Welcome to the Department of Plant Sciences
The Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Colombo is recognized for its excellence in teaching and research across diverse fields of plant sciences. With a strong tradition of academic rigor and innovation, the Department has played a leading role in advancing plant sciences and botanical research in Sri Lanka.
The Department currently offers four research-oriented Honors Degree programs (04-year duration): Honors Degrees in Plant Science, Plant Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and the newly introduced Honors Degree in Applied Microbiology. In addition, the Department offers an Honors Degree Program (04-year duration, Industry oriented) in Horticulture and Sustainable Landscaping, designed to integrate academic knowledge with practical industry exposure. Furthermore, the Department offers a BSc (External) degree program in Biotechnology and Microbiology. In addition, it conducts several MSc degree programs and diploma programs to promote advanced learning and professional development in plant-related disciplines.
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Colombo
PO Box 1490
Colombo 00300
Sri Lanka
Phone : +94 011-258 5038
Email : office@pts.cmb.ac.lk
Reach Us
Head
Prof. Dharshani Bandupriya
Email : head@pts.cmb.ac.lk
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMES
People
- Biofertilizers
- Biological Control Agents
- Bioremediation
- Microbial Biodiversity
- Natural Products
- Macrofungi
- Domestication of wild mushrooms
- Fungal Endophytes
- Halophytic fungi and their applications
- Fungal endophytes
- Plant-fungal interactions
- Plant disease resistance
- Fungal endophytes for disease control
- Commercial applications of fungal endophytes
- Plant tissue culture
- In vitro conservation
- Gene expression
- Genetic transformation
- Bioactive compounds
- In vitro androgenesis for doubled haploid development in agronomically
important crops - Micrografting for improvement and rapid propagation of fruit crops
- In vitro mass propagation of medicinal and ornamental plants
- Conventional and in vitro propagation for conservation of threatened
endemic species - Integration of automation and AI tools to strengthen crop breeding
methodologies
- Environment modeling
- carbon sequestrationt
- Wide Hybridization
- Crop Germplasm Characterization & Conservation
- In Vitro Anther Culture
- In vitro androgenesis for doubled haploid development in agronomically
important crops - Micrografting for improvement and rapid propagation of fruit crops
- In vitro mass propagation of medicinal and ornamental plants
- Conventional and in vitro propagation for conservation of threatened
endemic species - Integration of automation and AI tools to strengthen crop breeding
methodologies
Prof. T L Shamala Tirimanne
Prof. Hashendra S Kathriarachchi
Prof. H D Dharshani Bandupriya
Dr. Pasan Fernando
Dr. Anushka Wickramasuriya
Dr. K G Sameera U Ariyawansa
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Proteomics
- Metagenomics
- Machine learning
- Phylogenetics
- Systems Biology
Professor Sudheera M. W. Ranwala
- Floristics, Ecological surveys & Biodiversity assessments
- Ecological succession Restoration of degraded forests and non-forest habitats
- Responses of morphological, anatomical and functional traits of crops, native and exotic plant species to changes in the environment, and adaptability assessments
- Plant – Animal & Plant – Soil interactions
- Biology, Impact assessment & Management of Invasive Alien Plant Species
- Sustainable use of ecosystems & Adoption of Green Practices
- Community involvement in conservation planning, operational and monitoring actions
- Modern crop cultivation techniques
- Integration of IoT technologies in crop production
- Automation of horticultural systems
- Use of data and analytics in modern crop growing systems
- Greenhouse cultivation and CEA
Herbarium
The Herbarium of the Department of Plant Sciences houses over 3,000 preserved plant
specimens representing both higher and lower plants, along with approximately 100 species of macro fungi. The collection serves as a valuable resource for teaching, taxonomic research, reference, and biodiversity documentation.
Vegetation Surveys
Vegetation surveys are conducted upon request to assess plant diversity, composition, structure, and ecological status across different habitats and land-use types.
Microbial Testing
Microbial testing of plant, water, and soil samples is offered upon request to evaluate microbial
diversity, contamination levels, and overall biological quality.
Overview
The Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Colombo is a well-established unit in the Faculty of Science and enjoys a reputation for maintaining high academic standards in the discipline. Formerly known as the Department of Botany, the name was changed recently to ‘Plant Sciences’ in order to reflect more clearly, the changes that the department has effected to the courses that it offers. While still covering areas that come within the traditional boundaries of the subject ‘Botany’, the department has taken a conscious effort to include in its teaching programs, courses that cover the newest developments in the field.
In addition, the department caters the research & development needs of the industrial sector through the science & technology cell of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programme (BSc Degree / BSc Honours)
The Department of Plant Sciences offers courses for students opting for the BSc Programme (3-year duration). They have the opportunity to select courses that cover highly applied aspects of the field, such as plant pathology, horticulture, plant breeding, microbiology and plant tissue culture.
BSc Honours Degree Programme, 04-year duration (Academic Orientation):
Areas of specialization are,
- Plant Science
- Plant Biotechnology
- Bioinformatics
These courses provide an extensive knowledge in the area specialization and provide the knowledge required for further studies and employment.
BSc Honours Degree Program, 04-year duration (Industrial Orientation):
Students have the opportunity of specializing in the areas of,
- Horticulture and Sustainable Landscaping
This programme is designed to cover highly applied aspects of the field such as horticulture, landscaping, plant breeding, tissue culture as well as development of a business plan, and a component of industrial training in the fourth year.
MSc and Postgraduate Diploma Programs
The Department of Plant Sciences conducts two MSc degree programme with a strong research component.
- Plant Cell and Tissue Culture
- Agricultural Microbiology
MPhil / PhD Programs
The Department of Plant Sciences offers opportunities for postgraduate degrees (MPhil/PhD) by research, on different disciplines related to Plant Sciences
Currently there are more than 15 postgraduate students reading for research degrees (MPhil/PhD) working in the department, under the able supervision of senior academic staff.
Extension Courses
Diploma in Biodiversity Management (DBIOM) (jointly with the Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences) is a multidisciplinary course intended for persons wishing to pursue a career in the field of biodiversity assessment, conservation and sustainable development.The programme is delivered through a variety of teaching modes, including e-learning, classroom lectures and discussions, laboratory and field practicals.
The Diploma in Microbiological Techniques addresses the application of the multi-faceted discipline microbiology. This programme is specially designed to produce a high caliber employee, competent in the microbiological techniques in biotechnology and agriculture-based industries.
The online certificate course in Bioinformatics offers basics in this newly emerged field in science and bioinformatics, which utilizes computer techniques to understand the behavior, structure and function of Biological molecules. This course provides basic knowledge in Bioinformatics and hands-on experience in the application of techniques and tools in Bioinformatics to real biological data.