Keynote Speakers
18th November
Dr. Lal Muthuwatta
Deputy Country Manager - Sri Lanka, International Water Management Institute
Dr. Lal Muthuwatta is a Researcher on Hydrology-Hydrological Modelling. He worked at the Open University of Sri Lanka and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka as an Academic Staff Member from 1991 to 1993. He was involved with teaching mathematics and numerical modeling courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students. From 1993 to 1995, he worked as a GIS Expert at the Malaria Research Institute attached to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. From 1995 to 1996, Dr. Lal was a Visiting Academic at the University of Colombo and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. During that period, he was involved with helping research students on spatial modeling.
Dr Lal currently serves as the Deputy Country Manager, and CGIAR Country Convener for Sri Lanka at the International Water Management Institute and will be delivering a keynote speech on the first day of the IRC2026 conference.
18th November
Dr. Chaminda Basnayake
Principal Engineer
Market Development at Locata Corporation,
USA
Dr. Chaminda Basnayake, recognized by GPS World magazine as one of the “50 Leaders to Watch in GNSS,” is an internationally respected expert in geomatics engineering and connected mobility technologies. He is best known for leading the global development and deployment of the innovative Locata positioning system, which has been applied in projects involving NASA, the US Army, and autonomous vehicle operations in ports and mining industries worldwide. Dr. Basnayake holds more than 36 international and US patents, reflecting his significant contributions to navigation, positioning, and intelligent transportation technologies. His expertise spans connected vehicles, advanced localization systems, and automotive innovation. Throughout his career, he has held prominent positions at organizations including General Motors OnStar, Renesas Electronics America, and the University of Calgary.
Dr Basnayake currently serves as the Principal Engineer in Market Development at Locata Corporation, USA and will be physically delivering a keynote speech at IRC2026 on 18th November.
19th November
Prof. Buddhi Marambe
Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, Peradeniya
Chairman, National Invasive Species Specialist Group
President, Weed Science Society of Sri Lanka
Professor Buddhi Marambe, a recipient of the International Weed Science Society’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” is a distinguished academic and researcher in climate change adaptation, food security, and sustainable agriculture. With over 36 years of experience in academia, he has made significant contributions to agricultural research, policy development, and climate resilience initiatives both nationally and internationally. Prof. Marambe has represented Sri Lanka in climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 2013 and has served as a consultant to leading international organizations including the FAO, UNDP, ADB, World Bank, IWMI, and UNEP. His contributions to scientific research and policy have earned him several prestigious recognitions, including the Presidential Award and the National Research Council Merit Award in Sri Lanka.
Prof Marambe currently works as a Senior Professor at the Department of Crop Science at the University of Peradeniya and will be delivering a keynote speech on the second day of the IRC2026 conference.
