MF

Manoj Fernando

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, University of Gothenburg, University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine

Research areas: Medicine · Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health · Research on Leishmaniasis Studies · Leprosy Research and Treatment · Smoking Behavior and Cessation

ORCID iD 0000-0002-0494-8769
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About

1. Executive Summary & Professional Identity
I am a public health specialist, academic leader, and development consultant with more than 20 years of experience designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs across Sri Lanka and South Asia. Currently, I serve as the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and a Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion.
My career bridges the gap between empirical research and grass-roots public health interventions. Rather than viewing health through a strictly clinical lens, my work focuses on how health outcomes are shaped by structural, behavioral, socio-economic, and commercial determinants. I specialize in mixed-methods research, community-based participatory approaches, gender and social inclusion analysis, and policy development.
Over the years, I have served as a consultant and resource person for major international development partners and United Nations agencies, including:
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
• The World Food Programme (WFP)
• The World Bank
• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Through these collaborations, I have generated evidence-based recommendations to improve healthcare delivery, address malnutrition, mitigate gender-based violence (GBV), and strengthen primary healthcare infrastructure.
2. Academic Foundations and Qualifications
My academic training combines a strong clinical foundation with specialized postgraduate expertise in public health and higher education pedagogy:
• Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Public Health (2017) – Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. My postgraduate research solidified my expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection, survey design, and operational research.
• Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) (2000) – Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (Second Class Lower Division, with Honors in 3rd MB Part II).
• Certificate in Teaching Higher Education (CTHE) (2010) – Staff Development Centre, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• Certificate in Health Promotion (2010) – Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden.
3. Institutional Leadership & Academic Appointments
I have spent nearly two decades within the Sri Lankan university system, contributing to institutional governance, curriculum development, and student welfare:
Current Appointments
• Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) – Since October 2023. I oversee academic administration, strategic planning, and research development for the faculty.
• Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) – Since August 2017.
• Visiting Lecturer in Health Promotion – Since 2016 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo (teaching M.D. and M.Sc. programs in Community Medicine and Medical Administration); the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo; and the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University.
• Lecturer and Supervisor – Contributing to counseling and psychology programs at the National Institute of Social Development (NISD) since 2017, the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) since 2006, and the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) since 2021.
Key Past Institutional Roles
• Head, Department of Health Promotion (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) – From August 2021 to October 2023.
• Chief Student Counsellor (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) – 2022 to 2023.
• Coordinator, Gender Equity and Equality Cell (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) – Since 2021.
• Member, UGC Standing Committee on Gender Equity and Equality – Since 2022, developing guidelines and capacity-building curricula to prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across the university system.
• Secretary, Ethics Review Committee (Faculty of Applied Sciences) – 2023 to 2024.
• Principal Coordinator for Criterion 9 – Managed institutional quality assurance reviews for the university in 2023.
4. Key Research Domains & Peer-Reviewed Publications
My research portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to addressing public health crises through evidence-based, community-centered approaches. My published work is categorized into five major thematic areas:
A. Primary Healthcare (PHC) Systems Strengthening & NCD Care
I have focused extensively on operational research assessing primary healthcare structures, human resource challenges, and patient satisfaction, particularly within facilities supported by the Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project (PSSP) in Sri Lanka.
• Chandraratne, N.K., Thekkur, P., Fernando, M., et al. (2026). Patient experience among individuals who availed services from selected primary medical care institutions supported by the primary health care system strengthening project in Sri Lanka. BMC Primary Care, 27, 109.
• Thekkur, P.

Employment

Education

  • Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo MPhil
    2012 - 2015
  • University of Gothenburg Certificate in Health Promotion
    2010 - 2010
  • University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine MBBS
    1995 - 2000

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (17)