Vidya Nidhi Professor Mangala Gunatilake

Professor Mangala Gunatilake is a Veterinarian, graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya in 1991 with Second Class Honours and Distinctions in Microbiology, Parasitology and Public Health.

She joined the department of Physiology in 1993 and obtained her PhD from the University of Colombo in 2001.

Professor Gunatilake has pioneered immunogenicity studies in canines following anti-rabies vaccination in the country. Results of the studies were used to revise the canine vaccination protocol in Sri Lanka in 2013. She is the founder President of the Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science established in 2012 and introduced several alternative models including Zebrafish embryo model to Sri Lankan Researchers. Prof Gunatilake has introduced laboratory animal science (LAS) education to Sri Lanka in 2011 by conducting the first certificate course in LAS in the Asian region with the support of international LAS organizations. She is the country representative in International Council of Laboratory Animal Science and was a member of the Asian Federation for Laboratory Animal Science Associations. Prof Gunatilake is the Founder Director of the 3Rs Centre for Laboratory Animal Science in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Prof Gunatilake is the Joint Secretary of the South Asian Association of Physiologists since 2012 and a member of the Education Council of Federation of Asian Oceanian Physiological Societies.

Prof Gunatilake was awarded National Honours ‘Vidya Nidhi’ in 2019. She has received several National and international awards and scholarships in recognition of her achievements and contributions to science and technology. She has many publications to her credit in the form of conference papers, journal and newsletter articles, books and e-learning publications.