Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe was appointed as the new Dean of the Faculty of Graudate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenpura by the Council of the University. She will assume duties on Thursday 21 January 2016 at 9 am at Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe received Bachelors Degree in Botany (Hons) Special from University of Kelaniya and Masters Degree in Forestry from University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Sri Lanka. She obtained her PhD in Forestry from University of Wales, United Kingdom. She goes on record as a person who obtained the PhD before the age of 30 and Merit Professor before the age of 40. She is a Fulbright Scholar and had her post doctoral research at Yale University, USA.
Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe is the first forestry lecturer recruited by the University and contributed significantly in the development of forestry education in the University. She holds the position ‘Professor in Forestry and Environmental Science’ and has more than 27 years of experience as a lecturer/trainer, researcher, consultant and environmental advocate.
She is a person who has a passion towards sustainable development and in this quest had balanced her academic, research and consulting occupations appropriately to provide impetus to her passion. She has trained both university and corporate students, has more than 150 research publications to her credit and had held the roles of Team Leader/Consultant in numerous national and international development projects. She has held many administrative positions in the University as Course Coordinator of the Forestry Project, Head of the Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Director, Staff Development Centre and Director, Sri Lanka Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge. She is an ardent animal lover and is the Founder of the ‘Divisarana’ the Animal Welfare Association in the University. In recognition of her contribution to national development she was awarded ‘Professional Woman of the Year 2000’ by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce in 2000.
She has been very active in professional societies and boards. Some of them where her contribution was most prominent were Institute of Environmental Professionals (IEPSL), Institute of Biology, Lanka Association for Sustainability, Sri Lanka Resources Centre for Indigenous Knowledge where she held the post of Chairperson/President/Director. She also serves/d in many research and development councils ie National Research Council, National Science Foundation, Centre for Agricultural Research and Policy . She has many international affiliations /research collaborations. She served as Program Advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme and Associate Professor and Adjunct Professor in Yale University, USA and York University, Ontario, Canada.
