• Life member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS) – Section B (membership due)
• Life member of the Sri Lanka Association of Laboratory Animal Science (SLALAS)
• Member of the Young Scientist Forum of Sri Lanka (since 2014)

• Dairy Science & Technology
• Dairy Microbiology
• Probiotics & Functional Foods
• Food Animal Production
• Sensory & Consumer research of Foods

Most Outstanding Young Researcher Award for the year 2022 (Merit) for the achievement made in Scientific Research Evaluated by peers and published in the respective year

Certificate of Recognition for conducting high quality research and publishing in the year of 2022 in Indexed Journals (1 paper: Applied Sciences, 12(22), 11737)

Most Outstanding Young Researcher Award for the year 2021 (Merit) for the achievement made in Scientific Research Evaluated by peers and published in the respective year

Certificate of Recognition for conducting high quality research and publishing in the year of 2021 in Indexed Journals (2 papers: Current Opinion in Food Science, vol. 38, pp. 08-20, 2021 & Agriculture, vol. 11, pp. 01-23, 2021)

MEXT (Munbukagakusho) Research Scholarship awarded by the Japanese Government to follow the International Development Research Course (M.Sc. by Research) at Kyushu University, Japan (from October 2015 to September 2017)

Alltech Young Scientist Award Asia Pacific Region awarded at the Alltech 28^th Animal Health & Nutrition Symposium, Lexington, KY, USA for the research project titled “Milks Fermented with Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC 12007 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae K7 Partially Inhibit the Activity of Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE)”.

First Place from the Indian Subcontinent Zone at the Alltech Young Scientist Competition 2012 (Undergraduate Category).

JASSO Scholarship awarded by the Japanese Government in 2010/11 to follow Saga University Programme for Academic Exchange (SPACE) (from September 2010 to August 2011)

R. Appadurai Memorial Scholarship for the performance at the examinations held during the core-program in Agriculture awarded by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.

Kundanmal Scholarship for meritorious performance at the 2000 series Examination in Agriculture awarded by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.

C de S W Siriwardena Scholarship for the best performance at the Farm Practice Course awarded by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.

University Scholarship for the best performance at the 1000 series examination awarded by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya

Refereed Book Chapters

1. 1. Rasika, D.M.D., Munasinghe, M.A.D.D., Vidanarachchi, J.K., da Cruz, A.G., Ajlouni, S. and Ranadheera, C.S., 2020. Probiotics and prebiotics in non-bovine milk. In Advances in Food and Nutrition Research(Vol. 94, pp. 339-384). Academic Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.afnr.2020.06.008.
   2. Rasika, D. M. D., Ranadheera, C. S. and Vidanarachchi, J. K. (2013). Applications of Marine-derived Peptides and Proteins in the Food Industry. In S-K Kim (Ed.), Marine Proteins and Peptides: Biological Activities and Applications (pp. 545-587). Wiley Blackwell: DOI: 1002/9781118375082.ch29.

Invited Reviews

1. 1. Rasika, D.M.D., Vidanarachchi, J.K., Rocha, R.S., Balthazar, C.F., Cruz, A.G., Sant’Ana, A.S. and Ranadheera, C.S., 2021. Plant-based milk substitutes as emerging probiotic carriers. Current Opinion in Food Science, 38, pp.8-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.10.025. [JIF 8.9, Q1]

Refereed Journal Articles 

1. 1. Siriwardhana, J., Rasika, D.M.D., Yapa, D., Weerathilake, W.A.D.V. and Priyashantha, H., 2024. Enhancing probiotic survival and quality of fermented goat milk beverages with bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp. Food Chemistry Advances, 5, 100792. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100792 [SJR 0.63, Q2]
   2. Gunathilake, S.P., Gayanjalee, D.A., Prathiraja, D.A.S., Buddhika, P.R.M., Weerathilake, W.A.D.V. and Rasika, D.M.D., 2024. A preliminary study on milk composition of three buffalo breeds located in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 52, p.103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/jas.v19i2.10138 [IF 0.5 , Q3]
   3. Gayanjalee, D.A., Rasika, D.M.D. and Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., 2024. A Systematic Review on Buffalo Breeds, Lactation Performance, and Buffalo Milk Production Characteristics in Sri Lanka. Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Sri Lanka), 19(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/jas.v19i2.10138 [SJR 0.23, Q3]
   4. Dassanayake, D.M.S.N., Rasika, D.M.D., Kodithuwakku, K.A.H.T. and Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., 2023. Effect of incorporating Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) powder on physicochemical properties of buffalo milk curd. Journal of Agriculture and Value Addition, 6(2), pp.97-111. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/java.v6i2.83
   5. Yapa, D., Rasika, D.M.D., Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., Siriwardhana, J. and Priyashantha, H., 2023. Effects of fermenting with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG on quality attributes and storage stability of buffalo milk yogurt incorporated with bael (Aegle marmelos) fruit pulp. NFS Journal, 31, pp.102-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nfs.2023.04.002 [JIF 4.1, Q1]
   6. Udayakumar, S., Rasika, D.M.D., Priyashantha, H., Vidanarachchi, J.K. and Ranadheera, C.S., 2022. Probiotics and Beneficial Microorganisms in Biopreservation of Plant-Based Foods and Beverages. Applied Sciences, 12(22), p.11737. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app122211737. [JIF 2.5, Q2]
   7. Damunupola, D.A.P.R., Munasinghe, M.A.L.S.S., Rasika, D.M.D. and Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., 2022. Sri Lanka’s Dairy Sector: Where to Move and What to Do–Prediction and a Trend Analysis. Sri Lankan Journal of Agriculture and Ecosystems, 4(1). DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljae.v4i1.74.
   8. Sudharaka, D.L.A., Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., Samarakoon, S.M.R. and Rasika, D.M.D., 2021. Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Essential Oils on Growth Performance of Broiler Chicken. Sri Lankan Journal of Agriculture and Ecosystems, 3(1).
   9. Priyashantha, H., Ranadheera, C.S., Rasika, D.M.D. and Vidanarachchi, J.K., 2021. Traditional Sri Lankan fermented buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk gel (Meekiri): technology, microbiology and quality characteristics. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 8(1), pp.1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-021-00105-4. [JIF 1.062, Q1]
   10. Rasika, D.M.D., Vidanarachchi, J.K., Luiz, S.F., Azeredo, D.R.P., Cruz, A.G. and Ranadheera, C.S., 2021. Probiotic delivery through non-dairy plant-based food matrices. Agriculture, 11(7), p.599. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070599. [JIF 3.3, Q1]
   11. Rasika, D.M.D., Ueda, T., Jayakody, L.N., Suriyagoda, L.D.B., Silva, K.F.S.T., Ando, S., Vidanarachchi, J.K. (2014). ACE-inhibitory activity of milk fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae K7 and Lactococcus lactis lactis NBRC 12007. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 43(2): 141-151. DOI: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v43i2.7942 [IF 0.5 , Q3]
   12. Weerathilake, W.A.D.V., Rasika D.M.D., Ruwanmali J.K.U. and Munasinghe M.A.D.D. (2014). The evolution, processing, varieties and health benefits of yogurt. International Journal of Scientific & Research Publications 4(4).
   13. Munasinghe, M.A.D.D., Silva, K.F.S.T., Rasika, D.M.D., Jayarathne, M.P.K. and Sarananda, K.H. (2013). Formulation and Sensory Evaluation of the Yoghurt-based Weaning Foods Manufactured from Mung bean, Soybean and Brown Rice. International Journal of Scientific & Research Publications 3 (4).

Refereed Conference Abstracts

1. 1. Buddhika, P.R.M., Prathiraja, D.A.S., Karunarathne, U., Dunusinghe, S. and Rasika, D.M.D., 2023. Effect of supplementation of Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) leaves in Guinea grass (Megathrus maximus)-based diets for dairy cattle: Diet Composition, Milk Yield, and Milk Composition. Proceedings of Peradeniya University International Research Sessions 2023, 24, p.249.
   2. Siriwardhana, J., Yapa, D., Dissanayake, D. and Weerathilake, D., 2021. Effects of the addition of bael (Aegle marmelos) on the viability of probiotic bacteria and the physiochemical characteristics of fermented goat milk over the refrigerated storage. Animal-science proceedings, 12(1), p.70.
   3. Rasika, D. M. D., Jayakody, L. N., Suriyagoda, L. D. B., Ando, S., Silva, K. F. S. T., Vidanarachchi, J. K. and Toshihisa, U. (2012). Angiotesin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the milks fermented by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC 12007 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae K7. Paper presented at the 28^th Alltech Animal Health & Nutrition Symposium, Lexington, KY, USA.

In the Media

1. 1. Priyashantha, H. and Rasika, D.M.D. ‘Overview of the Buffalo Industry in Sri Lanka’, The Sri Lankan Scientist, September (Vol. 07, Issue 01), pp. 13-15.

Teaching

Undergraduate subjects: Commercial Food Preparation and Service Management (Subject Coordinator & Lecturer, from 2019 to 2023), Micro-Livestock Production and Management (Subject Coordinator & Lecturer, from 2019 to present), Swine Production and Management (Subject Coordinator & Lecturer, from 2019 to present), Practicum I and II ((Subject Coordinator & Lecturer, from 2019 to 2022), Food Production Systems (Lecturer, from 2021 to present), Poultry Meat and Egg Production (Subject Coordinator & Lecturer, from 2019 to present)

Teaching Qualifications  

Certificate Course on Staff Development, Staff Development Centre, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (a 150-hour course accredited by University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka-UGC Circular 721)

Leadership, Responsibilities, and Services

• Member of the Judging Panel at Sustainable Animal Production Technical Session of the 7^th International Research Conference of Uva Wellassa University, August 17-18, 2023
• Member of the Faculty (FLFN) Web Committee (2022 – present)
• Member of the Scholarships, Staff Development & Ethics Committee of Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries & Nutrition (2021-2022)
• Member of the Working Committee to Develop a Faculty Policy on Online Teaching & Learning (2020)
• Member of the Orientation Committee for the fresh undergraduates (2021 & 2023)
• Department Coordinator for the Special Assignments (2020 – 2022)
• Department Coordinator for In-Plant Training Course Module, Semester II, Academic Year 2020/21

Editorial Board Memberships

Reviewer

• Regular reviewer for Food Research International (Elsevier), Food Chemistry: X (Elsevier), BMC Microbiology (Springer Nature), Scientific Reports (Springer Nature), Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Alimentaria (Polish Universities of Agriculture), Mijekarstvo (Croatian Dairy Union), and Wayamba Journal of Animal Science (Department of Livestock & Avian Sciences, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka)
• 2^nd International Research Symposium on Multidisciplinary Approaches in Indigenous Knowledge Systems organized by Gampaha Wickramarachchi Univesrity of Indigenous Medicine held on 1^st March 2024
• 7^th International Research Conference of the Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka (IRCUWU 2023)

Conference and Workshop Organization

• Session Coordinator for Technical Session of Ecosystems of Food Productions of the 8^th Wayamba University Research Congress (WURC) 2023 held on 20^th October 2023
• Member of the Organizing Committee – Faculty Undergraduate Research Symposium (UReS) (2020, 2023, and 2024)