Gothamie Weerakoon
Gothamie Weerakoon () is a Sri Lankan-based botanist, lichenologist and environmentalist. Early life and education. After completing her primary education at the Devi Balika Vidyalaya in Colombo, she attended the University of Colombo, completing her PhD in 2013 at the Sri Jayawardenepura University. She emerged as the most active Sri Lankan lichen researcher. Career. She has conducted research on South Asian lichens, discovering over 100 new species endemic to Sri Lanka. Some of the species she has discovered include "Heterodermia queesnberryi" and "Polymeridium fernandoi". In 2015, she wrote "Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka", which provides facts about lichen  species endemic to Sri Lanka. She currently works as the senior curator of Lichens and Slime Moulds at the Natural History Museum of London and also with tea brand, Dilmah. Awards and recognition. She is the first South Asian woman scientist to hold the Annual Grantee award from the National Geographic Society.