Parasitic Diseases Research Unit (Former Malaria Research Unit)

This section has been addressed under the following headings:

•  History of the Malaria Research Unit
•  Services
•  Significant Achievements
•  Publications
•  List of Post-Graduates of the Malaria Research Unit

HISTORY OF THE MALARIA RESEARCH UNIT 

The Malaria Research Unit (MRU) was established in 1988 in the Department of Parasitology of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo by Professor Kamini Mendis. MRU functions as a Centre for post-graduate research training and malaria research on Immunology, Molecular biology, Epidemiology as well as Genetics. The main collaborators who were responsible for setting up the initial scientific programmes were Prof. Richard Carter from the University of Edinburgh, UK and Dr Peter David from the Institute Pasteur, France. To date, 32 post-graduate degrees have been awarded from the research training received through the Malaria Research Unit.  The MRU has also provided opportunities for several under-graduate students of the University of Colombo as well as other Universities both local and overseas to conduct their short-term research studies.

The MRU is linked to a Field Research Station (MRS) at Kataragama. This Research Station was established at Mailagama in Kataragama, in collaboration with Dr Pushpa Herath, who was the Senior Entomologist of the Anti-Malaria Campaign at the time. This research station has served as a focus for a number of major epidemiological studies, including the insecticide-impregnated bed nets project and the village-based malaria diagnosis & treatment centres. 

At present, the MRU functions with 7 full-time research staff. In addition, the staff members of the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine conduct research work at the MRU in collaboration with scientists from other departments within the Faculty of Medicine, from other Faculties of the University of Colombo as well as other Universities and Research Institutions both local and foreign. From 1998 to 2003, the MRU was directed under the guidance of Dr Shiroma Handunnetti, who was the first research student to receive a PhD degree through research training at the MRU. Thereafter Dr. Deepika Fernando (2003 – 2004) and Dr. Sisira Pathirana (2004 – 2005) functioned as Coordinators. Since March 2005 the MRU came under the purview of the Head, Department of Parasitology and is currently headed by Professor Nadira Karunaweera. Studies at the MRU have been carried out with research grants received from various organizations both local as well as overseas such as the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, the National Research Council of Sri Lanka, the World Health Organization (TDR), the International Foundation of Science and the World Bank. In addition to the research programmes, the Malaria Research Unit continues to provide free laboratory diagnostic services for malaria to hospitals under the Ministry of Health in Colombo including the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for children, De Soyza Maternity Hospital (DMH), Castle Street Hospital and the Military and Police Hospitals.

SERVICES

•  Teaching

The staff members of the Malaria Research Unit are involved in teaching both under-graduate and post-graduate students i.e., medical and bio-science undergraduates; Diploma in Microbiology, Diploma in Molecular Medicine, MD in Medical Parasitology, MD in Transfusion Medicine post graduate students to name a few.

•  Clinical and Laboratory

At the Malaria Research Station (MRS) in Kataragama clinical services are provided to the community in terms of microscopic diagnosis and treatment of malaria.  This station is maintained in collaboration with the Regional Malaria Office, Anti-Malaria Campaign of the Monaragala District.  The clinic at the MRS operates daily from Monday to Friday. 

At the Malaria Research Unit in Colombo microscopic diagnostic services for malaria is provided free of charge.

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

More than 150 originals scientific papers have been published in international peer-reviewed journals. 

More than 200 abstracts have been published in national and international scientific conference proceedings.

Research studies conducted at the Malaria Research Unit paved  the way for 32 post-graduate research degree (28 PhDs and 4 M. Phils) awarded by the University of Colombo. These graduates are currently working in various capacities, both locally and overseas, as Regional Malaria Officers of the National Anti-Malaria Campaign, as senior government administrative officials and consultants of international agencies.

Workshop on "Leishmaniasis" were conducted by the Dept. of Parasitology for 04 batches of Public Health and Medical Laboratory Technicians (PHLTs & MLTs) attached to the Ministry of Health in October 2014 and in January 2015. This training programme is conducted with a view to facilitate laboratory diagnosis and to enhance the case detection rate in the clinical setting.

A series of workshops on "Good Laboratory Practices" was conducted at the Dept. of Parasitology in collaboration with the Family Health International, USA, from 15th - 19th December 2014, sponsored by the National Institute of health, USA.

International Colloquium - update on Clinical, Diagnostics, Chemotherapeutic and Vector aspects of Leishmaniasis (International Symposium) was held on 25th - 26th March 2013.

MALARIA RESEARCH UNIT PUBLICATIONS

PAPERS PUBLISHED IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS  

1. De Silva DHG, Mendis KN, Premaratne UN, Jayatilleke SMD and Soyza PE, 1982. Congenital malaria due to Plasmodium vivax: a case report from Sri Lanka. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  75: 33-35.
2. Mendis KN, David PH, Hommel M, Carter R and Miller LH, 1983. Immunity to malarial antigens on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes. Am J Trop Med Hyg  32: 926-930.
3. Mendis KN, Ihalamulla RL, Peyton EL and Nanayakkara S, 1983. Biology and descriptions of the larva and pupa of Anopheles (Cellia) elegans James (1903). Mosquito Systematics  15: 318-324.
4. Munasinghe YD, Mendis KN and Carter R, 1986. Anti-gamete antibodies block transmission of human vivax malaria to mosquitoes. Parasite Immunol  8: 231-238.
5. Mendis KN, Munasinghe YD, De Silva YNY, Keragala I and Carter R, 1987. Malaria Transmission-blocking immunity induced by natural infections of Plasmodium vivax in humans. Infect Immun  55: 369-372.
6. Handunnetti SM, Mendis KN and David PH, 1987. Antigenic variation of cloned Plasmodium fragile in its natural host Macaca sinica: sequential appearance of successive variant antigenic types. J Exp Med  165: 1269-1283.
7. Fonseka J and Mendis KN, 1987. A metropolitan hospital in a non-endemic area provides a sampling pool for epidemiological studies on vivax malaria in Sri Lanka. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  81: 360-364.
8. Udagama PV, David PH, Peiris JSM, Ariyaratne YG, Perera KLRL and Mendis KN, 1987. Demonstration of antigenic polymorphism in Plasmodium vivax malaria with a panel of 30 monoclonal antibodies. Infect Immun  55: 2604-2611.
9. Ihalamulla RL and Mendis KN, 1987. Plasmodium vivax: isolation of mature asexual stages and gametocytes from infected human blood by colloidal silica (Percoll) gradient centrifugation. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  81: 25-28.
10. David PH, Del Portillo HA and Mendis KN, 1988. Plasmodium vivax malaria: parasite biology defines potential targets for vaccine development. Biology of the cell  64: 251-260.
11. Carter R, Kumar N, Quakyi IA, Good MF, Mendis KN, Graves PM and Miller LH, 1988. Immunity to sexual stages of malaria parasites. Progress in Allergy. Special edition, ed. 193-214.
12. David PH, Handunnetti SM, Leech JH, Gamage CP and Mendis KN, 1988. Rosetting: a new cytoadherence property of malaria infected erythrocytes. Am J Trop Med Hyg  38: 289-297.
13. Langsley G, Patarapotikul J, Handunnetti SM, Khouri E, Mendis KN and David PH, 1988. Plasmodium vivax: Karyotype polymorphism of field isolates. Exp Parasitol  67: 301-306.
14. Mendis KN, Ihalamulla RI and David PH, 1988. Diversity of P.vivax induced antigens on the surface of infected human erythrocytes. Am J Trop Med Hyg  38: 42-46.
15. de Zoysa APK, Herath PRJ, Abhayawardana TA, Padmalal UKGK and Mendis KN, 1988. Modulation of human malaria transmission by anti-gamete transmission blocking immunity. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  82: 548-553.
16. Udagama PV, Atkinson C T, Peiris JSM, David PH, Mendis KN and Aikawa M, 1988. Immunoelectron microscopy of schuffner's dots in Plasmodium vivax-infected human erythrocytes. Am J Pathol  131: 48-52.
17. Peiris JSM, Premawansa S, Ranawaka MBR, Udagama PV, Munesinghe YD, Nanayakkara MV, Gamage CP, Carter R, David PH and Mendis KN, 1988. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies both block and enhance transmission of human Plasmodium vivax malaria. Am J Trop Med Hyg  39: 26-32.
18. Ranawaka MB, Munesinghe YD, de Silva DMR, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1988. Boosting of transmission-blocking immunity during natural Plasmodium vivax infections in humans depends upon frequent reinfection. Infect Immun  56: 1820-1824.
19. Del Portillo HA, Gysin J, Mattei DM, Khouri E, Udagama PV, Mendis KN and David PH, 1988. Plasmodium vivax: Cloning and expression of a major blood-stage surface antigen. Exp Parasitol  67: 346-353.
20. Handunnetti SM, David PH, Perera KLRL and Mendis KN, 1989. Uninfected erythrocytes from `rosettes' around P.falciparum infected erythrocytes. Am J Trop Med Hyg  40: 115-118.
21. Mendis KN, David PH and Carter R, 1990. Human immune responses against sexual stages of malaria parasites: consideration for malaria vaccines. International Journal of Parasitology  20: 497-502.
22. Naotunne Tde S, Rathnayake KDL, Jayasinghe A, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1990. Plasmodium cynomolgi: Serum-mediated blocking and enchancement of infectivity to mosquitoes during infections in the natural host, Macaca sinica. Exp Parasitol  71: 305-313.
23. Mendis C, Gamage-Mendis AC, de Zoysa APK, Abhayawardena TA, Carter R, Herath PRJ and Mendis KN, 1990. Characteristics of malaria transmission in Kataragama, Sri Lanka: a focus for immuno-epidemiological studies. Am J Trop Med Hyg  42: 298-308.
24. Pessi A, Michel M, Bianchi E, Mendis A, Tougne C, Verdini VS, Lambert PH, Carter R, Mendis KN and Del Giudice G, 1990. Use of synthetic peptides in the study of the antibody response to Plasmodium vivax sporozoites. Am J Trop Med Hyg  42: 17-23.
25. Del Giudice G, Lambert PH, Mendis KN and Tanner M, 1990. Antibody responses to Plasmodium falciparum and P.vivax sporozoites in areas with stable and unstable malaria. Bull WHO  68(suppl): 191-196.
26. Mendis KN, Naotunne TdS, Karunaweera ND, Del Giudice G, Grau GE and Carter R, 1990. Anti-parasite effects of cytokines in malaria. Immunol Lett  25: 217-220.
27. Premawansa S, Peiris JSM, Perera KLRL, Ariyaratne G, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1990. Target antigens of transmission blocking immunity of Plasmodium vivax malaria: Characterization and polymorphism in natural parasite isolates. J Immunol  144: 4376-4383.
28. Goonewardene R, Carter R, Gamage CP, Del Giudice G, David PH, Howie S  Mendis KN, 1990. Human T-cell proliferative responses to P.vivax antigens: evidence of immunosuppression following prolonged exposure to endemic malaria. Eur J Immunol  20: 1387-1391.
29. Udagama PV, Gamage-Mendis AC, David PH, Peiris JSM, Perera KLRL, Mendis KN and Carter R, 1990. Genetic complexity of Plasmodium vivax parasites in individual human infections analysed with monoclonal antibodies against variant epitopes on a single parasite protein, PV200. Am J Trop Med Hyg  42: 104-110.
30. Naotunne TdS, Karunaweera ND, Del Giudice G, Kularatne BDMU, Grau GE, Carter R  and and Mendis KN, 1991. Cytokines kill malaria parasites during infection crisis: extracellular complementary factors are essential. J Exp Med  173: 523-529.
31. Gamage-Mendis AC, Rajakaruna DJP, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1991. Infectious reservoir of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in an endemic region of Sri Lanka. Am J Trop Med Hyg  45: 479-487.
32. Mendis KN and Carter R, 1991. Transmission blocking immunity may provide clues that anti-malarial immunity is largely T-independent. In 40th forum in Immunology (P.David). Research in Immunology  142: 687-690.
33. Gamage-Mendis AC, Carter R, Mendis C, de Zoysa APK, Herath PRJ and Mendis KN, 1991. Clustering of malaria infections within an endemic population: risk of malaria associated with the type of housing construction. Am J Trop Med Hyg  45: 77-85.
34. Mendis KN, David PH and Carter R, 1991. Antigenic polymorphism in malaria: is it an important mechanism for immune evasion? Today Elsevier Trends Journal  ( Eds C.Ash and R.B. Gallagner)  A34-A39.
35. de Zoysa APK, Mendis C, Gamage-Mendis AC, Weerasinghe CS, Herath PRJ and Mendis KN, 1991. A mathematical model for P.vivax malaria transmission used to estimate the impact of transmission blocking immunity on malaria in an endemic area. Bull WHO  69: 725-734.
36. Carter R and Mendis KN, 1991. Immune responses against sexual stages of Plasmodium vivax during human malarial infections in Sri Lanka. Parassitologia  33: 67-70.
37. Bate CAW, Taverne J, Karunaweera ND, Mendis KN, Kwiatkowski D and Playfair JHL, 1992. Serological relationship of TNF-inducing exoantigens of P.flaciparum and P.vivax. Infect Immun  60: 1241.
38. Mendis KN, 1992. Contrasting clinical disease in P.vivax and P.falciparum malaria and the association of both with cytokines. Bulletin of the Institute Pasteur  90: 3-9.
39. Gamage-Mendis AC, Rajakaruna DJP, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1992. Transmission blocking immunity to human Plasmodium vivax malaria in an endemic population in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. Parasite Immunol  14: 385-396.
40. Mendis KN and Carter R, 1992. The role of cytokines in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro  87(Suppl.III): 51-55.
41. Carter R, Schofield L and Mendis KN, 1992. HLA effects in malaria: Increased parasite-killing immunity or reduced immunopathology ? Parasitol Today  8: 41-42.
42. Mendis C, Herath PRJ, Rajakaruna DJP, Weerasingha CS, Gamage-Mendis AC, Mendis KN and de Zoysa APK, 1992. Method to estimate relative transmission efficiencies of Anopheles species (Diptera: Culicidae) in human malaria transmission. J Med Entomol  29: 188-196.
43. Mendis C, Del Giudice G, Gamage-Mendis AC, Tougne C, Pessi A, Weerasinghe CS, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1992. Anti-circumsporozoite protein antibodies measure age related exposure to malaria in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. Parasite Immunol  14: 75-86.
44. Karunaweera ND, Carter R, Grau GE, Kwiatkowski D, Del Giudice G and Mendis KN, 1992. Tumour necrosis factor-dependent parasite-killing effects during paroxysms in non-immune Plasmodium vivax malaria patients. Clin Exp Immunol  88: 499-505.
45. Karunaweera ND, Grau GE, Gamage CP, Carter R and Mendis KN, 1992. Dynamics of fever and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor are closely associated during clinical paroxysms in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA  89: 3200-3203.
46. Naotunne TdS, Karunaweera ND, Mendis KN and Carter R, 1993. Cytokine-mediated inactivation of malarial gametocytes is dependent on the presence of white blood cells and involves reactive nitrogen intermediates. Immunol  78: 555-562.
47. Goonewardene R, Daily J, Kaslow D, Sullivan TJ, Duffy P, Carter R, Mendis KN  Wirth D, 1993. Transfection of the malaria parasite and expression of firefly luciferase. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA  90: 5234-5236.
48. de Zoysa APK, Carter R  Mendis KN, 1993. Mathematical simulations of transmission blocking vaccine strategies. Recombinant and synthetic vaccines. New Dellhi: Narosa Publishing House. 1.
49. Carter R, David P  Mendis KN, 1993. Plasmodium vivax malaria in Sri Lanka: Transmission, disease and immunity. Parassitologia  35(Suppl): 17-18.
50. Gamage-Mendis AC, Rajakaruna DJP, Weerasinghe CS, Mendis C, Carter R  Mendis KN, 1993. Infectivity of P.vivax and P.falciparum to Anopheles tessellatus: relationship between oocyst and sporozoite development. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  87: 3-6.
51. Premawansa S, Snewin VA, Khouri E, Mendis KN  David PH, 1993. Plasmodium vivax: Recombination between potential allelic types of the merozoite surface protein MSP1 in parasites isolated from patients. Exp Parasitol  76: 192-199.
52. Perera MK, Carter R, Goonewardene R  Mendis KN, 1994. Transient increase in circulating t/d T cells during Plasmodium vivax malarial paroxysms. J Exp Med  179: 311-315.
53. Handunnetti SM, Jayasinghe S, Pathirana PPSL, Fernando R, Sheriff MHR  Mendis KN, 1994. Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum infection in Sri Lanka. Cey Med J  39: 45-46.
54. Gunawardena DM, Carter R  Mendis KN, 1994. Patterns of acquired anti-malarial immunity in Sri Lanka. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro  89: 61-63.
55. Gunawardena DM, Muthuwatta LP, Weerasinghe CS, Rajakaruna DJP, Udaya Kumara W, Senanayaka T, Kotta PK, Wickremasinghe AR, Carter R  Mendis KN, 1994. Spatial analysis of malaria risk in an endemic region of Sri Lanka. GIS for Health and the Environment. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre. 99-108.
56. Creasey AM, Mendis KN, Carlton J, Williamson DH, Wilson RJM  Carter R, 1994. Maternal inheritance of the extrachromosomal DNA elements in malaria parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol  65: 95-98.
57. Premawansa S, Gamage-Mendis A, Perera KLRL, Begarnie S, Mendis KN  Carter R, 1994. Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission-blocking immunity under conditions of low endemicity as in Sri Lanka. Parasite Immunol  16: 35-42.
58. Longacre S, Mendis KN  David PH, 1994. Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 C-terminal recombinant proteins in baculovirus. Mol Biochem Parasitol  64: 191-205.
59. Mendis KN, 1995. Simian malaria models for research on human disease. Cey Med J Sci  38: 31-35.
60. Alles HK, de Silva D  Mendis KN, 1995. Atypical presentations of malaria associated with chloroquine resistance. Cey Med J  40: 45.
61. Mendis KN  Carter R, 1995. Clinical disease and pathogenesis in malaria. Parasitol Today  11: PTI 2 - PTI 16.
62. Snewin VA, Premawansa S, Kapilananda GMG, Ratnayaka KLP, Udagama PV, Mattei DM, Khouri E, Del Guidice G, Peiris JSM, Mendis KN  David PH, 1995. Transmission blocking immunity in Plasmodium vivax malaria: Antibodies raised against a peptide block parasite development in the mosquito vector. J Exp Med  181: 357-362.
63. Snewin VA, Khouri E, Wattavidanage J, Perera KLRL, Premawansa S, Mendis KN  David PH, 1995.  A new polymorphic marker for PCR typing of Plasmodium vivax parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol  71: 135-138.
64. Snewin VA, Khouri E, Mattei D, Tekaia F, Delarue M, Mendis KN  David PH, 1996. Cloning and characterisation of a gene from Plasmodium vivax and P.knowlesi: homology with valine-tRNA synthetase. Gene  173: 137-145.
65. Handunnetti SM, Gunawardena DM, Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Weerasinghe CS  Mendis KN, 1996. Features of recrudescent chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum infections confer a survival advantage on parasites and have implications for disease control. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  90: 563-567.
66. Wijesekera SK, Carter R, Rathnayaka KLP  Mendis KN, 1996. A malaria parasite toxin associated with   Plasmodium vivax paroxysms. Clin Exp Immunol  104: 221-227.
67. Kodisinghe HM, Perera KLRL, Premawansa S, Naotunne TdS, Wickremasinghe AR  Mendis KN, 1997. The ParaSightTM-F dipstick test as a routine diagnostic tool for malaria in Sri Lanka. Trans Roy Soc Trop Med Hyg  91: 398-402.
68. Carter R, Wijesekera SK, Karunaweera ND  Mendis KN, 1997. Mediators and mechanisms associated with paroxysm in Plasmodium vivax malaria. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology  49(Suppl.2): 35-41.
69. Snewin VA, Carter R, Mendis KN  David PH, 1997. Characterization of two Plasmodium vivax genes cloned by screening with transmission-blocking monoclonal antibodies. Ann Trop Med Parasitol  91(Suppl.1): S25-S29.
70. Holm I, Nato F, Mendis KN  Longacre S, 1997. Characterization of C-terminal merozoite surface protein-1  baculovirus recombinant proteins from Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium cynomolgi as recognized by the natural anti-parasite immune response. Mol Biochem Parasitol  89: 313-319.
71. Abeysekara T, Wickremasinghe AR, Gunawardena DM  Mendis KN, 1997. Optimizing the malaria data recording system through a study of case detection and treatment in Sri Lanka. Tropical Medicine and International Health  2: 1057-1067.
72. Alles HK, Mendis KN,  Carter R, 1998. Malaria mortality rates in South Asia and in Africa: implications for malaria control. Parasitol Today  14: 369-375.
73. Perera KLRL, Handunnetti SM, Holm I, Longacre S,  Mendis KN, 1998. Baculovirus merozoite surface protein 1 C-terminal recombinant antigens are highly protective in a natural primate model for human Plasmodium vivax malaria. Infect Immun  66: 1500-1506.
74. Gunawardena DM, Wickremasinghe AR, Muthuwatta L, Weerasinghe S, Rajakaruna J, Senanayaka T, Kotta PK, Attanayake N, Carter, R  Mendis KN, 1998. Malaria risk factors in an endemic region of Sri Lanka, and the impact and cost implications of risk factor-based interventions. Am J Trop Med Hyg  58: 533-542.
75. Karunaweera ND, Carter R, Grau GE  Mendis KN, 1998. Demonstration of anti-disease immunity to Plasmodium vivax malaria in Sri Lanka using a quantitative method to assess clinical disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg  58: 204-210. 
76. Wattavidanage J, Carter R, Perera KLRL, Munasinghe A, Bandara S, McGuinness D, Wickremasinghe AR, Alles HK, Mendis KN  Premawansa S, 1999. TNFa*2marks high risk of severe disease during Plasmodium falciparum malaria and other infections in Sri Lankans. Clin Exp Immunol  115: 350-355.
77. Seneviratne GDCN, Manamperi AAPS, Kapilananda GMG, Longacre S, Handunnetti SMand Udagama-Randeniya  PV, 2000.  A  double antibody sandwich ELISA for the diagnosis of vivax malaria: a tool for further research. The Ceylon Journal of Medical Science 43:11-17
78. Fernando SD, Paranavitane SR, Rajakaruna J, Weerasinghe S, De Silva D, and Wickremasinghe AR, 2000. The health and nutritional status of school children in tworural  communities in Sri Lanka. Tropical Medicine and International Health 5(6): 450-452.
79. Mackinnon MJ, Gunawardena DM, Rajakaruna J, Weerasinghe S, Mendis KN and Carter R, 2000. Quantifying genetic and nongenetic contributions to malarial infection in a Sri Lankan population. PNAS  97(23) :12661-12666.
80. Handunnetti S M, Jayasinghe S, Pathirana P P S L, Fernando R, Sheriff M H R,  and Mendis K N (1994). Chloroquine and sulphadoxine‑pyrimethamine resistant Plasmodium falciparum  infection in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 39:45‑46.
81. Grech K, Martinelli A, Pathirana S, Walliker D, Hunt P & Carter R, 2002. Numerous, robust genetic markers for Plasmodium chabaudi by the method of Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism.  Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 123:95-104.
82. SD Fernando, ND Karunaweera, WP Fernando, 2004. Evaluation of a Rapid whole blood Immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria. Ceylon Medical Journal. 49 (1) 7 -10.
83. SD Fernando, ND Karunaweera, WP Fernando, N Attanayake, AR Wickremasinghe, 2004.  Cost analysis of Rapid Whole Blood Immunochromatographic P.f/P.v Assay for the diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax malaria in a rural area of Sri Lanka. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. 98(1) 5-13.
84. Pathirana S L, Alles H K, Perera M K, Bandara S, Phone-Kyaw M, Mendis K N and Handunnetti S M, 2005.  ABO blood group types and protection against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.  Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 99 (2): 119-124(6).
85. ND Karunaweera. Imported drug-resistant severe malaria. Ceylon Medical Journal, 2005 50(3):101-103. Leading Article.
86. LD Wanasekera and ND Karunaweera. Parasite and host mediators associated with paroxysms in P.vivax malaria, 2005. Asian Parasitology, 6:183-189. Review article.
87. SD Fernando, Renu Wickremasinghe, S Mahawithanage, AR Wickremasinghe. Impact of childhood malaria in Sri Lanka, 2005. In: Malaria in Asia, Asian Parasitology, Series monograph Vol 6. Editors Shigeyuki Kano, Pilarita Tongol Rivera. pp 205-217.
88. AR Wickremasinghe, Renu Wickremasinghe, SD Fernando, G Galpaththy, STC Mahawithanage, 2005. Social and economic burden of malaria in Sri Lanka. . In: Malaria in Asia, Asian Parasitology, Series monograph Vol 6. Editors Shigeyuki Kano, Pilarita Tongol Rivera191-204.
89. DA Premasiri, AR Wickramasinghe, DS Premasiri, ND Karunaweera, 2005. Malarial vectors in an irrigated rice cultivation area in Southern Sri Lanka. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 99(2):106-114.
90. SL Pathirana, HK Alles, MK Perera, S Bandara, M Phone-Kyaw, KN Mendis, SM Handunnetti, 2005.  ABO blood group types and protection against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.  Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 99 (2): 119-124(6).
91. PH Kusumawathie, AR Wickremasinghe, ND Karunaweera, MJ Wijeyaratne, AM Yapabandara, 2006. Anopheline breeding in river bed pools below major dams in Sri Lanka. Acta Tropica, 99(1):30-3
92. Deepika Fernando, Damani de Silva, Richard Carter, Kamini Mendis, Ananda Wickremasinghe, 2006. A Randomised Double Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial of the Impact of malaria prevention on the educational attainment of school children. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and hygiene. 74 (3): 386-393.
93. Tanabe K, Escalante A, Sakihama N, Honda M, Arisue N, Horii T, Culloton R, Hayakawa T, Hashimoto T, Longacre S, Pathirana S, Handunnetti S, Kishino H, 2007.  Recent independent evolution of msp1 polymorphism in Plasmodium vivax and related simian malaria parasites.  Mol. Biochem. Parasitol.    
94. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, DL Hartl, DF Wirth, 2007. Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. Molecular Ecology Notes, 7(1):172-175.
95. ND Karunaweera, LD Wanasekera, V Chandrasekeran, KN Mendis, R Carter, 2007. Plasmodium vivax malaria: paroxysm-associated lipids mediate leukocyte aggregation. Malaria Journal, 6(1): 62.
96. MU Ferreira, ND Karunaweera, M da Silva-Nunes, NS da Silva, DF Wirth, DL Hartl, 2007. Population Structure and Transmission Dynamics of Plasmodium vivax in Rural Amazonia. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 195(8):1218-1226.
97. Tanabe K, Escalante A, Sakihama N, Honda M, Arisue N, Horii T, Culloton R, Hayakawa T, Hashimoto T, Longacre S, Pathirana S, Handunnetti S, Kishino H, 2007.  Recent independent evolution of msp1 polymorphism in Plasmodium vivax and related simian malaria parasites.  Molecular Biochemical Parasitology, 156: 74-79.  
98. ND Karunaweera,MU Ferreira, A Munasinghe, JW Barnwell, WE  Collins, CL King, F Kawamoto, DL Hartl, DF Wirth, 2008. Extensive Microsatellite Diversity in the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium vivax. Gene, 410(1):105-112.
99. S Kannathasan, A Antonyrajan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SHPP Karunaratne, ND Karunaweera, SN Surendran, 2008. Studies on prevalence of anopheline species and community perception of malaria in Jaffna district, Sri Lanka. Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, 45:231–239.
100. A Manamperi , S Mahawithanage , D Fernando , R Wickremasinghe , A Bandara , C Hapuarachchi, W Abeywickrame, R Wickremasinghe, 2008. Genotyping of Plasmodium vivax infections in Sri Lanka using Pvmsp-3α and Pvcs genes as markers: a preliminary report. Tropical Biomedicine, 25 (2), 100-106.
101.  SD Fernando, RR Abeyasinghe, GNL Galappaththy, N Gunawardena, ACR Ranasinghe, LC Rajapaksa, 2008. Community factors affecting long-lasting impregnated mosquito net use for malaria control in Sri Lanka. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 102 (11: 1081-1088).
102. Wijayalath WAWK, Cheesman S, Rajakaruna J, Handunnetti SM, Carter R, Pathirana P P S L, 2008. Evidence for strain-specific protective immunity against blood-stage parasites of Plasmodium cynomolgi in toque monkey.  Parasite Immunology. 30: 630-636.                                                                                    
103. M Jallow, YY Teo, KS Small, KA Rockett, P Deloukas, TG Clark, K Kivinen, KA Bojang, DJ Conway, M Pinder, G Sirugo, F Sisay-Joof, S Usen, S Auburn, SJ Bumpstead, S Campino, A Coffey, A Dunham, AE Fry, A Green, R Gwilliam, SE Hunt, M Inouye, AE Jeffreys, A Mendy, A Palotie, S Potter, J Ragoussis, J Rogers, K Rowlands, E Somaskantharajah, P Whittaker, C Widden, P Donnelly, B Howie, J Marchini, A Morris, M Sanjoaquin, EA Achidi, T Agbenyega, A Allen, O Amodu, P Corran, A Djimde, A Dolo, OK Doumbo, C Drakeley, S Dunstan, J Evans, J Farrar, D Fernando, TT Hien, RD Horstmann, M Ibrahim, N Karunaweera, G Kokwaro, KA Koram, M Lemnge, J Makani, K Marsh, P Michon, D Modiano, ME Molyneux, I Mueller, M Parker, N Peshu, CV Plowe, O Puijalon, J Reeder, H Reyburn, EM Riley, A Sakuntabhai, P Singhasivanon, S Sirima, A Tall, TE Taylor, M Thera, M Troye-Blomberg, TN Williams, M Wilson, DP Kwiatkowski. Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium; Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network, 2009. Genome-wide and fine-resolution association analysis of malaria in West Africa. Nature  Genetics, . 41: 657 – 665.
104. S.D. Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, N. Gunawardena, A.C.R Ranasinghe, L. C. Rajapaksa, 2009. Sleeping arrangements under long lasting impregnated mosquito nets: differences during low and high malaria transmission seasons. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 103, 1204-1210.
105. S.D.Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy,  A.C.R Ranasinghe, L. C. Rajapaksa, 2009. Absence of asymptomatic malaria infections in previously high endemic areas of Sri Lanka. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene,  81 (5): 763-767.
106. Wathsala Wijayalath, Sandie Cheesman, Jagath Rajakaruna, Ssudath Weerasinghe, Gamini Kapilananda, Kamal Gamage, Kamal Perera,  Shiroma Handunnetti, Richard Carter and Sisira Pathirana, 2010. Strain specific protective immunity induced by pre-erythrocytic infection of toque monkeys with Plasmodium cynomolgi.  Malaria Journal, 9 (Suppl 2):P58 –S2.
107. P Orjuela-Sanchez, ND Karunaweera, M da Silva-Nunes, NS da Silva, KKG. Scopel, RM Goncalves, C Amaratunga, JM Sa D Socheat, RM Fairhust, S Gunawardena, T Thavakodirasah, GNL Galapaththy, R Abeysinghe, F Kawamoto, DF Wirth, MU Ferreira, 2010. Single-nucleotide polymorphism, linkage disequilibrium and geographic structure in the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax: prospects for genome-wide association studies. BMC Genetics 2010, 11: 65. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/11/65
108. GSA Gunawardena, ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, M Phone-Kyaw, R Pollack, M Alifrangis, R Rajakaruna, F Konradsen, P Amerasinghe, R Abeyasinghe, G Galappaththy, DL Hartl, DF Wirth, 2010. Geographic structure of Plasmodium vivax: microsatellite analysis of parasite populations from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Ethiopia. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 82(2):235–242.
109. S.D.Fernando, C. Rodrigo, S.Rajapakse, 2010. The 'hidden' burden of malaria: cognitive    impairment following infection. Malaria Journal, 9:366, doi:10.1186/1475-2875-9-366.
110. R. Wickemasinghe, A.R. Wickremasinghe, S.D. Fernando, 2010. Climate change and malaria: A complex relationship . UN Chronicle, 2: 14-16.

111. S. L. Pathirana, K. Ekenayake, R. J. Howard, K. N. Mendis and S. M. Handunnetti, 2010. Cytoadherence and its association with clinical disease in Plasmodium falciparum infections in Sri Lanka. J. Natn. Sci. Fopundation Sri Lanka, 38(4);233-240.
112. JJ Zhang, TN Senaratne, R Daniels, C Valim, M Alifrangis, P Amerasinghe, F Konradsen, R Rajakaruna, DF Wirth, ND Karunaweera, 2011. Distribution pattern of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine transporter (pfcrt) gene haplotypes in Sri Lanka 1996-2006. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 85(5): 811–814.
113. D.Fernando, C.Rodrigo, S. Rajapakse, 2011. Primaquine in vivax malaria: an update and review on management issues. Malaria Journal, 10: 351, doi:10.1186/1475-2875-10-351.
114. S.D.Fernando, C.Rodrigo, S.Rajapakse, 2011. Chemoprophylaxis in malaria: drugs, evidence of efficacy and costs. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 4 (4):  330-336.
115. W. M. K. T. de A. W. Gunasekera, R.R.Abeyasinghe, S.Premawansa, S.D.Fernando, 2011. Usefulness of Polymerase Chain Reaction to supplement field  microscopy in a pre-selected population with a high probability of malaria infections. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 85 (1): 6-11.
116. J.Lima, R.R. Abeyasinghe, R. Fitzpatrick, S.D. Fernando, 2012. Diagnosis and treatment of malaria by Health Care Providers: findings from a post conflict district in Sri Lanka. International Health,4: 148-150.

PUBLISHED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS:

1. Handunnetti SM, Mendis KN, David PH. (1984) Plasmodium fragille malaria: Parasite induced modifications on the surface of infected erythrocytes in relation to cytoadherence, and their modulation by the spleen. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 40:9.
2. Handunnetti SM, David PH, Gamage CP, and Mendis KN. (1986). Anti‑malarial immunity mediated by surafec antigens on Plasmodium fragile‑infected erythrocytes. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 42:6.
3. Handunnetti SM, David PH, Perera KLRL, and Mendis KN. (1987. A new cytoadherence property of falciparum type malaria parasites. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of  Science 43:26.
4. Mendis KN, Naotunna T, Handunnetti SM, and David PH. (1988). Use of the old world monkeys in malaria research. XIIthe International for Tropical Medicine and Malaria. Ed. Kager PA and Polderman AM, Experta Medica, Amsterdam, pp 119.
5. Handunnetti SM, and Howard RJ. (1989). Structural and functional alterations of the erythrocyte membrane in malaria. J Cell Biochem suppl 13B:216.
6. Handunnetti SM, Hasler TH, van Schravendijk M‑R, Aguirar JC, Roth Jr EF, Kaul DK, Nagel RL, Howard RJ. (1990). Rosetting of Plasmodium falciparum malaria: Phenotypic diversity in wild isolates, receptor characterization and ex vivo micro‑ circulatory studies. Bull ICOPA VII, pp 128.
7. Handunnetti SM, Hasler TH, and Howard RJ. (1991). Monoclonal antibodies against a red cell antigen reverse Plasmodium falciparum rosettes. III Annual Meeting of British Society of Parasitologists, February 14‑15, Edinburgh, UK.
8. Pasloske BL, Handunnetti SM, van Schravendijk M‑R, Howard RJ. (1991). Characterization of a putative PfEMP1 genomic clone. III Annual Meeting of British Society of Parasitologists, February 14‑15, Edinburgh, UK.
9. Handunnetti SM, van Schravendijk M‑R, Hasler TH, Barnwell JW, Greenwalt DE, and Howard RJ. (1991). Expression of CD36 on erythrocytes and its involvement as a R Rosetting receptor for Plasmodium falciparum‑infected erythrocytes. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 47:11.
10. Handunnetti SM, van Schravendijk M‑R, Pasloske BL, Kapilananda GMG, Perera KLRL, Mendis KN, and Howard RJ. (1991). Characterization of a ~260 kD surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum ‑ infected erythrocytes. Sri Lanka  Association for the Advancement of Science 47:14.
11. Handunnetti SM, Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Howard RJ, Mendis KN. (1992). In vitro rosetting and microagglutination properties of Plasmodium falciparum‑infected erythrocytes. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 48:1.
12. Handunnetti SM, Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, MGM Kapilananda, Perera KLRL, Mendis KN. (1993). Drug resistance and clinical immunity in Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections among hospital admission in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 49:14.
13. Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Perera KLRL, Howard RJ, Mendis KN, Handunnetti SM. (1993). Adherence properties of Sri  Lankan Plasmodium falciparum isolates to endothelial cell  receptor CD36. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of  Science 49:16‑17.
14. Wattevidanage J, Perera KLRL, David PH, Carter R, Ranford‑Cartwright L, Kapilananda GM, Pathirana PPSL, Handunnetti SM, Mendis KN, Premawansa WS. (1993). Genetic heterogeneity of Plasmodial genes in Sri Lankan isolates as detected by the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Sri Lanka Association for the  Advancement of Science 49:20.
15. Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Weerasinghe S, Alles HK, Carter R, Mendis KN, Handunnetti SM. (1994). Enhancement of cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum‑infected erythrocytes to CD36 by malarial paroxysm plasma. Sri Lanka Association for the  Advancement of Science 50:24-25.
16. Alles HK, Jayasinghe S, De Silva D, Naotunne T, Handunnetti SM, Carter R, Sheriff R and Mendis KN (1995).  The development of a scoring system to assess the severity and complications of malaria.  108th Acaddemic Session of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. pp 28.      
17. Handunnetti SM, Gunawardene DM, Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Weerasinghe S, Mendis KN. (1996). Features of  recrudescent chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum infections confer a survival advantage on parasites, and have implications for disease control. PCC Garnham Commeration Meeting August 25th, Kandy, Sri Lanka
18. Pathirana PPSL, Ekanayake K, Mendis KN and Handunnetti SM. (1996). Cytoadherence properties of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes in relation to the severity of clinical disease and parasite density in uncomplicated malaria in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the  Advancement of Science 52:pp26.
19. Handunnetti SM, Gunawardene DM, Pathirana PPSL and Mendis KN. (1996). Recrudescent chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites have a survival advantage. XIVth International Congress for tropical Medicine and Malaria,  November 17-22, Nagasaki, Japan.
20. Mendis KN, Perera KLRL, Handunnetti SM, Longacre S. (1997). The Macaque models of human malarias: Their use for evaluation of vaccines. Second Global Meet on Parasitic Diseases, August 18-22, Hyderabad, India.
21. Pathirana PPSL, Alles HK, Perera MK, Mendis KN and Handunnetti SM. (1997). Association between ABO blood groups and protection against severe and complicated  Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Second Global Meet on Parasitic Diseases, August 18-22, Hyderabad, India.
22. Handunnetti SM, Pathirana PPSL, Howard RJ and Mendis KN. (1997). Adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to ICAM-1:  A marker of parasite virulence. Second Global Meet on Parasitic Diseases, August 18-22, Hyderabad, India.
23. Perera M K, Abeynayake S D, Phone-Kyaw M, Bandara S, Alles H, Fernando N, Wimalasena C, Pathirana S L P, Premawansa S, Mendis K N and Handunnetti S M (1998). Plasma cytokine levels in severe complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.  Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science,  54: 32.
24. Amaratunga C, Weerasinghe S, Perera KLRL, Mendis K, Longacre S, Handunnetti SM (1999). Protection against heterologous Plasmodium cynomolgi infection in MSP1inv immunized toque monkeys. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science,  55:20. 
25. S Longacre, I Holm, F Nato, S Peters, V Chitarra, G Bently, A Manane, L Perera, C Amaratunge, A Manamperi, S Weerasinghe, S Handunnetti (2000).  A ray of Ho pe for an effective vaccine against malaria, Proceedings of “1st Health Opinion Leadership Conference in Latin America”  21-23 March 2000; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
26. Amarathunga C, Pannila S, Rajakaruna J ,Jayasinghe A, Weerasinghe S, Perera KLRL,*Mendis K, Handunnetti S M(2000). Sporozoite  induced Plasmodium cynomolgi ceylonensis malarial infections in toque monkeys;a natural challenge system for evaluation of vaccine efficacy. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 17.
27. Amarathunga C, Nandasiri K, Weerasinghe S, *Mananperi A, Holm I, Longacre S, Handunnetti S M. (2000).Protection against malaria in toque monkeys immunized with P.cynomolgi MSP1inv in alum. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 16.
28. Mananperi A, Holm I, Perera L, Handunnetti S M , Longacre S.(2000) .Hypervariability in a leading P.vivax  malaria vaccine candidate, C-terminal merozoite surface protein 1. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 15.
29. Kapilananda GMG, Jayasinghe JKA, Gunawardana MBP, Ekanayaka K, Wickramaarachchi WTA, Handunnetti SM.(2000) .Susceptibility of P.vivax infections to chloroquine. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 13.
30. Herath NP, Kapilananda GMG, Rajakaruna, J, Kodisinghe HM, Premawansa S, Handunnetti SM.(2000) The status of asymptomatic malarial infections in two malaria endemic regions of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 41.
31. Herath NP, Perera MK, Kapilananda GMG, Handunnetti SM, Premawansa S.(2000)  Associations between TNF  1.2 and TNF  2.2 genotypes and plasma TNF  levels in Plasmodium falciparum infected patients in relation to severity of disease. Proceedings of the Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 56: 40.
32. Amaratunga C, Nandasiri K, Weerasinghe S, Manamperi A, Holm I, Longacre S  Handunnetti SM, (2000). Protection in toque monkeys immunized with merozoite surface protein-1 p19 in alum. New Challenges in Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Oxford 2000.
33. Amaratunga C, Rajakaruna J, Gunawardene B, Pannila S, Jayasinghe A  Handunnetti SM, (2000). Variation of infectivity of Plasmodium cynomolgi ceylonensis during the course of blood infections in its host Macaca sinica. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka.
34. Handunnetti SM, Rajakaruna J, Pannila S, Gunawardena B, Weerasinghe S, Jayasinghe A, Perera KLRL, Amaratunga C  Mendis KN, (2000.) A natural challenge system for evaluation of malaria vaccine candidates. New Challenges in Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Oxford 2000.
35. Manamperi A, Holm I, Perera L, Handunnetti SM  Longacre S,( 2000). Allelic variation in a leading Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine candidate, merozoite surface protein 1. New Challenges in Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Oxford 2000, Oxford 2000.
36. Wickramarachchi WTA, Perera KLRL, Bandara S, Longacre S, Handunnetti SM  Udagama-Randeniya PV, 2000. Immunoepidemiology of p19: a potential vaccine candidate based on Plasmodium vivax MSP-1. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka.  Page 37 
37. Wickramarachchi WTA, Perera KLRL, Bandara S, Longacre S, Handunnetti SM  Udagama-Randeniya PV, 2000. Seroepidemiology of potential vaccine  candidate p42 representing a c-terminal fragment of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1. Annual Sessions 2000 of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo. Page. 35.
38. SD Fernando, D de Silva, AR Wickramasinghe (2001). An epidemiological study of malaria in childhood. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
39. C Amaratunga, KLRL Perera, B Gunawardana, A Jayasinghe, J Rajakaruna, I Holm, S Longacre, KN Mendis and SM handunnetti (2001). Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
40. NP Herath, GMG Kapila Nanda, R Carter, MK Perera, SM Handunnetti and S Premawansa (2001). Association between TNF-alfa, IL-10 and IL-6 plasma cytokine leels and TNF alpha and TNF beeta polymorphisms to in Plasmodium falciparum malaria with respect t o disease severity. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
41. RA Munasinghe, PPSL Pathirana, SA Jagadeesh, M Ileperuma and SM Handunnetti (2001). Auto agglutination abilities of Plasmodium falciparum parasite isolates from severe complicated and uncomplicated P.falciparum infections (2001). Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
42. RA Munasinghe, G Premawansa, S Premawansa, SAA Jagadeesh, M Ileperuma and SM Handunnetti (2001). Assoication between resetting of Plasmodium falciparum parasite isolates and haematological parameters of P.falciparum infected patients. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
43. WTA Wickramarachchi, RJ Ileperum, KLRL Perera, S Bandara, RS Lokupitiya, S Longacre, SM Handunnetti & PV Udagama-Randeniya (2001). Pattern of IgG3 isotype responses to C-terminal regions of Plasmodium Merozoite Surface Protein I in endemic populations of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
44. STC Mahawithanage, AR Wickramasinghe & ND Karuanweera (2001). Nutritional status in children with malaria.  Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
45. Shyamalie Perera, Sathira Perera, W Karunarathna, H Perlmann & R Wickramasinghe (2001). Nitric Oxide a mediator of clinical disease in P.vivax infections. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
46. S Weerasinghe, C Amaratunga, K Perera, K Gamage, B Gunawardana, J Rajakaruna, I Holm, S Longacre and SM Handunnetti (2001). Immunogenecity  of Merozoite Surface Protein-1 based malaria vaccine candidate antigen in combination with two novel adjuvants, MF39 and Montanide ISA 51. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
47. S Kaluarachchi, L Perera and SM Handunnetti (2001). Studies on entomological parameters in a typical malaria endemic area in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
48. T Nadarajah, RA Munasinghe, M Ileperuma, GMG Kapila Nanda, S Handunnetti and S Premawansa (2001). Human Class Specific Antibody Responses towards Agglutination and Cytoadherence Process of Plasmodium falciparum Parasites. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
49. G Galhena, GMG Kapila Nanda, S Perera, R Wickramasinghe and S Premawansa (2001). TNF alfa and Beeta allele polymorphisms and cytokine secretions in Plasmodium falciparum infected malaria patients. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
50. WTA Wickramarachchi, KLRL Perera, S Bandara, A Thomas, SM Handunnetti and PV Udagama-Randeniya (2001). Antibody responses to a leading vaccine candidate PV66/AMA-1, induced by natural infections of Plasmodium vivax in humans. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
51. Shyamalie Perera, Sathira Perera, Hedwig Perlmann, Renu Wickramasinghe (2001). Possible factors responsible for clinical disease in malaria from non-endemic regions. Proceedings of the 57th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
52. STC Mahawithanage, AR Wickramasinghe and ND Karunaweera (2002). Association between nutritional staus and malarial infection in children from a malaria endemic area of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 58th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
53.  N Herath, G Kapila Nanda, R Carter, M Mackinnon and S Premawansa (2002). Human TNF alpha and TNF beta alleles as heredity components associated with the fever of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Proceedings of the 58th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
54. A Manamperi, SM Handunnetti, O Puijalon and S Longacre (2002). Genetic variation in the C-terminal merozoite surface protein 1 of Plasmodium: a leading malaria vaccine candidate. Proceedings of the 58th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
55. Sampath Kaluarachchi, KLR Perera, DM Gunawardana and Shiroma Handunnetti (2002). Breeding characteristics of Anophelines in Kataragama: a typical malaria endemic area in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 58th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
56. Aresha Manamperi, Shirley Longacre, Inge Holm and Shiroma Handunnetti (2002). An immunogenic Hypervariable Region in P.vivax C-Terminal Merozoite Surface Protein-1, with implications for an MSP-1 Based Malaria Vaccine. “Vivax Malaria Research 2002 and beyond”, Feb3-8. Bangkok, Thailand.
57. Chanaki Amaratunga, L Perera, B Gunawardana, A Jayasinghe, J Rajakaruna, I Holm, KN Mendis and SM Handunnetti. Effect of prior natural exposure to malaria on vaccine impact”. “Vivax Malaria Research 2002 and beyond”, Feb3-8. Bangkok, Thailand.
58. S Handunnetti. Pre-clinical evaluation of MSP-1 based vaccine candidate antigen. Vivax Malaria Research 2002 and beyond”, Feb3-8. Bangkok, Thailand.
59. S Handunnetti. Review on “Recent Advances in malaria vaccination”. Inaugural Academic Sessions of the Allerty & Immunology Soc. Lanka. 15th November 2002.
60. S. Handunnetti. Review on “Progress and Challenges Malaria Vaccines”. Symposium of Malaria, 22nd Annual Session of IOB, Sri Lanka. 27th Sep.2002.
61. C Amaratunga, L Perera, S Weerasinghe, I Holm, A Manamperi, K Mendis and S Longacre. Asexual blood stage malaria vaccines: Can they proect malaria-exposed individuals against disease?”. 2nd Annual Scientific Sessions of Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. April 5-7, 2002.
62. A Munasinghe, GMG Kapila Nanda, G Premawansa, S Handunnetti and S Premawansa. Associaations between cytoadherent Properties of Plasmodium falciparum parasites and malarial disease severity of Sri Lankan patients”. 6th FIMSA advanced course and conference titled “Molecular mechanisms of infection and immunity”. October 20-25, 2002, Ayutthaya.
63. Handunnetti SM, Amaratunga C, Perera KLRL, Rajakaruna J, Weerasinghe S, Perera K, Gamage K, Holm I, Mendis KN and Longacre S. Comparison of challenge systems for evaluation of protective efficacy of asexual blood stage malaria vaccine candidates. Proc.IOBSL 2003.
64. PHD Kusumawathi, AR Wickermasinghe, ND Karunaweera, NJS Wijeyratne (2004). Cost analysis of application of Poecilia reticulata (guppy) and temephos in anopheline mosquito control in riverbed pools below the major dams in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 60th Annual session, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Abstract No. 10A.
65. RL Dewasurendra, LD Wanasekera, R Carter, ND Karunaweera (2004). Study of mediators of P.vivax paroxysms. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Annual Academic Sessions. Abstract no. OP-4.
66. PHD Kusumawathi, AR Wickremasinghe, ND Karunaweera, MJS Wijeyratne (2004). Anopheline species breeding in river bed pools below the major dams in Sri Lanka. Joint Academic Sessions-2004 Faculties of Science and Medicine, University of Colombo.  
67. HVYD Siriwardana, RL Ihalmulla, S Jayasinghe, ML Chance, NJ Beeching, ND Karunaweera (2004). Spring Meeting and Malaria Meeting, British Society for Parasitology. Abstract No. SP62.
68. SP Premaratne, ND Karunaweera, S Fernando, WSR Perera, RPAS Rajapasha (2004). A neural network architecture for automated recognition of intracellular malaria parasites in stained blood films.  Sri Lanka Medical Association, Annual Academic Sessions. Abstract no. OP-18. (Awarded the Wilson Peiris Prize).
69. S M Handunnetti, S Weerasinghe, C Ameratunga, S L Pathirana, J Rajakaruna, K L R L Perera, K Gamage, K Perera, I Holm, and S Longacre. Immunogenecity and protective efficacy of two new vaccine formulations based on MSP1-P19 of Plasmodium cynomolgi. Proceedings of the Joint Academic Sessions, Faculties of Science and Medicine of the University of Colombo. 2004, Page 15.
70. P P S L Pathirana, Liselotte Walters, Sudath Weerasinghe, Shirly Longacre, Robert Sauerwein, Shiroma Handunnetti and C C Hermsen. Development of Real Time Quantitative PCR (RTQ PCR) method for analysis of vaccine protection using Plasmodium cynomolgi malaria model.  Proceedings of the Joint Academic Sessions, Faculties of Science and Medicine of the University of Colombo. 2004, Page 16.
71. W A W K Wijayalath, J Rajakaruna, K Gamage, K Perera, K L R L Perera, C Ameratunga, N Sakihama, K Tanabe, S Cheesman, R Carter, S M Handunnetti and P P S L Pathirana. Are relapse infections of Plasmodium cynomolgi, clones of primary infections? Proceedings of the Joint Academic Sessions, Faculties of Science and Medicine of the University of Colombo. 2004, Page 23.
72. I C Perera, P P S L Pathirana, G M Kapilananda, R A Munasinghe, S M Handunnetti and S Premawansa. Inhibitory effects on parasite cytoadherence by sera from Plasmodium falciparum infected Sri Lankan patients.  Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.2004,Page 28.
73. P P S L Pathirana, Liselotte Walters, Sudath Weerasinghe, Shirly Longacre, Robert Sauerwein, Shiroma Handunnetti and C C Hermsen. Development of Real Time Quantitative PCR (RTQ PCR) method for analysis of vaccine protection using Plasmodium cynomolgi malaria model.  Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Sessions of Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka. 2004, B-3.
74. W A W K Wijayalath, J Rajakaruna, K Gamage, K Perera, K L R L Perera, C Ameratunga, N Sakihama, K Tanabe, S Cheesman, R Carter, S M Handunnetti and P P S L Pathirana. Studies on genetic composition of primary and relapse parasites of Plasmodium cynomolgi infections.  Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Sessions of Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka. 2004, B-2.
75. I. C. Perera, R.A. Munasinghe, S. Pathirana, M. K. Perera, M. Ileperuma, T. Nadaraja, G. M. Kapilananda, G. Premawansa, S. M. Handunnetti and S. Premawansa. Cytoadherence and its inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum parasites from Sri Lankan patients to human endothelial receptors of CD36 and ICAM-1. Proceedings of the 2nd Annual Academic Sessions of the Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, November 2004, B-8.
76. D C S Gunasekara, P P S L Pathirana, I C Perera, R A Munasinghe, M G M Kapilananda, S Premawansa. 2005.  Agglutination properties of Plasmodium falciparum parasites and their associations with cytoadherence and disease severity. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Academic Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. 2005, 33.
77. Varuni Munasinghe, Inoka Perera, Sisira Pathirana, Wathsala Wijayalath, Anjanie Munasinghe, Dulip Gunasekara and Sunil Premawansa.  Cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum Sri Lankan parasite isolates to human endothelial receptors at two different temperatures. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Academic Sessions of the Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. 2005.
78. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, DL Hartl, DW Wirth. (2006). Microsatellite diversity of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Sri Lanka. Annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. November 2006. Abstract.
79. WAWK Wijayalath, S Cheesman, J Rajakaruna, K Gamage, K Perera, KLRL Perera, R Carter, SM Handunnetti, PPSL Pathirana. 2006.  Studies on strain-specific protective immunity in malaria using Plasmodium cynomolgi/ Macaca sinica model. Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Academic Sessions of the Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, November 2006, B1, page 24.
80. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, DL Hartl, DW Wirth. (2007). Genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Sri Lanka. Annual meeting of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, London, United Kingdom. Abstract.
81. SK Wijesekera, ND Karunaweera, R Carter, KN Mendis (2007). Killing of intra-erythrocytic malaria parasites during a P.vivax malaria paroxysm is dependent upon T cell activation and IL-2.  Second International symposium of Infectious Diseases and Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya. Abstract.
82. R.L. Ihalamulla, S.D. Fernando, K.H. Weerasena, J.H. Cross, A.S. Dissanaike, Charith Fonseka (2007). A further case of Parastrongylus (=Angiostrongylus) from the eye of a patient in Sri Lanka: a new strain of the parasite? The Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, 5 (1) 32-33.
83. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, JW Barnwell, A Munasinghe, C King, F Kawamoto, D Hartl, DF Wirth (2008). Extensive genetic diversity in the human malaria parasite P. vivax. 57th Annual meeting, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 70(6):634. Abstract.
84. Manamperi , S. Mahawithanage , D. Fernando , R. Wickremasinghe , A. Bandara , C. Hapuarachchi, W. Abeywickrame , R. Wickremasinghe  (2008). Genetic polymorphism in  Pvmsp-3α and Pvcs genes in Plasmodium vivax infections in Sri Lanka. The Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Accepted for presentation.
85. S Kannathasan, A Antonyrajan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Prevalence and insecticicde resistance of members of the Anopheles subpictus species complex – the reported vector of malaria in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C1. Abstract.
86. S Kannathasan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Species prevalence of exophilic anopheline mosquitoes in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C2. Abstract.
87. S Kannathasan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Knowledge, attitude and practice towards malaria: a comparative study among public in high-risk and low-risk areas in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C4. Abstract.
88. S Kannathasan, A Antonyrajan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Malaria risk map for Jaffna district: a GIS approach. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C5. Abstract.
89. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, DL Hartl, DW Wirth. (2008). Genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Sri Lanka. Wellcome Trust Conference on Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Abstract.
90. S.D. Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, N. Gunawardena, P.D.A.C. Rodrigo, L.C. Rajapakse (2008). Knowledge regarding mosquito nets in two malaria endemic areas of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Eleventh National Convention on women’s studies. Pg 1-12.
91. S.D. Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, N. Gunawardena, A.C.R. Ranasinghe, L.C. Rajapakse (2008). Community factors affecting long lasting impregnated mosquito net use for malaria control in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 64 (1), pp 209.
92. S.D. Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, N. Gunawardena, A.C.R. Ranasinghe, L.C. Rajapakse (2008). Sleeping arrangements under long lasting impregnated mosquito nets: differences during malaria transmission seasons. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 64 (1), pp 210.
93. Manamperi , S. Mahawithanage , D. Fernando , R. Wickremasinghe , A. Bandara, C. Hapuarachchi, W. Abeywickrame , R. Wickremasinghe  (2008). Genetic polymorphism in Pvmsp-3α and Pvcs genes in Plasmodium vivax infections in Sri Lanka. The Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Accepted for presentation. (Awarded First Prize for best research paper).
94. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, JW Barnwell, A Munasinghe, C King, F Kawamoto, D Hartl, DF Wirth (2008). Extensive genetic diversity in the human malaria parasite P.vivax. 57th Annual meeting, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 70(6):634. Abstract.
95. S Kannathasan, A Antonyrajan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Prevalence and insecticicde resistance of members of the Anopheles subpictus species complex – the reported vector of malaria in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C1. Abstract.
96. S Kannathasan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Species prevalence of exophilic anopheline mosquitoes in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C2. Abstract.
97. S Kannathasan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Knowledge, attitude and practice towards malaria: a comparative study among public in high-risk and low-risk areas in Jaffna district. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C4. Abstract.
98. S Kannathasan, A Antonyrajan, KA Srikrishnaraj, SN Surendran, ND Karunaweera (2008). Malaria risk map for Jaffna district: a GIS approach. 15th Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, 15(1):C5. Abstract.
99. ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreira, DL Hartl, DW Wirth. (2008). Genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Sri Lanka. Wellcome Trust Conference on Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Abstract.
100. RL Dewasurendra, SD Fernando, R Carter, ND Karunaweera. 2009. A Sero-epidemilogical study in a previously highly malaria endemic area in Sri Lanka. 5^TH Multilateral Initiatives of Malaria Pan-African Conference, Nairobi, Kenya. Abstract no. M16.
101. WAWK Wijayalath, S Cheesman, J Rajakaruna, S Weerasinghe, GMG Kapilananda, K Gamage, K Perera, SM Handunnetti, R Carter and PPSL Pathirana. “Strain-specific protective immunity to  pre-erythrocytic stages of malaria parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi”.  Proceedings of the 4th Biennial Scientific Sessions of the Allergy and Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, July 2009, B1, page 17.
102. S.D Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, L.C. Rajapakse (2009). Asymptomatic malaria infection in previously high endemic areas of Sri Lanka” Proceedings of the 122nd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 2009. (Awarded the K. Rajasuriya prize for best paper in Tropical Medicine).
103. RL Dewasurendra, SD Fernando, R Carter, ND Karunaweera. 2009. A Sero-epidemilogical study in a previously highly malaria endemic area in Sri Lanka. 5TH Multilateral Initiatives of Malaria Pan-African Conference, Nairobi, Kenya. Abstract no. M16.
104. S.D Fernando, R.R.Abeyasinghe, G.N.L.Galappaththy, L.C.Rajapakse (2009). Asymptomatic malaria infection in previously high endemic areas of Sri Lanka” Proceedings of the 122nd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association,  March 2009.
105. W.M.K.T.de A.W. Gunasekera, R.R. Abeyasinghe, S.Premawansa, S.D.Fernando. The use of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay for diagnosis of malaria in a malaria endemic region of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Annual Research Symposium of the University of Colombo, 12th-13th May 2010, p 97.
106. W.M.K.T de A W Gunasekera, R.R. Abeyasinghe, S. Premawansa, S.D.Fernando (2010). The clinic-epidemiological characteristics of malaria in a previously high malaria endemic area of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 66 (1), p  130
107. Rajika Dewasurendra, Prapat Suriyaphol, Deepika Fernando, Patcharaporn Sereejaitham, Nadira Karunaweera. Genetic markers and risk of malaria infections: Genetic-epidemiology study in a low malaria endemic area of Sri Lanka. Wellcome Trust Scientific Conference, 9th-12th June 2010, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
108. S.D.Fernando, R. Wickremasinghe, R.L.Ihalamulla, P.Wijeyaratne (2010). Meeting training challenges in infrastructurally weak areas of Sri Lanka for the national malaria elimination programme. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 66 (1), p  5.
109. R Dewasurendra, P Suriyaphol, D Fernando, P Sereejaitham, N Karunaweera. 2010. Genetic markers and risk of malaria infections: Genetic-epidemiology study in a low malaria endemci area of Sri Lanka. 59th Annual meeting, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, GA. 83(5) (Suppl): Abstract 738.
110. S Gunawardana, ND Karunaweera, MU Ferreirra, GMG Kapilananda, M Alfringes, Rupika S. Rajakaruna4 Flemming Konradsen, Priyanie Amerasinghe Mette Schousboe, DL Hartl, DF Wirth. 2010. Geographic Structure of P.vivax in Sri Lanka. 59th Annual meeting, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, GA. 83(5) (Suppl): Abstract 737.
111. ND Karunaweera, S Gunawardana, MU Ferreirra, M Alfringes, R Pollock, R Abeysinghe, G Galappaththi, M Phone Kyaw, DL Hartl, DF Wirth. 2010. Genetic Diversity of P.vivax malaria parasites. Conference on Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria, Wellcome Trust Centre for Genomics, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Abstract no. T53.
112. R Dewasurendra, P Suriyaphol, D Fernando, P Sereejaitham, N Karunaweera. 2010. Genetic markers and risk of malaria infections: Genetic-epidemiology study in a low malaria endemci area of Sri Lanka. Conference on Genomic Epidemiology of Malaria, Wellcome Trust Centre for Genomics, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Abstract no. P53.
113. R.L. Dewasurendra, P. Suriyaphol, S.D.Fernando, R.Carter, N.D. Karunaweera, MalariaGEN Consortium (2011). Association between interleukin – 13 gene polymorphisms and anti – malarial antibodies in a Sri Lankan population. Proceedings of the Annual Research Conference of the University of Colombo, p  239-249
114. S.D.Fernando, R.R. Abeyasinghe, G.N.L. Galappaththy, Wickremasinghe R (2011). Extended surveillance for malaria in the Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka through focused laboratory diagnostic services.  Proceedings of the 124th Academic sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, p 27.

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