Wayamba University graduates its first batch of doctors

On Thursday 28th instant evening, medical students of the first intake will be receiving their garlands from The Chancellor signifying their graduation as MBBS doctors, a momentous occasion for these young men and women and their families. For a medical faculty which has had to endure many difficulties, it is indeed a major achievement to see almost the whole batch graduating today, among them six with First classes.

- DR. ASOKA S. DISSANAYAKE Former Visiting Fellow and Member of the Faculty Board

The idea of a medical school for Wayamba was first mooted during the last Mahinda Rajapaksa regime and it was suggested to locate the Medical School at Kurunegala. However, no progress was made. When the Government changed in 2014 and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam became Minister of Education with Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister; a decision was taken to construct the buildings for the pre-clinical departments, an Auditorium along with lecture and tutorial rooms plus administrative and hostel facilities at Labuyaya. The work on the buildings commenced sometime in 2016.

Sometime in early 2018, I was surprised to receive a visit from the then Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ekanayake and the Registrar Chitrananda. They said they had heard that there was a former Professor who was mainly involved in coconut cultivation, living in a remote village at the edge of the Gampaha district not too far from Kuliyapitiya and had decided to pay me a visit. At this meeting with the two of them, they invited me to join the staff full time, but I said I was unable to do so. They, however, requested I take a look at the copy of the curriculum and request for equipment they had brought along. Which I did and submitted my observations.

Sometime in July 2018, The Medical School was fortunate enough to get the services of Professor M.D. Lamawansa from the Dept. of Surgery, University of Peradeniya to be the Dean. Soon Drs. Chandimal and Nandalal Gunaratne were recruited for Anatomy, Prof. P.H.P.Fernando from The Peradeniya Medical School came over on sabbatical leave and Dr. Jeevathayaparan was also recruited to the Dept. of Biochemistry while Dr. Nayomi Ranathunga and Dr. Marsh Muthuthamby were appointed to Physiology with me as a Hony. Visiting Fellow. Prof. Lamawansa was an excellent organiser and soon set about drafting not only the curriculum but also the bylaws etc.