Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge of Sri Lanka

Author Biography

Dr P.B. Dharmasena graduated from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, where he studied physics, chemistry and mathematics. He earned a Master's in agricultural engineering in 1982 from the same university. He obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Soil Science from the Agricultural University of Norway in 1983. Dr Dharmasena attended a PG Professional Course on Soil and Water Engineering, from Jan. – Aug. 1989, at Silsoe College, Cranfield University, UK. He specialized in Soil Erosion and Conservation of dry zone soils and obtained his doctoral degree in 1992 from, again, the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Dr Dharmasena worked in the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka for nearly 30 years as a researcher on soil and water management. He conducted research on village tank hydrology, soil conservation, conservation farming, rainwater harvesting, groundwater hydrology, traditional farming, and ecological agriculture. He has published more than 80 publications, and since retirement in 2006, he has worked as a Consultant in various UN Agencies, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and other NGOs for the last 19 years. He has served as a visiting lecturer since 2013 at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka.