Dr.Thilanka Seneviratne , Head of the Department of Pharmacology and the lead- Multi disciplinary AI research centre for Health care and well-being - FOM, UOP and the team has successfully developed an AI assisted Automated-SAQ assessment tool which can be used for teaching, learning and research purposes. The software development worth 8000 USD is the generous work of Dr.Lalani Werake PhD, Founder/Principal Engineer, myteraAI Inc, Former Technology Development process Engineer, Intel Corporation,USA and it was done completely free of charge.

The department of Pharmacology, faculty of Medicine, university of Peradeniya, in collaboration with Mytera AI Inc., successfully launched its innovative AI assisted Short Answer Questions (SAQ) Marking Tool, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of technology enhanced medical education.

This cutting edge tool was developed to improve the efficiency, consistency, and objectivity of student assessments. By integrating advanced artificial intelligence, it enables more accurate and standardized evaluation of short answer responses while substantially reducing the time and effort required for manual marking. The initiative reflects a forward thinking approach to modernizing assessment practices within medical education.

The launch represented a progressive step toward integrating AI driven solutions into academic workflows and underscored the institution’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It further highlighted the potential of emerging technologies to transform teaching, learning, and evaluation in healthcare education.

The official launching ceremony was held on 14 January 2026 at 2.00 PM at the Physiology Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, with the participation of the Vice Chancellor and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. The event was further enriched by the presence of academic representatives from the Faculties of Engineering, Dental Sciences, Veterinary sciences, and Allied Health Sciences, along with other distinguished staff, commemorating this important achievement.

The Multidisciplinary AI Research Center for Healthcare and Wellbeing, in collaboration with the Faculty E Library, successfully conducted a hands on workshop on “Useful AI assisted Tools in teaching and Research” on 25 February 2026 at the E library extension of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.

This interactive workshop was designed to equip participants with practical skills in utilizing emerging artificial intelligence tools to enhance both teaching and research activities. The programme featured guided demonstrations and hands on sessions on a range of AI platforms, including Napkin AI, NotebookLM, SciSpace, Connected papers, and Powerdrill AI, enabling participants to explore applications such as literature analysis, content generation, data handling, and assessment development.

Workshop sessions are guided by a panel of experienced academics: Dr. Yasitha Illangasekara, Dr. Senani Samarasinghe, and Dr. Thilanka Senevirtne, who provided expert guidance throughout the sessions. Participants were actively engaged in applying these tools using their own teaching materials, research articles, and quality in academic work.

A dedicated session on developing AI assisted assessment tools further highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern education. The workshop concluded with an interactive discussion, reinforcing the importance of integrating AI technologies to improve efficiency, innovation, and quality in academic work.