Network of Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services in Sri Lanka

B.Sc (Peradeniya), PhD (Reading)

Prof. Padmasiri Wanigasundera is a pioneer behind the Network of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services in Sri Lanka. Having chosen the agricultural extension as his career, he joined the Advisory and Extension Division of the Tea Research Institute and dedicated himself to introduce several agricultural extension programs to the tea industry. After serving the rea industry about 15 years, he joined the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya as a Senior Lecturer and promoted to the post of Professor in agricultural Extension and now serving as an emeritus professor. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, and obtained his doctorate from the University of Reading, England. He has immensely contributed for the research and development in the fields of Agricultural Extension and the Development Communication in Sri Lanka. He was the person who led the initiative to organise the Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service Network in Sri Lanka by teaming up with the Agricultural Extension in South Asia (AESAS) and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) and continue to guide the Network to move forward.