Speakers
Meet the global experts shaping this year's conference
Featured Addresses
Senior Prof. Indika Gawarammana (MBBS, MD, MRCP, FRCPE, PhD)
Senior Professor
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Senior Professor Indika Bandara Gawarammana is a Senior Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, and a Consultant Physician at the Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is internationally recognized for his work in clinical toxicology and acute medicine and serves as Director of Clinical Research of the South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration (SACTRC). His research primarily aims to reduce deaths caused by pesticide poisoning, plant poisoning, and snake envenomation across Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. Prof. Gawarammana obtained his MBBS from the University of Peradeniya and later completed MD training in Sri Lanka, MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edinburgh), and a PhD in Australia. His clinical career includes medical training in both Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, and he continues to contribute extensively to postgraduate medical education in internal medicine and toxicology.He has held several leadership roles in professional and academic bodies, including President of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology and membership in the Sri Lankan Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee. His research collaborations have influenced clinical guidelines and public-health policies aimed at preventing poisoning-related deaths and improving patient safety in low-resource settings. With over a hundred scholarly publications and numerous international research collaborations, Prof. Gawarammana is widely regarded as a leading figure in medicine in South Asia, combining clinical service, research innovation, and medical education to improve healthcare outcomes in the region.
Dr. Charith Nanayakkara (MBBS, MD, MRCS)
Consultant Neurosurgeon and Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Sri Lanka
Dr. Charith Nanayakkara is a board-certified Consultant Neurosurgeon and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Sri Lanka. He holds an MBBS, MD in Surgery, and dual MRCS qualifications (England and Glasgow), and is registered with both the Sri Lanka Medical Council and the UK General Medical Council. With extensive clinical and academic experience in neurosurgery, Dr. Nanayakkara has trained both locally and internationally, including advanced neurosurgical training at Christian Medical College, India, and the North of Scotland Brain and Spine Centre, UK. He is an active researcher and reviewer for leading journals such as BMJ Case Reports and JAMA, with numerous presentations and publications in neurosurgery and interdisciplinary medical research. His contributions extend to innovation and public health, including the development of medical devices and national-level healthcare initiatives. Dr. Nanayakkara is also deeply engaged in medical education, professional leadership, and international collaborations, making him a respected voice in advancing neurosurgical practice and research in the region.
Dr. Sivananthan Sashikaran
Dr. Sivananthan Sashikaran is a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He holds an MBBS from the University of Jaffna, a Doctorate in Orthopaedic Surgery from the University of Colombo, Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and a ChM in Trauma and Orthopaedics from the University of Edinburgh. He further completed an ISTP Fellowship in Complex Trauma, Arthroplasty, and Upper Limb Surgery at St George's NHS Trust, UK, and holds a Diploma in Orthopaedic Oncology from the British Orthopaedic Oncology Society (2025). With over two decades of clinical experience across northern Sri Lanka, Dr. Sashikaran's specialist interests encompass complex trauma, deformity correction, limb reconstruction, hip and knee arthroplasty, arthroscopy, and paediatric orthopaedics. He is an active researcher and has contributed to national and international publications and conferences. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Jaffna Medical Association, Regional Advisor for SONA Global and an active Member of AOSYS Research and Training Foundation.