The Welcome Ceremony for the new entrants to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSC) Degree Program – 2021/2022 Academic Year, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya was held on the 11th of July 2023. The Welcome Ceremony of the faculty was held at the auditorium of the Department of Farm Animal Production and Health with the participation of 83 new entrants along with their parents and other distinguished guests. Professor M.D. Lamawansa, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya adorned the ceremony as the Chief Guest. The event was graced by Professor M.D.T. Madujith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Professor Anil Pushpakumara, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Dr. Thushari Gunawardana delivered the welcome address as the coordinator of the orientation program and Dr. Raj Packianathan addressed the gathering as the invited guest speaker of the event. Furthermore, students who have attained academic excellence in the BVSC study program were awarded medals by Professor M.D.T. Madujith, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor , University of Peradeniya during the event. Ms. W.U Kumudumalee an award recipient then addressed the gathering. Mr. Anupama Sandakalum, Secretary of the Veterinary Students’ Union addressed the audience after which the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. N.M.T Anupama, marking the conclusion of the ceremony.

The Welcome Ceremony for the new entrants to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSC) Degree Program – 2020/2021 Academic Year, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya was held on the 10th of January 2023. The Welcome Ceremony of the faculty was scheduled to take place at the auditorium of the Department of Farm Animal Production and Health with the participation of 105 new entrants along with their parents and other distinguished guests. Professor M.D. Lamawansa, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya adorned the ceremony as the Chief Guest. The event was graced by Professor M.D.T. Madujith, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Professor Anil Pushpakumara, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Dr. N.M.T Anupama delivered the welcome address as the coordinator of the orientation program and Dr. B.M.O.A. Perera addressed the gathering as the invited guest speaker of the event. Ms. Shamindri Kadupitiyage, a student representing the 2020/2021 batch addressed the gathering regarding the Industry Exposure Program which was newly initiated by the faculty. Furthermore, students who have attained academic excellence in the BVSC study program were awarded medals and scholarships by the Chief Guest during the event. Ms. D.M,M.H.H. Dissanayake an award recipient then addressed the gathering. Mr. Mahela Madurawala, President of the Veterinary Students’ Union addressed the audience after which the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Namalika Karunarathne, marking the conclusion of the ceremony.

The latest addition to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, the Farm Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital (FA-VTH) building was declared open by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya on the 30th of November 2022. The commemorative plaque was unveiled by the vice chancellor Prof. M.D. Lamavansa and the distinguished guests. At the inaugural ceremony Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Anil Pushpakumara emphasized the significance of this newly built facility as the only national hospital dedicated to treating farm animals and equine in the country. The Vice Chancellor in his speech expressed his appreciation over the completion of the new facility. He stated that it is the responsibility of the students to reap the maximum benefits of this novel complex and thereby further improve the graduate and post graduate work of the veterinary field in Sri Lanka. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. M.N.M.Fouzi, the Head of the Department of Farm Animal Production and Health. The hospital complex was finalized with an estimated budget of 85 million rupees and was completed within 7 years.

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The “Orientation Program” for the Batch 2020/2021 will be commenced on 4th July 2022 and the program will be delivered via online mode.

Dr Logeswaran is a veterinary practitioner working in the UK who visited the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Peradeniya on 30th and 31st March 2022. Together with surgeons at the VTH, he has performed surgeries such as vertebral penetration, Cervical and thoracic hemilaminectomy and pelvic fracture corrections using cadavers. Furthermore, he has donated surgical instruments and agreed to accommodate our clinicians for a short term clinical training at his private hospital in the UK. It is with great pleasure, we would like to acknowledge Dr Logeswaran for his generous donation and sharing his clinical expertise with us

Prof. Ruwani S. Kalupahana who was a Professor in Veterinary Public Health at the Department of Public Health and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science was promoted to the position of Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Pharmacology with effect from the 24 th of December 2021. She has been serving at the Department of Public Health and Pharmacology since 1995, rendering invaluable services to the department and the faculty in terms of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research. Prof. Kalupahana whose research interests lie primarily in the areas of Veterinary Education, Veterinary Public Health and Veterinary Microbiology has been conducting ample researches since she received her PhD from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom in 2003 and has got her work published in many high impact journals. Prof. Kalupahana with a recognised track record of research achievements was also the recipient of research grants worth many millions. Recently, she was awarded with two research grants by the Global Challenge Research Fund, UK and Massey University Research Fund which are worth around 25 million Sri Lankan Rupees. Prof. Kalupahana is also currently serving as the national coordinator of the One Health Poultry Hub, an organization created with the intention of achieving sustainable development in the poultry sector in Asia. Prof. Ruwani S. Kalupahana continues to contribute to academia and especially to the future of the Department of Public Health and Pharmacology in innumerable ways. We wish her success in all her future endeavours.

Dr. L.J.P. Anura P. Jayasooriya, who was a senior lecturer in Veterinary Biochemistry & Nutrition at the Department of Basic Veterinary Science was promoted to the position of Professor with effect from the 30th of April 2021. Prof. Jayasooriya has been conducting research on the area of Nutritional Biochemistry, especially on conjugated and omega-3 fatty acid since his Master’s and PhD research programs in Japan and Australia respectively. Since then Prof. Jayasooriya has published several research articles on lipid metabolism and related research topics and has made several hypotheses and discoveries, some of which have been published in high impact journals like Proceedings of National Academy of Science (PNAS; USA), Science, Medical Hypotheses etc. Further he has secured five national patents for his inventions and one of those is in the process of commercialization through the Business Linkage, Innovation, Incubation and Technology Transfer Office (BLIITTO) of the University of Peradeniya. One of his major research interests has been the exploration on metabolism and functions of an unusual conjugated fatty acid named as alpha-eleostearic acid present in Bitter Melon (Karawila) seed fat. He has also worked as a lecturer in Veterinary Physiology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Trinidad. His research projects have been funded by national and international funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, IAEA and UWI-Trinidad and Tobago Research and Development Impact Fund. .. Prof. Jayasooriya continues to contribute to academia and especially to the future of the Department of Basic Veterinary Science in innumerable ways. We wish him success in all his future endeavours.

The General Convocation- 2019 of the University of Peradeniya was held from the 22nd – 24th of February at the university gymnasium. We are proud to inform you that out of 64 students who graduated, 4 students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science received several prizes and medals for their academic excellence.

• Arunachalam Chinnaiah Gold Medal for best performance in BVSc degree
• S.T. Fernando Memorial Gold Medal for excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science
• The Peradeniya Gold Medal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science for excellence in scholastic and extra-mural excellence
• S. T. Fernando Memorial Gold Medal for excellence in Veterinary Medicine

• Prof. G. E. Kodituwakku prize for excellence in Veterinary Surgery
• Gold Medal for excellence in Veterinary Pathology
• Sivalingam Mahalingam Gold Medal for excellence in Veterinary Microbiology

• Anand Kumari Sikka Memorial Gold Medal for excellence in Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics

• S.T. Fernando Memorial prize for excellence in Veterinary Parasitology

We are proud to announce that Ms. W.U. Kumudumalee and Mr. G.V.T. Ananda of Batch 2016/ 2017 were selected as recipients of the MSD Animal Health/ World Veterinary Association Student Scholarships for 2021. This prestigious award is given based on academic achievement, engagement of students with their desired career path and their leadership potential. The faculty congratulates them on their notable achievement and wish them the very best for their future careers.
More details available on the official website:

Prof.P.G.Anil Pushpakumara, Professor, Department of Farm Animal Production & Health was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty , for a period of three (03) years with effect from 01st November 2021

The First Undergraduate Research Symposium of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science was held on 15th July 2020 at the Auditorium, Administrative Building, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya. Professor Upul B. Dissanayake, the Honourable Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya was the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony which was also attended by Professor Parakrama Karunarathne, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, and other dignitaries such as Dr. Ranjini Hettiarachchi, Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health, and Dr. Madura Munasinghe, the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science.
The major highlight of the event was the fact that it was conducted as a ‘Virtual Symposium’ considering the circumstances surrounding the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. Research findings of ‘Animal Production & Health Research Projects’ of the students of the batch 2013/2014 were presented at the symposium; 16 as pre-recorded oral presentations and 47 as digital posters. The pre-recorded oral presentations were played back in front of a panel of distinguished judges followed by a question and answer session where students joined virtually for a live discussion. The three overall best oral presentations and the best poultry-related presentation were selected based on the judges’ scores.
The event was organized by the Veterinary Medical Education Unit (VMEU) and attended by approximately 50 ‘physical’ and 125 ‘virtual’ participants. A digital copy of the Proceedings of the First Undergraduate Research Symposium can be downloaded from here
YouTube link oral presentations
Poster presentation

An awareness meeting was conducted for the academic/nonacademic staff on 20th May 2020 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Auditorium, Main Administrative Building on Covid- 19 preparedness. Dr. HAD Ruwanjith, a medical officer and Mr. LAMN Lankathilake, P.H.I. /supervisor of health center, University of Peradeniya were the resource people.

• The main focus of the discussion was on preventive measures to be taken at the faculty level against COVID-19 outbreak. It was pointed out that hand washing with soap and water before entry into a building and maintenance of social distance as the major preventive steps.
• In addition, methods on mask usage/ management and cleaning and disinfecting premises/objects were discussed.
 
• The meeting was successful with active participation of both academic and nonacademic staff representing all five departments.

A counseling session was conducted for the first year students (batch 2017/2018) from 10 am – 12 noon on 24th January 2020 at the biochemistry lecture room of the Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences. Mrs. Selani Abeykoon, a professional counsellor attached to the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Welfare participated as the resource person.

• Main focus of the session was to help students learn how to build empathy. Empathy is a key part of being a responsible and helpful community member at the lecture room, faculty and the university.
 
• The event was very successful and the students actively took part in the discussion. In the feedback session, students requested similar programmes for them as well as for the other batches of students.

The welcome ceremony of the new entrants to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science, University of Peradeniya was held at the Farm Animal Auditorium, on 31st December 2019, under the patronage of Professor Upul B. Dissanayake, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya. Dr. Madura Munasinghe, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science welcomed the gathering. Seventy one undergraduate students were enrolled for the 2018/19 academic year and their parents were also present at the occasion.