Indika Karunathilake

Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9772-116X

Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake (MBBS (Col.), DMedEd (Dundee), MMedEd (Dundee), FCGP (Hon., SL), FHEA (UK), FCME (SL), FRCP (Edin) is the first ever professor in Medical Education in the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, founder President of the College of Medical Educationists and the immediate Past President of Sri Lanka Medical Association. During a time span of two decades, Karunathilake has served SLMA in the capacity of Assistant Secretary (2005-2007), Editor (2004-2008), Secretary (2008, 2010), Vice President (2014), President Elect (2019) and as the President of SLMA during the most challenging year of 2020.

Professor Indika Karunathilake has conducted extensive research and authored over 100 publications in peer reviewed international journals and over 300 research presentations at international and national level, resulting in an H-index of 15, over 1100 citations and President’s Award for Scientific Publications.

He has made significant contribution at global level through several leading international organizations World Health Organization (WHO), World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) and South East Regional Association for Medical Education (SEARAME). Recently Prof Karunathilake was elected uncontested as Secretary General of Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH). He is the first Sri Lankan to be appointed to this prestigious post. He has been involved in the nation’s effort of controlling COVID -19 since 2020 and played a leading role in introducing the Integrated Helpline System for Triage and Management of COVID 19 patients.  

Announcements