Janaka de Silva
Encyclopedia
Vidya Jyothi
Professor
Hithanadura Janaka De Silva is a Sri Lanka
n academic and physician
. A Senior Professor of Medicine, he is the Dean
of the Medical Faculty, University of Kelaniya
and a member of the University Grants Commission
, He subsequently entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
where he obtained both an undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree, captained the Rugby team and was a team mate of Devaka Fernando and later a postgraduate Doctor of Medicine
degree in 1986 (supervised by US Jayawickrama
) winning the Stokes award for the most outstanding candidate. He subsequently trained at Oxford University where he was a graduate student at Pembroke College
winning the Wingate Scholarship, a Wellcome Trust
Fellowship and an Overseas Research Student award, he obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy and also trained in Clinical Gastroenterology specialising in ulcerative colitis
. He was awarded a gold medal for his presentation at the University of Bologna 900th year anniversary celebrations
at the University of Colombo
. He also served on the Board of Study in Medicine and was its Chairman, in addition to being a member of the Board of Management of the Institute. He has served as a member of the National Research Council of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Medical Council, Board of Directors of the National Science Foundation, National Health Research Council
London, Edinburgh and the Ceylon College of Physicianshttp://ceycollphysicians.org/ where he also served as Secretary and President. He is Co Editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal with C G Uragoda
.
was conferred upon him by the Government of Sri Lanka in recognition of his contribution to Science and Health care.
and Cyril Fernando
Gold Medals by the Ceylon College of Physicians, Kandy Society of Medicine Gold Medal Oration 2000, Nihal Markus Gold Medal Oration 1992, Sir Marcus Fernando
Gold Medal Oration 1999 by the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Kandy Society of Medicine Prize for research in 2007.
Sri Lankan honours system
The Sri Lankan national honours system is a fully indigenous honours system of titles, decorations and medals which are awarded to recognize achievements of, or service by, Sri Lankans or others in connection with Sri Lanka...
Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Hithanadura Janaka De Silva is a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n academic and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. A Senior Professor of Medicine, he is the Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Medical Faculty, University of Kelaniya
University of Kelaniya
The University of Kelaniya is a state university of Sri Lanka. Situated just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the ancient and historic city of Kelaniya, the University has two major campuses, seven locations, six faculties and four institutions....
and a member of the University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)
The University Grants Commission is the body responsible for funding most of the State Universities in Sri Lanka, and operates within the frame work of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, itself established in 1979. A public organization, established under the Parliament Act No 16 of 1978...
Education
Educated at the prestigious Royal College ColomboRoyal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, He subsequently entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
Established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, is the second oldest medical school in South Asia.-History:...
where he obtained both an undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree, captained the Rugby team and was a team mate of Devaka Fernando and later a postgraduate Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1986 (supervised by US Jayawickrama
US Jayawickrama
US Jayawickrama' MBBS , MD , FRCP , FRCP ‘ is a Sri Lankan physician and artistJayawickrama was educated at Richmond College and Royal College Colombo and Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo qualifying Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Doctor of Medicine.Having spent two...
) winning the Stokes award for the most outstanding candidate. He subsequently trained at Oxford University where he was a graduate student at Pembroke College
Pembroke College
Pembroke College may refer to:*Pembroke College, Cambridge*Pembroke College, Oxford*Pembroke College , the former women's college...
winning the Wingate Scholarship, a Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
Fellowship and an Overseas Research Student award, he obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy and also trained in Clinical Gastroenterology specialising in ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease . Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the colon , that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores. The main symptom of active disease is usually constant diarrhea mixed with blood, of gradual onset...
. He was awarded a gold medal for his presentation at the University of Bologna 900th year anniversary celebrations
Educational work
He was appointed Professor of Medicine in the University of Kelaniya at the age of 39 years and 6 months in 1996 and subsequently served as Dean. He and colleagues set up a training programme for gastroenterologists in Sri Lanka where he was the founder coordinator for the training programme at the Postgraduate Institute of MedicinePostgraduate Institute of Medicine
The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of the University of Colombo is a graduate school that provides specialist training of medical doctors. The only type of its kind, it is similar to the Royal Medical Colleges of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1976 as the Institute of Postgraduate...
at the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
. He also served on the Board of Study in Medicine and was its Chairman, in addition to being a member of the Board of Management of the Institute. He has served as a member of the National Research Council of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Medical Council, Board of Directors of the National Science Foundation, National Health Research Council
Professional activities
He has been president of the Gastroenterological and Digestive Endoscopy Society of Sri Lanka He is a Fellow of the Royal College of PhysiciansRoyal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
London, Edinburgh and the Ceylon College of Physicianshttp://ceycollphysicians.org/ where he also served as Secretary and President. He is Co Editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal with C G Uragoda
C G Uragoda
Dr Christopher Gunapala Uragoda MBBS , MD , Hon. DSc , FRCP , FRCP known as Chris Uragoda is a Sri Lankan Physician, Author, Folklorist, Historian and Conservationist...
.
Honours
In 1998 he received the The Ten Outstanding Young Persons award for Academic Leadership and Accomplishment. He was elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka. He is an Honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka. He has received the prestigious lifetime award The Vice Chancellors and Directors Excellence Award for the Most Outstanding Researcher in Medical and Allied Sciences. The Titular honour Vidya JyothiSri Lankan honours system
The Sri Lankan national honours system is a fully indigenous honours system of titles, decorations and medals which are awarded to recognize achievements of, or service by, Sri Lankans or others in connection with Sri Lanka...
was conferred upon him by the Government of Sri Lanka in recognition of his contribution to Science and Health care.
Research
He has published extensively in peer reviewed journals and is the Editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal. He has been awarded the PB FernandoPB Fernando
Panagodage Bertram Fernando LMS MBBS , MD FRCP DTM&H OBE is First Professor of Medicine Ceylon Medical College and Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo. Fernando was educated like Marcus Fernando at St. Benedict's College, Colombo. He was awarded a Government scholarship to the Ceylon...
and Cyril Fernando
Cyril Fernando
Dr Cyril Francis Fernando, C.M.G., O.B.E., M.D., M.R.C.P. was a Sri Lankan Clinician and researcher.Fernando was educated like Marcus Fernando and Professor PB Fernando at St. Benedict's College, Colombo. He attended University College Hospital, London, qualifying M.B. B.S. and obtaining MRCP in...
Gold Medals by the Ceylon College of Physicians, Kandy Society of Medicine Gold Medal Oration 2000, Nihal Markus Gold Medal Oration 1992, Sir Marcus Fernando
Marcus Fernando
Sir Hilarian Marcus Fernando, was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesmen, physician and banker. He was a member of both the Executive Council and Legislative Council as well as the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.-Education:...
Gold Medal Oration 1999 by the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Kandy Society of Medicine Prize for research in 2007.