Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne
Vice Chancellor, Sri Lanka Technology Campus (SLTC)
Former 18th Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo (2019 – 2022)
Emeritus Professor in Reproductive Medicine
Consultant Physician & Endocrinologist
Message from the Vice Chancellor
Dear Staff and Students,
As we begin the month of June in 2026, and continue with the semester following the Vesak celebrations, I invite all members of the SLTC community to move forward with renewed commitment, camaraderie, and shared purpose.
SLTC has come a long way over the past decade. Today, we continue to witness meaningful progress in the standards of teaching, learning, scholarship, professional development, research, innovation, and industry engagement. These achievements have been made possible through the dedication of our students, academic and non-academic staff, parents, alumni, senior management, and well-wishers who have recognised and supported the unique learning environment that SLTC has steadily built.
We recall with gratitude the confidence placed in SLTC by our students and parents, and the commitment of our staff in nurturing areas of expertise that are of growing importance to Sri Lanka and the wider world. Our academic pathways, quality assurance processes, regulatory compliance, and accreditation efforts continue to be strengthened to ensure that our graduates are well-prepared, professionally competent, globally conscious, and ready to contribute meaningfully to society.
At this important stage of institutional growth, I seek your fullest participation in our updated academic, administrative, and student-support processes. These are designed to enhance learning opportunities, strengthen research and development, encourage innovation, expand industry partnerships, and promote problem-solving approaches that respond to national priorities and global challenges.
As a university community, our strength lies in working together with discipline, respect, professionalism, and confidence. I encourage our students to engage actively in their academic work, teamwork, extracurricular activities, career-development opportunities, and mentorship programmes. I also encourage our staff to continue contributing with dedication to the creation of a supportive, accountable, and forward-looking university environment.
Let us use this period to consolidate our progress, strengthen institutional confidence, and uphold the values that define SLTC: quality, integrity, innovation, inclusivity, and service to the nation.
I thank each one of you for your continued commitment to SLTC and look forward to working together as we advance with confidence into the next phase of our institutional journey.
With best wishes,
Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne
Vice Chancellor, Sri Lanka Technology Campus
A Pioneer in Higher Education and Women’s Health
Professor Chandrika N. Wijeyaratne is a senior academic and trailblazing physician with over 30 years of experience in higher education and clinical practice. Recognized as the first endocrinologist appointed to an academic position in Sri Lanka, she is a pioneer in women’s health, obstetric medicine, and reproductive endocrinology in South Asia. Her visionary leadership spans across academia, public health policy, and international clinical research.
Highest Accolades
- • Laureate Award for International Excellence (Endocrine Society, USA, 2017) – The first from South Asia recognized for internationally pioneering work.
- • Medicare Lifetime Achievers Award 2025 for outstanding contributions to healthcare, medical education, and women's health in Sri Lanka and the broader region.
Vision & Strategic Commitment
- •Strengthening SLTC’s collaboration in research and scholarship with centres of excellence in India.
- •Encouraging Sri Lankan students to be self-directed learners with a work-ready holistic outlook.
- •Prevention and control of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Women’s Health in Sri Lanka and the South Asian region.
- •Multi-sector coordination in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Sri Lanka.
Education & Qualifications
- •MBBS (Second Class Upper Honours): University of Colombo (1983).
- •M.D. in Internal Medicine: University of Colombo (1989).
- •Doctor of Medicine by Research: University of Colombo (2003).
- •Commonwealth Fellow: University of Leeds UK (1999 – 2000).
She was elected as a Fellow of the Ceylon College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians (London). Furthermore, she holds honorary fellowships from the Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologists, the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, and the Association of Physicians of India.
Academic & Clinical Contributions
With a teaching career exceeding three decades, Professor Wijeyaratne has left an indelible mark on postgraduate medical education, including the development of innovative medical school curricula. During her tenure as the 18th Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo—and the third academic from the medical faculty to hold the office—she led the university in celebrating the 150th anniversary of its pioneering Faculty of Medicine.
She serves as a clinical consultant for women with complex endocrinopathies and severe obstetric complications. Her pioneering clinical work focuses on:
- •Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS formerly PCOS) and insulin resistance among South Asians (the topic of her DM thesis).
- •Gestational diabetes and complex medical disorders in pregnancy, successfully transforming management practices in resource-limited settings.
- •Fetal programming and the intergenerational impact of metabolic risks.
Research, Leadership & Service
- •Publications: Over 100 publications in peer-reviewed international journals (e.g., The Lancet, NEJM, PLoS), maintaining an h-index of 33 and an i10 index of 60 with over 10,000 citations.
- •Funding & Grants: Conceptualized SLMA’s flagship project, NIROGI Lanka, securing impactful grants from the World Diabetes Foundation.
- •National Leadership: Past President of SLMA, Ceylon College of Physicians, and the Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka. Chaired the Faculty of Medicine Colombo’s IRQUE project in 2003 and multiple national task forces.
- •Global Roles: Vice President of SAIDIP, Representative for the International Society for Obstetric Medicine, and invited expert for the WHO.
Community Empowerment & Personal Life
Beyond academia, she is deeply engaged in grassroots social interventions. As a Past President of the Zonta Club in Sri Lanka, she served on Zonta-International’s subcommittee for Golden Zs. She also spearheaded global, women-led initiatives to build housing and create self-employment opportunities for Tsunami victims and families affected by the civil conflict in Ariyalai, Jaffna.
Professor Wijeyaratne is married to Mandika Wijeyaratne, a fellow academic and the current Emeritus-Professor of Surgery at the University of Colombo, with children and grandchildren.