Development of Eco-friendly Smart Bio-food Wrapper using Undersized Heliconia bihai leaves I.C. Dodampe, L. M. Rifnas, W. G. C. Madushani, S. S. Weerasinghe International Journal of Minor Fruits Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2022 Two consecutive experiments were conducted with the objectives of developing eco-friendly food wrappers with Heliconia leaves. First experiment was conducted to attach narrow leaves of Heliconia bihai together along with the outer packing paper introduce as a user friendly smart bio food wrapper since those are narrow and not in adequate size for wrapping food. Sago solution, gelatin, wheat flour and rice starch solutions were tested as sticking agents to attach leaves. There were twenty replicates in each treatment and performances of the product was evaluated using a taste panel comprised of twenty un trained numbers. "Kruskal Wallis H Test" was used to analyze the data as non-parametric test (p>0.05). There were significant differences between the treatments on smell, adherence and overall acceptability up to ten days after the production. Texture and colour showed significant changes after four and six days respectively. It was observed that up to four days of time all the sticking agents gave good results in all the tested parameters. Sago and gelatin solution showed good in all qualities up to six days. Based on the results of first experiment, second experiment was conducted to determine the quality of food wrapped inside the wrappers. Food wrappers prepared with sago and gelatin were compared with Banana leaves as a food wrapper. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) between the tested food wrappers on taste, smell, appearance and overall acceptability. User friendly food wrappers can be produced as two in one (wrapping and packing) wrapper by sticking narrow Heliconia bihai leaves in fairly good size.
Effect of gamma irradiation on seed germination, survivability and growth performances of Calotropis gigantea (Vara) Nelka S. A. P., N. P. Vidanapathirana, N. Dahanayake, S. Subasinghe, T. D. Silva, S. Weerasinghe, Rifnas L. M., Rohanadeera H., Madushanka W.C.M.S., Dushane S. International Journal of Minor Fruits Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2022 Physical mutagenesis is an effective mutational breeding method for improving various morphological characteristics of agricultural and medicinal crops. The objective of the conducted experiment was determining the effective dose of gamma radiation to induce mutations in Calotropis gigantea. Well matured seeds of C. gigantea were exposed to Gamma irradiation using "Gamma chamber 1200 Cobalt-60" research irradiator and these treatments were carried out at the Horticultural Crop Research and Developmental Institute at Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka. Mature seeds were subjected to seven treatments as 150Gy, 300Gy, 450Gy, 600Gy, 750Gy, 900Gy and non-irradiation (0 Gy) as a control to study their effect on germination percentage, survival rate and growth performances of C. gigantea. Treated seeds were arranged under shade house condition in Completely Randomized Design with four replications and each replication contained twenty-four seeds. The mutagenic treatments were tested for lethal dose of 50% and the dose at which 50% of the survival at four months was considered as LD50 value. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using Minitab 17 software and compared the treatment means using Dunnett's test at 0.05 significant level. The study revealed that the higher dosages of gamma irradiation was significantly decreased the germination percentage, survivability and growth performances (P<0.05). Plant survivability, number of leaves and plant height were significantly (P<0.05) reduced with the higher dosages of 450 Gy to 900 Gy. Lethality level of gamma irradiation for Calotropis gigantea was found as 395 Gy at maturity stage and it could be concluded that the radiation below 395 Gy should be imposed to induce mutations in Calotropis gigantea.
Vegetative propagation of Acalypha hispida through cuttings with different types of media LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, SS Weerasinghe, WGC Madushani, SAP Nelka, H Rohanadheera International Journal of Minor Fruits Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 2021 Acalypha hispida is a wild flowering herbaceous plant commonly called as Red-hot cat’s tail or Monkey tail, belongs to family Euphorbiaceae. It is commonly propagated by stem cuttings, but successful propagation of Acalypha hispida by stem cutting is harder, and even the basic information on these aspects are limited. Hence, an experiment was conducted to determine the effects of stem cutting types and growing media on the successful propagation of Acalypha hispida. Four types of stem cuttings (shoot tip, soft wood, semi hardwood and hardwood) and three types of media (pure sand, pure coir dust and 1:1 mixture of sand: coir dust v:v) were used, and the experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with 3×4 factor factorial arrangement. Data was analyzed by SAS 9.1.3 software. It was observed that there was a significant (P>0.05) interaction between the cutting types and media used in all the tested parameters except survival rate. All the type of cuttings planted in sand with coir dust showed highest percentage of rooted shoots with well formed root system. Hardwood cuttings planted in pure coir dust and 1:1 ratio of sand: coir dust showed not significant virtuous root weight (0.15g, 0.16g), number of leaves (13.10, 13.43), and shoot length (3.53 cm , 3.34 cm). Cutting types showed significant (P>0.05) in survival and hardwood cuttings showed highest survival rate (80.56%) compared to others. Accordingly, it could be concluded that hardwood cutting as the best material planted in a 1:1 mixture of sand with coir dust and pure coir dust medium can be used to propagate Acalypha hispida plants successfully.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Gamma Radiation Effects on Growth and Mutation Breeding Potential of Radish (Raphanus sativus var. Ceeta) AH Khan, LM Rifnas, A Siriwardana Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research 13 (1), 112-121 , 2026 2026
Development of an Effective Vegetative Propagation Protocol for Catharanthus roseus SAP Nelka, NP Vidanapathirana, N Dahanayake, TD Silva, S Subasinghe, ... Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences 5 (1) , 2026 2026
DIVERSE PASTURES OF COMPLEMENTARY SPECIES (DPCS) TO BUFFER DRY SUMMER CONDITIONS – A REVIEW R Liyafudeen, IF López, L Cranston, N López-Villalobos, A Cartmill, ... 1st International Symposium on Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences – 2025, 47-48 , 2025 2025
Evaluating Seed and Stem Cutting Methods for Efficient Propagation of Passiflora foetida B Bamunusinghe, LM Rifnas, PBD Jeewanthi, A Siriwardana Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science 10 (2), 98-109 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Evaluating the Antifungal Effectiveness of Three Plant Extracts in Controlling Panama Wilt in Banana Plants R Rathnamalala, LM Rifnas, PBD Jeewanthi, A Siriwardana Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry 11 (2), 62-71 , 2025 2025
Climate change mitigation potential of algae biofuels AMM Irfeey, LM Rifnas, A Siriwardana Microalgal Biofuels - Sustainable production, conversion and life cycle … , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
EVALUATION OF SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS UNDER In-vitro CONDITIONS ON CAUSAL AGENT OF PANAMA DISEASE IN BANANA R Rathnamalala, LM Rifnas, A Siriwardana, S Sutharsan International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2025), 31 , 2025 2025
Effect of Gamma Radiation on Morphology, Survival and Growth of Melampodium divarictum DSS Sirikumara, AN Nanayakkara, R LM, G RSW Proceedings of the National Symposium on Floriculture Research, 9 , 2024 2024
ENHANCING GERMINATION AND EARLY GROWTH OF Passiflora foetida THROUGH SEED TREATMENT AND MEDIA OPTIMIZATION BMKAP Bamunusinghe, LM Rifnas, R Vassanthini, N Narmhikaa, ... 5th National Symposium on Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences – 2024, 20 , 2024 2024
EFFECTIVE WEED CONTROL METHOD FOR Cyperus rotundus (KALANDURU) IN IRRIGATED LAND OF LOW COUNTRY DRY ZONE, SRI LANKA MF Wesna, AJMCM Siriwardana, LM Rifnas 5th National Symposium on Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences – 2024, 26 , 2024 2024
Effects of Different Levels of Gamma Radiation on Growth and Yield Characteristics of Groundnut M Thenuja, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry 10 (1), 1-10 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
EFFECTS OF 60Co GAMMA RADIATION ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF Raphanus sativus (RADDISH) H Khan, LM Rifnas, S Sutharsan, AJMCM Siriwardana International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024), 39-40 , 2024 2024
Impact of Cobalt-60 Gamma Irradiation on Growth, Development, and Morphology of Acalypha hispida (Cat’s Tail Plant) LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... Journal of University of Ruhuna 11 (2), 42-52 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON YIELD CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUNDNUT M Thenuja, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas Rajarata University of Sri Lanka , 2023 2023
Plant Morphology LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana NP Vidanapathirana, LM Rifnas.(2023). Plant Morphology. University of … , 2023 2023
Basics of Plant Biology LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana Basic of Plant Biology. University of Colombo Institute for Agro-Technology … , 2023 2023
Development of Cutting Propagation Technique for Ornamental Plant Allamanda Cathartica (Rukkathana). R LM Rifnas, LM, Vidanapathirana, NP, Silva, TD, Dahanayake, N., Subasinghe, S … , 2023 2023
Development of a Tool to Apply Chemical Fertilizer for Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Cultivation NA Risni, LM Rifnas, SS Weerasinghe, CMS AJMCM International Conference on Science and Technology, 108-113 , 2023 2023
Development of a Tool to Apply Chemical Fertilizer for Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Cultivation R NA, R LM, W SS, S AJMCM Proceedings of Papers, 3rd International Conference on Science and … , 2023 2023
DEVELOPMENT OF CUTTING PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANT Allamanda cathartica (RUKKATHANA) LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences 3 (1), 28-33 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Influence of Urea and Nano-Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivar Bg 250 R Rathnayaka, YB Iqbal, LM Rifnas International Journal of Research Publications (IJRP) 5 (2), 7-7 , 2018 2018 Citations: 144
Role of Trichoderma spp. in Biocontrol of Plant Diseases G Hariharan, LM Rifnas, K Prasannath Microbial Biocontrol: Food Security and Post Harvest Management: Volume 2, 39-78 , 2022 2022 Citations: 19
Effect of gamma radiation on survival rate of Allamanda cathartica–An indigenous medicinal plant LM Rifnas 5th International Symposium on Minor Fruits, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants … , 2020 2020 Citations: 12
Effects of Different Levels of Gamma Radiation on Growth and Yield Characteristics of Groundnut M Thenuja, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry 10 (1), 1-10 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Effect of gamma irradiation on survivability, growth performances and floral characters of Jasminum officinale (Samanpichcha) SAP Nelka, NP Vidanapathirana, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, TD Silva, ... Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences 1 (1) , 2021 2021 Citations: 7
Effects of Different Root Inducing Agents on Cutting Propagation of Tea (Camellia sinensis) HH Sumanasekara Annual Research & Review in Biology, 30-37 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Effects of gamma radiation on morphology, survival and growth of Allamanda cathartica plants at different maturity LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... National Symposium on Floriculture Research (NaSFloR), 59-63 , 2020 2020 Citations: 5
Influence of urea and nano-nitrogen fertilizers on the growth and yield of rice R Rathnayaka, YB Iqbal, LM Rifnas Oryza sativa, 7-17 , 2018 2018 Citations: 5
Climate change mitigation potential of algae biofuels AMM Irfeey, LM Rifnas, A Siriwardana Microalgal Biofuels - Sustainable production, conversion and life cycle … , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Impact of Cobalt-60 Gamma Irradiation on Growth, Development, and Morphology of Acalypha hispida (Cat’s Tail Plant) LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... Journal of University of Ruhuna 11 (2), 42-52 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
DEVELOPMENT OF CUTTING PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANT Allamanda cathartica (RUKKATHANA) LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences 3 (1), 28-33 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Effect of gamma radiation on morphological changes and vegetative growth in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... AGRIEAST: Journal of Agricultural Sciences 16 (2) , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Perception of cultured meat among Sri Lankan community UR Chandimala, D Gunathilake, NP Vidanapathirana, LM Rifnas Journal of Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences 1 (2), 21-26 , 2022 2022 Citations: 3
Effects of different fertilizers on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cv. Haritha in Ampara district of Sri Lanka MFA Najah, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas International Journal of Biology, Pharmacy and Allied Sciences 10 (12 … , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Vegetative propagation of Acalypha hispida through cuttings with different types of media LM Rifnas, NP Vidanapathirana, TD Silva, N Dahanayake, S Subasinghe, ... International Journal of Minor Fruits, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 7 (2 … , 2021 2021 Citations: 3
Evaluating Seed and Stem Cutting Methods for Efficient Propagation of Passiflora foetida B Bamunusinghe, LM Rifnas, PBD Jeewanthi, A Siriwardana Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science 10 (2), 98-109 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Influence of Intercropping Green Gram with Two Paddy Varieties on Growth, Yield and its Components to Increase Economic Returns POP Weerasinghe, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science 8 (4), 436-442 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Effects of Different Combinations of Cow Dung and Jeewamirtha Application on Growth and Yield of Vigna Unguiculata L. MF Nowe, S Sutharsan, S Srikrishnah, LM Rifnas Asian Journal of Science and Applied Technology 12 (1), 12-16 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
IMPACT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON GROWTH OF Arachis hypogaea M Thenuja, S Sutharsan, LM Rifnas 3rd International Symposium on Agriculture, 33 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Effects of Organic Manure: Amirthakaraisal and Cow Dung on Performances of Greengram (Vigna radiata) Grown in Pots S Priyanth, H., Sutharsan, S., Rifnas, L. M., & Srikrishnah Asian Journal of Science and Applied Technology 11 (2), 17-21 , 2022 2022 Citations: 1
