Renowned academic and researcher in Plant Biotechnology. After graduating from faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, I completed the M.Sc Degree in Pennsylvania State University, USA, and Ph.D. in University of London, UK. I started my career at Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka as a Lecturer in Department of Crop Science and promoted to senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor and Senior Professor during my 30 years of service. In this period I supervised 69 postgraduate students, published 31 papers in peer reviewed journals, two books, two monographs and received nine national awards including presidential award for my contributions to plant tissue culture, molecular biology, biotechnology and floriculture. I was an adjunct Professor at Clemson University, USA, Murdock University, Australia and University of Guelph, Canada. I served as a Senior Professor and Head/ Biotechnology at the Horizon Campus, Malabe Sri Lanka, and as a Visiting Professor in Biotechnology at Business Management School, Colombo 06, Sri Lanka.

Ph.D (Horticulture), University of London, UK , 1992

M.Sc. (Agronomy), The Pennsylvania State University,  USA, 1986

B.Sc. (Agriculture), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 1978

- SUSRED AWARDS 2012- Support Scheme for Supervision of Research Degrees. This award is presented to Prof. Sriyani E. Peiris in recognition of the supervision of  MPhil degree titled “ Micropropagation and change in plant architecture of Hemidesmus indicus (l)R. Br. (Iramusu) and Osbeckia octandra (l.) Dc  Prodr. (HeenBbovitiya) through biotechnological approaches”  carried out by  Ms. D.S.K. Nagahatenna. 19th September, 2012

- Final year students research presentations: Department of Crop Science. First place was awarded for the work carried out on” Cost effective applications on micropropagation of banana” by R.G.U.A.Gunasekara, S.E.Peiris and B.L.Peiris. 2011.

- Annul Congress, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture: D.P. Karunanada and S.E. Peiris Evaluation of public acceptability and longevity of forced bloomed  poinsettia ( Euphobia pulcherima Willd.) pots in indoor decorations Session: VI: Floriculture and Plant Systematics,  for the best presentation of the Session. 2011

- Annul Congress, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture :D. P. Karunananda and S.E. Peris, Effects of Pinching, Cycocel and B-Nine Treatments on Branching Habit of Pot Poinsettia (Euphobia pulcherrima Willd) - Session :Agronomy and Crop Management, 2009

- Annul Congress, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture: D.S.K. Nagahatenna and S.E. Peiris, In vitro propagation of Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. (Iramusu) through nodal culture - Session: Horticulture. For Overall Performance, 2007

- Presidential Awards for Research by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka for scientific research evaluated by peers and published in the year 2005 in international Scientific Journals. Journal of  Horticultural Science and  Biotechnology. 80 (20) 167-170    Samarakoon, U.C. and Peiris.S.E. (2005) Control of Circadian rhythm   regulated   nyctinastic   movement in water lily ( Nymphea stellata) flowers.

- Annul Congress, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture:  Award for the Best paper presentation in Session ‘Crop Science” titled “Biodiversity of Some Fruit Species in Huruluwewa Water Shed Area”, 1998.

Paper adjudged first in the theme AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL SCIENCE. Presentation by Senior Researchers, Annual Research Sessions, University of Peradeniya, titled: Low Cost Micropropagation for Its Domestication. 1998. 

- The Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP) Merit Award for outstanding contributions in Agricultural Research for investigations carried out during the five years after Postgraduate Studies for the research on Micropropagation of the Sri Lankan Anthurium Cultivar "Crinkled Red'. 1996.