The University of Sri Jayewardenepura is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Chandima Jeewandara as Director of the Institute of Allergology and Immunology (IAI), with effect from 1 January 2026.
The formal appointment ceremony was held at the University Grants Commission in the presence of the Chairman, Senior Prof. Kapila Senevirathne, together with the Vice-Chancellor, Senior Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage, and the Registrar, Mr. A. B. Weliwita. Following this, he officially assumed duties at a ceremony held at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, in the presence of Senior Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage, Senior Prof. Neelika Malavige, and Mr. A. B. Weliwita.
The appointment is made in accordance with the Institute of Allergology and Immunology Ordinance, which places responsibility on the Director to provide academic, clinical, and research leadership in allergology, immunology, molecular medicine, and related translational sciences, while strengthening postgraduate training in Allergology and Clinical Immunology, promoting international collaboration, and supporting the Institute’s contribution to national health priorities.
Professor Jeewandara’s academic training and professional experience closely align with this mandate. He holds an MBBS, postgraduate qualifications in Family Medicine, an MSc in Allergy, and a PhD in Immunology. He is a international Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue advanced academic work at the University of Oxford as a recognized student and a Dean’s Master’s Scholarship to undertake postgraduate training at Imperial College London, reflecting sustained academic excellence.
Professor Jeewandara has played a pioneering role in establishing and advancing allergy and immunology services in Sri Lanka. His work has been instrumental in integrating specialist allergy services into the national health system, developing structured diagnostic and management pathways aligned with international standards, and improving access to evidence-based allergy care. Notably, he initiated the “Save a Life” programme, which enabled the free distribution of adrenaline auto-injectors to patients at risk of anaphylaxis during a period when these life-saving devices were otherwise unavailable in the country.
His leadership was central to the establishment of the national allergy reference clinic and a dedicated allergy and immunology laboratory in Sri Lanka, creating a sustainable platform for both patient care and research. These initiatives directly support the Institute’s objectives of service development, research excellence, and national capacity building.
Professor Jeewandara’s research portfolio spans in allergology, immunology, and infectious diseases, with a strong emphasis on translational and public health relevant research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key leadership role in establishing and directing diagnostic and genomic sequencing services for SARS-CoV-2 in Sri Lanka, contributing critically to national surveillance, outbreak response, and public health decision-making.
He maintains a strong international academic profile and has served multiple times as an examiner for DPhil students at the University of Oxford, reflecting recognition of his expertise at the highest academic level. He has also been instrumental in building long-standing collaborative partnerships with leading international institutions, including Duke–NUS Medical School (Singapore), the University of Oxford (United Kingdom), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (United States). These collaborations have enhanced advanced laboratory capacity, postgraduate training opportunities, and joint high-impact research outputs.
Congratulating Professor Jeewandara on his appointment, Senior Prof. Kapila Senevirathne commended Prof. Jeewandara’s commitment and leadership in advancing allergology and immunology in Sri Lanka, and noted that the establishment of the Institute would help fill a long-standing vacuum in both the education and health sectors in the country. Vice-Chancellor Senior Prof. Pathmalal M. Manage also congratulated Prof. Jeewandara, stating that his “proven leadership in allergy, immunology, and infectious disease research, together with his strong international academic standing, places the Institute of Allergology and Immunology in an excellent position to fulfil its mandate and expand its impact nationally and internationally.”
The University community extends its warm congratulations to Professor Chandima Jeewandara and looks forward to the continued growth of the Institute of Allergology and Immunology as a centre of excellence in research, education, and patient-centred innovation under his leadership.
