Partnership Profile

The University of Kelaniya (UKe) is located in Colombo, the capital city, on the Western coast of Sri Lanka. The roots of UKe date back to 1875 when the Vidyalankara Pirivena was established as a seat of excellence for educating Buddhist monks. The Corporate Plan of the University 2008-2011, articulates the University vision, “The University of Kelaniya will position herself as the seat of academic excellence, providing wisdom and human values in the South Asian Region”. The mission of the University is “to achieve excellence in providing learners with opportunities to develop knowledge, attitudes and skills to serve the world, with respect for dignity of life.”

The University of Kelaniya is one of the major Universities in Sri Lanka, and is governed by the University Grants Commission under the Ministry of Higher Education. UKe is comprised of 6 Faculties--Science, Medicine, Social Sciences, Humanities, Management Studies and Commerce, and Graduate Studies. With over 7,000 enrolled students, the University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs such as DM, PhD, MPhil, MA, MSc, MBA, and MPA, and other extension courses, such as diplomas and certificate courses, in a number of different fields. Beginning in the Fall 2009 semester, the Faculty of Medicine will offer an MPH degree program, in collaboration with the UAB-South Asia ITREOH Program.

UKe Faculty of Medicine was established in September 1991 and is one of six medical schools in Sri Lanka. The Faculty of Medicine aspires to be an internationally-recognized institution of higher education in a culture of excellence and integrity that helps to generate and impart knowledge in the medical sciences. It has now admitted the 20th graduating class and over 2000 doctors have graduated from the Faculty. The Faculty of Medicine has over 1000 undergraduate students and over 20 post graduate trainees. The Faculty comprises 15 departments, 2 Centers, 4 units, 3 specialized laboratories, and a computer center. It has over 110 academic staff and 100 support staff. Its sprawling campus is located on 34 acres in the heart of Ragama. Residential facilities for over 500 students and recreational facilities are provided on this campus. Students at the Faculty have opportunities to train at several local hospitals, including the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, the Base Hospitals in Negombo, Gampaha and Wathupitiwela, the Chest Hospital, Welisara, the Rehabilitation Unit, Ragama and the Mental Hospital, Angoda. Additionally the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area is used as the field practice area for training in public health. The Colombo North Teaching Hospital and associated hospitals are used as the Teaching Hospitals of the Faculty. The Ragama Medical Officer of Health area is the field practice are for preventive medicine which comes under direct purview of the Department of Public Health which is the Department with which the collaboration is. It has a proud track record of research in various fields. Areas of interest include gastroenterology, epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases, liver diseases, communicable diseases such as dengue, hepatitis and chikungunya, etc.

The Faculty of Medicine has affiliations with University of Uppsala, Oxford University, Liverpool University, Institute of Child Health, London, Hong Kong University, Sri Lankan Universities, International Medical Centre of Japan, Columbia University, University of Toronto and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Currently, the Faculty is negotiating for an International Development Agency grant from the Government of Japan.

Examples of trainee-led pilot research projects in Sri Lanka include:

Sri Lanka - University of Kelaniya:
Association between chronic kidney disease and exposure to heavy metals in the North Central Province in Sri Lanka