Plant breeding Division

Rice, one of the mostly consumed foods in the world and the Sri Lankan‟s staple provides energy mainly through carbohydrate. Researches are conducted with the focus of developing high yielding rice varieties with performances of tolerant to salinity, tolerant to major diseases and pests and also with nutritional and good cooking qualities.

• Development of short age rice varieties
• Development of salinity tolerant rice varieties
• Yield evaluation of promising breeding lines (PYT, MYT)
• Maintenance of genetic purity of promising breeding lines
• Evaluation of exotic and local rice varieties
• Breeder seed production

Grain quality Division

The division is established for the quality enhancement of rice and rice base productions. Main focus of the division is analysis of physical and chemical grain quality properties. Further expecting to develop the rice based value added products.

• A comparative study on improved vs traditional rice verities under organic and inorganic fertilizer condition
• In vivo glycemic index (GI) of improved and traditional varieties of rice in Sri Lanka and its relationship with in vitro GI and other important grain constituent
• Evaluation of antioxidant properties of traditional and improved rice verities
• Evaluation of grain quality characteristics of yield trials
• Evaluation of physio-chemical properties of popular traditional and improved rice varieties

Soil and Agronomy Division

• The response of different rice verities to different N levels under direct sowing
• Response of Rice (Oryza sativa. L) to different methods of Zn application in low country dry zone in Sri Lanka

 Plant protection Division

• Early submergence and weed management in direct-seeded rice
• Herbicide resistant management
• Determination of the effects of different land preparation methods on weed emergence and yield of rice without using chemical herbicides for cultivation
• Participating for National program of herbicide screening as the location in dry zone
• Screening of promising lines for BLB resistance

• Buddhi Marambe, Anuruddhika Abeysekara and Swarna. Herath^. Waging War against Weeds – An overview on the Sri Lankan Context. Proceeding of 25^th Asian pacific weed science society conference 2015, India
• Hafeel, R.F., V.P. Bulugahapitiya, A. P. Bentota and G . D. de Zoysa. 2017. A comparative investigation on agronomic traits of popularly grown improved and traditional varieties of rice. Proceedings of the 73^rd annual session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS) 6^th -8^th December, 2017. 21p
• Hafeel, R. F, L. B A P Amararathna, T H T Chamintha, A P. Bentota, D S  de Z. Abeysiriwardana, S K J Muhandiram and B. Perumpuli 2016. Glycemic index of improved rice varieties as influenced by degree of polishing and proximate composition including amylose content. Ed. G A W Wijesekara.Tropical Agriculturist. Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Vol. 164 :83-95
• Hafeel, R. F., I Pubudangani, V. Wijeratne and A. P. Sumanawathi. 2014. Sensory and Nutritional attributes of sausages developed with sprouted low amylose rice varieties.. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 16 : 205- 214
• Hafeel, R. F. D.R.Prasantha and D.M.N.Dissanayake and E.M.R.D. Edirisinghe 2013. Grain quality attributes of aromatic rices stored hermetically. International 7^th Rice Genetics Symposium 2013 in Dusit Thani, Maniala Phillipines from 5^th to 8^th November 2013. Abstract no. P0099. 399pp
• Hafeel, R. F., J. A. I. Lakmali. V. Wijeratne. Nutritious dry soup mix with sprouted mung beans and sprouted brown rice. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 15 : 227 – 236
• Hafeel, R. F., D. N. Sirisena. K. G. W. Kumari A.P.Sumanawathi and N. Nihal 2013. Effect of leaf colour based nitrogen application on grain yield and mass and quality of rice grown in the southern region. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 15 : 369
• Hafeel, R. F., A.P.Sumanawathi and W. G. D. W. Chaturani 2013. Determining the sprouting rate of brown rice soaked for different times. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 15 : 395
• Hafeel, R.F. 2013. Production of sprouted rice from selected rice varieties in plastic containers. Proceedings of the 69^th annual session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS) 4^th -6^th December, 2013. 27p
• Hafeel, R.F. and M. N. Dissanayake. 2012. Limiting the loss in mass of stored paddy through hermetic storage conditions. Proceedings of the 68^th annual session of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS) 10^th -12^th December, 2012. 203B, 20p
• Hafeel, R. F., D. M. N. Dissanayake, J.A.C.R. Wickramasinghe, W.K. Dahanayaake, A.P.Sumanawathi and N. Nihal. 2012. Determination of cooking properties of rice (Oryza sativa L) in relation to their gelatinization temperature and grain type. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 14 : 248 – 253
• Hafeel, R. F., A.P.Sumanawathi, N. Nihal and M.H.N. Ireshani. 2012. Sprouted brown rice as a value added rice (Oryza sativa L) product for Sri Lankans. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 14 : 325
• Hafeel, R. F.  B.D.R.Prasantha and D.M.N.Dissanayake and E.M.R.D. Edirisinghe 2011. Hermetic storage method, a promising alternative for rice storage. Annals of the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka. 13 : 59 – 70
• Hafeel, R. F.  J.A.C. R. Wickramasinghe 2011. Impact of rice to water ratios in relation to their gelatinization temperature on cooking behaviour of different rice varieties. Presented at the 3^rd International network for quality rice symposium on 17-19 August 2011 at the Grand Mercure Fortune Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
• Herath H.M.S, Hafeel R.F, NP Manamperi. PDSN Chandrasena, C Wanniarachchi and WACK Chandrasiri. 2018. Current herbicide use practices and weeds associated with rice yield losses in Hambantota Ditrict of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agriculturist. Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Vol. 166(3) :125-140
• Herath H.M.S, Hafeel R.F, Bentota A.P and Chandrasiri W.A.C.K^, Farmers’ practices of herbicide usage: reflection on importance of weed management practices. Proceedings of the Annual symposium of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. September 7-8. Vol.19(1).PP.60-71.
• HMS Herath, RF Hafeel, RSK Keerthisena, AP Bentota, AM Baltazar, V Kumar and DE Johnson. Herbicide use and herbicide resistance in Cyperus difformis in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 26^th Asian pacific weed science conference (APWSS), October 19-22, 2017 in Kyoto, Japan.
• Kumara,KHCH, RF Hafeel, DL Wathugala and HKMS Kumarasinghe. 2017. Effect of nano-calcite foliar fertilizer on growth and yield of Oryza sativa variety at 362.Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension
• Jeewani D.G.C., A.W. Gamini, H.U.   Siriwardena,    D. Weerasekara, K.A.N.M. Kasthuriarachchi, G. Wijesinghe and C.H. Piyasiri. 2013.  The promising groundnut (Arachis hypogeal L.)  lines resistant to bud necrosis disease.  Annals of Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. 15: 59- 65
• Pathinayake B.D., D.M. Withanawasam, Siriwardena M.H.U. and R.F. Hafeel. 2010. First and foremost ever released rice varieties pop out the nation from rice research station, Ambalantota.  Rice congress 2010.
• Siriwardena M.H.U., W.L.G. Samarasinghe and N.P. Mananperi 2014. Development of rice (oryza sative. L.) breeding lines for salinity tolerance through backcross breeding method. SLCARP international Research symposium. 23pp
• Siriwardena M.H.U., D. Pathinayaka, D.M. Withanawasam and A.P.Sumanawathi. 2013. Development of promising rice line with aromatic and sticky characters for biscuit industry in Sri Lanka.  Annals of Sri Lanka Development of Agriculture. 15:361
• Siriwardena M.H.U., E. Peiris and S.W. Abeysekara. 2012. Performance of introduced salt –tolerant rice (oryza sative. L) germplasm in local saline fields.  Annala of Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture. 14:315
• Siriwardena M.H.U. 1998 Agriculture development since independence. A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of final year research for BSc in University of Ruhuna, Sri lanka.
• Swarna Herath, A.M. Baltazar, D. Entila, E.S. Ella, A.M. Ismail, and D E. Johnson.2017. physiological response and antioxidant activities of rice and grass weeds to flooding during germination. Proceedings of the Annual symposium of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Septhember 7-8. Vol 19:321-338.
• Swarna Herath , Hafeel R.F, Keerthisena R.S.K. and Bentota A.P 2016. Response of rice and weeds to early submergence in direct seeded rice in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Annual symposium of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. 18: 265-269.
• Swarna Herath, A.M. Baltazar, F.D. Entila, E.S. Ella, P. Sta.Cruz, A.M. Ismail, and D E. Johnson. 2015. Physiological response of primed rice seeds to submergence at seed germination and seedling growth. Proceedings of the Annual symposium of Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka.
• Swarna Herath, Ofelia S. Namuco, Frederickson D. Entila, Evangelina S. Ella, Pompe Sta.Cruz, Aurora M. Baltazar, Abdelbagi M. Ismail, and David E. Johnson 2014. Response of rice and weedy rice to early flooding and implication for crop establishment and management of weedy rice. 4^th International rice congress, Bangkok, 27 October-1 November, Thailand.pp-86.
• Swarna Herath, Ofelia S. Namuco, Frederickson D. Entila, Evangelina S. Ella, Pompe Sta.Cruz, Aurora M. Baltazar, Abdelbagi M. Ismail, and David E. Johnson 2014. Response of rice genotypes (Oryza sativa), weedy rice (Oryza sativa f spontanea) and Echinochloa to early flooding and implication for crop and weed management. Proceedings of the 45^th Anniversery and annual scientific conference of the pest management council of the Philippines. Cebu city, 6-9 May, Philippines.
• Herath HMS, Namuco OS, Ella ES, Baltazar AM, Ismail AM, and Johnson DE, 2013.Emergence and growth of weedy (Oryza sativa. Spotanea) and cultivated rice in response to flooding and seed burial depths. Proceeding of 24^th Asian pacific weed science society conference 22-25 October 2013, Bundung, Indonesia. pp 214-220.
• Herath HMS, Abeysekara A.S.K and Wickrama (2010).identification of weedy rice using morphological characteristics. Proceedings of international seminar on Agricultural Technology Management for Sutainable Development, June 4-5, 2010. pullma, Khone Kane, Thailand.