Dr. Samanthi Kumari Wasala graduated from Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka  in 1990 and joined to the Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka as a Research Officer in 1991. She completed her MSc (Agriculture) in Saga University Japan and in 2007, and graduated with PhD (Genetics) from Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi, India with the specialization of genetics, biotechnology and plant genetic resources.
As a Research Officer, she was engaged with variety development of rice and legume crops using conventional methods. In 2009 she joined to the Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC) and conducted research works related to the biotechnological applications for crop improvement. Later, she was appointed as a head biotechnology division. In 2019 she was appointed as a head of the PGRC.
She was engaged with biosafety activities since 2009. At present she is working as a steering committee member of implementation of the national biosafety framework, working group member of the strengthening policy, institutional and regulatory framework in biosafety of the biosafety project. Further, she is working as a member of risk assessment committee of biosafety in Department of Agriculture.