Professor Anil Gunathilake, one of the most respected academics in medical education and a leading consultant physician in the country, has joined the senior management team of Colombo International Institute of Higher Education as the Dean of the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.

Professor Gunathilake served as a senior faculty member in the Pharmacology department of the Medical Faculty of Sri Jayawardnanepura University, was the professor of pharmacology at the time of his departure from the university.

Professor Anil Gunathilake is a rare combination of an academic, a medical practitioner, an inventor and an entrepreneur. In addition to his teaching career as a senior lecturer and a professor in medical education, he is a popular consultant physician with a busy practice in Colombo.

Contrary to the common belief that academics are not at practical applications, Prof. Anil has won many awards including presidential award for inventions in recognition of his inventions in the field of therapeutic medicine. A key highlight in his research career is the invention of Ventohaler, a medical device for asthma treatment for which he won the presidential award in 2012.

Prof. Anil is also an entrepreneur in pharmaceutical industry in Sri Lanka and is the founder of one of the leading pharmaceutical production companies in Sri Lanka.

Prof. Anil Gunathilake’s appointment as the Dean of the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences is expected to bring a wealth of expertise in academic and align the approach of the faculty towards a fine combination of academic, professional and industry based programmes.