Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology - GWUIM

22/03/2026

🔬 NCIKS 2026 | Pillar 03: Translating Tradition into Innovation 🔬
The National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (NCIKS) 2026 is a national platform that brings together traditional knowledge holders, academics, and researchers to revitalize and integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems for sustainable development, innovation, and intergenerational knowledge continuity.

✨ Session 02: Integrating Biomaterials, Biomechanics, and Artificial Intelligence for Next-Generation Healthcare
We are pleased to highlight the successful completion of Session 02 under Pillar 03, held on 1st March 2026.

🎤 The keynote address was delivered by Dr. W. M. Arjuna Wijekoon, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, emphasizing the integration of emerging technologies with indigenous medical knowledge.

🌟 The session was further enriched by an esteemed panel of Special Invitees, including Mr. Muditha Rathnayaka – Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board; Ms. Dilini Darshanamala – University of Colombo; Mr. Kasun Samarawickrama – General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University; and Ms. Sankani Heenkenda – University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

📚 The abstract presentations were followed by a dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Sanuththara Ranasinghe.

👏 The session was coordinated by Dr. Shermila Botheju, Co-Chair, NCIKS 2026, with the distinguished presence of Dr. Jithya Wijesinghe, Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology (FIHST).

🎓 The active participation of academics, researchers, and professionals greatly contributed to the success of the session.

🤝 We also extend our sincere appreciation to the non-academic staff and student volunteers for their invaluable support.

📸 Session highlights are shared below.

22/03/2026

🌿 NCIKS 2026 | Pillar 03: Translating Tradition into Innovation 🌿

The National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (NCIKS) 2026 is a national platform that brings together traditional knowledge holders, academics, and researchers to revitalize and integrate Indigenous Knowledge Systems for sustainable development, innovation, and intergenerational knowledge continuity.

✨ Session 01: Roots to Routes – Indigenous Heritage Shaping Sustainable Agro-Ecotourism

We are pleased to share the successful completion of Session 01 under Pillar 03, held on 1st March 2026.

🎤 The keynote address was delivered by Prof. R.S.S.W. Arachchi, Professor in Tourism, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, highlighting the importance of indigenous heritage in shaping sustainable agro-ecotourism practices.

🌟 The session was further enriched by an eminent panel of Special Invitees, including Dr. Punchi Bandage Dharmasena, Independent Consultant and former Senior Lecturer at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka; Prof. H.A.W.S. Gunathilaka from Wayamba University of Sri Lanka; Mr. Niranjan Dissanayake, Managing Director of Spyzer F & B (Pvt) Ltd; Mr. Jayantha Rajapakshe of CIC Holdings PLC; and Mr. Krishna Ranagala, Managing Director of Hayleys Group.

📚 The abstract presentations were followed by an engaging panel discussion, expertly moderated by Mr. Niwantha Kanuwana.

👏 The session was coordinated by Dr. Shermila Botheju, Co-Chair, NCIKS 2026, with the distinguished presence of Dr. Jithya Wijesinghe, Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology (FIHST).

🎓 The active participation of academics, researchers, and professionals greatly contributed to the success of the session.

🤝 We also extend our sincere appreciation to the non-academic staff and dedicated student volunteers for their invaluable support.

📸 Highlights from the session are shared below.

12/03/2026

10/02/2026

📢 Anti-Ragging Awareness Workshop | GWUIM

The Center for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) of the
Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine
is organizing an important awareness workshop on:

“Order of Court on Framing Guidelines to Combat Ragging in State Universities”
(based on the Supreme Court Judgment dated 09.07.2025 – SCFR 216/2020)

🗓 Date: 19th February 2026
⏰ Time: 8.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon
📍 Venue: Mini Auditorium, GWUIM

👥 Participants:
• Students of all faculties (FIM, FIHST, FISSMS)
• Student Union & Student Society Representatives (compulsory)
• Academic staff, administrative officers, wardens, sub-wardens, and other interested staff

🎯 Objective:
To enhance awareness on anti-ragging laws, victim protection mechanisms, and institutional responsibilities, in line with Supreme Court directives.

✨ Let us work together to promote a safe, disciplined, and ragging-free university environment.

06/01/2026

National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems 2026
An Intergenerational Dialogue on Knowledge Continuity

We are pleased to announce the National Conference on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, bringing together traditional knowledge holders, renowned academics, researchers, practitioners, and university students to explore the relevance of indigenous wisdom in modern society.

Date: 01 March 2026
Venue: Gampaha Wicramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka

Conference Pillars:
• Crystallizing Indigenous Medicine, Inspiring New Discoveries
• Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainability
• Translating Tradition into Innovation

🔗 For registration & Abstracts submission details: Please refer University Website - https://gwu.ac.lk/nciks2026/index.php

Registration: Google form link: https://forms.gle/oJ51V8kJK98ozyJ9A

Contact us
Eamil: [email protected]
Telephone: +94 77 089 2796 (Conference Secretary)

📣 Join us in preserving, revitalizing, and innovating Indigenous Knowledge Systems for a sustainable future

02/12/2025

Senate Honors – GWUIM 2025 🌟
We are proud to announce that a distinguished academic of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine (GWUIM) has been recognized with Senate Honors, presented by the Vice-Chancellor on 27th November 2025.
Dr. Nalika R. Dayananda
Department of Indigenous Medical Resources, FIHST, GWUIM
📘 Geospatial Profiling and Environmental Risk Analysis of Cadmium and Lead Dispersion in Dry Zone Soils and Sediments of Sri Lanka
Published in Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, pp. 1–22
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15320383.2025.2537312
We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Dayananda for her exceptional scholarly achievements and for bringing honor and recognition to GWUIM through impactful international research.
Your contribution strengthens the global visibility of our university and inspires academic excellence.

02/11/2025

Proud Achievement!
Our talented students from the Department of Technology showcased their creativity and innovation at DHack 2025 (https://dhack.lk/)– Design-a-thon, organized by the Students’ Association of the Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Management, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Out of 57 university teams that competed, two of our teams -Team MediMinds (Nilupul Wickramasinghe, Divyani Liyanage & Ashani Dissanayake) and Team PixelPro (Osh*tha Dilshan, Aruni Ekanayake, & Yohani Sooriyabandara) made it through the semi-final rounds to the finals, demonstrating exceptional skill and passion in UI/UX design.
A special congratulations to Team MediMinds for securing the 2nd Runner-Up position with their innovative project “AidMate”, a digitalised first-aid knowledge platform that enhances accessibility to essential emergency guidance. The final round was held on 1st November 2025.
We are incredibly proud of both teams for their creativity, teamwork, and for representing the Department with excellence!
Special thanks to Ms Naduni Ranasinghe, a lecturer at the Department of Technology for her guidance and support.

02/11/2025

04/10/2025

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟎𝟐 – 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 – 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚



𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞, eminent scientist and academic, former senior lecturer of the Open University of Sri Lanka and current Deputy Director General (Academic Affairs), UNESCO C2C, South Asian Centre for Teacher Development graced the second day of the 2023/24 Student orientation programme of the FIHST. Here, Dr. Wattavidanage addressed the students, discussing how they can enjoy and excel in their university life, while focusing on the attitudes and attributes of an undergraduate.

04/10/2025

𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥: 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝


A guest talk on how to adapt to university life was given by prominent and well-known scientist and science communicator, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚 - Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Technology, University of Moratuwa. Dr. Wijesena focused on some key skills students need to develop as they transition from a school student to an undergraduate, such as maintaining discipline, achieving financial goals, so as to achieve a positive outcome in the future.

04/10/2025

𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟎𝟐 - 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 – 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚





A session on “How to Live with Diversity” was conducted by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐲𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐣𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐞, Former Director, of the university’s Centre for Gender Equity/Equality. Here Dr. Wijesinghe focused on the importance of maintaining a disciplined, healthy environment, refrained from undue influences, where students feel both mentally and physically free to carry on with their studies and live as an undergraduate.



A session on STDs was conducted by 𝐃𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐤 𝐔𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢, Medical Officer-in-charge, STD Aids Control Programme, Gampaha. Dr. Udayasiri shared valuable information on the status of STDs, especially with relation to university students, while educating them on the mechanisms of spreading, awareness, and control of such diseases.