Emeritus Prof Mahasara Gunaratne conferred Hon. Doctorate by Peradeniya University
View(s):Emeritus Prof Mahasara Gunaratne, who pioneered Laparoscopic Constructive Surgery for Infertility related problems, way back in the 1970′s, and is the founder Physician of the first Infertility Services Portal established in Sri Lanka, which continues to provide this service even today, was conferred an Honorary Doctorate at the 81st Convocation of the University ofPeradeniya (UoP), by its Chancellor Prof K.M.de.Silva on Thursday, along with 3,604 Graduates from various disciplines, who were conferred their Degrees.
Born in 1934, Emeritus Prof Mahasara Gunaratne had his primary and secondary education at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, winning the Papal Medal for Excellence.
He entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, in 1956 and obtained the MBBS with Honours in July 1961. He was made a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of the Untied Kingdom (UK) in 1969, and completed his Master of Surgery in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1971. Subsequently, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists of the UK in 1983. During his training, he came under the tutelage of distinguished Medical teachers of the calibre of Prof C.J. Dewhurts, Prof McClare Broom in Hammersmith Hospital London and Prof Arul Palmer in Paris. In Sri Lanka he came under the tutelage of Sir Nicholas Attygalle, Prof D.A. Ranasinghe and Dr.A.M. Mendis.
On his return, he joined the UoP and served for 3 decades. He commenced his tenure as a Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in 1971, rose to the position of Chair Professor in 1984 and Senior Professor in 1993, until his retirement in 1999. Prof Gunaratne served as Senior Lecturer in the University of Nairobi, Kenya, from 1978-1980, during his sabbatical leave.
Professor Gunaratne was the International Editorial Advisor to the Population Reports journal of John Hopkins USA. He was also a referee to the East African Medical Journal. He is a Commonwealth Senior Fellow in 1989. In addition, he received the much acclaimed French Government Award for Fertility Regulation.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, UoP, Prof Asiri Abeygunawardene said that, in recognition of the distinguished and profound impact he has had as a teacher, dedicated clinician, pioneering researcher and acclaimed author, and having trained generations of medical students in the competencies of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the UoP has conferred the Degree of Doctor of Medicine on Emeritus Professor Mahasara Gunartne.
The Vice Chancellor Professor Upul B.Dissnayake was also associated with the citation.