EDUCATION

• PhD in Agricultural Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand, 2024
• BSc. (Hons) in Agriculture Science (First class, OGPA-3.81), specialization in Agricultural Economics, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, 2017

Academic Positions held

• Senior Lecturer- University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka February 2024 – Present
• Lecturer- University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka July 2018 – February 2024
• Tutor- Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Lincoln University, New Zealand July 2022 – June 2023
• Assistant Lecturer- University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka August 2017 – June 2018

Research interests

• Agricultural and Food economics
• Agribusiness
• Consumer studies
• Environmental and Resource economics

Faculty-Level

• Member / Secretary, Faculty Outreach Committee, 2024–Present
• Member, Faculty Research Committee, 2024–Present
• Secretary, International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture, 2024
• Chief Editor, Pasumai Oli Newsletter, Outreach Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, 2024–Present
• Member, Technical Evaluation Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, 2024–Present
• Student Counsellor, 2024–2025
• Industrial Training Coordinator, 2025–Present
• Sports Coordinator, 2025–Present
• Member, Faculty Board, 2025–Present
• Member, Faculty Research Committee, 2024-Present
• Member, Student Mentoring Committee, 2025–Present
• Deputy Proctor, Faculty of Agriculture, 2026–Present
• Member, Student Monitoring Committee, 2026
• Finance Chair, International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture, 2026–Present
• Associate Editor, Journal of Dry Zone Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, 2026–Present
• Member, Faculty Gender Cell, 2026–Present

University-Level

• Chairperson, Jaffna Science Association (JSA), 2026
• National Coordinator, Sri Lanka Forum of University Economists (SLFUE), 2026
• National Coordinator & Associate Editor, Sri Lanka Economic Research Conference (SLERC), 2026
• Committee member of the Research & Training Committee (RTC) at HARTI for the year 2025.

Undergraduate Teaching

• EC 22013 Agribusiness Management and Business Accounting
• EC 31012 Agriculture and Food Marketing
• EC 41012 International Trade and Monetary Economics
• EC 41052 Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture
• EC 41122 Planning and promotion of Agro-enterprises

Professional and Academic Engagements

• Co-Controller, GCE (Advanced Level) Biosystems Technology Examination, 2025
• Resource Person, Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), 2025
• Resource Person, Biosystems Technology Teacher Training Programme, 2024
• Resource Person, “Empowering Agribased Businesses in Our Region,” Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka, 2024

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

1. Sivashankar, S., Renwick, A., Yang, W., & Sooriyakumar, K. (2026). Consumer choice and preference heterogeneity for liquid milk attributes in Sri Lanka: evidence from a choice experiment. Frontiers in Nutrition, Volume 13-2026. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1931191

2. Krishnapillai, S., Sathiyamoorthy, S., Sivakumar, S., & Kulasekaram, L. (2026). Market Availability and Household Consumption of Pasteurized Milk: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis from Sri Lanka. Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, Volume XXI, Special Issue, 1(91), 337 – 350. https://doi.org/10.57017/jaes.v21.1(91).17

3. Sivakumar, S., Renwick, A., Yang, W. and Sooriyakumar, K. (2025), “Household demand for disaggregated milk products in Sri Lanka: a censored QUAIDS model approach”, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, pp. 1–13, doi: 1108/JADEE-11-2024-0419.

4. Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, K. Balamauran, R., & Sarujan, S. (2025), “Understanding Local Fishermen’s Preferences And Willingness To Accept Compensation For Commercial Sea Cucumber Farming In The Jaffna Lagoon, Sri Lanka”, Applied Ecology And Environmental Research, Vol. 23 No. 6, Pp. 11345–11358. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/2306_1134511358

5. Krishnapillai, S., Hariskar, R., Sarujan, S. and Sivashankar, S. (2025), “Impact of the adoption of photovoltaic system on households’ energy consumption: the evidence from the urban area in Jaffna district in Northern Sri Lanka”, International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 1–8. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.19839

6. Lees, N. J., Sivakumar, S., & Lucock, X. (2024). Agrifood Sustainability Transitions in Firms and Industry: A Bibliographic Analysis of Research Themes. In Sustainability (Vol. 16, Issue 16). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167079

7. Krishnapillai, S., Sajanthan, L., & Sivakumar, S. (2023). Households’ willingness to pay for sustainable sanitation and wastewater management in Jaffna municipal area, Sri Lanka. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 13(2), 312–320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-023-00827-8

8. Raveenthiran, K., Krishnapillai, S., & Sivakumar, S. (2023). Farmers’ prioritization of dairy development strategies in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka. Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development, 13(3), 232–239.

https://doi.org/10.55493/5005.v13i3.4872

9. Krishnapillai, S., Perinpanathan, S., & Sivakumar, S. (2020). Households’ willingness to pay for quality of drinking water in Jaffna area of Sri Lanka. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology – AQUA, 69(6), 629–638. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2020.031

10. Krishnapillai, S., Sathiyamoorthy, S., & Sivakumar, S. (2020). Fisherman’s Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Lagoon Ecosystem Management: A Locality Study in Jaffna Lagoon of Sri Lanka. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 22(3–4). https://doi.org/10.1142/S1464333222500089

11. Sooriyakumar, K., Sivashankar, S., & Sireeranhan, A. (2019). Farmers’ willingness to pay for the ecosystem services of organic farming: A locality study in Valikamam area of Sri Lanka. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17(6), 13803–13815. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1706_1380313815

CONFERENCES

-EXTENDED ABSTRACTS

1. Sivashankar, S*., Sireeranhan, A. and Sooriyakumar, K. (2017) Economic Valuation of Bio Ecosystem Services from Organic Farming in Valikamam, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 4th Annual Research Symposium on Social Science and Humanities. Pp.65-68.

2. Vanaiya, S., Sivashankar, S*., Sooriyakumar, K. and 4. Sarujan, S (2024) Households’ Preferences for Private Tuition Attributes in Jaffna Municipal Area, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of 6th International Symposium on Social Sciences and Humanities.

3. Lathusha, T., Sooriyakumar, K., Sivashankar, S., and Sarujan, S. (2025). Impact of Sprinkler Irrigation on Yield and Cultivation Costs in Groundnut and Jumbo Peanut Farming in Kilinochchi District. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Applied Sciences 2025.

-ABSTRACTS

1. Abishara, K. S. A., Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, K., and Sarujan, S. (2026). Household Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Mitigating Groundwater Pollution from Used Vehicle Oil in the Jaffna District: A Choice Experiment Approach. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Sustainable Development Studies 2026.

2. Sivashankar, S., Mathula, S., Sooriyakumar, S., and Sarujan, S (2026). Urban Households’ Preferences for Sustainable Air Quality Management Practices in Jaffna District: A Choice Experiment Approach. In Proceedings of the 30th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2026, University of Sri Jayewardene, Sri Lanka on 23rd and 24th January 2026.

3. Musthifa, B., Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, K., and Sarujan,S. (2025). Households’ demand for disaggregated meat products in Sri Lanka: A Censored Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System Model. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Management (InCAPM), Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka on 16th – 18th May 2025.

4. Kiriyaliny, V., Sooriyakumar, K., Sivashankar, S., and Sarujan, S. (2025). Engineers’ Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Thondamanaru Lagoon: A Choice Experiment Approach. In Proceeding of the 31^st Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, Jaffna, Sri Lanka on 28-30 May 2025.

5. Rimsath, M., Sooriyakumar, K., Sarujan,S., and Sivashankar, S. (2025). Production efficiency of the local paddy cultivation under Valaichenai agrarian services centre area. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Management (InCAPM), Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka on 16th – 18th May 2025.

6. Nithila, K., Sooriyakumar, K., Sivashankar, S., and Sarujan, S. (2025). Biologist’ Willingness to Pay for Thondamanaru Lagoon Ecosystem Management: A Choice Experiment Approach. In Proceeding of the 31^st Annual Sessions of Jaffna Science Association, Jaffna, Sri Lanka on 28-30 May 2025.

7. Misfa, S.L.F., Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, K., and Sarujan,S. (2025). Local communities’ preferences and willingness to pay for improving tourist facilities and conservation of ecosystem in Arugambay lagoon, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Management (InCAPM), Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka on 16th – 18th May 2025.

8. Ratheeban, P., Sooriyakumar, K., Sarujan, S., and Sivashankar, S. (2025). Assessing the Impact of Subsidy loans from Rotary Club on Paddy farmers’ productivity in Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Management (InCAPM), Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka on 16th – 18th May 2025.

9. Lathusha, T., Sooriyakumar, K., Sivashankar, S., and Sarujan, S. (2025). Impact of sprinkler irrigation on yield and cultivation costs in ground nut and jumbo peanut farming in Kilinochchi. In Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University of Sri Lanka on 6th March 2025.

10. Jayaweera, P.T.U., Sarujan, S., Sivashankar, S., and Sooriyakumar, S. (2025). Water access and its implications on farm production: Evidence from Hakwatuna irrigation system in Kurunegala district, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the National Symposium on Agriculture and Life Sciences (NSALS’ 25), Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka on 23rd January 2025. Received Best Poster award (3rd Prize)

11. Gurupatham, W.E.S., Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, S., and Sarujan, S (2025). Estimating households’ willingness to pay for composting of solid waste: A choice experiment approach. In Proceedings of the 29th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2025, University of Sri Jayewardene, Sri Lanka on 17th and 18th January 2025. Received Best Oral presentation award

12. Dissanayake, T.G.D.S., Sivashankar, S., Sooriyakumar, K., Kamshajini, R. (2025). Assessing Local Fishing Communities’ Willingness to Pay for Reducing Faecal and Oil

Pollution in the Negombo Lagoon. In Proceedings of the 29th International Forestry and Environment Symposium 2025, University of Sri Jayewardene, Sri Lanka on 17th and 18th January 2025.

13. Hariskar, R., Sooriyakumar, K. Sivashankar, S., and Sarujan, S (2025). Impact of the Adoption of Photovoltaic System on Households’ Energy Consumption: The Evidence from the Urban Area in Jaffna District in Northern Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2025), Eastern University of Sri Lanka on 03rd and 04th January 2025. 5 Received Best Co-Investigator (Merit) award

14. Balamauran, R., Sooriyakumar, K., and Sivashankar, S.(2024). Local Fishermen’s Willingness to Accept Compensation for Commercial Sea Cucumber Farms in Jaffna Lagoon, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 28th International Forestry and Environment Symposium.pp.110. Received Best Oral presentation award

15. Sivasorooban, S., Sooriyakumar, K., Aunshiya, S. and Sivashankar, S*. (2019).Impact of Different Fetilizer Subsidy on Paddy Production and Urea Application in Kilinochchi District. In Proceedings of the 12th Annual Research Forum Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association.Pp.06.

16. Kajanthini,S., Sooriyakumar,K and Sivashankar,S*. (2019). Impact of Sprinkler Irrigation on the Productivity of Red Onion in Jaffna District. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.106.

17. Sarujan, S., Sivashankar, S. and Sooriyakumar, K. (2018). Supply Response of Fresh Milk in Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 11th Annual Research Forum Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association.Pp.14.

18. Hasitha,E.K., Sooriyakumar,K. and Sivashankar, S*. (2018) Impact of Fertilizer Subsidy on Paddy Production in Matale District. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.112.

19. Parisan,S., Sooriyakumar,K. and Sivashankar, S*. (2018) Impact of Incomplete Milking on Milk Production in Kilinochchi District. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.113.

20. Sumangkali, P., Sivashankar,S*. and Sooriyakumar,K. (2018). Consumer’s Willingness to Pay for Quality Attributes of Drinking Water from Common Tap in Jaffna Divisional Secretariat Area. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.114.

21. Faslim, M.P.M., Sivashankar,S*. and Sooriyakumar,K. (2018). Impact of Rainfall on Coconut Production in Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.115.

22. Sooriyakumar, K., Sarujan, S. and Sivashankar, S. (2018). Fisherman’s Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Ecosystem Management of Jaffna Lagoon. In Proceedings of the 17th World Lake Conference.pp.66-69.

23. Sivashankar, S*., Sireeranhan, A. and Sooriyakumar, K. (2017) Using Choice Modeling to Value Ecosystem Services of Organic Farming in the Valikamam East, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Dry Zone Agriculture.pp.37