Inaugural History of Medicine Conference in Sri Lanka

"HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN SRI LANKA: REIMAGINING A DISCIPLINE"

Organized by: Sri Lanka Medical Library in Collaboration with the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the National Science Foundation

Date: 1st June 2026 (Monday)

Venue: Sri Lanka Medical Association NDW Lionel Memorial Auditorium
Wijerama House, Wijerama Road, Colombo 7

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8.30 - 9.00 AM

REGISTRATION

9.00 - 9.30 AM

INAUGURATION

Session 1 (9.30 AM - 11.40 AM)

9.30 - 9.40 AM

Why a Sub-Discipline? The History of Medicine in Sri Lanka as a Distinct Field of Inquiry

Prof. Saroj Jayasinghe
Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

9.40 - 10.00 AM

Guest Lecture 1: Towards a Source-Based History of Medicine in Sri Lanka

Texts, Inscriptions, and Archaeological Evidence.
Dr. Gamini Wijesuriya, Architect, archaeologist, former Director of Conservation of the Department of Archaeology, and formerly of UNESCO

10.00 - 10.20 AM

Guest Lecture 2: Deshiya Chikitsa - The Indigenous Medical System of Sri Lanka

Prof. Senaka Pilapitiya
Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

10.20 - 10.40 AM

Guest Lecture 3: Ceylon's First Medical School

Samuel Fisk Green and the Origins of Western Medical Education in Manipay.
Dr. Henry Rajaratnam, Senior Consultant Physician, Sri Lanka

10.40 - 11.40 AM

Lecture-Discussion: Digitization and the Future of Libraries

Organised by the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Dr. Sudath Samaraweera and Mr. Manuja Karunaratne (NSF)

11.40 - 12.00 PM

☕ TEA / SNACK & Poster Viewing

12.00 - 2.00 PM

📌 Poster Display

(n=15) displayed concurrently at Wijerama House

Session 2 (12.00 PM - 2.00 PM)

12.00 - 12.20 PM

Guest Lecture 4: The Founding and Early Development of the Colombo Medical School

Prof. Enoka Corea
Chair Professor of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

12.20 - 12.40 PM

Guest Lecture 5: Establishing the Discipline of History of Medicine in Sri Lanka

Dr. Darshi Thoradeniya
Senior Lecturer, Department of History, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

12.40 - 1.40 PM

Panel Discussion: A Century of Excellence

Celebrating 100 Years of Three Medical Institutions in Sri Lanka.

From Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) to National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID)
— Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama
From Mental Hospital Angoda to National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
— Dr. Jayan Mendis
From the Kalutara Health Unit to the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS)
— Dr. Sumal Nandasena

1.40 - 2.00 PM

CLOSING SESSION

Future Activities