VISION - "To develop into a School of Global Health and be a center of excellence in public health research and teaching while fostering partnerships in research, education, translation of knowledge and community engagement."
MISSION - "To produce professionals armed with knowledge, skills, and passion to provide holistic health care to the masses through teaching, creating, and disseminating knowledge in public health."
The Department of Community Medicine was established in 1964 as one of the first departments of the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya. It pioneered the concept of a ‘field laboratory’ for public health education in Sri Lanka with the initiation of a unique project known as ‘Hindagala Community Health Project’. This project which continued for over 50 years was exemplary in combining public health education with community development.
The department currently provides comprehensive teaching of public health basics to the medical undergraduates while coordinating the undergraduate research project component and the clerkship programme. The department provides post-graduate teaching/training to numerous M.Sc and MD in community medicine trainees each year and also carry out supervision of M.Phil/PhD degrees of medical and other graduates. Over the course of last five decades, the Department of Community Medicine has produced many leading personalities in public health in the country.
The department plays an important role in promoting research in the university through technical support for researchers in design and analysis of research and through collaborations with both national & international research communities.
