PGIA Annual Congress

Untitled Document

Invited Speakers 2026

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Umakant Mishra	Sandia National Laboratories, California, USA Dr.Umakant Mishra works as a Principal Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, where he supervises a team working on terrestrial carbon cycle. His research integrates field observations, environmental datasets, geospatial analysis, and process-based modeling to quantify how human activities and environmental variability influence soil properties and processes. He has conducted extensive research on permafrost, temperate, and tropical soils, publishing studies on the response of soil organic carbon to land use and environmental stressors, lifecycle analyses of bioenergy crops, regional-to national-scale spatial prediction of soil properties, and evaluation of Earth system model projections. Dr. Mishra has supported various scientific societies and agencies both within the United States and internationally. He serves as an Associate Editor in Soil Science Society of America Journal, Earth’s Future (AGU Journal), and Carbon Balance and Management (Springer Nature publication) journal. He is a founding member and a Co-Chair of the Data and Model Link science panel of the International Soil Modeling Consortium. His scientific contributions have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the International Union of Soil Science. See more
Panel Discussion Resilience of Food Systems under Global Crisis
Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi	Director General of Agriculture Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka Dr. W.A.R.T. Wickramaarachchi, the Director General of Agriculture in Sri Lanka is a distinguished agricultural scientist and administrator whose career spans over three decades of transformative work in research, policy and international collaboration. His expertise in plant pathology, plant protection, phytosanitary systems and agricultural policy has positioned him as a pivotal figure in advancing Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.With a robust academic background including a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and an MSc in Agriculture from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, India, Dr. Wickramaarachchi combines rigorous scientific training with visionary leadership. Dr. Wickramaarachchi’s career is marked by his ascent through key roles in Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture (DOA). As Director of the Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute (HORDI), he spearheaded research on high-value crops, soil health, and climate-resilient farming, fostering innovation in horticultural productivity. His tenure as Additional Director of the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) and Head of Sri Lanka’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) underscored his commitment to biosecurity and trade facilitation, aligning national policies with international standards like the IPPC. In his current role as Director General of Agriculture, he oversees different research institutes, steering national strategies on food security, sustainable agriculture and export market expansion. His leadership during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic ensured uninterrupted plant quarantine operations safeguarding Sri Lanka’s agricultural trade. Prolific research her, Dr. Wickramaarachchi has pioneered advancements in plant pathology, molecular diagnostics and integrated pest management. His work on developing Sri Lanka’s first collar rot-resistant yard-long bean variety and molecular detection techniques for pathogens like banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) has earned him accolades including the Best Scientist Award (2023) and SLCARP Awards for Excellence in Agricultural Research. His research on biopesticides, soil-borne disease management, and climate-smart agriculture has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed papers and presented at global forums. Dr. Wickramaarachchi has been instrumental in forging partnerships with global institutions such as MASHAV (Israel), FAO, and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). His leadership in projects like the Indo-Israel Agricultural Project (IIAP) and the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Program has facilitated technology transfer and capacity building. As Sri Lanka’s IPPC Official Focal Point. See more
Mr.Waruna Madawanarachchi	Managing Director Agri Cluster, CIC Holdings PLC Waruna Madawanarachchi is a senior agribusiness leader with extensive experience in corporate leadership, agricultural R&D, and strategic business development. He has played a pivotal role in driving innovation-led growth within the agribusiness sector, with particular emphasis on national seed system development, management of commercial farms and productivity enhancement. His work spans in areas like strategy formulation, governance, and the commercialization of agriculture research through public–private partnerships and international collaborations. With a proven track record in managing cross-functional teams and engaging key stakeholders, he has contributed to strengthening the agribusiness operations in CIC Holdings PLC. He is widely respected for his ability to align scientific innovation with commercial objectives and regulatory frameworks. His professional focus is on building resilient agribusinesses, fostering innovation ecosystems, and delivering measurable value across the agricultural value chain. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the CIC Agri Cluster, overseeing the Group's entire agricultural operations under CIC Holdings PLC. He was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Chemanex PLC. In addition, he serves as a Director of CIC Agri Businesses (Private) Limited, CIC Dairies (Private) Limited, CIC Seeds (Private) Limited, CIC Grains (Private) Limited, Unipower (Private) Limited, CIC Cropguard (Private) Limited, and several other subsidiary companies within the CIC Agri Group. He is a graduate from Peradeniya University and had obtained his master’s degree in Agronomy from Mississippi State University, USA. See more
Mr. Ranga Pallawala	Climate Change Policy Expert EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component Ranga Pallawala is the Climate Change Policy Expert for the European Union's SWITCH-Asia Programme, based in Thailand, where his portfolio spans 42 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.He previously served as Climate Finance Advisor for the Commonwealth Secretariat and brings over 25 years of international experience in global climate change policy and climate finance across South Asia, South East Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Anglophone Africa, with recognized expertise in innovative climate financing tools such as debt-for-climate swaps, circular economy-linked climate bonds, and blended finance structuring. Since 2014, he has been actively engaged in UNFCCC international climate finance negotiations, including as part of the team that negotiated the historic Paris Agreement. He holds a Master's Degree in Environment Management from the University of Colombo and is an alumnus of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya".


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