Ms. M.U.N. Gunawardana

Senior Lecturer (Grade II)

Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna,
Mapalana, Kamburupitiya,
Sri Lanka 81100

Research Interests

Qualifications

Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
B.Sc. (Agribusiness Management) | University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

Biography

M.U.N. Gunawardana is a Senior Lecturer (Grade II) in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. She earned her BSc in Agribusiness Management from the University of Ruhuna (GPA 3.81/4.00) and completed her Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) at the same university. She also studied as an exchange master student at the Faculty of Bio Sciences, Fisheries and Economics, University of Tromso, The Arctic University of Norway under the Nor-Lanka Blue project. Her research interests span agricultural economics, environmental economics, fisheries economics, and agricultural policy development. She is a recipient of the CTHE (Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education) from the Staff Development Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and holds a Certificate of Marketing from the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).

Journal Publications

Total: 3

Amarasekara, D. N. D., Gunawardana, M. U. N., Pham, T. T. T., & De Silva, W. N. (2026). Wetland conservation by developing an urban wetland park: A case in Kirala Kele, Southern Sri Lanka. Marine Policy, 193, p.107228.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., De Silva, W. N., & Armstrong, C. W. (2024). Investigating the Status of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Dried Fish and Maldive Fish Processing: A Case Study of Dondra and Kottegoda Fisheries Divisions in Matara Coastal Region, Sri Lanka. Sabaragamuwa University Journal, 22(1), 1-15.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., De Silva, W. N., & Aanesen, M. (2022). Market Potential for Quality Certified Dried Fish: A Consumer Choice Experiment in the Galle District of Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research, 33(2), 223-233.

Conference Publications

Total: 9

Karunarathne, A. D. R., Wickramaratne, M. A. P. D. P., De Silva, W. N., & Gunawardana, M. U. N. (2026). Assessing Entrepreneurial Skills of Small-Scale Agro-Entrepreneurs: A Case Study in Galle District, Sri Lanka. Vice Chancellor’s Awards and Academic Sessions 2026, University of Ruhuna.

Ariyarathna, Y. M. D. S., Nduwaththa, N. Y. I. D. N., Bandara, K. M. N. D., Gunawardana, M. U. N., & Udayagee, K. P. P. (2025). Present Situation and Challenges of Soil Restoration Practices in Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches 2025 (iCMA-2025), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Perera, B. B. T. N., Hapuarchchi, H. D. T. P., Sandaruwani, M. K. A., & Gunawardana, M. U. N. (2025). Consumer Awareness and Preference of Nutritious and Healthy Biscuits in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches 2025 (iCMA-2025), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., Lokugamage, I. P., & De Silva, W. N. (2022). The Xpress Pearl Shipwreck Impact on Dried Fish Consumption in Sri Lanka. South and South East Asian Conference on Small Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture - Fishing for life 2022 (SACSEA), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., De Silva, W. N., & Thakshila, R. P. A. D. (2022). Reviewing consumer concerns and producer practices on packaging and labeling of dried fish to improve the dried fish market in Sri Lanka. 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress - Asia-Pacific, Shizuoka City, Japan.

Lokugamage, I. P., Gunawardana, M. U. N., & De Silva, W. N. (2022). The Effect of Xpress-Pearl Disaster on Marine Fish Consumption of Sri Lanka. 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress - Asia-Pacific, Shizuoka City, Japan.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., & De Silva, W. N. (2022). Gendered engagement in Dried-fish Processing Industry in Sri Lanka. 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress - Asia-Pacific, Shizuoka City, Japan.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., De Silva, W. N., & Aanesen, M. (2021). Market Potential for Quality Certified Dried Fish: A Consumer Choice Experiment in the Galle District of Sri Lanka. 33rd PGIA Annual Congress, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya, p.2.

Gunawardana, M. U. N., & De Silva, W. N. (2019). Dry Fish Processing as means of Empowering Fisherwomen in Southern coastal region of Sri Lanka. International Symposium on Agriculture and Environment (ISAE), The Blue Water, Wadduwa: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, p.23.