Dr Gothamie Weerakoon

Dr Gothamie Weerakoon

Senior Curator, Lichens and Slime Moulds

Department: Life Sciences
Division: LS Algae, Fungi and Plants Division
Phone: +44 (0)20 7942 5250

Summary

I am Senior Curator of Lichens and Slime Moulds. My research interests are focused on the taxonomy and ecology of tropical lichens, bioindication and conservation of lichenised fungi in endangered habitats. My main responsibility as the Senior Curator of British, General and Historical herbaria is to manage and develop one of the world’s largest lichen collections, lichenicolous fungi and slime moulds with app. 450,000 specimens. The collection includes non-lichenised fungi and the earliest scientifically accurate collection of fungi models by J. Sowerby. I am interested in making the collections available for both scientific and historical research.

I have spent much time in the field in South and South East Asia observing lichens in their native habitats and described more than 75 new lichen species, mostly in Graphidaceae from the Old World tropics. My current projects involve:

1) A taxonomic key for Graphis, the most specious lichen genus in Sri Lanka,

2) IUCN red listing of threatened lichens in the world,

3) Collaborative research in renewable sources of bioactive products from endolichenic fungi in mangrove ecosystems,

4) Ecological relationships and bioindication of tropical lichens in threatened habitats in the tropics,

5) Documentation of the lichen flora of Sri Lanka and describing novel species.

I have been privileged to visit many countries and to work with many colleagues overseas.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • PhD, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo, 2009 - 2013
  • MSc, The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2006 - 2009
  • BSc, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, 2004 - 2008

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Lichens and Slime Moulds, The Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - ongoing
  • Scientific Affiliate, The Field Museum of Natural History, Department of Science and Education, United States, 2013 - 2017
  • Doctoral Fellow, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Department of Botany, Sri Lanka, 2009 - 2013

Grants

Discovering Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Funding: The Dilmah Conservation of Sri Lanka.
Dates: 2017 - 2017

Sri Lanka, The Land of Lichens: understanding lichen richness in a mega diverse hotspot
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Co-investigator: Wijesundara S
Funding: National Geographic Society
Dates: 2017 - 2017

Discovering Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Funding: The Dilmah Conservation of Sri Lanka
Dates: 2015 - 2015

Lichens in tropical forests of Sri Lanka: Discovering Species New to Science
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon G
Co-investigator: Wijesundara S
Funding: National Geographic Society
Dates: 2014 - 2015

Isolation, molecular identification and screening bioactivity of endolichenic fungi inhabiting in lichens collected from mangrove ecosystem of Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorParanagama P
Co-investigator: Weerakoon GSK
Funding: The National Research Council of Sri Lanka.
Dates: 2016 - 2020

Memberships

Member, American Bryological and Lichenological Society, 2014 - on going.

Member, The International Association of Lichenology, 2012 - on going.

Member, The British Lichen Society- UK, 2009 - on going.

Reviewer / referee

Publications

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2016 - on going.

Mycologist, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2016 - on going.

Phytotaxa, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2015 - on going.

The Lichenologist: an international journal, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2015 - on going.

Publications

Santhirasegaram S, Wickramarachchi SR, Attanayake RN, Weerakoon G, Samarakoon S, Wijeratne K, Paranagama PA (2020) A Novel Cytotoxic Compound From the Endolichenic Fungus, Xylaria psidii Inhabiting the Lichen, Amandinea medusulina. Natural Product Communications, 15 (7) : 1934578X2093301 - 1934578X2093301. doi: 10.1177/1934578x20933017

Weerakoon G, Wolseley P, Will-Wolf S, Wijeyaratne C (2020) Corticolous lichen species as indicators of disturbed/undisturbed vegetation types in the central mountains of Sri Lanka. The Lichenologist, 52 (3) : 233 - 245. doi: 10.1017/s0024282920000109

Kistenich S, Bendiksby M, Weerakoon G (2020) A revision of the genus Aciculopsora (Ramalinaceae), with the description of one new species and one new combination. Plant and Fungal Systematics, 65 (1) : 200 - 209. doi: 10.35535/pfsyst-2020-0015

Wijayawardene NN (null) Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere, 11 (1) : 1060 - 1456. doi: 10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8

WEERAKOON G, APTROOT A, LÜCKING R, ARACHCHIGE O, WIJESUNDARA S (2019) Graphis and Allographa (lichenized Ascomycota: Graphidaceae) in Sri Lanka, with six new species and a biogeographical comparison investigating a potential signature of the ‘biotic ferry’ species interchange. The Lichenologist, 51 (6) : 515 - 559. doi: 10.1017/s0024282919000392

JATNIKA MF, WEERAKOON G, ARACHCHIGE O, NOER IS, VOYTSEKHOVICH A, LÜCKING R (2019) Discoveries through social media and in your own backyard: two new species of Allographa (Graphidaceae) with pigmented lirellae from the Palaeotropics, with a world key to species of this group. The Lichenologist, 51 (3) : 227 - 233. doi: 10.1017/s0024282919000094

Lücking R, Forno MD, Moncada B, Coca LF, Vargas-Mendoza LY, Aptroot A, Arias LJ, Besal B, Bungartz F, Cabrera-Amaya DM, Cáceres MES, Chaves JL, Eliasaro S, Gutiérrez MC, Hernández Marin JE, de los Ángeles Herrera-Campos M, Holgado-Rojas ME, Jonitz H, Kukwa M, Lucheta F, Madriñán S, Marcelli MP, de Azevedo Martins SM, Mercado-Díaz JA, Molina JA, Morales EA, Nelson PR, Nugra F, Ortega F, Paredes T, Patiño AL, Peláez-Pulido RN, Pérez REP, Perlmutter GB, Rivas-Plata E, Robayo J, Rodríguez C, Simijaca DF, Soto-Medina E, Spielmann AA, Suárez-Corredor A, Torres J-M, Vargas CA, Yánez-Ayabaca A, Weerakoon G, Wilk K, Pacheco MC, Diazgranados M, Brokamp G, Borsch T, Gillevet PM, Sikaroodi M, Lawrey JD (2017) Turbo-taxonomy to assemble a megadiverse lichen genus: seventy new species of Cora (Basidiomycota: Agaricales: Hygrophoraceae), honouring David Leslie Hawksworth’s seventieth birthday. Fungal Diversity, 84 (1) : 139 - 207. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0374-9

APTROOT A, ERTZ D, ETAYO SALAZAR JA, GUEIDAN C, MERCADO DIAZ JA, SCHUMM F, WEERAKOON G (2016) Forty-six new species of Trypetheliaceae from the tropics. The Lichenologist, 48 (6) : 609 - 638. doi: 10.1017/s002428291600013x

Weerakoon GSK (2016) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.2016. Nine new species and 64 new lichen records from Sri Lanka, Phytotaxa, vol 280 , pp. 152–162. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2016) Weerakoon, G., Wolseley, P., O. Arachchige, M.E. da Silva Cáceres, Jayalal, U., & Aptroot, A., 2016. 8 new Species and 88 new records of Lichens in Sri Lanka, The Bryologist, vol 119, pp.131-142. null,

Li GJ, Hyde KD, Zhao RL, Hongsanan S, Abdel-Aziz FA, Abdel-Wahab MA, Alvarado P, Alves-Silva G, Ammirati JF, Ariyawansa HA, Baghela A, Bahkali AH, Beug M, Bhat DJ, Bojantchev D, Boonpratuang T, Bulgakov TS, Camporesi E, Boro MC, Ceska O, Chakraborty D, Chen JJ, Chethana KWT, Chomnunti P, Consiglio G, Cui BK, Dai DQ, Dai YC, Daranagama DA, Das K, Dayarathne MC, De Crop E, De Oliveira RJV, de Souza CAF, de Souza JI, Dentinger BTM, Dissanayake AJ, Doilom M, Drechsler-Santos ER, Ghobad-Nejhad M, Gilmore SP, Góes-Neto A, Gorczak M, Haitjema CH, Hapuarachchi KK, Hashimoto A, He MQ, Henske JK, Hirayama K, Iribarren MJ, Jayasiri SC, Jayawardena RS, Jeon SJ, Jerônimo GH, Jesus AL, Jones EBG, Kang JC, Karunarathna SC, Kirk PM, Konta S, Kuhnert E, Langer E, Lee HS, Lee HB, Li WJ, Li XH, Liimatainen K, Lima DX, Lin CG, Liu JK, Liu XZ, Liu ZY, Luangsa-ard JJ, Lücking R, Lumbsch HT, Lumyong S, Leaño EM, Marano AV, Matsumura M, McKenzie EHC, Mongkolsamrit S, Mortimer PE, Nguyen TTT, Niskanen T, Norphanphoun C, O’Malley MA, Parnmen S, Pawłowska J, Perera RH, Phookamsak R, Phukhamsakda C, Pires-Zottarelli CLA, Raspé O, Reck MA, Rocha SCO, de Santiago ALCMA, Senanayake IC, Setti L, Shang QJ, Singh SK, Sir EB, Solomon KV, Song J, Srikitikulchai P, Stadler M, Suetrong S, Takahashi H, Takahashi T, Tanaka K, Tang LP, Thambugala KM, Thanakitpipattana D, Theodorou MK, Thongbai B, Thummarukcharoen T, Tian Q, Tibpromma S, Verbeken A, Vizzini A, Vlasák J, Voigt K, Wanasinghe DN, Wang Y, Weerakoon G, Wen HA, Wen TC, Wijayawardene NN, Wongkanoun S, Wrzosek M, Xiao YP, Xu JC, Yan JY, Yang J, Da Yang S, Hu Y, Zhang JF, Zhao J, Zhou LW, Peršoh D, Phillips AJL, Maharachchikumbura SSN (2016) Fungal diversity notes 253–366: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity, 78 (1) : 1 - 237. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0366-9

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Wanasinghe DN, Papizadeh M, Goonasekara ID, Camporesi E, Bhat DJ, McKenzie EHC, Phillips AJL, Diederich P, Tanaka K, Li WJ, Tangthirasunun N, Phookamsak R, Dai D-Q, Dissanayake AJ, Weerakoon G, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Hashimoto A, Matsumura M, Bahkali AH, Wang Y (2016) Taxonomy and phylogeny of dematiaceous coelomycetes. Fungal Diversity, 77 (1) : 1 - 316. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0360-2

Weerakoon G, Ngo KM, Lum S, Lumbsch HT, Lücking R (2015) On time or fashionably late for lichen discoveries in Singapore? Seven new species and nineteen new records of Graphidaceae from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a highly urbanized tropical environment in South-East Asia. The Lichenologist, 47 (3) : 157 - 166. doi: 10.1017/s0024282915000043

Weerakoon GSK (2015) Weerakoon, G., Jayalal, U., Wijesundara, S., Karunaratne, V., & Lücking, R., 2015. Six new Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka, Nova Hedwigia, vol.101, pp.77-88.. null,

Weerakoon G (2015) Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka. null : 184.

Kraichak E, Parnmen S, Lücking R, PLATA ER, Aptroot A, Cáceres MES, ERTZ D, Mangold A, Mercado-Díaz JA, Papong K, BROECK DVD, WEERAKOON G, Lumbsch HT (null) Revisiting the phylogeny of Ocellularieae, the second largest tribe within Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales). Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 52 - 52. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.6

LÜCKING R, JOHNSTON MK, APTROOT A, KRAICHAK E, LENDEMER JC, BOONPRAGOB K, CÁCERES MES, ERTZ D, FERRARO LI, JIA Z-F, KALB K, MANGOLD A, MANOCH L, MERCADO-DÍAZ JA, MONCADA B, MONGKOLSUK P, PAPONG KB, PARNMEN S, PELÁEZ RN, POENGSUNGNOEN V, PLATA ER, SAIPUNKAEW W, SIPMAN HJM, SUTJARITTURAKAN J, BROECK DVD, KONRAT MV, WEERAKOON G, LUMBSCH HT (null) One hundred and seventy-five new species of Graphidaceae: closing the gap or a drop in the bucket?. Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 7 - 7. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.4

WEERAKOON G, LÜCKING R, LUMBSCH HT (null) Thirteen new species of Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Sri Lanka. Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 331 - 331. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.24

Weerakoon GSK (2014) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.,2014. Over 200 new lichen records from Sri Lanka, with three new species to science, Cryptogamie Mycologie, vol.35, pp.51-61.. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2013) Rivas Plata, E., Parnmen, S., Staiger, B., Mangold, A., Frisch, A., Weerakoon, G., Hernández, J.E.M., Cáceres, M.E.S., Kalb, K., Sipman, H.J.M., Common, R.S., Lücking, R. & Lumbsch, H.T.,2013. A molecular phylogeny of Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Lecanoromycetes: Ostropales) including 437species, Mycokeys, vol. 6, Special issue, pp.55-94.. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2013) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.,2013. Some new lichen species from Sri Lanka, with a key to the genus Heterodermia in Sri Lanka, Cryptogamie Mycologie, vol. 34, issue 4, pp. 321-328.. null,

WEERAKOON G, RIVAS PLATA E, LUMBSCH HT, LÜCKING R (2012) Three new species of Chapsa (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) from tropical Asia. The Lichenologist, 44 (3) : 373 - 379. doi: 10.1017/s0024282911000892

Weerakoon G, Wijeyaratne SC, Wolseley PA, Plata ER, Lücking R, Lumbsch HT (2012) Six new species of Graphidaceae from Sri Lanka. The Bryologist, 115 (1) : 74 - 83. doi: 10.1639/0007-2745-115.1.74

WEERAKOON G, APTROOT A, LUMBSCH HT, WOLSELEY PA, WIJEYARATNE SC, GUEIDAN C (2012) New molecular data on Pyrenulaceae from Sri Lanka reveal two well-supported groups within this family. The Lichenologist, 44 (5) : 639 - 647. doi: 10.1017/s0024282912000333

Weerakoon GSK (2010) 1. Weerakoon G., Somaratne S., Wolseley P.A. & Wijeyaratne S.C.,2010. Corticolous Lichens as Indicators of Different Forest Management Practices in the Dotalugala - Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka, Forestry Journal, International Symposium of Forestry 2010- University of Sri Jayewardenepura- Sri Lanka. vol 1,pp. 182-190. null,

Kistenich S, Bendiksby M, Vairappan CS, Weerakoon G, Wijesundara S, Wolseley PA, Timdal E (null) A regional study of the genus Phyllopsora (Ramalinaceae) in Asia and Melanesia. MycoKeys, 53 : 23 - 72. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.53.33425

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Weerasinghe RH
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Bioprospecting Endolichenic Fungi from Mangroves in Negombo lagoon in Sri Lanka and Gulf of Khambat, Gulf of Kutch from Gujarat India.; An Untapped Treasure Trove for Discovery of Special Structures and Bioactive Compounds
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: Ministry of Science, Technology and Research (under Indo Sri Lanka Joint Research Programmes)
1/1/2018 - 31/12/2020.

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Maduranga S
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Isolation, molecular identification and screening bioactivity of endolichenic fungi inhabiting in lichens collected from mangrove ecosystem of Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: The National Research Counsil of Sri Lanka
8/8/2017 - 26/8/2019.

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Santhirasegaram S
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Isolation and identification of endolichenic fungi and their secondary metabolites from mangrove plants in Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: The National Research Council of Sri Lanka
26/4/2016 - 26/4/2018.

Awards

Presidental Award for Secientific Research and Publications, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1/9/2016.

Introduction

Summary

I am Senior Curator of Lichens and Slime Moulds. My research interests are focused on the taxonomy and ecology of tropical lichens, bioindication and conservation of lichenised fungi in endangered habitats. My main responsibility as the Senior Curator of British, General and Historical herbaria is to manage and develop one of the world’s largest lichen collections, lichenicolous fungi and slime moulds with app. 450,000 specimens. The collection includes non-lichenised fungi and the earliest scientifically accurate collection of fungi models by J. Sowerby. I am interested in making the collections available for both scientific and historical research.

I have spent much time in the field in South and South East Asia observing lichens in their native habitats and described more than 75 new lichen species, mostly in Graphidaceae from the Old World tropics. My current projects involve:

1) A taxonomic key for Graphis, the most specious lichen genus in Sri Lanka,

2) IUCN red listing of threatened lichens in the world,

3) Collaborative research in renewable sources of bioactive products from endolichenic fungi in mangrove ecosystems,

4) Ecological relationships and bioindication of tropical lichens in threatened habitats in the tropics,

5) Documentation of the lichen flora of Sri Lanka and describing novel species.

I have been privileged to visit many countries and to work with many colleagues overseas.

Qualifications

    Degrees

  • PhD, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo, 2009 - 2013
  • MSc, The University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2006 - 2009
  • BSc, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, 2004 - 2008

Employment history

    Academic

  • Senior Curator, Lichens and Slime Moulds, The Natural History Museum, Life Sciences, United Kingdom, 2018 - ongoing
  • Scientific Affiliate, The Field Museum of Natural History, Department of Science and Education, United States, 2013 - 2017
  • Doctoral Fellow, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Department of Botany, Sri Lanka, 2009 - 2013
Projects

Grants

Discovering Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Funding: The Dilmah Conservation of Sri Lanka.
Dates: 2017 - 2017

Sri Lanka, The Land of Lichens: understanding lichen richness in a mega diverse hotspot
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Co-investigator: Wijesundara S
Funding: National Geographic Society
Dates: 2017 - 2017

Discovering Biodiversity of Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon GSK
Funding: The Dilmah Conservation of Sri Lanka
Dates: 2015 - 2015

Lichens in tropical forests of Sri Lanka: Discovering Species New to Science
Role: Principal investigatorWeerakoon G
Co-investigator: Wijesundara S
Funding: National Geographic Society
Dates: 2014 - 2015

Isolation, molecular identification and screening bioactivity of endolichenic fungi inhabiting in lichens collected from mangrove ecosystem of Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
Role: Principal investigatorParanagama P
Co-investigator: Weerakoon GSK
Funding: The National Research Council of Sri Lanka.
Dates: 2016 - 2020

Professional activities

Memberships

Member, American Bryological and Lichenological Society, 2014 - on going.

Member, The International Association of Lichenology, 2012 - on going.

Member, The British Lichen Society- UK, 2009 - on going.

Reviewer / referee

Publications

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2016 - on going.

Mycologist, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2016 - on going.

Phytotaxa, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2015 - on going.

The Lichenologist: an international journal, (Journal), Anonymous peer review, 2015 - on going.

Publications

Publications

Santhirasegaram S, Wickramarachchi SR, Attanayake RN, Weerakoon G, Samarakoon S, Wijeratne K, Paranagama PA (2020) A Novel Cytotoxic Compound From the Endolichenic Fungus, Xylaria psidii Inhabiting the Lichen, Amandinea medusulina. Natural Product Communications, 15 (7) : 1934578X2093301 - 1934578X2093301. doi: 10.1177/1934578x20933017

Weerakoon G, Wolseley P, Will-Wolf S, Wijeyaratne C (2020) Corticolous lichen species as indicators of disturbed/undisturbed vegetation types in the central mountains of Sri Lanka. The Lichenologist, 52 (3) : 233 - 245. doi: 10.1017/s0024282920000109

Kistenich S, Bendiksby M, Weerakoon G (2020) A revision of the genus Aciculopsora (Ramalinaceae), with the description of one new species and one new combination. Plant and Fungal Systematics, 65 (1) : 200 - 209. doi: 10.35535/pfsyst-2020-0015

Wijayawardene NN (null) Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere, 11 (1) : 1060 - 1456. doi: 10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8

WEERAKOON G, APTROOT A, LÜCKING R, ARACHCHIGE O, WIJESUNDARA S (2019) Graphis and Allographa (lichenized Ascomycota: Graphidaceae) in Sri Lanka, with six new species and a biogeographical comparison investigating a potential signature of the ‘biotic ferry’ species interchange. The Lichenologist, 51 (6) : 515 - 559. doi: 10.1017/s0024282919000392

JATNIKA MF, WEERAKOON G, ARACHCHIGE O, NOER IS, VOYTSEKHOVICH A, LÜCKING R (2019) Discoveries through social media and in your own backyard: two new species of Allographa (Graphidaceae) with pigmented lirellae from the Palaeotropics, with a world key to species of this group. The Lichenologist, 51 (3) : 227 - 233. doi: 10.1017/s0024282919000094

Lücking R, Forno MD, Moncada B, Coca LF, Vargas-Mendoza LY, Aptroot A, Arias LJ, Besal B, Bungartz F, Cabrera-Amaya DM, Cáceres MES, Chaves JL, Eliasaro S, Gutiérrez MC, Hernández Marin JE, de los Ángeles Herrera-Campos M, Holgado-Rojas ME, Jonitz H, Kukwa M, Lucheta F, Madriñán S, Marcelli MP, de Azevedo Martins SM, Mercado-Díaz JA, Molina JA, Morales EA, Nelson PR, Nugra F, Ortega F, Paredes T, Patiño AL, Peláez-Pulido RN, Pérez REP, Perlmutter GB, Rivas-Plata E, Robayo J, Rodríguez C, Simijaca DF, Soto-Medina E, Spielmann AA, Suárez-Corredor A, Torres J-M, Vargas CA, Yánez-Ayabaca A, Weerakoon G, Wilk K, Pacheco MC, Diazgranados M, Brokamp G, Borsch T, Gillevet PM, Sikaroodi M, Lawrey JD (2017) Turbo-taxonomy to assemble a megadiverse lichen genus: seventy new species of Cora (Basidiomycota: Agaricales: Hygrophoraceae), honouring David Leslie Hawksworth’s seventieth birthday. Fungal Diversity, 84 (1) : 139 - 207. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0374-9

APTROOT A, ERTZ D, ETAYO SALAZAR JA, GUEIDAN C, MERCADO DIAZ JA, SCHUMM F, WEERAKOON G (2016) Forty-six new species of Trypetheliaceae from the tropics. The Lichenologist, 48 (6) : 609 - 638. doi: 10.1017/s002428291600013x

Weerakoon GSK (2016) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.2016. Nine new species and 64 new lichen records from Sri Lanka, Phytotaxa, vol 280 , pp. 152–162. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2016) Weerakoon, G., Wolseley, P., O. Arachchige, M.E. da Silva Cáceres, Jayalal, U., & Aptroot, A., 2016. 8 new Species and 88 new records of Lichens in Sri Lanka, The Bryologist, vol 119, pp.131-142. null,

Li GJ, Hyde KD, Zhao RL, Hongsanan S, Abdel-Aziz FA, Abdel-Wahab MA, Alvarado P, Alves-Silva G, Ammirati JF, Ariyawansa HA, Baghela A, Bahkali AH, Beug M, Bhat DJ, Bojantchev D, Boonpratuang T, Bulgakov TS, Camporesi E, Boro MC, Ceska O, Chakraborty D, Chen JJ, Chethana KWT, Chomnunti P, Consiglio G, Cui BK, Dai DQ, Dai YC, Daranagama DA, Das K, Dayarathne MC, De Crop E, De Oliveira RJV, de Souza CAF, de Souza JI, Dentinger BTM, Dissanayake AJ, Doilom M, Drechsler-Santos ER, Ghobad-Nejhad M, Gilmore SP, Góes-Neto A, Gorczak M, Haitjema CH, Hapuarachchi KK, Hashimoto A, He MQ, Henske JK, Hirayama K, Iribarren MJ, Jayasiri SC, Jayawardena RS, Jeon SJ, Jerônimo GH, Jesus AL, Jones EBG, Kang JC, Karunarathna SC, Kirk PM, Konta S, Kuhnert E, Langer E, Lee HS, Lee HB, Li WJ, Li XH, Liimatainen K, Lima DX, Lin CG, Liu JK, Liu XZ, Liu ZY, Luangsa-ard JJ, Lücking R, Lumbsch HT, Lumyong S, Leaño EM, Marano AV, Matsumura M, McKenzie EHC, Mongkolsamrit S, Mortimer PE, Nguyen TTT, Niskanen T, Norphanphoun C, O’Malley MA, Parnmen S, Pawłowska J, Perera RH, Phookamsak R, Phukhamsakda C, Pires-Zottarelli CLA, Raspé O, Reck MA, Rocha SCO, de Santiago ALCMA, Senanayake IC, Setti L, Shang QJ, Singh SK, Sir EB, Solomon KV, Song J, Srikitikulchai P, Stadler M, Suetrong S, Takahashi H, Takahashi T, Tanaka K, Tang LP, Thambugala KM, Thanakitpipattana D, Theodorou MK, Thongbai B, Thummarukcharoen T, Tian Q, Tibpromma S, Verbeken A, Vizzini A, Vlasák J, Voigt K, Wanasinghe DN, Wang Y, Weerakoon G, Wen HA, Wen TC, Wijayawardene NN, Wongkanoun S, Wrzosek M, Xiao YP, Xu JC, Yan JY, Yang J, Da Yang S, Hu Y, Zhang JF, Zhao J, Zhou LW, Peršoh D, Phillips AJL, Maharachchikumbura SSN (2016) Fungal diversity notes 253–366: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa. Fungal Diversity, 78 (1) : 1 - 237. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0366-9

Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Wanasinghe DN, Papizadeh M, Goonasekara ID, Camporesi E, Bhat DJ, McKenzie EHC, Phillips AJL, Diederich P, Tanaka K, Li WJ, Tangthirasunun N, Phookamsak R, Dai D-Q, Dissanayake AJ, Weerakoon G, Maharachchikumbura SSN, Hashimoto A, Matsumura M, Bahkali AH, Wang Y (2016) Taxonomy and phylogeny of dematiaceous coelomycetes. Fungal Diversity, 77 (1) : 1 - 316. doi: 10.1007/s13225-016-0360-2

Weerakoon G, Ngo KM, Lum S, Lumbsch HT, Lücking R (2015) On time or fashionably late for lichen discoveries in Singapore? Seven new species and nineteen new records of Graphidaceae from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a highly urbanized tropical environment in South-East Asia. The Lichenologist, 47 (3) : 157 - 166. doi: 10.1017/s0024282915000043

Weerakoon GSK (2015) Weerakoon, G., Jayalal, U., Wijesundara, S., Karunaratne, V., & Lücking, R., 2015. Six new Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka, Nova Hedwigia, vol.101, pp.77-88.. null,

Weerakoon G (2015) Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka. null : 184.

Kraichak E, Parnmen S, Lücking R, PLATA ER, Aptroot A, Cáceres MES, ERTZ D, Mangold A, Mercado-Díaz JA, Papong K, BROECK DVD, WEERAKOON G, Lumbsch HT (null) Revisiting the phylogeny of Ocellularieae, the second largest tribe within Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales). Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 52 - 52. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.6

LÜCKING R, JOHNSTON MK, APTROOT A, KRAICHAK E, LENDEMER JC, BOONPRAGOB K, CÁCERES MES, ERTZ D, FERRARO LI, JIA Z-F, KALB K, MANGOLD A, MANOCH L, MERCADO-DÍAZ JA, MONCADA B, MONGKOLSUK P, PAPONG KB, PARNMEN S, PELÁEZ RN, POENGSUNGNOEN V, PLATA ER, SAIPUNKAEW W, SIPMAN HJM, SUTJARITTURAKAN J, BROECK DVD, KONRAT MV, WEERAKOON G, LUMBSCH HT (null) One hundred and seventy-five new species of Graphidaceae: closing the gap or a drop in the bucket?. Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 7 - 7. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.4

WEERAKOON G, LÜCKING R, LUMBSCH HT (null) Thirteen new species of Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Sri Lanka. Phytotaxa, 189 (1) : 331 - 331. doi: 10.11646/phytotaxa.189.1.24

Weerakoon GSK (2014) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.,2014. Over 200 new lichen records from Sri Lanka, with three new species to science, Cryptogamie Mycologie, vol.35, pp.51-61.. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2013) Rivas Plata, E., Parnmen, S., Staiger, B., Mangold, A., Frisch, A., Weerakoon, G., Hernández, J.E.M., Cáceres, M.E.S., Kalb, K., Sipman, H.J.M., Common, R.S., Lücking, R. & Lumbsch, H.T.,2013. A molecular phylogeny of Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Lecanoromycetes: Ostropales) including 437species, Mycokeys, vol. 6, Special issue, pp.55-94.. null,

Weerakoon GSK (2013) Weerakoon, G. & Aptroot, A.,2013. Some new lichen species from Sri Lanka, with a key to the genus Heterodermia in Sri Lanka, Cryptogamie Mycologie, vol. 34, issue 4, pp. 321-328.. null,

WEERAKOON G, RIVAS PLATA E, LUMBSCH HT, LÜCKING R (2012) Three new species of Chapsa (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) from tropical Asia. The Lichenologist, 44 (3) : 373 - 379. doi: 10.1017/s0024282911000892

Weerakoon G, Wijeyaratne SC, Wolseley PA, Plata ER, Lücking R, Lumbsch HT (2012) Six new species of Graphidaceae from Sri Lanka. The Bryologist, 115 (1) : 74 - 83. doi: 10.1639/0007-2745-115.1.74

WEERAKOON G, APTROOT A, LUMBSCH HT, WOLSELEY PA, WIJEYARATNE SC, GUEIDAN C (2012) New molecular data on Pyrenulaceae from Sri Lanka reveal two well-supported groups within this family. The Lichenologist, 44 (5) : 639 - 647. doi: 10.1017/s0024282912000333

Weerakoon GSK (2010) 1. Weerakoon G., Somaratne S., Wolseley P.A. & Wijeyaratne S.C.,2010. Corticolous Lichens as Indicators of Different Forest Management Practices in the Dotalugala - Knuckles Mountain Range, Sri Lanka, Forestry Journal, International Symposium of Forestry 2010- University of Sri Jayewardenepura- Sri Lanka. vol 1,pp. 182-190. null,

Kistenich S, Bendiksby M, Vairappan CS, Weerakoon G, Wijesundara S, Wolseley PA, Timdal E (null) A regional study of the genus Phyllopsora (Ramalinaceae) in Asia and Melanesia. MycoKeys, 53 : 23 - 72. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.53.33425

Teaching and students

Supervision

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Weerasinghe RH
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Bioprospecting Endolichenic Fungi from Mangroves in Negombo lagoon in Sri Lanka and Gulf of Khambat, Gulf of Kutch from Gujarat India.; An Untapped Treasure Trove for Discovery of Special Structures and Bioactive Compounds
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: Ministry of Science, Technology and Research (under Indo Sri Lanka Joint Research Programmes)
1/1/2018 - 31/12/2020.

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Maduranga S
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Isolation, molecular identification and screening bioactivity of endolichenic fungi inhabiting in lichens collected from mangrove ecosystem of Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: The National Research Counsil of Sri Lanka
8/8/2017 - 26/8/2019.

Doctorate (PhD) Co-supervisor to Santhirasegaram S
Co supervisor(s): Weerakoon GSK
Isolation and identification of endolichenic fungi and their secondary metabolites from mangrove plants in Puttalam lagoon, Sri Lanka
University of Kelaniya,, Kelaniya,, Sri Lanka
Funding: The National Research Council of Sri Lanka
26/4/2016 - 26/4/2018.

Impact and outreach

Awards

Presidental Award for Secientific Research and Publications, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1/9/2016.