Former Soviet Federation Ambassador to take up duties as Peradeniya University VC
View(s):Prof. M.D. Lamawansa will assume duties as the University of Peradeniya’s new vice chancellor next Wednesday. Prof. Upul B.Dissanayake’s term as vice chancellor ended on Saturday.
The reception and farewell which was to take place at the university’s gymnasium has been cancelled on the advice of health authorities. The event will now be held at the senate auditorium with about forty invitees from the university.
A reception committee has already taken steps to welcome Prof. Lamawansa and bid farewell to outgoing vice chancellor Upul B.Dissanayake.
During Prof. Dissanayake’s period at the University, he was instrumental in the construction of the multi-million rupee, multi-faceted library at the university, and giving a spotlight to the oldest Tripitakaya which was found in the library.
He also spearheaded a project to collect and preserve the ola leaf manuscripts in the library, and was also instrumental in finding the necessary financial aid for the construction of the new stadium at the university grounds which can seat 300 spectators.
Prof. Lamawansa had earlier been the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Peradeniya University.He was also the founding dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Wayamba University, and consultant general surgeon at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. Until recently, he was also the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Soviet Federation.
Prof. Lamawansa is a graduate (with honours) of the University of Ruhuna’s Faculty of Medicine. He became an internationally renowned surgeon of the high-end sphere of transplantology, combining medical practice with specialised research, university teaching and senior administrative positions throughout his career.
Prof. Lamawansa gained his MS from the University of Colombo, his PhD from the University of Western Australia, and he is also a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in the UK. He was also awarded with the title of Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (Honoris Causa) and Association of Surgeons of India (Honoris Causa).
He worked in Australia for three years and England for one and half years to enhance his research and surgical skills. He is also the past president of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka and the current president of SAARC Surgical Care Society (2020/2021).
Prof. Lamawansa also authored and contributed to major research publications in several areas of surgery and public health care. He presented papers at more than 100 international and national research conferences, including 20 where he was the keynote speaker.