Priyani Soysa
Encyclopedia
Professor Priyani Elizabeth Soysa is an Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics of the University of Colombo
and the first woman to be appointed to a professorial chair in Sri Lanka
.
, Moratuwa
, she entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
where she graduated with First Class Honours in the final MBBS exam. Thereafter, she proceeded to the United Kingdom to pursue her specialist studies in Paediatrics. After obtaining the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians, London she also sat for the Doctorate in Medicine of the University of Ceylon, becoming the first woman to obtain the qualification.
to be appointed to a professorial chair, when she succeeded her mentor, Professor C. C. de Silva, as Professor of Paediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon and subsequently the University of Colombo. She held the chair in Paediatrics for 25 years before retiring in 1991. Widely known for her pioneering research in Nutrition
and Infectious Diseases, she was also instrumental in imposing regulations restricting advertising of infant formula milk, and formulating the national policy on breast feeding, which recommended Exclusive Breast Feeding for 4-6 months.
Among the many public sector posts she held during her distinguished career are Chairperson of the Board of Study in Paediatrics of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine and Chairperson, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. She also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization
and the United Nations
Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Prof. Soysa is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association (now known as the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians), the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
, she was made the defendant in a law suit filed by a prominent lawyer, Rienzie Arseculeratne, who alleged that Prof. Soysa was negligent in the care of his three year old daughter, who turned out to have a Brain Stem Glioma. After a protracted and lengthy litigation, that traversed the full breadth of the legal process in Sri Lanka, the Supreme Court ruled in her favour, holding that although she was negligent, causation
was not established by the plaintiff
.
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
and the first woman to be appointed to a professorial chair in 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...
.
Education
After completing her studies in Princess of Wales CollegePrince of Wales' College, Moratuwa
'Prince of Wales College is a School in Sri Lanka.The school is situated in Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo. Prince of Wales' College was founded in 1876 by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa who was a famous 19th Century Sri Lankan philanthropist...
, Moratuwa
Moratuwa
Moratuwa is a city on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo main highway, 18 km south of the capital, Colombo. Moratuwa is surrounded on three sides by water, except in the north of the city, by the Indian Ocean on the west...
, she 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 she graduated with First Class Honours in the final MBBS exam. Thereafter, she proceeded to the United Kingdom to pursue her specialist studies in Paediatrics. After obtaining the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians, London she also sat for the Doctorate in Medicine of the University of Ceylon, becoming the first woman to obtain the qualification.
Career
Having functioned as a paediatrician in various parts of the country including Jaffna, She became the first woman in Sri LankaSri 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...
to be appointed to a professorial chair, when she succeeded her mentor, Professor C. C. de Silva, as Professor of Paediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon and subsequently the University of Colombo. She held the chair in Paediatrics for 25 years before retiring in 1991. Widely known for her pioneering research in Nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
and Infectious Diseases, she was also instrumental in imposing regulations restricting advertising of infant formula milk, and formulating the national policy on breast feeding, which recommended Exclusive Breast Feeding for 4-6 months.
Among the many public sector posts she held during her distinguished career are Chairperson of the Board of Study in Paediatrics of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine and Chairperson, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. She also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Subcommittee on Nutrition.
Prof. Soysa is a Past President of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association (now known as the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians), the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.
Allegation of negligence
In a landmark case of Medical NegligenceNegligence
Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. The area of tort law known as negligence involves harm caused by carelessness, not intentional harm.According to Jay M...
, she was made the defendant in a law suit filed by a prominent lawyer, Rienzie Arseculeratne, who alleged that Prof. Soysa was negligent in the care of his three year old daughter, who turned out to have a Brain Stem Glioma. After a protracted and lengthy litigation, that traversed the full breadth of the legal process in Sri Lanka, the Supreme Court ruled in her favour, holding that although she was negligent, causation
Causation
Causation may refer to:* Causation , a key component to establish liability in both criminal and civil law* Causation in English law defines the requirement for liability in negligence...
was not established by the plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
.