Department of Pharmacy

Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Dr. T.M.I.U.K Tennakoon


Official Address :

Department of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
University of Peradeniya,
Augusta Hill, Sri Amarawansa Mawatha
Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka


Email :

hodpcy@ahs.pdn.ac.lk

imalka@ahs.pdn.ac.lk


Telephone :

+9481 2065792

           



  • PhD (Queensland University of Technology, Australia, 2015)
  • B.Sc. Special in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (University of Peradeniya,2007)
  • Head of the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (2024 to present).
  • Sectional Editor, Sri Lankan Journal of Health Sciences (2021 to present).
  • Secretary, University of Peradeniya Committee to Monitor Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBVC) (2023 to present).
  • Member, University of Peradeniya Committee to Monitor Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBVC) (2018 to present).
  • Conference Chair, Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM) Annual Scientific Sessions and Conference (2023).
  • QA Tier 1 Writer, Standard 1 - Institutional Review, University of Peradeniya (2023).
  • Senior Lecturer (Grade I) (2022 to present).
  • Chairperson, Faculty English Committee (2019 to present).
  • Member, Faculty Library Committee (2019 to present).
  • Member, Faculty Publication Committee (2019 to present).
  • Board of Management Member, University Pharmacy (Joint project of the University of Peradeniya and State Pharmaceutical Corporations, Sri Lanka) (2019-2021 and 2024 to present).
  • Member, Editorial Subcommittee, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) (2021).
  • Senior Student Counselor (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
  • Faculty Representative, International Affairs Office (2018, 2019, 2020).
  • Member, Editorial Subcommittee, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) (2019).
  • Chairperson, Advertising and Fundraising Subcommittee, iPURSE (2017).
  • Member, Editorial Board, Hanthana Vision Research Magazine (2018-2021).
  • Senior Lecturer (Grade II) (2016-2022).
  • Sessional Academic, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2013-2015).
  • Sessional Academic, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2014).
  • Member, Faculty Ethical Committee (2011).
  • Faculty Representative, Programme and Registration Subcommittee, Peradeniya University Research Sessions (PURSE) (2010).
  • Member, Technical Evaluation Committee, Department of Pharmacy (2010).
  • Lecturer in Charge, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (2010-2012).
  • NSF Research Scholarship (NSF/SCH/2024/05).
  • Council Member, Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM) (2020 to present).
  • Member, Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SLSM) (since 2017).
  • Member, Australian Society for Microbiology, Australia (2011-2016).
  • International Post Graduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) (2012-2015).
  • Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) (2012-2015).
  • Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI/Australia) Top-up Scholarship (2012-2015).
  • Top-ranked Undergraduate Student in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2007).
  • Award of Academic Excellence (2007), University of Peradeniya.
  • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
  • Molecular Microbiology
  • Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
  • Sri Lankan honey and its therapeutic applications
  • Rukshana MFF., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., Health entrepreneurship in Pharmacy: Exploring success stories from south Asian countries, Int. J. Pharm. Investigation, 2025; 15(1):78-85., DOI: 10.5530/ijpi.20251792

  • Dalugodage, S.S., Bowatte, G., Antonypillai, C., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K. Association of pharmacogenomic, clinical and behavioural factors with oral levothyroxine (LT-4) dose of hypothyroid patients in Sri Lanka: a matched case control study. BMC Med Genomics 17, 79 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-024-01849-z

  • Tennakoon TMIUK, Vinodani LPS, Warnasooriya WMSN, Amarasinghe NR, Madushani JS. Physical, Chemical, and Biological Characteristics of Sri Lankan Bee Honey Varieties. Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol 11(1), 15-23:2023.

  • Tennakoon T., Thayananthan A. Environmental Sterility-control Practices in Selected Retail Pharmacies in Sri Lanka: A Study in Kandy District. Int J Pharm Compd. 2023 Nov-Dec;27(6):503-511. PMID: 38100668.

  • Navoda Bandara, and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K. “Isolation and Identification of Actinomycetes with Antibacterial Activity from Soil Samples Around Kandy, Sri Lanka”. Current Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 13, no. 3, Dec. 2023, pp. 118-25, DOI: 10.24092/CRPS.2023.130301

  • GBNS Bandara, TMIUK Tennakoon. Preliminary study to identify actinomycetes with antibacterial activity from soil samples around Kandy, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 11th Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology, 2022, 21st October 2022.

  • Dalugodage SS, Tennakoon I. Antibacterial Activity of Honey in Combination with Cinnamon. Sri Lankan Journal of Health Sciences. 2022;1(1):43–50. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljhs.v1i1.29

  • Kumari SR, Tennakoon I. Molecular Farming: Implication for Future Pharmaceutical Products. Sri Lankan Journal of Health Sciences. 2022;1(1):51–9. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljhs.v1i1.30

  • Ranasinghe R.A.D.M., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K. “Antibacterial activity of a laboratory made cosmetic cream Vs marketed creams containing bee honey”, accepted as a conference abstract in Annual Proceedings of the Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (October 2021).

  • Jiffry N., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “In vitro antimicrobial activity of Sri Lankan raw bee honey with turmeric”, Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases 2021 Vol 11 (Supplement) S2:21, DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v11i0.8384

  • Thayananthan A., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Environmental microbial contaminants in selected retail pharmacies of Sri Lanka”, Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases 2021 Vol 11 (Supplement) S2:18, DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v11i0.8381

  • Premarathne H.B.C.M., Madushani J.S., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., Sudeshika T., “Prevalence of Headaches Among Undergraduates in Sri Lanka: Cross-Sectional Analysis”, DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-75577/v1 (preprint).

  • Vinodini L.P.S., Amarasinghe N.R., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Determination of the antibacterial activity of Sri Lankan raw honey”, Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology, 2019, 24th October 2019.

  • Vinodini L.P.S., Amarasinghe N.R., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Determination of the biological profiles of Sri Lankan raw honey”, Golden Jubilee Annual Scientific Session of Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12th October 2019.

  • Bandara G.Y.M.H., Herath H.M.D.R., Amarasinghe N.R., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Formulation characterization and evaluation of anti-inflammatory cream incorporating Carica papaya L. leaf extract”, Golden Jubilee Annual Scientific Session of Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 12th October 2019.

  • Madushan T.G.A., Athukorala A.D.S.N.P., Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., Gama-Arachchige N.S., “Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of a probiotic strain isolated from a commercial probiotic supplement”, Proceedings of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Undergraduate Research Sessions 2019, Volume 1, 17th June 2019.

  • W.M.S.N.Warnasooriya and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Determination of physical and chemical profiles of raw honey varieties in Sri Lanka”, Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants, Spices and Other Natural Products XVI (ASOMPS XVI), 12-14 December 2018.

  • Jayakody J.A.D.T and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., “Determining the awareness of pharmacists on microbial spoilage of non-sterile pharmaceuticals during dispensing and storage”, Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) 2017, 24th November 2017, volume 21, ISBN 978-955-589-240-7

  • Sivananthan R. and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., "Determination of the usage of Sri Lankan honey in Sri Lankan healthcare system", 2017

  • Manthreerathne P.M.A.T. and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., "Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices about Burping in babies among pregnant women in Teaching hospital-Kandy", Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) 2017, 24th November 2017, volume 21, ISBN 978-955-589-240-7

  • Abayagunawardhana I.N. and Tennakoon T.M.I.U.K., "Determination of knowledge and perceptions of postnatal mothers regarding the use of pacifiers in the Teaching hospital, Kandy", Peradeniya University International Research Sessions (iPURSE) 2017, 24th November 2017, volume 21, ISBN 978-955-589-240-7

  • Broadbent, James & Broszczak, Daniel & Tennakoon, Imalka & Huygens, Flavia. (2016). “Pan-proteomics, a concept for unifying quantitative proteome measurements when comparing closely-related bacterial strains”. Expert review of proteomics. 13. 10.1586/14789450.2016.1155986.

  • Imalka Tennakoon, James A. Broadbent, Kenneth Beagley, Flavia Huygens, "Comparative analysis of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using a novel proteomic approach", 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM 2015), 12-15th July 2015, Canberra, Australia (Poster presentation).

  • Imalka U K Tennakoon, James Broadbent, Irani U Rathnayake, Kenneth Beagley, Flavia Huygens, "Significant differential expression of genes revealed by RNA-seq analysis of four clinical MRSA strains: Hospital acquired Vs Community acquired", Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3), 25-26th November 2014, Brisbane, Australia (Poster presentation).

  • James A. Broadbent, Imalka U. K. Tennakoon, Daniel A. Broszczak, Irani Rathnayake, Dayle L. Sampson, Sumeet Sandhu, Flavia Huygens, “A Novel Bioinformatics Pipeline for Pan-proteomic Analysis of Genetically Heterogeneous Bacterial Strains”, Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3), 25-26th November 2014, Brisbane, Australia (Oral presentation).

  • Tennakoon T M I U K, Beagley K., Broadbent, J, Huygens F., "Investigation of host cell response during infection with different Staphylococcus aureus strains", IHBI Inspires Postgraduate Student Conference, Annual Scientific meeting, 20th & 21st November 2014, Gold Coast, Australia (Poster presentation).

  • Imalka U K Tennakoon, James Broadbent, Irani U Rathnayake, Kenneth Beagley, Flavia Huygens, "RNA-seq analysis of two clinical CA MRSA strains: PVL+ Vs PVL-, reveals significant differences in gene expression", 16th International Symposium on Staphylococci and Staphylococcal Infections (ISSSI 2014), 26-29th August 2014, Chicago, USA (Poster presentation).

  • S.H.T. Sudeshika, G.J. Panagoda, I.U.K. Tennakoon, “Microbiological quality of paediatric oral liquid drug formulations during consumption”, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, vol 4, Issue 9, September 2014 ISSN 2250-3153

  • Reviewing National Biotechnology Policy- Stakeholder Consultation meeting, 25th September 2023, NSF, Sri Lanka
  • Other


  • Leadership and management in universities, SDC training program, 2022.

  • Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS) International Conference, 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • University of Peradeniya International research sessions, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023

  • Annual Scientific Sessions of Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM), 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023, Kandy, Sri Lanka

  • “Leadership in the health professions”, Organised by the One Health Teaching Scholars, University of California and University of Peradeniya, 2017

  • Systems Biology and Bioinformatics symposium 2013, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia.

  • IHBI inspires 2013 conference, Brisbane, Australia. (Poster presentation)

  • UQ winter School for computational mathematics and systems biology, 2013

  • IHBI Inspires 2012 conference, Gold coast, Australia

  • Workshop on Bioassays for Natural Products Research, March 25-26, 2010, at the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS), Kandy, Sri Lanka

  • Workshop on “Problem Based Learning (PBL)”, 5th October 2009, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

  • Workshop on “Development of Practical (Hospital/Industry/Community based) Component in the B.Pharm. Degree Programme”, 27th November 2009, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

  • “Staff Development Programme for teachers in Faculties of Health Sciences”, July- October 2010, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka