New Vice Chancellor Appointed for University of Colombo

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake as the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo. The official letter of appointment was handed over today (23) at the Presidential Secretariat by President’s Secretary, Dr.  Sanath Kumaranayake.

Professor Karunathilake is a prominent figure in the National People’s Power movement and has actively contributed to its election campaigns. A pioneer in medical education, he holds the distinction of being the first Professor of Medical Education at the University of Colombo.

He has served on the university’s academic staff since June 2000 and is an alumnus of both the University of Colombo and the University of Dundee in Scotland. He is also a fellow of the UK’s Higher Education Academy and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Internationally recognized for his expertise in medical education, Professor Karunathilake has worked with leading organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH), and the South-East Asia Regional Association for Medical Education (SEARAME).

In Sri Lanka, he has served as Secretary of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and was the founding Chair of the College of Medical Educationists (CME). He has also held the role of Vice President of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA). In 2021, he was elected Secretary-General of APACPH, becoming the first Sri Lankan to hold this prestigious international position.