Professor Surangi G. Yasawardene MBBS; PhD
Professor Surangi G. Yasawardene joined the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, as the Director, in December 2025, having had over three decades of experience in academia. She is a distinguished academic with an extensive career dedicated to higher education, research, and institutional development. Professor Yasawardene has contributed significantly to the advancement of medical and dental education in Sri Lanka. She has held various prominent positions, including Chair and Senior Professor of Anatomy, Dean-Faculty of Medical Sciences and Founder Dean-Faculty of Dental Sciences of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Prof. Yasawardene’s association with the PGIM spans over two decades. During this time, she has served on the Board of Management for nearly ten years and was a member of the Academic Affairs, Accreditation and Examinations Committee (AAAEC) for 11 years. Her contributions extend across multiple academic and administrative domains, including the development of study programmes, serving as an examiner, and participating as a core group member and visiting lecturer. She has also reviewed prospectuses, served on numerous preliminary and formal inquiry panels, and contributed to several academic staff selection interview panels.
Prof. Yasawardene also served the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) nearly for a decade as a council member, including a short period as the Vice-president, SLMC in uplifting the standards of medical education, medical practice and patient safety to acceptable global standards. As a founder member of the Accreditation Unit (AU) of the SLMC played a key role in obtaining the recognition of The World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations and has supervised more than 15 MPhils and PhDs. Served on national committees and advisory boards, contributing to policy formulation and institutional reforms in higher education. Served as President of the Anatomical Society of Sri Lanka, 2017–2018. Her collaborative approach has enabled partnerships with global institutions, enhancing research opportunities and knowledge exchange.
Her focus is on enhancing the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of training programmes of the PGIM including curriculum modernization aligned with international benchmarks, strengthening competency-based training, promoting research and scholarly activity, and ensuring rigorous, transparent assessment processes. Recognizing the evolving healthcare needs of the nation, she hopes to expand opportunities in emerging specialties and subspecialties, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Since the establishment of the PGIM it has played a pivotal role in shaping generations of medical and dental specialists who uphold the highest standards of professionalism, clinical excellence, and ethical practice, and Prof. Yasawardene is deeply committed to strengthening this legacy while guiding the Institute toward innovation, inclusivity, and global relevance.