Poison Centre Experts
Meet our expert team of paediatricians and toxicologists who contribute their knowledge and experience.
Helpline : 0112958337 Please fill this short Poison Query Form when you call
Meet our expert team of paediatricians and toxicologists who contribute their knowledge and experience.
Prof. Kavinda Dayasiri is a Professor of Paediatrics at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Specialty Board in Medical Toxicology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, and as the Convenor of the Toxicology Forum of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. He has received training on poison centres under the NIHR RIGHT 4: Preventing Deaths from Poisoning in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Programme.
MBBS, DCH, MD (Paediatrics), FSLCP
Dr. Udaya de Silva is a Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in toxicology. He is an active member of the Toxicology Forum of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians (SLCP) and has contributed significantly to postgraduate medical education in toxicology. He previously served as a member of the Board of Study in Toxicology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo, and was also a trainer and examiner for the MSc in Toxicology programme at PGIM. Dr. de Silva is a Life Member of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology (APAMT) and a certified full instructor of the Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) course, reflecting his dedication to improving paediatric emergency care and toxicology services in Sri Lanka.
MBBS, PhD, MPhil, MA, MSc (Tox), MSc (Pharm), MMEd, PGDip.Tox
Prof. Namal Rathnayaka is a Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL). He is the Director of the Ratnapura Poisoning Cohort Centre and the Ratnapura Snakebite Cohort Centre, established at the Faculty of Medicine, SUSL, and the Teaching Hospital Ratnapura. He also serves as the Secretary of the Expert Committee on Snakebites of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
MBBS MSc (Med Tox)
Dr. Samantha Liyanage is a Senior Medical Officer in Medical Toxicology and a former Medical Officer at the National Poison Information Centre, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. She has over 10 years of experience in managing poison information calls, delivering lectures, and organizing poison awareness programs for medical officers, other healthcare personnel, university students in medicine and allied fields, as well as members of the general public and various organizations. Since 2013, Dr. Liyanage has also contributed as an author to poison centre publications and was actively involved in the development of the Toxbase Lanka website during that period.
MBBS MSc (Med Tox) Ph.D (Med Tox)
Dr. Ajith Dissanayake obtained his MBBS degree in 1999 from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He completed an MSc in Medical Toxicology at the University of Colombo in 2014 and earned a PhD in Medical Toxinology from the University of Peradeniya in 2022. In February 2025, he underwent poison information centre training at the Tygerberg Poison Information Centre, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Dr. Dissanayake currently serves at the District General Hospital, Gampaha, and is a visiting lecturer in Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya.
MBBS MSc (Med Tox)
Dr. Kasun Fernando is a Senior Medical Officer with over fifteen years of experience in Emergency Treatment Units and Medical Wards, currently training as a Family Physician. A Presidential Award-winning researcher in Medical Toxicology, he authored the chapter on Agrochemical Poisoning in a textbook on Tropical Medicine. His work has had international impact, with multiple publications cited in paracetamol poisoning guidelines in the UK and Australia, and in WHO regional snakebite guidelines. Dr. Fernando has undergone specialized clinical training in poisoning management in China and Singapore. He has also completed disaster management training through HEDMaTC in collaboration with the World Health Organization.