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Samanmali Priyanga Sumanasena

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  • Nov 26, 2024
  • 8 min read












Samanmali Priyanga Sumanasena


SLMC registration no: 14543

GMC registration no: 6142735

RCPCH membership no: 209363

ORICID: 0000-0003-2108-7443


I am a Paediatrician who has strived over the last 20 years, as a clinician, academic and a researcher in Sri Lanka to establish dedicated services for children with developmental needs and disabilities. I have lead multidisciplinary teams to establish evidence based clinical practices. I achieved this through capacity building, conducting innovative research to optimize care for children with developmental disabilities and bringing about positive changes in the lives of their families.  

                            


1.      Posts and affiliations


1.1.   Present posts

1.      Consultant in Community Paediatrics, Harrow Community Paediatrics, Central and North West London Trust, London UK.

2.      Professor in Paediatric Disabilities, Department of Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, and Clinical lead and Honorary Consultant Paedaitrician Ayati National Centre for Children with Disabilities, North Colombo teaching Hospital Ragama, Sri Lanka. August 2019 to date.

3.      Honorary Consultant Developmental Paediatrician. Professorial Paediatric Unit, North Colombo Teaching Hospital (NCTH), Ragama, Sri Lanka From June   2013 to date and Ayati National Center for Children with Disabilities, NCTH from August 2019 to date.

 

1.2.   Past posts

 

1.      International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Global Senior Leader for Sri Lanka 2021/2023.

2.      Member: Standing Committee Meeting on Early Childhood Development, National education commission. 2020 to 2023.

3.      Member: National Management and regulation committee on early childhood education. 2021 to 2023.

4.      Chairperson: International Affairs, American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, USA (2015-2016)

5.      President: Sri Lanka Association for Child Development (2015- 2017)

6.      Member of the Advisory Committee: Non-formal and Special Education Branch, Ministry of Education: 2015 to 2023.

7.      Post graduate Trainer: Community Paediatrics. From year 2015 to 2023


a.      Academic and Professional Qualifications:


  1. FRCPCH UK, 2018

  2. MSc in Global Health and Development, Disability Pathway, University College of London, UK, 2008. (Dissertation submitted on, Needs of children with disabilities in three districts of Sri Lanka. A qualitative enquiry.)


  1. MRCPCH, UK February 2007


  1. MD (Paediatrics), University of Colombo - July 2004

 

5.      Diploma in Child Health, University of Colombo - December 2002


  1. MBBS (with Honours), Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo - 1997

(Distinctions in Pathology and Biochemistry)

    




b.      Diplomas and other certificate courses:


1.      Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III) , UCL, UK October 2024

2.      Griffith Developmental Assessment, March 2024.

3.      Prechtl’s Method on the Qualitative Assessment of General Movements Advanced Course, January 2024.

4.      Autism diagnostic observation schedule 2nd Edition (ADOS-2): certified clinical practitioner: June 2023.




8.      Awards and grants:

a)      Research Grants

1.      Child Fund: A research grant of a total of SLR 7 million; Principal investigator,  A study on enhancing quality and relevance of vocational training for youth with disabilities in Sri Lanka, 2020- 2022.

2.      National Research Council Investigator Driven Grant 2018: Rs 1 772 000 To conduct a Randomised Control Trial on the Sinhala Alphabet tool: Principal investigator

3.      Research Foundation of Cerebral Palsy Alliance - 2016 Grants program: Establishment of the Sri Lankan Cerebral Palsy Register, AUD$100,000.00 over a 3-year period: Principal investigator

4.      Dr. Stella de Silva Research Fund, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians 2015: Development and using of multisensory Sinhala alphabet tool for children with Dyslexia: Principal Investigator.

5.      WHO research grant: MhGAP training of the filed level primary service providers in detection and intervention in Autism and Developmental Disorders. USD 40,000: Principal Investigator.

b)     Travel grants

6.      Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine: Scholarship to attend the 8th biennial Scientific Conference in Adelaide, 2016.

7.      National Science Foundation: Travel Grant (2014) : To present two posters at the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, USA

8.      Travel Grant by the Government of Malaysia (2014) : To be a resource person at the International Seminar on Autism in Malaysia (ISAM)

9.      International scholarship 2011: American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, USA.

c)      Orations

1.                  Dr. Stella de Silva Memorial Oration 2016 – Reaching for the Stars, the kaleidoscopic chronicles of children with disabilities. Delivered the oration at the Annual Scientific Congress of the College of Paediatricians of Sri Lanka.

  1. Student scholarships

1.      International student CIHD grant (GBP 1500) as a partial funding for the MSc Programme: 2007; Centre for International Child Health and Development; Institute of Child Health; University College of London, London, UK.


9.      Publications


  1. Devagiri, B., Ariyasena, A. D. K., Siriwardhana, D. D., & Sumanasena, S. (2023). Telehealth services for children with neuro-developmental disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region: A systematic review. Child: care, health and development, 10.1111/cch.13192. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.13192


  1. Wanniachchi, P. M., & Sumanasena, S. P. (2023). A short report on a preliminary interventional study to evaluate play-mediated interaction skills in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder from Sri Lanka. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 13623613231211370. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613231211370



  1. Caldera AV, Wickremasinghe AR, Munasinghe T.U.1*, Perera KMN, Muttiah N, Tilakarathne D, Peiris MKRR, Thamilchelvan E, Sooriyaarachchi C, Mohamed Naseem Nasma MN, Manamperige RM, Ariyasena ADK, Sumanasena SP.

Availability of rehabilitation services for communication disorders in Sri Lanka; a cross sectional survey. BMJ Open. Vol 13 No 4, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071620


 

  1. Caldera AV, Wickremasinghe AR, Muttiah N, Godamunne PKS, Jayasena B N, Chathurika LK E, Perera K M N, Mendis M, Tilakarathne D, Peiris MKRR, Wijesinghe T, Senarathna NE, Saubhagya WDL, Chandraratne M, & Sumanasena, S P (2023). REACh for the preschoolers; a developmental assessment tool for 2-5 year old children in Sri Lanka. BMC pediatrics, 23(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03895-5


  1. Colonne UT, Dharmarathna I, Siriwardhana DD, Handy T, Gamage MH, Athawuda N, Sumanasena SP. Stakeholders' perspectives on the provision of vocational training for youth with disabilities in Sri Lanka: protocol for a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 7;12(1):e056678. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056678. PMID: 34996803; PMCID: PMC8744120.


  1. Vipulaguna, D., Jahan, I., Girish, M. Sumanasena SP. Early Interventions for Infants at Risk for Developmental Impairment: The South Asian Perspective. Indian J Pediatr (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-021-03871-w


  1. Thayyil S, Pant S, et al and Sumanasena SP, Hypothermia for moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy in low and middle income countries. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9: e1273–85 Published Online August 3, 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/ S2214-109X(21)00264-3.

 

  1. Pant S, EliasMA, Woolfall K, Moreno-Morales M, Lincy B, Jahan I, Sumanasena S, Ramji S, Shankaran S, and Thayyil S. Parental and professional perceptions of informed consent and participation in a time-critical neonatal trial in Low and Middle-income countries: A mixed methods study. BMJ Global Health 2021;6:e005757. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2021-005757.


  1. Sumanasena SP, Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Sri Ranganathan S, Muhandiram E. Effect of intramuscular ACTH versus oral prednisolone on the developmental trajectories of children with West syndrome over 24 months: A randomised control study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2021 May;32:98-105. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.04.003. Epub 2021 Apr 14. PMID: 33894665.


 

  1. Madhushika T, Sumanasena SP, Kitnasamy G et al. A protocol for the Sri Lankan Cerebral Palsy Register pilot study. BMJ Open 2020 Aug 20;10(8):e039353. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039353. PMID: 32820001; PMCID: PMC7443274..

 

  1. Sumanasena SP, Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Sri Ranganathan S, Muhandiram E. Developmental profile at initial presentation in children with infantile spasms. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2019 Nov;. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14205.


  1. Sumanasena, SP, Vipulaguna, DV, Mendis, MM, Gunawardena NS. Beyond survival: 5-year neurodevelopmental follow-up of a cohort of preterm infants in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Paediatrics and International Child Health, 2017.  https://doi.org/10.1080/20469047.2017.1380944


13.  Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Ranganathan S, Sumanasena S. Randomized, Single-Blind, Parallel Clinical Trial on Efficacy of Oral Prednisolone Versus Intramuscular Corticotropin: A 12-Month Assessment of Spasm Control in West Syndrome. Pediatric Neurology, 2017;76:14–19.


14.  Sumanasena SP, Arulmoli K, Samapan SR, Wickenden M. Daily life experiences of families determine the service delivery needs of children with disabilities; views of parents and service providers from three districts in Sri Lanka. Int J Disabil Hum Dev. DOI: 10.1515/ijdhd-2016-0020.


  1. Sumanasena, SP, de Silva KSH, Gunawardena N. Neurocognitive skills in children with congenital hypothyroidism attending the endocrine clinic of the Professorial Unit of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2016. 45(2), pp.95–102. 2016. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v45i2.8095.


  1. Iranthika W.K.H, Ediriweera D. Sumanasena SP. Parents play a significant role in the detection of children with autism spectrum disorder in low resource settings. University of Kelaniya. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2016.

 

17.  Sumanasena SP, Waduge R, Madushika T, Seneviratne R, Perera N. Neuro-developmental surveillance of at risk newborns; a pilot project from a low resource setting. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2016; 58:15.


18.  Sumathipala DS, Mandawala ES, Sumanasena SP and Dissanayake V. 17p11.2 and Xq28 duplication detected in a girl diagnosed with Potocki–Lupski syndrome. BMC Research Notes, 2015; 8(1), 506.


19.  Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Ranganathan S, Sumanasena S,  Attanapola G. Randomized, Single-Blind, Parallel Clinical Trial on Efficacy of Oral Prednisolone Versus Intramuscular Corticotropin on Immediate and Continued Spasm Control in West Syndrome. Pediatric Neurology, 2015. 53: 193-199. 2015


  1. Nimasha N, Sumanasena SP, Gunawardena N, Chandima K, Arunodha A. A home-based therapeutic exercise program to improve selected functional skills in school aged children with Down syndrome in a low resource setting; a comparative interventional study.  Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2014. 56 (s5): DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12540. 24-25.


  1. Sumanasena SP, Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Muhandiram E. Developmental outcomes within the first year of diagnosis: a descriptive study of children diagnosed with infantile spasms. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 2014. 56 (s5): DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.12540. 35.


  1. Wanigasinghe J, Arambepola C, Ranganathan S, Sumanasena S, Muhandiram E. The Efficacy of Moderate-to-High Dose Oral Prednisolone Versus Low-to-Moderate Dose Intramuscular Corticotropin for Improvement of Hypsarrhythmia in West Syndrome: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Parallel Clinical Trial. Pediatric Neurology; 2014. 51(1): 24-30.


  1. Abeywickrama SP, Jayasinghe IK, Sumanasena SP. Excluded in inclusive schools: experiences of children with disabilities, their families and teachers in Sri Lanka.Disability, CBR and inclusive development, 2013. 24 (1): 115-129.


  1. Sumanasena S, de Silva SL, Perera I, Sudeen A, Wasala R. Rapid onset obesity hypoventilation, hypothalamic and thermal deregulation and Neural tumour (ROHHADNET) syndrome presenting with Cushing syndrome. Ceylon Medical Journal , 2012; 57 (1) : 47-48.


  1. Sumanasena SP. Enabling children with disabilities through early identification and intervention. Sri Lanka Presciber, 2010; 18 (2): 1-4.


  1. Senanayake MP, Kuruppu KS, Sumanasena SP, Lamabadusuriya SP. Hyperhaemolyisis syndrome in Haemoglobin E/ beta thalassaemia responding to cyclophosphamide therapy. Ceylon Medical Journal, 2008; 53, (4): 117- 120.


  1. S. Sri Ranganathan, MG Sathiadas, S. Sumanasena, SP Lambadasuriya, BMR Fernandopulle. Fulminant hepatic failure and paracetamol overuse with therapeutic intent in febrile children. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 2006; 73(10): 871-875.


  1. Sumanasena SP, Lamabadusuriya SP. Child with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorhoea complicated by recurrent meningitis. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2005; 34: 128-9.


  1. Senanayake MP, Sumanasena SP. Dancing eyes dancing feet syndrome. The Ceylon Medical Journal: 2004; 49:133.


  1. Senanayake MP, Ajanthan R, Sumanasena SP, Lamabadusuriya SP. A mediastinal tumour that disappeared and reappeared. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health: 2003. 32:56-57.


  1. Kudalugoda Arachchi J, Sumanasena SP, de Silva KSH. Clinical examination in paediatrics at final MBBS:views of children and their parents. The Ceylon Medical Journal: 2003 ;48:12.


  1. de Silva JRS, Sumanasena SP, Wilegoda MSS, Arulmoly SK. Shigellosis non responsive to “sensitive” antibiotics. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health; 2001:30:105.


  1. Amaratunge S, Sumanasena SP, Hubert HDM, Senanayake MP. Blood lead levels of children living near Borella junction. The Ceylon Medical Journal: 2001;46:111.


34.              Senanayake MP, Samarakkody RP, Sumanasena SP, Kudalugodaarachchi J,  Jasinghe SR, Hettiarchchi AP. A relational analysis of acute wheezing and air pollution. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health: 2001; 30: 66-68.


 

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