I would like to start this tribute by saying thank you for all good people those who have been behind my success. It is a real challenge to shortlist, but, I have selected following teachers who inspired me a lot.
Dr. Kaoru Kitajima is a Professor at Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Japan. She is my main academic advisor of the doctoral program and influence during my stay at the Kyoto University and thereafter enables me to be a Tropical Ecologist.
Dr. Uromi Manage Goodale is an Associate Professor at Plant Ecophysiology and Evolution Group, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources, Collage of Forestry, Gunagxi University of China. She will also advise and mentor academic works.
Dr. Rhett Harrison is a Professor at Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, China. He organised the Advanced Fieldcourse for Ecology and Conservation (AFEX-2012) at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan, China. He and AFEX-2012 Source Staff help me to be who I am today.
Dr. T. Sivananthawerl is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. I did my master degree research component with him. He taught me both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I recognized him as a kindhearted teacher and an advisor.
Dr. M. C. M. Iqbal is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy. I worked as a Research Assistant to him (2011 - 2012). He leads the Plant Biology Research Group of the institute.
Dr. R. O. Thattil is a Senior Professor (Rtd.) at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. He was the main supervisor in my undergraduate research. I enjoyed his way of student supervision at undergraduate level and found really interesting. He works exactly on time. He planted my interest for Statistics and experimentation.
Dr. B. Laknath Peiris is a Senior Lecturer in Statistics at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He was a co-supervisor in my undergraduate research work. His support during the work, specially during a time Prof. Thattil was away, was outstanding.
Dr. D. K. N. G. Pushpakumara is a Professor at the Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has taught me both at undergraduate and postgraduate level courses. I found his way of teaching and mentoring is more student-centred, yet productive in long-run.
Mrs. Dhammika Millawitiya was my science teacher in the secondary school, and is the person who ignited my deep interest in science. After many years passed I still crown she as my best school teacher.