During my work as a public health physician in Sri Lanka, and over the past 15 years, I have tried to contribute to strengthening health systems through evidence-based policy, data science, and a focus on holistic well-being. Much of my effort has gone into addressing gaps in maternal and child health, elderly care, mental health, and healthcare fragmentation. I have come to believe that combining epidemiological methods with emerging tools like AI, while also paying attention to often-overlooked areas such as spiritual health, may help build more resilient, equitable, and humane health systems.
At present, I serve as an Associate Consultant in Public Health at Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health, where I help coordinate national training on Integrated Care for Elderly Persons (ICOPE) and support the development of digital resources for healthcare workers and the public. My doctoral research explored dimensions of physical activity among older adults in Colombo. I have also been fortunate to contribute to national surveys (such as the Maternal and Under-5 Nutrition survey), apply WHO workload indicators to health staffing planning, and work as Principal Investigator on studies ranging from healthcare fragmentation in ICUs to a randomised controlled trial on Empagliflozin for renal stones. Along the way, I have collaborated with international organisations including WHO, the World Bank, and UNICEF. These experiences have deepened my interest in how data science, AI, and mindfulness might inform policy, whether in preventing childhood mental health problems or strengthening health planning. What continues to fascinate me is the space where compassionate care meets rigorous analysis, and I hope my work can make life a little better for vulnerable populations.
