05/06/2026
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University proudly participated in the RESPIRE-IPPTA programme on โStrategies to Enhance Cessation of To***co Smoking in Sri Lankaโ, held in Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo on 14th May 2026 under the patronage of Hon. Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni.
The programme brought together the IPPTA university partners, including the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Peradeniya, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, together with healthcare professionals, policymakers, and global health partners.
A key highlight of the programme was the launch of โA Practical Guide to Individual Smoking Cessation for Healthcare Providers and Practitionersโ by Dr. Prasanna Herath, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Dr. Herath obtained his doctoral degree from the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
The guide was developed based on nearly three years of doctoral research funded by University of Sri Jayewardenepura research grants. Through this doctoral work, many important scientific findings related to to***co smoking and smoking cessation were generated for the first time in the Sri Lankan context. These findings have now been translated into a practical guide to support healthcare providers in helping individuals quit smoking.
The research was supervised by Prof. Savithri Wimalasekera, Prof. Thamara Amarasekara, Dr. Manoj Fernando, and Prof. Sue Turale.
Representing KDU, Vice Chancellor Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara, VSV, USP, psc, MMaritimePol, BSc(DS), Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Lieutenant Colonel (Prof.) Prasad Premarathna, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Colonel (Prof.) Ayendra Balasuriya attended the event.
Members from WHO, NATA, CCT, SLMA and ADIC also participated in the programme, further strengthening the collaborative effort toward to***co control in Sri Lanka.
Following the main event, a workshop was held on the 15th May to train nearly 100 healthcare workers on practical approaches to individual smoking cessation. The workshop focused on strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver evidence-based smoking cessation support in real-world healthcare settings.
KDU is proud to contribute to this important national and global initiative to protect public health and future generations from the harmful effects of to***co use.