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Dr. L N Wijewardene


SENIOR LECTURER
LN_Wijewardhane

Educational Qualifications
  • B.Sc. (Hons) in Fisheries and Marine Sciences (Ruhuna, SL) Specialized in Limnology
  • M.Sc. in Applied Ecology (Poitiers, France;Christian-Albrechts, Germany;Coimbra, Portugal)
  • PhD in Natural Sciences (Kiel, Germany)

Office Address
     Department of Limnology and Water Technology
     Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
     University of Ruhuna
     Wellamadama
     Matara (81000)
     Sri Lanka
E-mail Address
        nisansalaw@fish.ruh.ac.lk

Phone
      +94(0) 41 22 27 026
           Ext 5108
      +94(0)701399701
    Administrative Positions
  • 2025 - Up-to-date: Coordinator, Computer Literacy Course, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
  • 2025 - Up-to-date: Coordinator, Service Laboratory, Department of Limnology and Water Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
  • 2023 - Up-to-date: Treasurer, Ruhuna University Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology Teachers Association (RUFFTA) 
  • 2022 - Up-to-date: Member: Sports Advisory Board, University of Ruhuna
  • 2022 - Up-to-date: Student Counselor, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
  • 2022 - Up-to-date: Senior Treasurer: Sports Club, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
  • 2022 - Up-to-date: Senior Treasurer: Limnology and Water Technology Society, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology
  • 2022 - 2023: Coordinator, Orientation programme of the faculty
    Teaching Courses

  • Introduction to Limnology
  • Freshwater Fauna
  • Freshwater Flora
  • Physical and Chemical Limnology
  • Microbial Quality of Water
  • Theoretical Ecology and Ecological Modelling
    Research Interest

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Freshwater Ecology
  • Management and Conservation of Ecosystems
  • Climate change and Ecosystem Resilience
  • Environmental Policy 
    Publications

  • Liu, G., Lin, Z., Soininen, J., Dalu, T., Juvigny-Khenafou, N.P., Khan, S., Mu, H., Oduro, C., Qi, X., Qu, X. and Riis, T., Wijewardene, L., Zhang, M., Li, J., Wu, Y., and Wu, N., (2025). Standardized diversity estimation uncovers global distribution patterns and drivers of stream insects. npj Biodiversity, 4(1), p.27.
  • Bandara, T. and Wijewardene, L., (2025). Progress of Life Below Water Research (SDG 14) in Sri Lanka: Are We Sinking or Swimming?. Environmental Sustainability, pp.183–201.
  • Wijewardene, L., Venâncio, C., Ribeiro, R. and Lopes, I., (2025). Long-term impacts of salinity and temperature changes on Brachionus calyciflorus populations: understanding the role of intraspecific variability. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, pp.4489–4501.
  • Lin, Z., Liu, G., Guo, K., Wang, K., Wijewardene, L., & Wu, N. (2024). Scales matter: Regional environment factors affect α diversity but local factors affect β diversity of macroinvertebrates in Thousand Islands Lake catchment area. Ecological Indicators, 158, 111561.
  • Wijewardene, L., Schwenker, J.A., Friedrichsen, M., Jensen, A., Löbel, F., Austen, T., Ulrich, U., Fohrer, N., Bang, C., Waschina, S. and Hölzel, C.S., (2023). Selection of aquatic microbiota exposed to the herbicides flufenacet and metazachlor. Environmental Microbiology, pp. 2972–2987. 
  • Venâncio, C., Wijewardene, L., Ribeiro, R., Lopes, I., (2023). Combined effects of two abiotic stressors (salinity and temperature) on a laboratory-simulated population of Daphnia longispina. Hydrobiologia, 850, pp 3197–3208.
  • Bandara, T., Wijewardene, L., (2023). Global Research Effort on Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha)-Insights from Scientometrics. Thalassas: An International Journal of Marine Sciences, pp. 981–996
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Fohrer, N., and Riis, T., (2022). Epiphytic biofilms in freshwater and interactions with macrophytes: Current understanding and future directions. Aquatic Botany, 176, p.103467.
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Holmboe, C., Giménez-Grau, P., Fohrer, N., Baattrup-Pedersen, A., Riis, T., (2021). Epiphyton in agricultural streams: structural control and comparison to epilithon. Water, Special issue on Phytoplankton and Phytobenthos: From Freshwater to Marine Ecosystems, 13 (23), p. 3443.
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Hörmann, G., Messyasz, B., Riis, T., Hölzel, C., Ulrich, U. and Fohrer, N., (2021). Effects of the herbicides metazachlor and flufenacet on phytoplankton communities – A microcosm assay. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 228, p.113036.
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Qu, Y., Guo, K., Messyasz, B., Lorenz, S., Riis, T., Ulrich, U. and Fohrer, N., (2021). Influences of pesticides, nutrients, and local environmental variables on phytoplankton communities in lentic small water bodies in a German lowland agricultural area. Science of The Total Environment, 780, p.146481.
  • Bandara, K., Varpe, Ø., Wijewardene, L., Tverberg, V. and Eiane, K., 2021. Two hundred years of zooplankton vertical migration research. Biological Reviews, 96, pp. 1547-1589
  • Wijewardene, L.N., Asanthi, H.B. and Rajaphaksha, S.W. (2017). Assessment of water quality and trophic state in Sooriyawewa reservoir in the Southern province of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Science, 22(1), pp.12-22
  • Wijewardene, L.N., Asanthi, H.B. and Dayananda, T.G. (2014). Effects of soil substrate characteristics on aquatic plant distribution at Nannikithaela stream stretch in Kanneliya forest reserve. International Journal of Research in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 2(1), pp.7-15.
  • Herath, H. M.T.N.B. and Wijewardene, L. N. (2014). Ornamental fish trade in Sri Lanka: an economic perspective. International Research Journal of Environmental sciences, 3(8), pp. 40-45
Conference Proceedings

  • Dissanayaka, D.M.S.D., Asanthi, H.B., Wijewardene L.N., Costa, A.M.K.C.J., Uberathna, P.V., Dissanyayaka, D.D.S., Weerasinghe, W.M.S.K.H., Karunaweera, S.M., Madushan, R.E., (2025). Effectiveness of Azolla pinnata as a Green Fertilizer: A Sustainable Solution for Radish Cultivation, National Productivity Symposium 2025, National Productivity Secretariat, Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sri Lanka.
  • Sinthushan S., Wijewardene L., Asanthi, H.G.,(2025). Effects of glyphosate on seed germination and early growth of weeds (Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum sudanense), International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2025(ISAE), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Ekanayaka E.M.S.P., Sanuja, R.G., Wijewardene L.N., Rathnapala, J.M.S.N.,(2025). Cost-effective culture media for biomass production of Spirulina sp. using betel fertilizer, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2025(ISAE), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Bandara, U.R.I.U., Wijewardene, L., Costa, A.M.K.C.J., Witharana, C., Asanthi, H.B., (2025). Characterization of Garcinia gummi gutta paste processing wastewater for potential reuse, Academic Sessions and Vice-Chancellor’s Awards – 2025, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Senanayake E.R.M.K, Wijewardene L.N., Bandara T., Atapaththu K.S.S., (2025). Insights into SDG 6.6; Protecting and Restoring Water-Related Ecosystems through a Bibliometric Analysis, 12th Ruhuna International Science & Technology Conference (RISTCON), University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Kottage, K.S.G., Asanthi, H.B., Wijewardene, L., (2024). Responses of Anabaena azollae for different organic fertilizers: Cow dung and Banana peel water, 41st International Conference of Polish Phycology Society, Poznan, Poland.
  • Sudusinghe, K.D, Asanthi, H.B, Wijewardene, L., (2024). Assessment of functional diversity of macroinvertebrates In Rekawa lagoon, Sri Lanka, International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment 2024, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Jayawardhane S.S., Jayasinghe U.A.D., Wijewardene, L., (2024). A comparative analysis on diel vertical migration of zooplankton in littoral and limnetic zones of a reservoir in Sri Lanka, 02nd Symposium on Ocean and Freshwater Systems, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Kottage, K.S.G., Asanthi, H.B., Wijewardene, L., (2024). Using Anabaena-Azolla ecological interactions towards developing organic fertilizers, 02nd Symposium on Ocean and Freshwater Systems, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Sudusinghe, K.D., Wijewardene, L., Asanthi, H.B., (2024). Macroinvertebrates as ecological indicators in Rekawa lagoon, Sri Lanka, 02nd Symposium on Ocean and Freshwater Systems, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.
  • Kajeevan, S., Jayasinghe, U. A. D., Wijewardene, L., Asanthi, H. B., (2024). Determination of Acute Toxicity of the Surfactant, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate on Ostracod Stenocypris sp., Academic Sessions and Vice-Chancellor’s Awards – 2024, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Wijewardene,L.,(2023). Biotic responses for Hydro-climatological Extremes, International conference on Ecological Security under Hydro-climatological Extremes, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
  • Wijewardene,L.,(2023). Impacts of multiple stressors on freshwater biota. 4th International Forum on Ecological Security in Reservoirs and the Water Source Areas, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, China.
  • Tharaka, S., Wijewardene, L., Asanthi, H. B., Masakorala, K., (2023). Allelopathic Effects of Microcystis sp.(Blue Green Algae) on Scenedesmus sp.(Green Algae), 20th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
  • Asanthi, H.B., Atapaththu, K.S.S., Herath, S.S., Wijewardene, L.N., Dilhan, A. W. A. T., (2022). Temporal analysis of student satisfaction on degree programmes conducted by the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology in the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Proceedings of the Ruhuna Quality Assurance Sessions 2022 (RUQAS 2022), Online, 21st Sept. 2022.
  • Freixa, A., Catalan, N., Gimenez-Grau, P., Riis, T., Romaní, A., Tank, S., Wijewardene, L., Pastor, A., (2022). Biofilm extracellular enzyme activities in response to temperature: a latitudinal study.36th Congress of the International Society of Limnology, Berlin, Germany.
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Giménez-Grau, P., Holmboe, C., Fohrer, N., Baattrup-Pedersen, A., Riis, T., (2022). Stream biofilms in agricultural streams. Hydrology Day 2022 conference (Tag der Hydrologie, 2022), Munich, Germany.
  • Wijewardene, L., Wu, N., Qu, Y., Guo, K., Messyasz, B., Lorenz, S., Riis, T., Ulrich, U., Fohrer, N., (2021). Influences of pesticides, nutrients, and local environmental variables on phytoplankton communities in lentic small water bodies in a German lowland agricultural area. German Society for Limnology (DGL) conference. Leipzig, Germany.
  • Freixa, A., Barral, L., Catalan, N., Gimenez-Grau, P., Quijano, D., Riis, T., Romaní, A., Tank, S., Wijewardene, L., Pastor, A., (2021). Temperature sensitivity of river biofilms enzyme activities across a latitudinal gradient. ASLO (Association for the sciences of Limnology and Oceanography) Aquatic Sciences Virtual Meeting.
  • Wijewardene L, Wu N, Holdt W, Giménez-Grau P, Fohrer N, Riis T. (2019). The role of epiphytic biofilms on nutrient uptake in agricultural streams. IWA Water and development Congress & Exhibition. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • Bandara, T., Wijewardene, L.N., (2018). Scientific Footprint of South Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Research: A Scientometric Study between 2000 and 2017, Proceedings of International Symposium on Emerging Trends in Education and Library & Information Science (Libsym 2018), Eastern University, Sri Lanka.

  • Wijewardene, L.N., Ribeiro, R., Venâncio, C., Lopes, I., (2018). Salinization of the coastal ecosystems: possible impacts on the genetic diversity of populations of Brachionus calciferous, 15th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
  • Bandara, T., Radampola, K., Wijewardene, L.N., (2018). Twitter™ on aquaculture: Understanding the latent information using R, International symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE), Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Wijewardene, L.N., Ribeiro, R., Venâncio, C., Lopes, I.,(2017). Salinization of the coastal ecosystems: possible impacts on the genetic diversity of populations of Daphnia longispina, 2nd world symposium on climate change adaptation, Coimbra, Portugal
  • Wijewardene, L.N., Asanthi, H.B. and Rajaphaksha, S.W., (2016). An assessment of water quality and trophic state in Sooriyawewa reservoir, Southern province, Sri Lanka. Abstract presented in 13th Academic Sessions-University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

    Awards

  • 2025: DAAD Research Ambassador (for 2025-2028 period)
  • 2025: Best Oral presentation at the Technical Session on Agriculture, Environment and Biological Sciences, Academic Sessions and Vice Chancellor’s Awards – 2024, University of Ruhuna 
  • 2024: Part-time expert of the East China Sea Research Institute of Ningbo University, China
  • 2023: Honorary Professorship, Nanyang Normal University, China
  • 2018: German Academic Exchange Service – DAAD –scholarship for Doctoral programmes
  • 2015: Erasmus Mundus postgraduate scholarship
    Grants

  • 2025: Key member of the project PARTNER: SDG-partnership for an equitable future. Resilient food and water systems under global change: An SDG-driven approach for traditional/small rural communities funded by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) (Project ID: 57753179) 
  • 2024: Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka – Research grant (grant No: RU/FMST/RG/2024/04) entitled “Use of biomarkers as a proxy for determining the heavy-metal pollution in the Nilwala and Gin River mouth areas”. 
    National Services


  • Contributing to the Blue Flag certification process for the Talalla Beach 2025
  • Conducted a workshop on Algae identification and using algae for environmental monitoring at the National Building Research Organization on 30th June and 1st July 2025
  • Participated in Stakeholder Workshops, Offshore Wind Power Pre-Feasibility Assessment organized by the Ministry of Energy, Sri Lanka, 2024/2025.
  • Coordinating activities of Sampath Bank's "A Breath to the Ocean" Coral Restoration Programme, 2025
  • Panel member of the Science and Agriculture session in Ruhuna International Conference on Innovation and Technology (RICIT) 2024 at Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna on 01/11/2024.
  • Reviewer of the conferences
  • - 8th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University, 2024
  • - 1st Ruhuna Undergraduate Science Symposium, Faculty of Science, 2025
  • - Young Scientists’ Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (YSCMR) 2025, National Institute of Fundamental Studies (NIFS), Sri Lanka
  • Facilitator for Active Citizenship course (TCS4232) in Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna in 2024.
  • Resource person: Higher Education Opportunities in Fisheries, Aquaculture, Marine and Freshwater Sciences, Organized by Alumni Association of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and Technology, University of Ruhuna (23rd October 2021 and 12th September 2022)