Prof. Saman Nanayakkara, a highly respected scholar and a Medical specialist, has been appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, for a period of the three (3) years, effective from 12 th September 2024. Prof. Nanayakkara holds an MBBS degree from the University of Peradeniya (1995), MD in Anaesthesiology from the Postgraduate Institute, University of Colombo (2007), Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology from the University of Peradeniya (2019), Masters of Arts (Archeology), Masters of Arts (History) from the University of Peradeniya.

He has served as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Faculty of Dental Sciences from 2001 to 2019 and joined the Faculty of Medicine in 2019 and became a Professor in Anaesthesiology and Critical Care in 2021 and he works as an Honorary consultant of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care for the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya and the Dental Hospital, Peradeniya.

He has published many journal articles and done conference presentations both Internationally and locally. He has also been the President of many professional organizations such as the Kandy Society of Medicine, Faculty of Pain Medicine in the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists, Cancer Care Service and the Sri Lankan Association for the Study of Pain.