Professor S. M. S. Samarakoon was appointed Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine (PGIIM), University of Colombo, on February 3, 2024.
Prof Samarakoon obtained his Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo in 1995. In 2000, he earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Ayurveda Hospital Management from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. He later received a Doctor of Medicine (Ayu) in Kayachikitsa from Banaras Hindu University, India, in 2005, followed by a PhD in Kayachikitsa from the Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT & RA), Gujarat Ayurveda University, India, in 2011. Additionally, he holds a Diploma in Yoga from Banaras Hindu University.
In 2020, he obtained a second PhD from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and completed a Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2023, earning a Gold Medal for academic excellence.
Professor Samarakoon began his academic career in 2000 as a Lecturer (Probationary) at the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute (GWAI), University of Kelaniya, where he served until 2016. During his tenure, he held several key positions including Coordinator of the Graduate Studies Division, Head of the Department of Ayurveda Basic Principles, and Director of the GWAI in 2015.
He has contributed significantly to postgraduate education and research at the GWAI, teaching in MSc programs such as Management and Administration of Ayurveda Institutions (MSc MAAI), Kayachikitsa, and Panchakarma, as well as in Postgraduate Diplomas in Shalya Tantra, Panchakarma, and Kayachikitsa.
In 2016, he joined the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM), University of Colombo, as a Senior Lecturer (Grade I). From 2018 to 2021, he served as the Head of the Unit of Deshiya Chikitsa at IIM.
He has also held prominent positions at Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine (PGIIM), including Chairperson of the Board of Study in Ayurveda Medicine (2019–2022) and Chairperson of the Specialty Board of Kayachikitsa (2019–2022). Additionally, he has served as a member of both the Ayurveda Medical Council and the Ayurveda Education and Hospital Board of the Department of Ayurveda.
Professor Samarakoon has played a vital role in teaching, clinical training, research supervision, and examination within the Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda (Kayachikitsa) and Board Certification programs at PGIIM. He has supervised 13 Postgraduate Diploma research projects, 17 MSc theses, and 5 MD dissertations. He has also served as an adjudicator for five MPhil and five PhD theses both nationally and internationally. He has published over 80 research articles in local and international journals and presented more than 100 abstracts at scientific symposia. He has also served as Organizing Secretary for four international research symposia and delivered ten keynote speeches at national and international forums.
Currently, Professor Samarakoon serves as the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, and is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Ayurveda Medical Council.
Prof Samarakoon obtained his Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree with First Class Honours from the University of Colombo in 1995. In 2000, he earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Ayurveda Hospital Management from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. He later received a Doctor of Medicine (Ayu) in Kayachikitsa from Banaras Hindu University, India, in 2005, followed by a PhD in Kayachikitsa from the Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT & RA), Gujarat Ayurveda University, India, in 2011. Additionally, he holds a Diploma in Yoga from Banaras Hindu University.
In 2020, he obtained a second PhD from the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and completed a Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2023, earning a Gold Medal for academic excellence.
Professor Samarakoon began his academic career in 2000 as a Lecturer (Probationary) at the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute (GWAI), University of Kelaniya, where he served until 2016. During his tenure, he held several key positions including Coordinator of the Graduate Studies Division, Head of the Department of Ayurveda Basic Principles, and Director of the GWAI in 2015.
He has contributed significantly to postgraduate education and research at the GWAI, teaching in MSc programs such as Management and Administration of Ayurveda Institutions (MSc MAAI), Kayachikitsa, and Panchakarma, as well as in Postgraduate Diplomas in Shalya Tantra, Panchakarma, and Kayachikitsa.
In 2016, he joined the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM), University of Colombo, as a Senior Lecturer (Grade I). From 2018 to 2021, he served as the Head of the Unit of Deshiya Chikitsa at IIM.
He has also held prominent positions at Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine (PGIIM), including Chairperson of the Board of Study in Ayurveda Medicine (2019–2022) and Chairperson of the Specialty Board of Kayachikitsa (2019–2022). Additionally, he has served as a member of both the Ayurveda Medical Council and the Ayurveda Education and Hospital Board of the Department of Ayurveda.
Professor Samarakoon has played a vital role in teaching, clinical training, research supervision, and examination within the Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda (Kayachikitsa) and Board Certification programs at PGIIM. He has supervised 13 Postgraduate Diploma research projects, 17 MSc theses, and 5 MD dissertations. He has also served as an adjudicator for five MPhil and five PhD theses both nationally and internationally. He has published over 80 research articles in local and international journals and presented more than 100 abstracts at scientific symposia. He has also served as Organizing Secretary for four international research symposia and delivered ten keynote speeches at national and international forums.
Currently, Professor Samarakoon serves as the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo, and is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Ayurveda Medical Council.