In a remarkable achievement that puts Sri Lankan cancer research on the international stage, Prof. Bawantha Gamage from the Department of Surgery at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura delivered the prestigious Dr. R.L. Spittle Oration 2025 at the Sri Lankan Surgical Congress held at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on September 13th, 2025.
This annual academic showcase, organized by the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka (CSSL) in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK, and the South Asian Surgical Care Society, brought together leading surgical experts from around the world, including representatives from the UK, USA, Japan, Russia, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and across the South Asian region.
Revolutionary Cancer Research
Professor Gamage was selected by an expert panel from seven competitive submissions to present his pioneering research on “Metagenomic analysis of colonic tissue and stool microbiome in patients with colorectal cancer in a South Asian population” – marking the first study of its kind ever conducted in Sri Lanka.
This groundbreaking cancer research represents a significant milestone in understanding colorectal cancer within South Asian populations and demonstrates USJP’s commitment to cutting-edge medical research that addresses regional health challenges while contributing to global scientific knowledge. The research was conducted by the team led by Prof. Bawantha Gamage & Prof. Neelika Malavige.
The recognition at this international platform underscores the university’s growing reputation as a center of excellence in medical education and cancer research innovation.
