G.R.A. Kumara is the Director of the National Institute of Fundamental Studies and a Research Professor specializing in materials science, energy conversion, and energy storage technologies. He received his undergraduate education from the University of Peradeniya and completed his M.Phil. degree at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He later obtained his Ph.D. in Engineering from Shizuoka University under the Japanese Monbukagakusho Scholarship. He has also served as a Visiting Professor and Honorary Professor in Japan and has established several international research collaborations.

His research interests include dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells, supercapacitor energy storage systems, advanced carbon materials, and value addition to Sri Lankan graphite. Professor Kumara has published more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers, received several national and international recognitions, and holds multiple patents related to energy storage and carbon-based materials.