Nominated by the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL)
Professor Shyamalee Samaranayaka is a leading figure in Family Medicine in Sri Lanka and across the South Asia region. A graduate with First Class Honours from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, she has dedicated more than two decades to clinical care, academic leadership, and the strengthening of primary care systems.
She currently serves as Chair Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and as Chairperson of the Board of Studies in Family Medicine at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), where she leads postgraduate specialist training in the discipline.
Alongside her academic responsibilities, Professor Samaranayaka has provided continuous clinical care for nearly 25 years at the university’s Family Practice Centre, the country’s first purpose-built model teaching practice. Serving approximately 3,000 registered families, the centre delivers comprehensive, community-based care while training undergraduate and postgraduate doctors. Her practice reflects the principles of continuity and person-centred care, with many families consulting her across generations. She has also developed expertise in palliative and geriatric care, contributing to home-based and end-of-life services for vulnerable patients.
Professor Samaranayaka has played a central role in shaping Family Medicine education and policy in Sri Lanka. She has contributed to the development of undergraduate curricula, coordinated the MD Family Medicine prospectus, and trained generations of family doctors in clinical decision-making and consultation skills. At national level, she serves on multiple Ministry of Health committees focused on primary care development, non-communicable diseases, elderly care, disability, and palliative care. She has been closely involved in the development of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming National Health Policy 2025–2030, advocating for stronger primary care systems and better integration of Family Medicine.
Her leadership extends beyond national borders. She has been actively involved with WONCA since 2016, serving as Scientific Chair of the WONCA South Asia Regional Conference in 2016 and again in 2024. She is a member of WONCA Working Parties on Women and Family Medicine and Education, and currently serves as a Member-at-Large for the South Asia Region. A recipient of the Montegut Scholarship in 2023, she has spoken about how international engagement and global networking have strengthened her work in education and conference development in the region. She was awarded WONCA Fellowship (WONCA’s highest honour) at the 2023 WONCA World Conference in Australia in recognition of her contribution to Family Medicine in Sri Lanka and the region.
In recognising Professor Shyamalee Samaranayaka with the Regional Five Star Doctor Award 2026, WONCA and the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka acknowledge her sustained contribution as a care provider, decision maker, communicator, community leader, and team member. Her work reflects a long-term commitment to building resilient primary care systems, strengthening professional standards, and mentoring future generations of family doctors in Sri Lanka and the wider region.
