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Who We Are?

Lanka Biogas Association is a member-driven organization established in 2008 with a vision to position biogas in the centre of energy, environment and agriculture systems in Sri Lanka. The collective voice of our members advocate and take actions in the promotion and development of biogas related policies, practices, and perspectives.

Our History

Practical Action, a British based international development organisation promoting intermediate technologies for poverty reduction was implementing decentralised energy options and biogas related projects in Sri Lanka since early 1990s. It assessed the status of biogas systems in Sri Lanka, and took initiatives to train personnel on the anaerobic digestion technologies and rehabilitated some biogas systems that were not functioning properly during that time. Having conducted an extensive study of the status of biogas systems in Sri Lanka in 1998, it also rolled out setting up of hundreds of small and medium scale biogas system across the country. In order to bring in a wider experts’ intellectual contributions to the strategic and operational aspects of the biogas projects’ work, it invited the national experts on biogas and setup a technical advisory committee. This committee identified the opportunities and gaps, and reviewed the projects from time to time, and made recommendations on the directions of the projects. Having realised the need for higher quality and reliability of biogas systems while ensuring consistency, accuracy and technical soundness, it was identified the need for national standards on biogas systems.

Practical Action made a request from the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) to setup national standards on biogas systems justifying the need for national standards on biogas systems. Accordingly, SLSI set up its Technical Advisory Committee on formulation of the National Standards on Biogas Systems, and the members of the Biogas TAC of Practical Action’s projects and few other experts were appointed to this committee, where its first meeting was held in 2003. Practical Action facilitated all the committee meetings, standard formulation residential workshops, and public consultation workshop for incorporating their comments to the draft standards. In 2006, Sri Lanka National Standard Code of Practice on Biogas Systems (SLS 1292: 2006) was released by the SLSI. The TAC which involved in this whole process evolved into the Lanka Biogas Association, and launched it in 2008, with the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana as the Chief Guest.

Objectives:

  • To promote use of biogas in Sri Lanka to realize its triple benefits in energy, agriculture and environmental management
  • To collaborate, liaise with, and strengthen the interests, activities and functions of all Members
  • To assist in the formation and development of Institutions to promote use of biogas hitherto unrepresented or under-represented in the country.
  • To foster public interest in, and to increase public awareness of, the importance of use of biogas.
  • To broad base and make representational the policy – making and decision – making structures of the Association by drawing representation from bodies operating in the various disciplines.

Delivery Mechanisms:

  • To establish a Secretariat for the promotion of the objects of the Association and the conduct of its business and activities.
  • To promote and foster a high code of professional conduct amongst all persons engaged in the promotion of use of biogas.
  • To establish and promote representational links with Regional and International bodies promoting use of biogas.
  • To undertake activities that will provide fellowship and a sense of identity and community among the members of the Association

Logo and its Description

The Lanka Biogas Association logo illustrates its foundation & focus

  1. Green Stem – Greenery
  2. Nine leaves – Nine Provinces
  3. Blue Curve – Whole Island
  4. Blue Flame – Energy Source
  5. Two Ears of Paddy – Fertility
  6. Arrows – Renewability
  7. Hand – Environmental Protection
(This logo was designed by Eng. K. A. R. Eranda)

Board of Directors

Hony. President: Prof. Ajith de Alwis
Hony. Vice Presidents:
Dr. Athula Jayamanne
Prof. (Emr). Nandasiri Weerasinghe
Vice President for International Relations:
Eng. Namiz Musafer
Hony. Secretary: Ms. Neeshiya Gunaratne
Hony. Treasurer: Mr. Bandula Chandrasekera
Hony. Assistant Secretary: Mr. Athula Bulathgama
Assistant Treasurer: Mr. W. Pushpakumara

Eng. Ajith D Jayasuriya

Other Hony. Members of the
Board of Directors

  • Eng. Ms. Jayampathi Devasurendra
  • Dr. Dhamsiri Dissanayake
  • Eng. Kithsiri Dissanayake
  • Dr. Ajith Kumara
  • Eng. Namiz Musafer
  • Prof. Chandrakantha Mahendranathan
  • Dr. Sukanyah Devaisy
  • Eng. Jayantha Siri Kumara
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Prof. Ajith de Alwis

Hony. President

Professor Ajith de Alwis is the Founder President of Lanka Biogas Association. He is a Senior Professor at the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He completed his Bachelor of the Science of Engineering degree specialising in Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. He read for his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, UK on a Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship, while being awarded an Overseas Research Studentship too. Prof. Ajith completed his Master of Business Administration degree at the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He was also a post-doctoral research fellow at University of Reading, UK and a visiting scientist at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. He has served as the Science Team Leader, Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), Project Director,  Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), and the Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Moratuwa. Currently, he serves as the Chief Innovation Officer (acting) of the National Innovation Agency Sri Lanka.
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Dr. Athula Jayamanne

Hony. Vice President

Eng. Athula Jayamanne is a former Research Engineer at the National Engineering Research and Development Centre of Sri Lanka. He is the founder and CEO of the Eco Engineer’s Company, a leader in using anaerobic digestion technology and biogas systems for wastewater treatment.  He owns a couple of related patents and has won national and presidential awards. Eng. Athula has completed over 100 larger scale biogas systems in Sri Lanka and India. He obtained his Master of Engineering degree from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, researching the application of up-flow anaerobic floating filter (UAFF) systems for treatment of high-strength low-degradable wastewater from the coconut industry.
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Prof. (Emr). Nandasiri Weerasinghe

Hony. Vice President

Prof. Nandasiri Weerasinghe is a Professor Emeritus, formerly the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Head of the Department of the Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Ruhuna. Currently, he works as the Team Leader – Bio Systems Technology at the Faculty of Technology, Horizon Campus, Sri Lanka. He is an Engineer Agronomist who has obtained his M.Sc. And PhD degrees from the Friendship University, Moscow, Russia. He is internationally renowned to be a pioneer in agriculture and biogas and water technology related research, as well as in teaching, publishing and promotion of biogas science and technology in Sri Lanka for nearly 30 years.
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Ms. Neeshiya Gunaratne

Hony. Secretary

Neeshiya is a Visa and International Travel Consultant at the Savari Travels (Pvt) Ltd in Thailand and Sri Lanka. She consults in visa and travel services, organizes outbound tour packages specializing in Thailand, Singapore and Maldives for travel agents and retail customers. She is experienced in programme monitoring and event management, who has organized a number of international conferences. She holds a Diploma in Air Fares, E-ticketing, Global Distribution System (GDS), Reservations and Airport Operations from the International Airline Ticketing Academy. She was a Programme Secretary and Administrator at the UK based Practical Action in Sri Lanka and the state owned scientific research institution National Aquatic Resources Agency and the state owned textile industrial enterprise Veytex.
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Mr. Bandula Chandrasekera

Hony. Treasurer

Mr. Bandula Chandrsekera is an active politician in Sri Lanka, who is the General Secretary of the political party United Republican Front. Formerly, he was the Managing Director of the LRDC (Land Reclamation and Development Corporation) Services (Pvt) Ltd,  a subsidiary company of the state owned enterprise Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, then under the Ministry of Western Province and Megapolis. He also was the Coordinator of the Energy Forum, Sri Lanka. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and is the author of the publication “Asuwa Parapuren Sannaddawa” (armed by the generation of the 1980s).
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Mr. Athula Bulathgama

Hony. Assistant Secretary

Mr. Bulathgama serves as the Director (Resource Mapping) at the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, operating under the Ministry of Power. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Peradeniya and has undergone extensive international training in biogas and renewable energy systems. Before entering government service, he was an independent consultant in the biogas sector, collaborating with the Department of Animal Production and Health to rehabilitate and train on biogas systems across Sri Lanka. A pioneer in renewable energy, he played a key role in designing and establishing the Renewable Energy Demonstration and Training Centre in Indurana, contributing significantly to the country’s sustainable energy initiatives.
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Mr. W. Pushpakumara

Assistant Treasurer

Mr. Pushpakumara has long years of experience in the biogas sector, who works as a Development Officer attached to the Ministry of Agriculture at a District Secretariat in Sri Lanka. He obtained his Bachelor of the Science of Agriculture (BSc Agric.Special) degree from the University of Ruhuna, specialising in Agricultural Engineering. He also has received international training from many countries related to biogas systems. He served as a Biogas Consultant and a Project Officer on Biogas Systems prior to joining the government service. He has received international training on Biogas Systems from many countries. He has extensive experience in designing and construction of household and on-farm biogas systems, as well as on integrated and organic farming and conducting training programmes at different levels for diverse audiences.
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Eng. Ajith D Jayasuriya

Eng. Ajith Jayasuriya had been attached to the National Engineering Research & Development Centre of Sri Lanka for 33 years, including 4 years as the Deputy Director General ( Research & Development), another 4 years as the Director – Renewable Energy Department and another 4 years as the Director – Energy & Environmental Management Centre. He has gained vast experience in the fields of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering during his career and represented as a resource person and a trainer in the above areas. Currently he work as a Cleaner Production Consultant and a visiting lecturer on “Renewable Energy Technology”
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Dr. Dharma Sri Dissanayake

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Dr. Dharma Sri Dissanayake is a registered veterinary surgeon with the Sri Lanka Veterinary Council who obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSC) degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya.  He is an active member of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association and the Lanka Biogas Association. He has served as a government veterinary surgeon for nearly twenty-five years with extensive experience in dairy farming and waste management. He has contributed to several internationally assisted projects in the livestock sector, and have collaborated with the Environmental Authorities on addressing environmental issues in livestock farming. He also has been involved in promoting biogas technology in the dairy farms, and is currently contributing to aquaculture activities at the  Western Province Aquaculture Development Centre . Additionally, he is consultant for private sector dairy development.
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Eng. Kithsiri Dissanayake

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Eng. Kithsiri Dissanayake works as the Additional Secretary (Engineering) at the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation. He is a Senior Grade Sri Lanka Engineering Services (SLES) officer, who obtained his Bachelor of the Science of Engineering degree specialised in Civil Engineering from the University of Peradeniya. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka. He has undergone intensive training on medium scale biogas systems in China. He also has designed and evaluated a lager number of biogas systems under the Uva Provincial Council.
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Dr. Ajith Kumara

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Dr. Ajith Kumara is a veterinary surgeon registered with the Sri Lanka Veterinary Council.  He obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSC) degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya.  He is also an active member of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. Dr. Ajith serves as a Government Veterinary Surgeon at the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH). He has worked as a Veterinary Surgeon in different parts of Sri Lanka. He served as a Biogas Consultant prior to joining DAPH, who also received international training on Biogas Systems and animal fodder. He has extensive experience in integrated farming and organic agriculture in addition to dairy farming, enhancing milk production and livestock development.
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Eng. Namiz Musafer

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Namiz Musafer is a practitioner of Sustainable Energy, Climate Change, Sustainability and Development for 25 years, and 6 years in Banking, Marketing, and Manufacturing. He is graduated with a BSc in Engineering, MTech, MBA, PGD in Industrial Engineering, and a few other Diplomas. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of some professional energy associations & a management institution, and a member of some international engineering and diplomacy institutions. Currently he works as an independent international consultant. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of Lanka Biogas Association and Sri Lanka’s National Standard Code of Practice on Biogas Systems.
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Prof. Chandrakantha Mahendranathan

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Prof. (Mrs) Chandrakantha Mahendranathan is an Associate professor in Botany, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. She completed the Ph.D. in Postharvest Pathology and Technology as a Commonwealth Scholar of the United Kingdom. She has worked at several administrative position at the Eastern University, Sri Lanka, including, Head of the department, Director to Centre for External Studies, Career Guidance Unit, Centre for Information and Communication technology etc. Currently, she is the President of Sri Lanka Association for Mycology and Plant pathology (SLAMPP). She served as the President for the Sri Lanka Universities Sports Association (SLUSA) in 2019/2020.
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Dr. Sukanyah Devaisy

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Dr. (Mrs). Sukanyah Devaisy is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Bio-science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, and the Founder Coordinator of the Biogas Research Unit, University of Vavuniya. She holds her PhD in Wastewater Treatment from the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; Master of Science in Environmental Science from the Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya; and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Environmental Science from the Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna. She is a Visiting Lecturer of the Bachelor of Bio Systems Technology, University of Colombo on Water Treatment Technologies, and Master of Science (Environment & Safety), Department of Environment Management, Chhatrapati Shanu Institute of Business Education and Research, Kolhapur, India.
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Eng. Jayantha Siri Kumara

Hony. Member of the Board of Director

Eng. Siri Kumara is a Standards Engineer at the Sri Lanka Standards Institution. He is currently reading for his PhD at the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) on a biogas theme. He obtained his Bachelor of the Science of Engineering degree specializing in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering degree specializing in Energy Technology from the University of Moratuwa. As an Assistant Director of Engineering Standardization, Eng. Siri Kumara served as the Secretary of the Technical Advisory Committee on the revision of National Standard Code of Practice on Biogas Systems – Domestic Biogas Systems (SLS 1292). He also has served as the Director, as well as the Officer-in Charge of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization – SARSO (A Specialized Body of SAARC) based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

What we do

REPRESENT the Sri Lanka biogas sector stakeholders by voicing for its common interests and supporting its growth and development across the entire value chain of the biogas sector while maintaining fruitful relations with key stakeholders

ADVOCATE for and influencing favourable policies, practices, programmes, budgetary allocations and regulations in creating a supportive and conducive environment for biogas systems, and lobby for common interests of biogas systems

PREPARE for the future by promoting, encouraging and facilitating awareness, education, research, development and transfer of knowledge and technology to resolve current issues, grab opportunities and combat future challenges

EDUCATE and COMMUNICATE with members on changes in technology, policy and market domains; key activities and the developments taking place in the industry; and emerging opportunities and challenges

CONNECT members and members as well as members with other key stakeholders proving them with opportunities to establish networks and collaborative interventions fostering mutual benefits

Working Committees

The members of Lanka Biogas Association have the option of joining any of the 6 working committees, as per the requirements of the Association as well as their personal interests. Each working committee is usually chaired by a Hony. Vice President, Hony. Secretary or the Hony. Treasurer, whereas the Hony. President serves as an ex-officio member of all the working committees. The affairs of the committees are guided by respective terms of references, and each committee plans, operates, monitors, assesses impacts and captures the learning independently, and updates its affairs and progress at the Board Meetings.

The 6 Working Committees are.,

  1. Outreach and Awareness
  2. Research and Education
  3. Technical and Industry
  4. International Relations and Partnerships
  5. Membership and Secretariat
  6. Finance and Treasury

Internal Policies

Lanka Biogas Association is currently guided by the following internal policies.,

    1. Environmental
    2. Disability and Inclusion
    3. Conflict of Interest Prevention
    4. Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI)
    5. Health and Safety

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