic plan for the lower Kelani river basin and a socio-economic and environmental report of the Karadiyana Waste Dumpsite. His dedication and expertise in the fields of biology, water quality, and environmental management are evident in his multifaceted contributions.
In addition to his numerous accomplishments, Senior Professor M. M. Pathmalal has received several prestigious fellowships, including Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Robert Gordon University, UK in 2019, and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Sydney University, Australia from 2021 to date. He is also recognized as a Chartered Fellow (F.I Biol) of the Institute of Biology since 2017 and holds the title of Chartered Biologist from the same institute since 2017.
His postdoctoral fellowships have been equally impressive, with positions at esteemed institutions such as the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST) and Institute of Health and Safety Research (IHSR) in Tsukuba, Japan from 2004 to 2005, the Department of Phototoxin, School of Pharmacology at Robert Gordon University, UK in 2006, a Leverhulme Trust Post-Doctoral Research Visiting Research Fellowship from 2007 to 2008, and engagements with the Global Centre for Environmental Studies at Ehime University, Japan in 2010, Commonwealth Fellowship at Robert Gordon University, UK from 2013 to 2014, a Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council Fellowship in the UK from 2018 to 2020, and a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship in the USA from 2021 to 2022. These fellowships further underscore his expertise and global recognition in the fields of research and academia.
Senior Professor M. M. Pathmalal’s research publications are extensive and include 82 indexed journal publications in SCI and Scopus, 29 peer-reviewed journal publications, 343 national and international abstract publications, 6 textbooks, 7 book chapters, and 3 laboratory and field manuals. His significant body of work reflects his dedication to advancing knowledge in his field and contributing to academia through various forms of publication.
Furthermore he has received outstanding research recognition at the national level, including the CVCD Excellence Award for being the most outstanding senior researcher in 2020, the Environmental Award for Green Jobs on World Environmental Day in 2009 by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Sri Lanka Leadership Award for Education as the Best Professor in Zoology in 2018, the Presidential Award in 2005-2006, the Bronze Award at “Innovate Sri Lanka 2019,” the “First Place” in the “Energy and Environment” category for the domestic water filter innovation at “Innovate Sri Lanka 2019,” the “Innovation award – 3rd place” for the textile wastewater effluents treatment unit at Innovate Sri Lanka 2019, multiple Presidential Awards for High Impact SCI Publications in various years (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2015), Merit Awards from the National Research Council in 2011, 2013, and 2018, and the SUSRED Awards in 2016, 2018, and 2019, along with being awarded the Japanese Government Scholarship in 1995.
Senior Professor M. M. Pathmalal’s impressive research journey includes being a Research Fellow at Robert Gordon University, UK in 2019, a Research Fellow at Sydney University, Australia from 2021 to date, achieving Gold Medalist status as the best PhD Research Student at the Postgraduate Convocation of Ehime University, Japan in 2001, holding the Leverhulme Trust Visiting Researcher Fellowship in 2007, being awarded the Commonwealth Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in the UK from 2013 to 2014, being invited as a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (AIST) and Institute of Health and Safety Research (IHSR), Tsukuba, Japan in 2004, serving as a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Department of Phototoxin, School of Pharmacology, Robert Gordon University, UK in 2006, receiving the Center for Global Environmental Studies (CGES) Award in Japan in 2010, and being granted awards by the Microbiology Society International Development to conduct workshops on the “Cyanotoxin Toolbox Part I” in 2013 and “Cyanotoxin Toolbox Part II” in 2018 at USJ.
The USJ Web Team and the entire university community wish him all the very best and congratulate Prof. Pathmalal on his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of USJ, to continue his excellence and dedicated service to the community.
