Heads of Nursing Departments at the Strategic Partnership session The Heads of Departments of Nursing from the Universities of Peradeniya, Ruhuna, and Jaffna convened on 27 August 2026 at the Thilaka City Hotel, Anuradhapura for a high-level Strategic Partnership & Departmental Development Session.

Distinguished participants at the Strategic Partnership session The session brought together distinguished participants including Prof. M.D. Lamawansa (University of Peradeniya), Prof. Rohan Jeremiah (College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago), Prof. Nirmala Rathnayake (University of Ruhuna), Dr. Deepani Pathiranage (University of Peradeniya), Mr. S. Sathees (University of Jaffna), and Prof. Damayanthi Dassanayake (University of Peradeniya).

Key presentations at the Strategic Partnership session
Prof. Lamawansa and Prof. Jeremiah delivering the session's key presentations.

Key Presentations

Key presentations focused on Building Strong University Departments by Prof. Lamawansa and Strategic Partnership Planning by Prof. Jeremiah. The Heads of Nursing Departments highlighted shared priorities including joint research projects, faculty development, student mobility, scholarly output, and sustainability frameworks.

Discussion session on departmental priorities Heads of Nursing Departments in discussion

A National Partnership Framework

The meeting concluded with a commitment to consolidate departmental outcome worksheets into a national partnership framework and to hold monthly review meetings to ensure progress. Coordinated by Prof. Damayanthi Dassanayake, this initiative marks a significant step toward strengthening nursing education, research, and leadership across Sri Lankan universities.

The event was generously sponsored by Sivananthan Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, with the purpose of fostering academic cooperation, advancing nursing leadership, and supporting sustainable institutional development in Sri Lanka.