Academic Positions

• Professor in Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), University of Peradeniya (Since February 2021 to date)

• Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy (Gr I) Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), University of Peradeniya (Since November 2017 to January 2021)

• Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy (Gr II) Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), University of Peradeniya (2011 to 2017)

• Lecturer in Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), University of Peradeniya (2006 to 2011)




Service and leadership roles at the University of Peradeniya

• Secretary, Higher Degrees Committee, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (May 2021 to date)

• Programme coordinator, MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Peradeniya (January 2020 to date)

• Editor-in-Chief and coordinator for Proposal writing, MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Peradeniya (August 2019 to date)

• Coordinator and main contact, Memorandum of Understanding between Quest International University (QIU), Malaysia and University of Peradeniya (October 2020 to date) [in progress]

• Editor-in-Chief for proposal wiring and coordinator, antimicrobial resistance short course for health care professionals, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (December 2019 to date)

• Member, Development of University level policies committee, Policy on Assessments and Awards, Internal Quality Assurance Unit, University of Peradeniya (2020 to date)

• Member, Committee for Self-Evaluation Report Writing – Institutional Review, Internal Quality Assurance Unit, University of Peradeniya (2020 to date)

• Head of the Department, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (2012 to 2014)

• Lecturer-in-Charge, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (2011 to 2012)

• Coordinator, Education Unit, FAHS, University of Peradeniya (2013-2014)

• Senior treasurer, Pharmaceutical Society of University of Peradeniya (2012-2013)

• Member, Academic Development Program committee (ADPC), FAHS (2012-2014)

• Member, Faculty e-Learning Committee, FAHS (2012 – 2014)

• Member, Faculty English Committee, FAHS (2012 – 2014)

• Member, Time Table Committee, Implementation of the first Time Table for FAHS, in 2007

• Member, Task force Committee, B.Pharm Curriculum Development Programme University of Peradeniya (2005-2007)

Professional Society Memberships

• Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka (PSSL) - Life member (since 2012)
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) - Member (2018 – present)
• Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association (CPA) - Member (2017- present)
• Australasian Pharmaceutical Sciences Association (APSA) - Student member (2016-2018)

Awards

• Research excellence award 2020 (highest tier identified by the UGC based on its circular), by University Research Council, University of Peradeniya
• Presidential award for outstanding scientific publications for publishing in high-impact factor journals (for the publication in International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, impact factor: 5.28)
• Presidential award for outstanding scientific publications for publishing in high-impact factor journals (for the publication in BMC Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, impact factor: 4.88)
• Outstanding poster presentation in pharmacy education, Australasian Pharmaceutical Sciences Association (APSA), Australia (2018)
• Second prize for best oral presentation, Pharmaceutical Student Symposium, The University of Sydney with American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) student chapter, Sydney, Australia (2018)
• Travel Grant, Postgraduate Research Support Scheme (PRSS) to travel Glasgow, UK for a research presentation at FIP congress, by Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney (2018)
• Endeavour Postgraduate Research Award, Government of Australia (2015)
• National Research Award: “Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems – Regulatory Requirements in Asian Scenario”, under India-Sri Lanka Research program 2012, from Ministry of Technology and Research, Government of Sri Lanka. Award Number: MTR/TRD/Agr/3/1/11
• Merit Awards for Scientific Publications, National Research Council (NRC), Sri Lanka (2010 and 2011)
• International Academic /Research Collaboration, International Research Centre, University of Peradeniya, Award Number: InRC/VS/Sakeena

My research interest includes investigating the role of pharmacist in antibiotic dispensing and consumption in the community and hospital settings in low- and middle-income countries, evaluating the impact of pharmacy education on antibiotic use among patients, pharmacist-led Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programmes, pharmacist role in providing pharmaceutical care services in Sri Lanka.

Summary: (Publications 37, google scholar h-index 16, citations 682 as of 20 th September 2021)

Google Scholar| Research Gate | ORCiD: 0000-0001-9854-1451 |   Scopus ID: 33568274100

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. Investigating knowledge regarding antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Australian universities. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research 2020, 50 (5)

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. Strategies to be implemented in Sri Lanka to overcome the challenge of antimicrobial resistance: Narrative review. Pharmaceutical Journal of Sri Lanka 2020; 10 (1), 1-11

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, Carter SJ, McLachlan AJ. A comparative study regarding antibiotic consumption and knowledge of antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Australia and Sri Lanka. PLoS One 14(3): e0213520

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. The need to strengthen the role of the pharmacist in Sri Lanka: perspectives. Pharmacy 2019, 7 (54)

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. Enhancing pharmacists’ role in developing countries to overcome the challenge of antimicrobial resistance: a narrative review. Antimicrobial resistance and infection control 2018, 7:63

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, Jamshed S, Mohamed F, Herath DR, Gawarammana I, McLachlan AJ. Investigating the knowledge regarding antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance among pharmacy students in Sri Lankan universities. BMC infectious diseases 2018, 18:209

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, Jamshed S, Mohamed F, Herath DR, Gawarammana I, McLachlan AJ. Investigating the knowledge regarding antibiotics among pharmacy and allied health students in a Sri Lankan university. Journal of infection in developing countries 2018, 12: 726-732

• Sakeena MHF, Bennett AA, McLachlan AJ. Non-prescription sales of antimicrobial agents at community pharmacies in developing countries: a systematic review. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents 2018, 52(6): 771-782

International Invited speaker presentations

1. Invited speaker - Title: Formulation and Evaluation of Palm Oil Esters Based Nano-emulsion for Topical Delivery of Ketoprofen at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science University of Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia on 26th March 2010.
2. Invited speaker - Title: Enhancing Pharmacy Education for Optimal use of Antimicrobial Agents at Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) global forum, jointly organized by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), Sydney, Australia 28 – 30th July 2017.

International collaborations

1. Research affiliate, Sydney Pharmacy School, The University of Sydney, Australia (2019-2021)
2. Chief organizer for Australian team visit to University of Peradeniya to teach Clinical Pharmacy. (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014)
3. Preceptor for the B.Pharm student research project in Quality Use of Medicines appointed by School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Australia (2014)
4. Collaborator from University of Peradeniya, Sri Lankan side: Science Bridge program between India and Sri Lanka for collaborative research and mutual cooperation with Indian institutions. Proposal was submitted in 2013 and our proposal was short listed for award by the Ministry of Technology and Research, Sri Lanka (2014)
5. Collaborator for organizing the workshop in India -KVSR Siddhartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences under India-Sri Lanka bilateral programme (2013)
6. Member : preparation signing of MoU between Science University of Malaysia (USM) and University of Peradeniya for Pharmacy undergraduate programme (2007)

University and National Grants

1. Research Grant: University Research Grants, University of Peradeniya 2014. Sri-Lankan rupees 486,800. Splitting Paracetamol tablets for pediatric usage and dose accuracy. Award Number: RG/2014/13/AHS
2. Science bridge programme between India and Sri Lanka: Short listed for award by the ministry of Technology and Research. Award Number: MTR/TRD/AGR/03-03
3. Grant for International Collaboration: Awarded from the International Research Centre, University of Peradeniya to support a visiting scholar from Australia. This grant used for the Air fare and accommodation for the visiting scholar. Award value: Sri Lankan rupees 200,000. Award Number: InRC/VS/Sakeena
4. National Research Award: “Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems – Regulatory Requirements in Asian Scenario” National Research Award was received under India-Sri Lanka Research program 2012, from Ministry of Technology and Research, Government of Sri Lanka. Award Number: MTR/TRD/Agr/3/1/11
5. Research Grant: University Research Grants, University of Peradeniya 2011. Sri-Lankan rupees 110,000. A study on the effect of high-shear on virgin coconut oil based nano-emulsion. Award Number: RG/2011/10/AHS
6. Travel Grant: Awarded from the University Grants Commission to travel to Penang, Malaysia from Colombo, Sri Lanka in July 2007. Award Number: UGC/HR/4/7/38/2