The Faculty of Medicine was established in January 1962 as the second medical school in the country to meet the increasing demand for medical education. Initially the Faculty ran as an appendage of the Colombo Faculty. Later in 1967, the Faculty became independent electing its own dean and thereafter was managed by a group of dedicated administrators from the time of the Founder Dean, legendary Prof. Senaka Bibile. For a period between 1970 to 1980, the Dental & Veterinary schools of the University of Peradeniya were brought an umbrella organization called the Faculty of Medical, Dental and veterinary Sciences. By 1986, these schools also became autonomous. During the period 1972-81 the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya was built and commissioned. Between 2000-2004 the new Preclinical building was built & commissioned. A new paraclinical building is near completion.

Presently the Faculty consists of 16 Departments (Anaesthesiology & Critical Care, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Medicine, Microbiology, Paediatrics, Parasitology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Psychiatry, Radiology and Surgery) and several other Units & Centres ( centre for Research in Tropical Medicine, Center for Education, Research & Training on Kidney Diseases, eLibrary, Health Emergency & Disaster Management Training Centre, Medical Education Unit, Nuclear Medicine Unit, Research & Development Unit, Skills Lab and Technical Resource Center)

The Faculty & Affiliated Hospitals

At present, approximately a thousand students comprising six batches are receiving training at the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya. The students receive their clinical training at the following hospitals:

1. Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya: a hospital with 960 beds, situated within walking distance of  the Faculty of Medicine. This was built in  1980 and has as the Professorial Units of the university 
2. National Hospital, Kandy: a hospital with 2405 beds, 78 wards, 51 specialities, 13 special units, 10 Intensive care units, 24 operating theaters, specialized clinics, Emergncy treatment Unit, situated in Kandy, about 6 km away  from the Faculty of Medicine
3. Sirimawo Bandaranayake Childrens Hospital: 2nd largest paediatric hospital in Sri Lanka, 341 beds, 21 subspecialities, care given for children under 14 age.
4. Teaching Hospital, Kegalle
5. Teaching Hospital, Gampola
6. Base Hospital Mawanella
7. STD Clinic, District Hospital, Katugastota
   

Field Practice Area