Nawaloka Hospitals felicitates Sri Lanka’s Nephrology trailblazers

From left: Prof. Rezni Cassim, Deshamanya Prof. A. H. Sheriffdeen, Dr. A. L. M. Nazar, Dr. Nalaka Gunawansa, Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Chairman Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, Vidya Jyothi Prof. Lal Chandrasena

Nawaloka Hospitals PLC recently felicitated the pioneers in the field of Nephrology in Sri Lanka and announced the successful completion of 500 kidney transplant surgeries to-date. 

A felicitation ceremony in honour of the pioneers of Nephrology in Sri Lanka was hosted by Nawaloka Hospitals PLC on June 28 at the hospital premises. 

Senior medical professionals representing Nephrologists- Dr. A. L. M. Nazar, Dr. Mathu Selvarajah, Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Dr. Anura Hewageegana, Dr. Sanjaya Heiyanthuduwa, Dr. Anupama De Silva, Dr. Chinthana Galahitiyawa, Dr.  Rushdie Nizam and Prof. Eranga Wijewickrama and Surgeons- Prof. Mandika Wijeratne, Dr.  Lalitha Piyarisi, Dr. Ruwan Fonseka, Dr. Daminda Rajamanthri, Dr. Nalaka Gunawansa, Dr. Ranjuka Obeysiri, Prof. Rezni Cassim, Dr. Niroshan Atulugama, and Dr. Kumaradasan  Umashanka graced the occasion. 

Other dignitaries included Anesthesiologists- Prof. Anuja Abeydeera, Dr. Vihara Dassanayake, Dr. Vinodini Wanigasekera, Dr. Jayathi Subasinghe, Dr. Lakshman Dissanayake, Dr. S K Sharma, Dr. Sugunadewan,  Chairman of Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, and other senior hospital medical staff.  

While paying tribute to the three frontiers, Prof. Rezvi Sheriff, Prof. Sheriffdeen and Prof. Geri Jayasekera in pioneering the first Kidney Transplant surgery in Sri Lanka, Chairman of Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa further noted that the very first kidney transplant surgery in Sri Lanka was conducted at Ratnams Hospital on October 1, 1985.

“In 1987, two years after Nawaloka Hospital was inaugurated, the same medical team performed the first transplant at Nawaloka Hospital. Henceforth, Kidney Transplants were done regularly until 2012, under the pioneering leadership of this trio of surgeons and nephrologists at the Nawaloka Hospitals. 

A modern era of leadership began in 2012 comprising a new team led by Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Prof. Mandika Wijeratne, et al. This team performed their first surgery at Nawaloka Hospital on June 1, 2012. Coincidentally, the 500th kidney transplant surgery was also performed by the same team” Dr. Dharmadasa added.  

With state-of-the-art equipment designed to cater to the exclusive needs of patients with kidney failure, Nawaloka Hospitals has come a long way in delivering tertiary healthcare services tailored to meet individual patient care needs.