Non-Communicable Diseases Research Centre

Ongoing Research

• Title: Health-seeking behavior on prevention of non-communicable diseases and their associated factors among estate adult population in Kegalle district: a mixed method study.
  PI – C.S.E Goonewardena, Director, Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  Co-investigators: Prof. K.L.M.D. Seneviwickrama, Director, Centre for Cancer Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Title: Disability and quality of life of patients with chronic low-back pain in selected pain management Units of Government Hospitals in Sri Lanka.
  PI – C.S.E Goonewardena, Director, Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  Co-investigators- Prof. Thamasi Makuloluwa, Professor in Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana
  Dr. Nirosha Edirisinghe, Senior Lecturer, Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo
  Dr. B.C.V. Senaratna, Research fellow, Melbourne school of Population and Global health, University of Melbourne
• Title: Effectiveness of a need-tailored educational intervention on palliative care for informal caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in selected two hospitals of Sri Lanka.
  PI- Prof. C.S.E Goonewardena, Director, Non-Communicable Disease Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  Co-investigator: Prof. Lalitha Meegoda, Department of nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Title: Psychosocial wellbeing, perceptions on psychological interventions, and effectiveness of group Reminiscence Therapy to improve psychosocial wellbeing among institutionalized older adults in Colombo district, Sri Lanka.
  PI: Prof. C.S.E Goonewardena, Director, Non-Communicable Disease Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  Co-investigators- Prof. S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, Dean, Faculty of Nursing, Department of Clinical Nursing, University of Colombo.
  I.M.P.S. Ilankoon, School of Health Sciences, University of New Haven, USA.
  Dr. S.M.P. Seneviratne Alles, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

2026

• Lasanthika C, Wanigasuriya K, Hettiaratchi U, Amarasekara TD, Goonewardena CSE. Living with haemodialysis in Sri Lanka: A qualitative study on patient adaptation and care perceptions. BMC Nephrology. 2026;27:22. DOI: 1186/s12882-025-04728-6
• Shiyam ALA, Goonewardena S, Undugodage C. Health-related quality of life and associated factors among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attending government chest clinics in the Western Province, Sri Lanka: A mixed method analytical study. BMC Pulmonary Medicine.  DOI:13140/RG.2.2.32970.73924
• Weeratunga EB, Goonewardena S, Meegoda L. Predictors of quality of life among informal caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. 2026;13(1):128–137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254420

2025

• Priyadarshani U.G.N., Ilankoon I.M.P.S., Warnakulasuriya S.S.P., Goonewardene C.S.E. Cross-cultural Adaptation and Analysis of Psychometric Properties of the Sinhala Version of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire for Sri Lankan Older Adults BMC Psychology, DOI: 1186/s40359-025-03919-y
• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Comprehensive care needs among informal cancer caregivers of patients with advanced cancer in palliative care: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports DOI: 1038/s41598-025-26469-0
• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depressive Symptoms among Informal Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer who Received Palliative Care in Sri Lanka, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention DOI: 31557/apjcp.2025.26.6.1997
• Peiris MKH, Goonewardena CSE, Makuloluwa PTR, Senarathna C, Edirisinghe NP Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Sinhala Version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire among patients with Chronic Low Back Pain in Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Journal of Anaesthesiology DOI: 4038/slja.v33i02.9644

2024

• Edirisinghe, N.P., Makuloluwa, P.T.R., Amarasekara, A.A.T.D. and Goonewardena, C.S.E. (2024). Coping with cancer pain: a qualitative study to explore pain perception and self-coping strategies of patients with cancer in Sri Lanka. BMJ Open, 14:e085510. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085510
• Edirisinghe, N.P., Makuloluwa, P.T.R., Amarasekara, A.A.T.D. and Goonewardena, C.S.E. (2024). Severity, interference, qualities, and correlates of severe pain: Descriptive cross-sectional study on pain experience of cancer patients in Sri Lanka. Chronic illness, [online] 20(3), pp.515-526. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/17423953231221845.
• Madushan PAT, Gunasekara PANC, Munasinghe MARN, Uthpala AAS, Karunanayaka NS, Goonewardena CSE, Meegoda MKDL, Level of knowledge, attitudes, practices of cancer palliative care and their associated factors among nursing officers in Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Journal of Health Sciences and Innovative Research (JHSIR) DOI:31357/jhsir.v5i01.7729
• Eranthi Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda, Comprehensive needs assessment tool for informal cancer caregivers (CNAT-ICs): Instrument development and cross-sectional validation study, International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances ELSEVIER, DOI: 1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100240
• Manathungei Nirmala Priyadarshanie, Dulshika A Waas, Sampatha Goonewardena, Aindralal Balasuriya, Chamara V Senaratna, Sharaine Fernando, Risk factors for antenatal anxiety: a cross-sectional study in field antenatal clinics in Sri Lanka, BMJ Open, DOI: 1136/bmjopen-2024-083991

2023

• Chamara V. Senaratna, Adrian Lowe, E. Haydn Walters, Michael J. Abramson, Dinh Bui, Caroline Lodge, Bircan Erbas, John Burgess, Jennifer L. Perret, Garun S. Hamilton, Shyamali C. Dharmage. Associations of early life and childhood risk factors with obstructive sleep apnoea in middle-age. Respirology. DOI:10.1111/resp.14592
• M Nirmala Priyadarshanie, Dulshika A. Waas, Sampatha Goonewardena, Chamara V. Senaratna, Sharaine Fernando. Association of antenatal anxiety disorders with antenatal comorbidities and adverse pregnancy outcomes among clinic attendees at a tertiary-care hospital in Sri Lanka. Heliyon Journal DOI:1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13900
• Chamara V. Senaratna, Piyumali K. Perera, Segarajasingam Arulkumaran, Nirupama Abeysekara, Pramodya Piyumanthi, Garun S. Hamilton, Gillian M. Nixon, Rupika S. Rajakaruna, Shyamali C. Dharmage. Association of helminth infestation with childhood asthma: a nested case-control study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. DOI:1016/j.ijid.2023.01.004
• Chamara V. Senaratna, Nirmala Priyadarshanie, Sharaine Fernando, Sampatha Goonewardena, Pramodya Piyumanthi, Jennifer Perret, Caroline Lodge, Garun S. Hamilton, Shyamali C. Dharmage. Longitudinal Sleep Study in Pregnancy: Cohort Profile and Prevalence and Risk Factors for Sleep Symptoms in the First Trimester. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. DOI: 3390/ijerph20032070

Conference Proceedings

2026

• Weeratunga EB, Goonewardena S, Meegoda L. Effectiveness of a Needs-Tailored Palliative Care Education for Informal Cancer Caregivers: A Sri Lankan Study. Proceedings of the 12^th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches (iCMA 2026), Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Wijerathne LRIPK, Kumarasinghe RDKK, Pushpapriya U, Periyasamy N, Seneviwickrama KLMD, Ranasinghe RDS, Goonewardena CSE. Knowledge on Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Associated Factors among Estate Adults in a Selected District, Sri Lanka: A Preliminary Analysis. The Ceylon Medical Journal, The Sri Lanka Medical Association 139^th Anniversary International Medical Congress, 2026; p. 272.
• Zaireen IMF, Arangala ADPY, Perera PAYT, Thathsarani, Vithanage VP, Silva DS, Goonewardena CSE. Knowledge and factors associated with barriers to insulin self-administration among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a selected clinic in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 31^st Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL), Non-Communicable Diseases Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Published.
• Silva APB, Mendis WWSD, Jathusha K, Saputhanthri SHDW, Deelaka PAD, Goonewardena CSE, Logenthiran PV. Barriers and associated factors to sanitary product use among schoolgirls in Colombo, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study of grades 10 and 11. Proceedings of the 31^st Annual Academic Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL), Non-Communicable Diseases Research Centre, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Published.

2025

• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Factors Associated with Unmet Needs of Informal Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer in Palliative Care at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka Annual Academic Session – CPMSL
• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Exploration of experiences of cancer patient-informal caregiver dyad in palliative care at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka Global Public Health Summit 2025 & 30^th Annual Academic Sessions of the CCPSL
• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Different Unmet Needs among Informal Caregivers of Patients with Advanced Cancer in Palliative Care, Sri Lanka The 16^th Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
• Eranthi Bimalee Weeratunga, Sampatha Goonewardena, Lalitha Meegoda Perceived Social Support and Family/Friend Support among Informal Cancer Caregivers at the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Family planning utilization trends in Western Province from 2017-2023 International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches/iCMA-2025, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
• G.N. Priyadarshani, I.M.P.S. Ilankoon, S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, C.S.E. Goonewardena Cognitive function and its association with socio-demographic factors and depression among institutionalized older adults in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. 13^th IAGG Masterclass on Aging in Asia, 2025
• G.N. Priyadarshani, I.M.P.S. Ilankoon, S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, C.S.E. Goonewardena Quality of Life and associated factors among institutionalized older adults in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. 11^th Annual Academic Sessions of Sri Lanka Association of Geriatric Medicine, 2025.
• G.N. Priyadarshani, I.M.P.S. Ilankoon, S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, C.S.E. Goonewardena Self-esteem and its associations with sociodemographic factors and Quality of Life among institutionalized older adults in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Global Public Health Summit, 2025.
• F.F. Ruzna, W.G.K.G. Anuruddha, H.S. Galappaththi, H.D.H. Kandamby, V.G.S.S. Epa, S. Manjika, C.S.E. Goonewardena, S. Silva The proportion of frailty, falls and their associated factors among older-adults living in elders’ homes in Colombo district A preliminary study CAPAGE Conference, 2025
• G.N. Priyadarshani, I.M.P.S. Ilankoon, S.S.P. Warnakulasuriya, C.S.E. Goonewardena Sleep Quality among institutionalized older adults in Colombo district, Sri Lanka- Preliminary findings from a cross-sectional study. CAPAGE Conference, 2025
• Shehan Silva, Sampatha Goonewardena, Kaweesha Kumarasinghe, Nirosha Edirisinghe, Udayangani Ramadasa Cultural Adaptation of Death Literacy Index in Sinhala Language a Preliminary findings from Sri Lanka 16^th Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025 (APHC 2025).
• Meegoda L., Weeratunga E., Goonewardena S. Challenges Encountered by Informal Cancer Caregivers in Palliative Care at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Study. 4^th Annual Academic Sessions College of Palliative Medicine of Sri Lanka

2024

• Weeratunga EB, Meegoda MKDL, Goonewardene CSE, Initial Linguistic/Cultural Adaptation of the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool for Caregivers (CNAT-C) in Sri Lanka: A Pilot Study, 4^th Biennial Academic Sessions 2024 – Graduate Nurses’ Foundation of Sri Lanka.
• Weeratunga EB, Meegoda MKDL, Goonewardene CSE, Validation of the Sinhala version of the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool (CNAT) for Informal Cancer Caregivers in Sri Lanka, 21^st Academic Sessions and 20^th3rd Vice Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
• Goonewardena CSE, Manawadu MCK, Seneviwickrama KLMD, Senaratna BCV, Wijewickrama GK, Manjika MS, Kumarasinghe RDKK, Fatigue and Associated factors among Female Breast Cancer Survivors attending the National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka, 29^th Annual Academic Sessions 2024 of College of Community physicians of Sri Lanka.
• Seneviwickrama KLMD, Goonewardena CSE, Kumarasinghe RDKK, Denagamagei SS, Manjika S, Wijewickrama GK, Senaratna BCV, Social determinants of health outcomes of breast cancer survivors in a lower middle-income country, International Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2024.
• Peiris MKH, Goonewardena CSE, Makuloluwa PTR, Senarathna C, Edirisinghe NP, Translation, Cultural – adaptation and Validation of the Sinhala Version of the Roland –Morris Disability Questionnaire in Sri Lanka, International Conference of Health Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Priyadarshani U.G.N., Ilankoon I.M.P.S., Warnakulasuriya S.S.P., Goonewardene C.S.E., Cross-cultural Validation of the Sinhala Version of the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire, The 2^nd International Research Symposium of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka.
• Hathurusinghe HDWP, Saranga MAI, Mylvaganam P, Nirmanie GN, Weerathunga CS, Arambewela MH, Wijesuriya M, Goonewardena CSE, Knowledge on insulin therapy, emergency management, chronic complications and their associated factors among adult patients with type 1 diabetes attending National Diabetes Center, Rajagiriya, The 2^nd International Research Symposium of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka.
• Weeratunga EB, Goonewardena CSE, Meegoda MKDL, Measuring palliative care – related knowledge and practices among informal care givers patients with advanced cancer at the Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka, International Conference on Medical Sciences (ICM) 2024, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.

2023

• Goonewardena CSE, Fernando CS, Manjika S, Wijewickrama GK, Senaratna BCV, Seneviwickrama KLMD, Somawickrama DNM, de Silva KGB. Histological types, treatment and associated factors amongst female breast cancer survivors followed up at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Medical Association, 136^th Anniversary International Medical Congress.

2022

• Seneviwickrama KLMD, Heiyanthuduwa WR, Wijewickrama GK,Manjika S, Senaratna BCV, Jeyakumaran N, Goonewardena CSE., (2022). Psychological distress among female breast cancer survivors followed up at National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka. 17^thSAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO) International Cancer Conference & Sri Lanka College of Oncologists Annual Academic Sessions 2022
• Goonewardena CSE, Palihawadana R, Ekanayake M, Pabasara SAD, Wijerathne B, Jeyakumaran N, Gunasekera D, Manjika S, Wijewickrama GK, Seneviwickrama KLMD 1, Senaratna BCV. (2022). Sleep quality among post-surgical female breast cancer survivors followed up at Apeksha hospital, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. 17^thSAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO) International Cancer Conference & Sri Lanka College of Oncologists Annual Academic Sessions 2022.

Recent Activities

• A webinar on “Simple Exercises for an Active Lifestyle; ක්‍රියාශීලී ජීවන රටාවක් සඳහා සරල ව්‍යායාම” was successfully conducted on 2^nd June 2026 to promote physical activity and encourage healthy lifestyle practices among the university community. The session primarily targeted non-academic staff of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, while also welcoming other Sinhala-speaking participants from the wider community. The webinar was conducted in the Sinhala language to ensure accessibility and effective engagement. The session was facilitated by Dr. Gihani Jayaweera, Senior Lecturer, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional at the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and a US-licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor.
• A webinar titled “Active Living: Science Behind Exercise” was conducted on 9^th June 2026 to provide participants with a scientific understanding of the importance of physical activity in maintaining health and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The programme was organized for undergraduate students of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) and was also open to students from other universities. The webinar was delivered in English to accommodate a broader university audience. The session was facilitated by Dr. Gihani Jayaweera, Senior Lecturer, Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional at the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and a US-licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor.
• A webinar on HPV Vaccination Awareness was successfully held on 3^rd April 2025 with the objective of enhancing public and professional understanding of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and its role in preventing HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer. The session was attended by a diverse audience, including undergraduate students, from different disciplines (Allied health sciences and Biomedical science). The keynote speaker was Dr. Jinadari Amarasena, Associate consultant, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.