Faculty Profile

Profile

Prof. Dr. Sanjeewanie Ginigaddara is an academic specializing in sustainable agriculture, food systems, and higher education development. She currently serves as a Senior Professor at the International College of Siam University, contributing to teaching, research, and academic program development. Prof. Ginigaddara has extensive experience in academic administration and university governance. She previously served as Vice Chancellor (2021-2024) of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. She also served as the founding director of University Business Linkage Cell (2018-2021) and director of the Career Guidance Unit (2013-2020) of the same University. Through these leadership roles, she has been actively involved in strategic academic management, human capacity development, curriculum development, and strengthening institutional quality assurance systems. Her work has supported the implementation of outcome-based education and the alignment of academic programs with national and international quality standards. Prof. Ginigaddarad was an academic at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka for over 25 years. Her research interests focus on sustainable agricultural systems, food security, and smallholder farming landscapes, particularly irrigated paddy-based agroecosystems. Her research explores cropping intensity, agroecosystem resilience, and household food production systems, contributing to knowledge that supports sustainable rural development and improved food security.

Academic Background

• PhD in Agricultural Systems and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
• MPhil in Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
• BSc in Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Selected Top 10 Publications

• • Ginigaddara, G.A.S. and Adikaram, W.A.M.K., 2025. Nexus of Food Security and Tank Cascade Systems in Sri Lanka. In Tank Cascade Systems of Sri Lanka: A Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Edited by Geekiyanage, N., Gunarathna, M.H.J.P., Ranagalage, M., Jayasinghe, G.Y., Perera, M.P., & Vithanage, M. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003516019
• • Ginigaddara, G.A.S. and Kodithuwakku, A.N., 2024. Building climate-resilient food systems in Sri Lanka through site-specific agricultural management, European Journal of Agronomy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2024.127148
• • Ginigaddara, G.A.S. and Kodithuwakku, A.N., 2022. Legumes for energy efficiency in agricultural systems. In Advances in Legumes for Sustainable Intensification, edited by Meena, Ram Swaroop, and Kumar Sandeep, PP 441-460, Academic Press, doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85797-0.00019-7
• • Ranasinghe, R.D.A.K., Ginigaddara G.A.S., and Gunawardena, U.A.D.P., 2021. Sustainability assessment of paddy farming system in the Kaduwela wetland ecosystem in Sri Lanka. Thai J. Agric. Sci. (2021) Vol. 54(1): 64−78
• • Gunawardhana, N.L. and Ginigaddara, G.A.S. 2021., Household Food Security of Urban Slum Dwellers: A Case Study in Colombo Municipality, Sri Lanka. J Food Chem Nanotechnol 7(2): 34-40. https://doi.org/10.17756/jfcn.2021-0110
• • Dissanayake, S.P., Gunaratne, L.H.P., Sivanathewerl, T. and Ginigaddara, G.A.S., 2021. Comparative analysis of sustainability in paddy monoculture and paddy-maize rotation farming systems. Tropical Agricultural Research, 32(3): 265-275. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v32i3.8490
• • Dissanayake, S.P.; Gunaratne, L.H.; Sivanathewerl, T.; Ginigaddara, G.A. Impact of Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices on Household Food Security in Small-Scale Paddy-Cattle Farming Systems in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan J. Agric. Ecosyst. 2021, 3, 112–129
• • Dissanayake, S. P., Gunaratne, L. H. P., Sivananthawerl, T., & Ginigaddara, G. A. S. (2021). Is Agricultural Sustainability Positively Related with Technical Efficiency? A Case of Paddy-Cattle Integration Farming Systems, Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), Vol. 5, No. 12/2021, pp. 968-976.
• • Weerasekara, P.C., Withanachchi, C.R., Ginigaddara, G.A.S., Ploeger, A., 2020. Food and Nutrition-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Reproductive-Age Women in Marginalized Areas in Sri Lanka. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17, 3985
• • Weerasekara, P.C., Withanachchi, C.R., Ginigaddara, G.A.S., Ploeger, A., 2020. Understanding dietary diversity, dietary practices, and changes in food patterns in marginalised societies in Sri Lanka. Foods. 2020;9(11):1659. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9111659
• • Ginigaddara, G.A.S., Lankapura, A.I.Y. Rupasena, L.P. Bandara, A.M.K.R., 2018. Seaweed Farming as a Sustainable Livelihood Option for Northern Coastal Communities in Sri Lanka. Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture, and Society. Vol 6, No 1
• • Weerasekara P.C., Withanachchi, C.R., Ginigaddara, G.A.S. and Ploeger, A., 2018. Nutrition Transition and Traditional Food Cultural Changes in Sri Lanka during Colonization and Post-Colonization. Foods 7, 111; doi:10.3390/foods7070111
• • Ginigaddara G.A.S.,2018. Ecological Intensification in Asian Rice Production Systems. In: Lichtfouse E. (eds) Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 31. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews, vol 31. Springer, Cham. Print ISBN 978-3-319-94231-5, Online ISBN 978-3-319-94232-2, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94232-2_1
• • Ginigaddara G.A.S., 2018. Wonders of Spices in Sri Lanka. In: Sharangi A. (eds) Indian Spices. Springer, Cham. ISBN 9783319750156
• • Rupasinghe, R. D. C., Ginigaddara G. A. S., and Wickramasinghe Y. M., 2017. Farming Systems and Utilization of Environmental Resources in Rural Communities in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka Case Study in "Ritigala", Anuradhapura District, The Journal of Agricultural Sciences. Vol. 12, No. 2, May 2017. Pp 76-83 http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jas.v12i2.8226