Dr. AWMKK Bandara
Google Scholar
Address: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Werahera
E-Mail: kanchana.bandara@kdu.ac.lk / awmkkbandara@gmail.com
Qualifications
- BVSc (Hons), University of Peradeniya (2010)
- PhD, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2016)
- Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education, University of Colombo (2018)
Research & Publications
Published research papers in journals
- AMAU Abeykoon, GMCP De Silva, KTSS Karunathilake, RGWDB Rajapaksha, ARN Silva, AWMKK Bandara, RN Pathirana (2021) Evaluation of In vitro Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Activities of Leaves, Roots and Combination of Leaves and Roots Extracts of Plant Magnolia figo” Sri Lanka Journal of Indigenous Medicine 06 (02) 483- 494
- Thilini Nisansala, Kanchana Bandara, Manjula Weerasekera, Chinthika Gunasekara, Chamil Marasinghe, Chandika D Gamage, Neluka Fernando, Nilantha Ranasinghe (2019) Manifestations and outcomes of leptospirosis during local outbreaks in high endemic districts of Sri Lanka: A retrospective multi-center study Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. 12 (10) 442
- Kanchana Bandara, Chinthika Gunasekara, Manjula Weerasekera, Chamil Marasinghe, Nilantha Ranasinghe & Neluka Fernando (2018) Do the Th17 Cells Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of Leptospirosis? Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology, Volume 2018, Article ID 9704532, 5 pages
- Bandara, K., Weerasekera, M. M., Gunasekara, C., Ranasinghe, N., Marasinghe, C., & Fernando, N. (2016). Utility of modified Faine’s criteria in diagnosis of leptospirosis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 16(446), 1–7.
- Bandara, K., Gunasekara, C., Weerasekera, M., Ranasinghe, N., Hapugoda, M., Marasinghe, C., & Fernando, N. (2016). Comparison of three rapid diagnostic assays for diagnosis of leptospirosis in a resource poor setting. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 5(7), 1771–1780.
- Bandara KK, Weerasekera M, Gunasekara CP, Ranasinghe N, Marasinghe C, Fernando N 2015. Molecular characterisation and disease severity of leptospirosis in Sri Lanka. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 110(4): 485-491
Research presentation Oral/ Posters
- AMAU Abeykoon, GMCP De Silva, KTSS Karunathilake, ARN Silva, AWMKK Bandara, RN Pathirana. Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Activities of the Extracts of Leaves, Roots and Combination of Leaves and Roots of Plant Magnolia figo. 13th International Research Conference Kotelawala Defence University, 15-16th October 2020
- Nisanasala GGT, Bandara AWMK, Weerasekera MM, Gunasekara TDCP, Gamage CD, Gamage CD, Marasinghe MGCP, Fernando SSN, Ranasinghe KNP. Endemic leptospirosis in Sri Lanka; Values of clinical presentation, laboratory data and suspected case definition for early diagnosis. 11th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health , Liverpool, UK from 16-20th September 2019
- SC Isurika,WMTA Wanninayake, ARN Silva, AWMKK Bandara, WD Ratnasooriya (2019) Evaluation of in vitro Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous Extracts and Alcoholic Extracts of Celtis timorensis Span leaves. 12th International Research Conference Kotelawala Defence University, 11-12th September 2019
- Bandara AWMKK, Weerasekera MM, Fernando SSN, Ranasinghe KNP, Marasinghe MGCP, Gunasekara TDCP (2018) Cytokine Response in Leptospirosis Suggests A Role for Th17 Involvement. 7th Federation of Immunological Societies of Asia-Oceania Congress (FIMSA 2018), Bangkok, Thailand, 10-13th November 2018
- Nisanasala GGT, Bandara AWMK, Weerasekera MM, Ranasinghe KNP, Gamage CD, Marasinghe MGCP, Fernando SSN, Gunasekara TDCP Age as a determining factor for development of severe leptospirosis. Ceylon College of Physicians 51st Annual academic sessions held at Galadari Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka 12-15th September 2018
- Bandara AWMKK, Weerasekera MM, Gunasekara TDCP, Hapugoda MD, Ranasinghe KNP, Marasinghe MGCP, Fernando SSN (2017) Modified Faine’s Criteria; An Useful Diagnostic Tool in Resource Poor Settings. 10th International Leptospirosis Society Conference held at Conference & Function Centre, Palmerston North. New Zealand from 27th November -5th December 2017
- MGCP Marasinghe, AWMKK Bandara, MM Weerasekera, TDCP Gunasekara, N. Ranasinghe, M D Hapugoda, SSN Fernando (2017) Predictors of disease severity of leptosposis on admission ‐ A Sri Lankan Study. 10th International Leptospirosis Society Conference held at Conference & Function Centre, Palmerston North. New Zealand from 27th November -5 th December 2017
- Gamage GGTN, Bandara AWMK, Marasinghe MGCP, Weerasekera MM, Fernando SSN1, Gunasekara TDCP. Optimization of a real time PCR for quantification of Leptospira bacterial loads in patients using SYBR green based real time PCR. Scientific sessions 2017, FMS, USJP 26th May 2017
- Bandara, K. K., Weerasekera, M., Gunasekara, TDCP, Ranasinghe, N., Marasinghe, C., & Fernando, N. (2016) Serum cytokines: A potential biomarker in leptospirosis 49th Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians to be held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka from 22-24th of September, 2016
- Bandara AWMKK., Weerasekera MM, Gunasekera TDCP, Ranasinghe KNP, Marasinghe MGCP, Dikmadugoda N, Jayalath MPK, Gunapala A,Fernando SSN 2015. Molecular Epidemiology of leptospirosis in Western and Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of Annual Scientific Sessions of Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura 2015 p. 196.
- Bandara AWMKK, Weerasekera MM, Gunasekara TDCP, Ranasinghe KNP, Marasinghe MGCP, Perera GND, Gunapala A, Liyanarachchi T, Siwagnanam FG, Jayalath MPK, Dickmadugoda N, Hapugoda M, , Fernando SSN. “Leptospirosis in Sri Lanka: Clinical diagnosis or laboratory diagnosis” poster presentation at the 47th Annual Academic Session of the Ceylon College of Physicians. 05 – 08th October, 2014.
- Kanchana Bandara, Chinthika Gunasekara, Manjula Weerasekara, Nilantha Ranasinghe, Menaka Hapugoda, Chamil Marasinghe, Nilanka Perera, Anura Gunapala, Nandana Dickmadugoda, Priyantha Jayalath, F.G. Siwagnanam, Neluka Fernando. Evaluation of Three Commercial Rapid Immunochromatographic Kits for the Presumptive Identification of Leptospirosis in Sri Lanka. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches. 13 – 14th August 2014.
- Kanchana Bandara, Manjula Weerasekara, Chinthika Gunasekara, Nilantha Ranasinghe, Chamil Marasinghe, Nilanka Perera, Anura Gunapala, Tharanga Liyanarachchi, Priyantha Jayalath, Neluka Fernando. Leptospirosis: Clinical profile and outcome in critical care settings in Sri Lanka. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Faculty of critical care. 21st June 2014.
- Bandara A.W.M.K.K., Marasinghe M.G.C.P., Weerasekera M.M., Gunasekara T.D.C.P., Fernando S.S.N., Ranasinghe K.N.P., Jayalath M.P.K., Dickmadugoda N., Wickramasinghe H., Hapugoda M., Gunapala A., Siwagnanam F.G. and Pavithra M.A.T. Expediency of Clinical and Basic Laboratory Data to Early Diagnosis of Leptospirosis: A Descriptive Preliminary Study. Annual Conference and Scientific Sessions of Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology. 25th October 2013. p16.
- Bandara A.W.M.K.K., Marasinghe M.G.C.P., Weerasekera M.M., Gunasekara T.D.C.P., Fernando S.S.N., Ranasinghe K.N.P., Jayalath M.P.K., Dickmadugoda N., Wickramasinghe H., Hapugoda M., Gunapala A., Siwagnanam F.G. and Pavithra M.A.T. Diagnosis of Leptospirosis: A Preliminary Study. 46th Annual Academic Sessions. Ceylon College of Physicians, 13th September 2013. p62.
- Bandara, A.W.M.K.K., Jagoda, S. S. S. De S., Dissanayake, D. R. A., Wijewardana, T. G. and Bandara, T. P. M. S. D. A Retrospective Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance among Bacteria Isolated in a Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory. Annual Scientific sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. 7th April 2011. p24.
- Bandara, A. W. M. K. K., Jagoda, S. S. S. De S., Arulkanthan, A., Gunawardena, G. S. P. De S., Dissanayake, I. P. G. H. U. and Jayaweera, W. R. Cutaneous Fibroma in Two Koi Carps (Cyprinus carpio) Annual Scientific sessions of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association. 7th April 2011. p45.
Education Contribution
- General Microbiology for BSc Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Sciences and B. pharm Programme
- Microbiology and Parasitology I
- Microbiology and Parasitology II
- General Microbiology and Parasitology for Diploma in Nursing programme for Sri Lanka Navy
Working Experience
Previous academic / Administrative position
- Temporary Lecturer at Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya
- Demonstrator at Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Visiting lecturer in Fish Health management at Department of Biological Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
- Module Coordinator – Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Coordinator –Mentoring programme, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
Membership
- Sri Lankan Society for Microbiology (SSM)
- Sri Lanka Veterinary Association (SLVA)
- Sri Lanka Veterinary Council (SLVC)
- Life member, Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka (AISSL)
Workshops
Workshops and Seminars
- “Fostering Resilience and working with stress: A counselling workshop for professionals” organized by Department of Social Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University on 10th and 11th March 2015.
- “Preliminary Steps in Planning a Research” at Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura in December 2013.
- Certificate Course in “Molecular Biological Techniques” at Institute of Biochemistry Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Colombo in August 2012.
- One day research training programme on “Health Research for All” conducted by LANKAPHEIN held at Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo in August 2012.
- Two day workshop on “Leptospirosis” conducted by Dr. Rudy Hartskeerl, Head, Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory, KIT, Netherlands held at Molecular Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine,University of Kelaniya in April 2011.
- Two day workshop on “Writing a Research Proposal” for Master’s and PhD Research Candidates organized by Post Graduate Institute of Management in October 2010.
- 4th short cause on “Health and Anaesthesia in Captive Elephants” organized by Board of Study in Zoological Sciences of the Post Graduate Institute of Science and Sponsored by the Australian Sri Lankan Elephant Research and Conservation Project of the Vienna Zoo in July 2009.
- Workshops on “Clinical Pathology Aids in the Diagnosis of Anaemia in Dogs”, “Fundamentals of Oncological Surgery: A Pathologist View” and “Basic Ophthalmic Examination Diagnostic Techniques” organized by Society of Companion Animal Practitioners of Sri Lanka in December 2009.