PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND HONORS

1. 2006 University of Manitoba Merit Award. In recognition of Outstanding achievements in Research and Service (awarded June 2008).

2.  2006 University of Manitoba Outreach Award.  In recognition of scholarly and exemplary contributions to the broader community.

3.  2006 Lifetime Achievement Award - Sri Lanka Foundation.  For excellence in science.

4.  2006 University of Manitoba Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. In recognition of
            Excellence in graduate teaching, mentoring research and inspiring graduate students.

5. 2006 Spot Award - United States Department of Agriculture, Red River Valley Agricultural Research center.  For outstanding service to the US National Sclerotinia Research Initiative in support of continued development of management strategies to control white mold in multiple crops

6. University of Manitoba Merit Award 2004: For Excellence in Research and Service. Awarded June 2005. 

7. Honorary Professor - Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huhhot, P.R. China in recognition of outstanding achievements in scientific research andGraduate education. Conferred in China on August 17, 2005.

11. Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Fellowship 1994-96.

12. Canadian Pacific Award, McGill University, 1993.

13. Phi Kappa Phi award for academic excellence in Science, May 1990, USA.

14. Gamma Sigma Delta award for academic excellence in Agriculture, May 1990, USA.

15.  ICMS Scholarship to represent Sri Lanka as the diplomatic ambassador for youth,  at the
     Asian Youth Conference held in Loyola University, Madras, India, May 1980.

16.  Municipal  Full Scholarship for B.Sc. studies in Botany and Chemistry, 1977-1981.
 

TEACHING SPECIAL AWARDS:

Advisor to;

• Gabrielson-Fulkerson Award by American Phytopathological Society to Yilan Zhang (Masters student) for her research on biological control 2004
• Canadian Phytopathological Soceity Graduate Student Travel Award to Yilan Zhang (Masters student) for excellence in research 2004
• First Prize of $ 100 and certificate to Yilan Zhang (Masters student) for research on biological control –CPS Manitoba presentation Nov. 2003
• First Prize of $ 150 and certificate to Rob Duncan (Masters Student) for research on Biological Control, at the Annual Canadian Phytopathological Society meetings,     Waterton, AB June, 2002.
• Second Prize of $ 75 and certificate to Quinn Holtslag (PhD student) for research on Disease Modelling and forecasting, at the Annual Canadian Phytopathological Society meetings, Waterton, AB June, 2002.
• First Prize – Rob Duncan, Regional CPS meeting, Nov. 2002. Manitoba.
• Second Prize – Clinton Jurke, Regional CPS meeting, Nov. 2002. Manitoba.
• First Prize – Yu Chen, 17th Inter-University Grad Symposium, 2003 Winnipeg, MB
• Second Prize – Quinn Holtslag, 17th Inter-University Grad Symposium, 2003 Winnipeg, MB
• First Prize of $ 500.00 to Sarah Savchuk’s poster on biological control of Sclerotinia of canola, out of 60 posters at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science’s Agri-Research Fair, March 2, 2000.
• Second Prize of $ 400.00 to Quinn Holtslag’s poster on a Disease forecasting system for Entomosporium of saskatoon berry, out of 60 posters at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science’s Agri-Research Fair, March 2, 2000.
• First Prize - Sarah Savchuk - oral presentation at the Annual Canadian Phytopathological Society Regional Meeting -Dec. 2000
• First Prize - Sarah Savchuk - poster competition at the 2nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Manitoba Plant Biologist’s Association - Nov. 2000
 • First Prize - Sarah Savchuk - oral presentation at the Inter-University 17th Annual Plant Science Graduate Student Symposium Competition, North Dakota State University, ND, USA., March 25, 2001.
• First Runner-up - Sarah Savchuk - oral presentation at the Annual Canadian Phytopathological Society Regional Meeting -Nov. 2001
• Second Runner-up - Rajesh Ramarathnam, oral presentation at the Annual Canadian Phytopathological Society Regional Meeting -Nov. 2001
• First Prize - Sarah Savchuk - poster competition at the 3rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Manitoba Plant Biologist’s Association - Nov. 2001
 

Creativity:

1. HR 101, conventional high erucic acid rapeseed.Supported for
registration March, 2004. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

2. HR102, conventional high erucic acid rapeseed.2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

3. HR202, conventional high erucic acid rapeseed.2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

4. RRHR702, HT Rapeseed.2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

5. RRHR802, HT Rapeseed.2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

6. RRHR902, HT Rapeseed.2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

7. RRHR1402, HT Rapeseed.  2005. Developed by Drs. P.B.E. McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

 registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. R. Scarth,
 P.B.E. McVetty, W.G.D. Fernando.

9. 99LL118, low linolenic acid canola (B. napus L.). Supported for
 registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. R. Scarth,
 P.B.E. McVetty, W.G.D. Fernando,

10. HR499, high erucic acid rapeseed. Recommended for
 registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. P.B.E.
 McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

11. HRA199BX, HT high erucic acid rapeseed. Recommended
 for registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. P.B.E.
 McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

12. HRC399BX, HT high erucic acid rapeseed. Recommended
 for registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. P.B.E.
 McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

13. HRD499BX, HT high erucic acid rapeseed. Recommended
 for registration March 21, 2002. Developed by Drs. P.B.E.
 McVetty, R. Scarth, W.G.D. Fernando.

14. Was a collaborator with Drs. Peter McVetty and Rachael Scarth in developing two low-lin (candidates 97LL105, 97LL121), and two high-erucic acid (candidates HR197, HR 697) canola and rapeseed cultivars respectively, that received registration in Canada in February 2000.  Three new cultivars were recommended for registration in February 2001 by WCCRRC.
 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

1. Member, American Phytopathological Society since 1986.
2. Member, Canadian Phytopathological Society since 1992.
3. Member, International Society of Plant Pathologists since 1997.
4. Member Prairie Fusarium Task Force since 1998.
5. Member Manitoba Canola Growers Association since 1998.
6. Invited honorary Life Member, Phi Kappa Phi, USA, since 1990.
7. Invited honorary Life Member, Gamma Sigma Delta, USA, since 1990.
8. Member, Manitoba Professional Agrologist Association, since 2001.
9. Member, Canadian Agronomy Association since 2001.
10. Member, Canadian Society of Microbiologists since 2000.
11. Member, Manitoba Association of Plant Biologists since its inception in 1999.
12. Member, Canola Integrated Pest Management Forum.
13. Associate Member, St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba since 2001.

**Offices held therein

• Chair Workshops American Phytopathological Society, 2004-2007
• Elected to Board of Directors of the Canadian Phytopathological Society, 2002to 2007
• Elected - Treasurer, Canadian Phytopathological Society, 2002-2004 re-elected 2005-2007
• Elected Chair of Cultural Diversity Committee 2003-2004, Ameri. Phytopathological Society
• Epidemiology Committee 2000-2003, American Phytopathological Society, USA
• Webpage Coordinator, Epidemiology Committee 2001 2004, American Phytopath. Society, USA.
• Webpage Coordinator, Cultural Div. Committee 2002 2005, American Phytopath. Society, USA
• Financial Advisory Committee 2000-2003, Canadian Phytopathological Society, Canada
• Resolutions Committee, Western Forum for Pest Management, Canada. 2001-2003.
• Ad Hoc Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, Canadian Phytopathological Society
• Member, (Executive Board) , Manitoba Plant Biologist’s Association 2000-2003.
• Chair, Fusarium head blight and toxins symposium at the annual American Phytopathological Society
• /Canadian Phytopathological Society meeting held in Montreal, Quebec, August 5-11, 1999
• through Epidemiology committee of the American Phytopathological Society.
• Member, Fusarium P20 Committee
• Voting Member, Western Canada Canola/Rapeseed Recommending Committee 1999-2002
• Member, organizing committee for Recapturing wealth in the prairies workshop
• Voting Member, Western Committee on Plant Disease 1999-2002
• Voting Member, Expert committee on diseases of oilseed crops, Canada 1999-2002
• Expert Committee on Fusarium - Local Arrangement Committee for the First National Fusarium Workshop,
• Winnipeg, November 28-30, 1999
• Canola Integrated Pest Mgt Forum - December 2000, Saskatoon. Draft new IPM document.