Department of Psychiatry


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Prof. Dewasmika Indrapali Ariyasinghe
Professor in Psychiatry



		Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
		dewasmika.ariyasinghe@med.pdn.ac.lk, dewasmika.ariyasinghe@gmail.com
		https://scholar.google.com/citations





Educational Qualifications
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (February 2002), University of Peradeniya (Sri Lanka) Graduated with 2nd Class Honours, ranked 151st in national merit order out of 556 medical graduates Doctor of Medicine – MD- Psychiatry (November 2008) – University of Colombo, Sri Lanka A Specialist in Psychiatry (May 2011) – Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Training in a Specialized Unit for Care for the Elderly in Australia in 2010 and 2012 PhD student at National Centre for Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Australia since July 202.
Research Interests
Strategies on prevention of alcohol abuse in Sri Lanka Cognitive impairment in normal ageing, mental illnesses, head injuries and other cerebral insults Adverse effects of long-term lithium therapy on kidneys Benefits of lithium on cognitions Cognitive, social, and psychological impairments in normal ageing, addictive disorders, depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia
Experience in Teaching
Undergraduate
The Professorial Psychiatry Unit of Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya and Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Behavioural Science Module- Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka The Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka Examiner in the Final MBBS examination in Universities of Peradeniya, Rajarata, Jaffna, Kelaniya, Kotalawala Defence Academy and Eastern University of Sri Lanka
Postgraduate
Post graduate trainees in Psychiatry, The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Post graduate trainees in Medicine, The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Examiner in Selection Examination in MD (Psychiatry) and MD Psychiatry Examination, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Awards and Scholarships
'Romaine Rutnam Scholarship' awarded by the Australian National University to do a PhD on 'Designing a culturally acceptable brief intervention to minimize alcohol related harm' (2020) 'Full Time Higher Degree Research Scholarship' awarded by the Australian National University to do a PhD on 'Designing a culturally acceptable brief intervention to minimize alcohol related harm' (2020) Best Oral Presentation 3rd place. Baminiwatta AKAB, Ariyasinghe DI, Hewawasam C, Dassanayake TL. Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT): Age-, Sex- And Education-Adjusted Sri Lankan Norms. Proceedings of Annual Research Sessions of Kandy Society of Medicine. February 2020 University Research Grant 2016 for the research on 'Normative data for selected neuropsychological tests for Sri Lankans: Ray Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Stroop Test, verbal fluency, category fluency and digit span (forwards and backwards)' National Research Council Merit Award for Scientific Publication, 2015 Fellowship awarded by the World Psychiatric Association, 2014 for Early Career Psychiatrists National University Colours for Netball 1999 & 2000 'Mahapola’ Higher Education (Merit) Scholarship (1996-2002) for University Undergraduate Education National Colours for Athletics 1991 'Best All-Round Student: 1991', Maliyadeva Girls’ College, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka
Membership in Professional Associations
Life member of Kandy Society of Medicine, Sri Lanka Member of Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists Member of the Sri Lanka Association for Child Development
Posts and Positions held
A Council Member of the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists, 2020, 2021 A member, the organizer and an editor of the standing committee appointed by the University Grants Commission on Medical and Dental Sciences to develop core-curriculum of psychiatry for MBBS degree programmes in all universities of Sri Lanka, 2017 A Council Member of the Kandy Society of Medicine, 2015-2016 The secretary of the Clinical Curriculum Development Committee (CCDC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka - April 2015 to June 2017