• B.Sc. (Agriculture) Honours - Second Class Upper Division, University of Peradeniya
• M.Sc. (Agriculture) Environmental Economics major, Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya
• Masters in Economics, University of Colombo
• Ph.D. (Economics) with Resource and Environmental Economics, University of Colombo

Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis - Analytical Methods Track, Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID), Harvard University, USA

Economic tools for Ecosystem conservation conducted by Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) in collaboration with University of California, USA

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics conducted by South Asia Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE), Bangladesh

Environmental and Resource Economics conducted by Economy and Environment Programme for South East Asia (EEPSEA), University of Philippines, Los Baños the Philippines

• International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Sri Lanka Country Programme (IUCN SL) as the Programme Coordinator, Acting Country Repesentative - February, 2002 to May 2019

   

  Socio-economic and Market Research Division at National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) as the Head / Economist, September 1998 to January 2002

   

  Assistant Director, Natural Resources Management (NRM) Division at Central Environmental Authority (CEA). February 1995 to September 1998

   

  Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya as the Assistant Lecturer (Temporary) February 1993 – March 1994

  Research Interests

  Environmental economics, environmental governance, innovative financing mechanisms for conservation, climate change adaptation, EIA and Red Listing of endemic fresh water fishes of Sri Lanka

  Selected publications

  Haque A. K. E., Lohano, H.D., Mukhopadhyay, P., Nepal, M., Shafeeqa, F., and Vidanage, S.P (2019), NDC pledges of South Asia: are the stakeholders 5 onboard?, Climatic Change, Springer Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007 /s10584-019-02417-6

   

  Vidanage, S. P. (2017) Quality Aspects of Small Tank Cascade Systems and Demand for their Restoration in Sri Lanka, Journal of Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics

   

  Herath, B and Vidanage, S. P. (consultants) (2011), Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis of Sri Lanka, USAID and IUCN Sri Lanka

   

  Vidanage, S. P., De Alwis D. and Abeysekera, (2007). Impact of Local Communities on Bundala National Park and Udawalawa National Park, Department of Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka.

  Vidanage S. P., Perera, H. D. S. and Kallesoe, M. (2005) Multiple Benefits of Small Irrigation Tanks and their Economic Value:  A case study in the Kala Oya basin, Sri Lanka, IUCN

  Vidanage S. P. and Kotagama, H. B. (1999), Extended Cost Benefit Analysis for Coastal Resources Management: The Methodology in Gunasena H. P. M. edited proceedings of the Workshop on Coastal Resources Management in Sri Lanka, 6^th August 1999, PGIA, University of Peradeniya

Vidanage S. P. and de Mel M. (2014), Technology Needs Assessment and Technology Action Plans for Climate Change Adaptation for Biodiversity Sector in Technology Needs Assessment and technology Action Plans for Climate Change Adaptation, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, Colombo

Kotagama H. B., Batagoda, B. M. S., Vidanage, S. P., Gunawardena, P., De Alwis J. M. D. J. and Arunathilake, N. (2006), Chapter report on Biodiversity Valuation and Mainstreaming Economics of Conservation, Addendum to the Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka: Framework for Action, Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment.

Marabe, B., Pushpakumara, D. N. K., Silva, P., Ratnayake, H. D. and Vidanage S. P. (2006), Chapter report on Impacts of Biodiversity, Addendum to the Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka: Framework for Action, Biodiversity Secretariat, Ministry of Environment.

Kotagama, H. B, Vidanage, S. P. and Batagoda B. M. S. (2005). A field Manual for Environmental Valuation in Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Jayasinghe, C. and Vidanage, S. P. (2003), Coral Reefs: A Resource Book for Secondary School Teachers (in English, Sinhala and Tamil)

Kotagama H. B., Ranawana, S. and Vidanage, S. P. (1997). Economic Valuation of Environmental Impacts in Hennayake, et al edited Environmental Impact Assessment: The Sri Lankan Experience, Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya. 

Current

Member of the National Expert Committee on Climate Change Adaptation, Ministry of Environment, since 2013.

Member of the Mangrove Task Force of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment 2019.

Member of the Editorial Board of the Climate Change Magazine, Ministry of Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, 2018 and 2019.

Appraise selected manuscripts as a Referee appointed by the Editorial Board of the Journal of National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency of Sri Lanka (NARA Journal), in 2013, 2015,  2017, and 2018/2019.

Past

Member of National Environmental Council to advice Director General, Central Environmental Authority appointed by Hon. Minister for Environment, 2012 to 2016.

Represented the National Steering Committee for implementation of National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP), preparation of 6^th National Report to Convention on Biological Diversity (6^th NR to CBD) and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, February, 2018.

Member of the Technical Review Committee, Sustainable use of natural resources for livelihood enhancement, Ecosystem Conservation and Management Project (ESCAMP), 2017.

Member of the Advisory Panel for Business and Biodiversity Platform (currently known as Biodiversity Sri Lanka – BSL) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, 2012 to 2014.

Member of the Environmental Management Systems Technical Advisory Committee of Sri Lanka Standards Institute, 2012 to 2015.

Member of the National Invasive Alien Species Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, since 2014.

Member of the National Task Force for implementing Sri Lanka component of the regional GEF project titled Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 2012-2014.

Member of the Committee worked on nominating the Gulf of Mannar as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve, National Science Foundation (NSF), 2014.

Served as a member in the committee appointed to advice the Minister of Environment on the proposed roads project in the buffer zone of Sinharaja World Heritage Site, 2014.

Member of the National Steering Committee on Green Accounting Mechanism in Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy, 2012-2013.

Member of the National Committee, Second National Communication to UNFCCC, Government of Sri Lanka, 2012.

Member of the National Committee on LOICZ (Land Ocean Interaction in the Coastal Zone) sub committee appointed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of Sri Lanka, 2010-2012.

Member of the Editorial Board, International Conference on Tropical Aquatic Research towards Sustainable Development, NARA, February, 2007.  

Resource person for the National Planning Department/UNDP Project SLR/97/020 on Integration of sustainable development principles into economy-wide policy planning, 1999-2000.

Member of the Technical Evaluation Committees (TEC) appointed by CEA for Alternative Highway between Colombo and Kandy, Outer Circular Highway to the City of Colombo and Baseline Road Extension Project EIAs

• Member Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, USA (2019)
• Life member Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science (SLAAS), Committee member and the Rapporteur for the Section F for the current year (2019) and member Environment Committee of the SLASS (2019)
• Life member Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association, also a committee member 2017/18
• Life member Sri Lanka Economics Association
• Member of the South Asia Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)
• Member Institute of Environmental Professionals in Sri Lanka, previously served as a council member
• Member of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Economics and Social Policy
• Member Cap-Net, UNDP International Network for Capacity Building of Sustainable Water Development