Professor S. M. S. Samarakoon was appointed as the new Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo on February 3, 2024. Professor SMS Samarakoon obtained the Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) Degree with a First Class from the University of Colombo in 1995. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Ayurveda Hospital Management from Sabaragamuwa University in 2000, a Doctor of Medicine (Ayu) in Kayachikitsa from Banaras Hindu University, India, in 2005, and PhD in Kayachikitsa from the Institute for Postgraduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (IPGT & RA), Gujarat Ayurveda University, India, in 2011. He also obtained a diploma in Yoga from Banaras Hindu University. He obtained his second PhD from Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka in 2020 and his Master of Arts in Sociology degree from Sri Jayewardenepura University in 2023.
He joined the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute (GWAI) as a probationary in 2000 and rendered his service as a senior lecturer until 2016. He served as coordinator of the Graduate Studies Division, coordinator of the ICT Centre, head of the Department of Ayurveda Basic Principles, and director of the Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute.
He joined the Institute of Indigenous Medicine (IIM) of the University of Colombo in 2016 as a Senior Lecturer Grade I. He also served as head of the unit of Deshiya Chikitsa and coordinator of the IT unit of IIM.
Since the Post Graduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine (PGIIM) was established, he has held the posts of Chairperson of the Board of Study of Ayurveda Medicine (2019-2022) and Chairperson of the Specialty Board of Kayachikitsa (2019-2022) of the PGIIM.
Professor SMS Samarakoon has served as a medical officer in the Department of Ayurveda from 1996 to 2000 and a member of the Ayurveda Medical Council. Currently, he is a member of the Ayurveda Education and Hospital Board of the Department of Ayurveda.
Professor SMS Samarakoon has engaged in teaching and research related to MSC in Management and Administration of Ayurveda Institutions (MSc MAAI), MSC in Kayachikitsa, MSC in Panchakarma, Postgraduate Diploma in Shalya Tantra, Postgraduate Diploma in Panchakarma, and Postgraduate Diploma in Kayachikitsa at GWAI, University of Kelaniya.
He has supervised 13 research projects for the Postgraduate Diploma, 17 for the MSc, and served as an adjudicator for five (05) MPhil and PhDs nationally and internationally.
Currently, he is the Director of the PGIIM and is engaged in teaching, training, and supervising the degree programmes of Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda Kayachikitsa at the Post Graduate Institute of Indigenous Medicine of the University of Colombo.
He has published 91 abstracts in symposia proceedings and 79 research papers in local and international research journals. He has organized four international research symposia as the organizing secretary and delivered nine keynote speeches nationally and internationally.