Clinical induction for the 4th semester dental students was held on 16th, December 2019 at the K. Bambaradeniya auditorium of the faculty. The Dean of the faculty, Dr. Vajira Jayasinghe, Co- coordinators of the undergraduate unit, Prof Aruni Tilakaratne and Prof Kapila Arambewatta and several administrative and academic staff members of the faculty of Dental Sciences were there to witness this event, Addressing the students, Prof. Lilani Ekanayaka, a senior professor of the Department of Community Dentistry emphasized the importance of inculcating good attitudes while mastering the clinical skills in order to become a good dental surgeon.
On the 10th of December 2019, everyone of the Dental family gathered to the common area of the faculty to indulge and submerge themselves in the oceans of classical music from the much awaited entertaining event “Karadhiya Gambare - Gee Padura" 2019 ; the annual musical program organized by the Arts Circle of the Faculty of Dental Sciences. It was a splendid evening for everyone, with mesmerizing performances from students of all the batches and from the academic staff as well. This turned out to be a relaxing and an enjoyable night for everyone, giving a break from their hectic schedules.
Faculty research committee of the Faculty of Dental Sciences in collaboration with the Post graduate division and higher degrees committee and the Dental Library organized a work shop on Workshop on Basics of Mendeley on the 03rd December 2019 at the Faculty of Dental Sciences.
Resource person for this work shop was Ms. Sriyani Perera, former senior Assistant Librarian of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. The workshop was well attended by the academic staff and the postgraduate students of the faculty.
A workshop on “Redefining clinical training through Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)” was organized by the UDDE for the academic staff members of the faculty on 13th November 2019 at the K. Bambaradeniya auditorium. The resource person of this workshop was Prof. Dujeepa Samarasekera, the director of Centre for Medical Education (CenMED) at National University of Singapore and National University Health System and a senior consultant of the Ministry of Health, Singapore.
The Faculty of Dental Sciences was placed 2nd-runners-up in the Annual Inter-Faculty Drama Competition - DRAMSOC 2019 for the drama "The Hilda Issue".
The cast and crew comprised of dental students from all the batches.
Mr. Chamuditha Galkaduwa of the 2017/18 batch was awarded "The Best Actor in a Supporting Role"
while Miss. Suwathijah Thiyagarajah of the 2016/17 batch was awarded for the "Best Script Writing".
The Annual "Belimal Dansala" was organized by the Buddhists' Association of Dental Faculty on iIl full moon poya day (12th November). It was held at the Faculty main entrance facing Gatambe Temple. This was held with great success strengthening the bonds of the Dental fraternity.
The outstanding researchers of the Faculty of Dental Sciences were awarded certificates at the Faculty board meeting held on 29th October, 2019.
The most outstanding researchers in the senior category were Prof C. D. Nanayakkara, Prof W. M. Tilakaratne, Prof. B. S. M. S. Siriwardhana and Prof R. D. Jayasinghe
while those in the junior category were Dr I. P. Tilakumara, Dr R. M. Jayasinghe, Dr P. V. K. S. Hettiarachchi and Dr K. S. N. D. Gunawardhana.
The Faculty of Dental Sciences held their annual mix of music and Pera energy on 29th October 2019. The show happened in front of thousands of raving fans, at Peradeniya Gymnasium. Dayan Witharana and Nirosha Wirajini sung their hearts out with their classical tunes, while Priya Sooriyasena and Lahiru Perera entertained the audience with their dance anthems. In the end, the crowds weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the day because earnings of the show will contribute to the Faculty scholarship fund and education of children in rural areas as well.
Dr Thilini Hegoda, a dental surgeon has won a merit award for her oral presentation at the National Health Research Symposium (NHRS) organized by Education Training and Research Unit, Ministry of Health. Her project was approved by the ERC of the faculty and it is supervised by Prof Nandanie Nagarathna and Prof.J.A.C.K. Jayawardhana from the Faculty of Dental Sciences and Dr Lakshila Navarathna from Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya. Title of her presentation was “Correlation of calcification events of lower permanent second molar with cervical vertebrae maturation staging of a sample of orthodontic patients in Sri Lanka”. This symposium was held on 22nd and 23rd of October at Waters Edge Hotel, Colombo.
Her research proposal was also selected as the best proposal and won the third place in oral presentation at MORCC symposium held on 31st August 2018.
A workshop on “outcome based education (OBE) and SLQF” was organized by the UDDE for the academic staff members of the faculty on 24th September 2019 at the CPC room. The resource persons of this workshop were Dr Upali Mampitiya and Prof Gominda Ponnamperuma from University of Colombo. Dr Mampitya discussed on Quality assurance in Sri Lankan Higher education system and SLQF and study programmes of the Faculty of Dental Sciences while Prof. Ponnamperuma discussed about compliance of a curriculum with SLQF level descriptors.
Faculty research committee of the Faculty of Dental Sciences in collaboration with the Post graduate division and higher degrees committee and the Dental Library organized a work shop on systematic reviews on health and medical sciences on the 03rd September 2019 at the Faculty of Dental Sciences.
Resource person for this work shop was Ms. Sriyani Perera, the senior Assistant Librarian of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. The workshop was well attended by the academic staff and the postgraduate students of the faculty.
A workshop for staff members on preparing storyboards (blue prints) on production of audio-visual educational materials was held on 19th and 20th August. Mr. W.A. G Sisira Kumara, former additional director general, department of agriculture and Prof. J.A.C.K. Jayawardena, former director/DELU were the resource persons of this workshop. Both academic and non academic staff members who participated in this workshop had a very good opportunity to acquire knowledge on principles of communication designing, principles of designing storyboards with educational perspectives and also in preparation of mock storyboards. This workshop was organized by Dr. Chandra Herath, coordinator for production of teaching resources/DELU, together with the executive committee of the Dental Faculty E-Learning Unit.
Third international conference on “oral cancer, oral potentially malignant disorders, smokeless tobacco and areca nut” organized by the centre for Research in Oral Cancer (CROC) was successfully completed on 14th July 2019 at K bambaradeniya Auditorium, Faculty of Dental Sciences. The theme of the event was “towards a society free of oral cancer". This event was jointly organized by the Centre for Research in Oral Cancer of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Ministry of Health, SLT project committee of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) and Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention.
First pre conference workshop was held on the 12th on the topic of Smokeless Tobacco and Areca nut control in Sri Lanka. This workshop was conducted with the participation of all stake holders and a strategic plan for the next five years was discussed and finalized. Second workshop on Imaging and diagnostic aids in the management of Oral cancer and OPMD was held at the CPC hall on the same day.
The new building constructed for the Centre for Research in Oral Cancer (CROC) of the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya was ceremonially opened by Prof Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya with the presence of DrvajiraJayasinghe, Dean, faculty of Dental Sciences, Dr Ananda Jayalal, Deputy Director General (Dental) Health Services,Dr Samantha Kumara Kithalawarchchi, Former Director/ PTFDP, Prof WM Tilakaratne, Director CROC and Secretary,Prof RuwanJayasinghe.
This center is the one and only research centre dedicated for the research in oral cancer in the country. It has laboratory which will be developed in to a state of the research laboratory to conduct molecular research relevant to oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders. In addition, it has the facilities of a tobacco and areca nut cessation clinic, animal house, auditorium, library space, IT area and office space.
Workshop on Peer Evaluation was successfully held on 9th July, 2019 at the Faculty Board room with participation of 44 academic members. Introductory lectures on the Peer review process by Prof. Vajira Weerasinghe/Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Heshan Wickramasuriya/Faculty of Agriculture were followed by a panel discussion in order to discuss the Peer review policy document of the Faculty of Dental Sciences and the peer review tool that will be used for the process.
The participants received the opportunity to express their views regarding the Peer review process which facilitated the productivity of the workshop and the future Peer review process, to be reinitiated soon in the Faculty.
The UDDE wish to express their gratitude to the external and internal resource persons and the participants for the contributions made to make this event a success.
Eighty six dental graduands were conferred the BDS degree at the annual general convocation of University of Peradeniya held on 4th July, 2019 at the university gymnasium.
First BDS Examination for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery Degree (1st BDS) January 2016 - Lucy de Abrew gold medal awarded for the best student - D/13/067- P.M.Nimalan
Mr. D. D. Ihalagedara, senior staff technical officer of the Department of Basic Sciences was awarded as the best performed technical officer in recognition of the most outstanding performance and contribution to the Department of Basic Sciences in the year 2018. Parameters evaluated were contribution to academic development and research, other significant contributions to the institute, punctuality and attendance,attitudes and outlook to work, leadership and personality and reliability and responsibility.
Oral cancer is ranked as the number one cancer in males of Sri Lanka. The majority of them occur as a result of smokeless tobacco (SLT) and arecanut use. The Centre for research in Oral Cancer with the help of Ministry of health, Presidential task force on drug prevention and National authority on tobacco and alcohol have launched an island wide programme to train dental surgeons and other relevant professionals on SLT and arecanut cessation. The same programme was conducted to train dental students on 18th August 2019 at K Bambaradeniya auditorium in the Faculty of Dental Sciences, university of Peradeniya. Resource persons for the programme were Dr Hemantha Amarasinghe, Prof WM Tilakaratne and Prof Ruwan Jayasinghe. Dr JAVP Jayasinghe, Dean, FDS also addressed the students.
The opening ceremony of the annual sports event of the faculty of dental sciences, DENTS games 2019 was held at the faculty premises on 17th June 2019. Dr. W.M.P.S.K. Wijekoon, acting dean of the Faculty of Dental Sciences and several other academic staff members and students were present at this occasion.
DENTS Games 2019 will continue for the next few weeks both within the faculty premises and the gymnasium and grounds of the university. The events of DENTS games include Badminton, Elle, Football, Volleyball, Cricket, Basketball, Weight lifting, Marathon, Chess, Carom, Checkers and Table tennis. This event brings together all the students and academic and non academic staff of the faculty. Ending of DENTS games will be marked by holding the DENTS night where awards and certificates will be distributed for the winners.
The first undergraduate research symposium of the Faculty of Dental Sciences was held on the 15th June 2019 at the K. Bambaradeniya auditorium of the Faculty, with the participation of Professor Upul B. Dissanayake, the Vice chancellor of the University of Peradeniya as the chief guest. At this event, the guest speech was delivered by Professor S. A. M. Kularatne, Professor of Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, on the importance and the relevance of clinical research.
Research projects conducted by the final year dental undergraduates were presented at this event and the 3 best presenters were judged. Certificates were awarded for all presenters for their participation. Dr. J. A. V. P. Jayasinghe, Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, academic and non academic staff and a large number of students participated in the symposium.
The annual pirith chanting ceremony and alms giving of the Faculty of Dental Sciences was organized by the Buddhists Association of Dental Faculty to offer merit for those who have donated their bodies for the teaching and learning process in the faculty. It was held successfully with the participation of academic staff, non-academic staff and students on 23rd & 24th March 2019 at the faculty premises uniting all the members of the Dental Faculty.
World Oral Health Day 2019 was celebrated on 21st March 2019, by the Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya in collaboration with the Presidential task force on Drug Prevention, Center for Research in Oral Cancer (CROC), Oral Health Unit of the Office of The Regional Director of Health Services, Central province and Sri Lanka Army.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the Prof K. Bambaradeniya auditorium of the Faculty, which was graced by the Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University, Prof. Upul B. Dissanayake and many other distinguished guests including the Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Dr JAVP Jayasinghe, and Deputy Regional Director of Health Services, Dr (Ms) Niranji Wijesooriya. Certificates for the winners of the art competition held for school children and oral health booklet designing competition held for dental undergraduates to mark the world oral health day were also distributed at this event.
The Freshers' Welcome for the 2018-2019 batch of dental undergraduates was held on 23rd of February 2019 at Hotel Ganga Addara. It was officially organized by the '16 batch of undergraduates. All the members of the Dental family, including the dean, lecturers and students of senior batches participated in this spectacular moment. Fantabulous events were performed by all the batches to entertain freshers. At this outstanding moment, the freshers had a worthy chance to introduce themselves to the fraternity of the Dental Faculty. It winded up giving a memorable experience for all.
New year celebration 2019 was held on 1st January 2019 at the Board room of the faculty with the participation of the Dean, academic and non academic staff members.
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