Dr. Siddhika G. Senaratne, assumed duties as the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).
Dr Senaratne completed her primary education at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalya, Colombo and her secondary education at Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. At the University of Colombo she completed the Bachelor of Science Degree Specializing in Chemistry with second class honors. She obtained her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of London (St Georges’s Hospital Medical School) UK. Her PhD research work give rise to a breakthrough finding in discovering the direct induction of breast cancer cell death by the drug bisphosphonates and its suitability for pharmacological interventions in patients with breast cancer and the research publication so far has received more than 498 citations in other peer-reviewed journals. The recognition of her doctoral research work and her wide spectrum of knowledge in the cancer field is well demonstrated by the two post-doctoral fellowships awarded by John Hopkins University Medical School, USA in 2002 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA in 2004.
Dr. Senaratne, on her return to the motherland, commenced work at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Sri Lanka. With her futuristic initiatives and persistent drive, she was able to steer ITI to establish a Biotechnology Unit with a State-of-the-Art Biotechnology laboratory. Through this unit she introduced and developed Biotechnology Research and Research Services to ITI. She was also instrumental in setting up a state affiliated laboratory service for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Testing and Certification at ITI.
Thereafter, extending her competencies further in the government sector, she joined the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka as Director Research, Planning and Development. Signifying her leadership capabilities, she was able to secure funding from International Donor agencies such as German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to upgrade rural vocational centres. She also initiated private public partnerships with Jetwing Hotels Group and Associated Motorways (Private) Limited to develop and upgrade vocational skills of the local students not only in the local private sector but also in the overseas operations of these entities. Dr. Senaratne with her vast experience and splendid leadership skills, is setting the stage to make SLSI, a flagship institution. She is focused on creating outstanding customer experiences, introducing professional governing practices, forming partnerships with private sector stakeholders and to create a great place of work.