Profile

Awards / Scholarship / Fellowships

• Fulbright Professional Scholarship – Studied at University of Sothern California in USA (2012).
• World Health Organization (WHO) Fellowship (2011) – Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India.
• Research and Innovation Award in 2017- Awarded by Government Physiotherapists’ Association, Sri Lanka

Professional Qualifications
Professional training and workshops

• Worked as a Physiotherapist at Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation (General)
•  National Hospital of Sri Lanka from 1991-2002
• Chief physiotherapist at Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka from 2002-2017.
• Rehabilitation of Burns and reconstructive surgeries and Hand injuries. 

1. Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia in 2004.
2. Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia in 2007.
3. Hutt Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand in 2009.
4. Middle more Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand in 2009.
5. Rehabilitation of Major Hand

•   Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, India in   2005.
• Resource person on PHYSIOTHERAPY IN HAND INJURIES workshop conducted by the Association of College of Surgeons in Sri Lanka on 18th August 2005.
• Resource person on HOME ACCIDENTS AWARENESS   PROGRAMME presented to the public at a workshop on World Physiotherapy day on 8th September 2005.
• Resource person of the    INTERNATIONAL CONSULTATIVE WORK SHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM FOR B.Sc. DEGREE PROGRAMME IN PHYSIOTHERAPYon11^th– 15^thofNovember2005at university of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
• Resource person on BURN CARE AND REHABILITATION workshop at General Hospital Anuradhapura. Conducted by Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit, The National Hospital of Sri Lanka on 17^th-18^th of December 2005.
• Resource person in workshop on BURNS MANAGEMENT for post graduate trainees, conducted by Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, on 25th and 26^th of March 2008.
• Resource person in workshop on BURNS MANAGEMENT for Nurses and Nursing sisters, conducted by Burns and  Reconstructive Surgical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, on 22^ndof September 2010.
• Resource person in pre congress workshop of Annual Academic Session 2015 of Sri Lanka Association of Geriatric Medicine on MULTIDISIPLINARY TEAM IN GERIATRIC CARE on 19^th November 2015, Water Edge, Sri Lanka.
• Coordinator and resource person for Burn Care Rehabilitation workshops conducted by the Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka in 2016.
•  Resource person at the symposium on NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS for physiotherapists conducted by Sirimavo Bandaranayke Specialized Children's hospital and Teaching Hospital of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, on 10^th July 2017.

Published research papers in journals

• Perera, G.A.D., Thilakarathne, K.G.T.M., Rathnayake,  M.L.H.,  Samarasinghe, . K.V.D.A., Kalyani, H.H.N. (2023). Relationship between Body Mass Index and Static Foot Posture in Physiotherapy Undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.  11^th YSF Symposium on 27^th of January 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Jayasekara, J.M.L.N., Fernando, P.V.L., Karunathilake, W.D.V.U.(2023). Relationship between heart recovery rate, physical activity level body mass index, and sedentary behavior among undergraduates of FAHS, KDU. 16^th International Research Conference – KDU on 7^th and 8^th of September 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Gunasekara, S.A., Sankalpa, M.D.H.,Samoda, T.V.K.H.(2023). The relationship between anthropometric indices and hypertension in the elderly population at elders’ homes at Piliyandala MOH area in Sri Lanka. 16^th International Research Conference – KDU on 7^th and 8^th of September 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Gunasekara, S.A., Sankalpa, M.D.H.,Samoda, T.V.K.H.(2023). The relationship between anthropometric indices and hypertension in the elderly population at elders’ homes at Piliyandala MOH area in Sri Lanka.  8^th scientific conference of the association of Geriatric Medicine on 15^th and 16^th of June 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Kahadawala, T.P., Sutharsan, M.C.,Lokuhendige, U.V., Mallawarachchi,S. (2023). Effects of jaw mobilization exercises on range of motion of temporomandibular joints and quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy with oral cancer at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka. 60^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association on 24^th of June 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Gunasekara, S.A., Sankalpa, M.D.H.,Samoda, T.V.K.H.(2023). The Relationship between Anthropometric Indices and Hypertension in Elderly Population at Elderly Homes of Piliyandala MOH Area, Sri Lanka. 60^th anniversary of Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association on 24^th of June 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D.,Jayasekara, J.M.L.N., Fernando, P.V.L., Karunathilake, W.D.V.U.(2023). Heart recovery rate in relation to the physical activity level of undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. 60^th anniversary of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association on 24^th of June 2023.
• Perera, G.A.D., Ranasinghe, R., Madhurangi, N., Smarasinghe, S., Yapa, W., Widanagamage, I., Ruwandika, S. (2022). Prevalence of urinary incontinence and its associated risk factors among three months’ postpartum women registered under the Colombo Municipal Council, Sri Lanka. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology.7 (12) – 1559-1564.
• Perera, G.A.D., Thilakarathne, K.G.T.M., Rathnayake, M.L.H., Samarasinghe,. K.V.D.A., Kalyani, H.H.N. (2022). Relationship between Static Foot Posture and Ankle Range of Motion Among the Physiotherapy Undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. 15th International Research Conference – KDU on 29th -30th September 2022.
• Perera, G.A.D., Wijetunge, S.K., Kandanarachchi, S.M., Weerasooriya, R.M.H.K., Jayawardana, S.A Case- Control Study on the Association between Disability Due to Lower Back Pain and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction among Three to Six (3-6) Months Post-Partum Women. 15th International Research Conference – KDU on 29th -30th September 2022.
• Perera, G.A.D., Perera, C., & Karunanayake, A.L. (2017).Cross-cultural adaptation of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH): English in to Sinhala translation. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research, 5(4), 2150-2156.
• Perera, G.A.D., Perera, C., & Karunanayake, A.L. (2017).Effectiveness of early stretching exercises for range of motion of the shoulder joint and quality of functional recovery in patients with burns –A Randomized Control Trial. International Journal of Physiotherapy 4(5), 302-310.

Research presentation Oral/ Posters

THE CHALLENGES FACED IN REHABILITATION OF UPPER LIMB AMPUTEES DUE TO ELECTRICAL BURN INJURIES

Poster presented Annual scientific session of Sri Lanka Society of Physiotherapy 10th of April 2005.

 Poster presented at the 4^th World Confederation for Physical Therapy Asia Western Pacific region and 4^th Asia confederation for Physical Therapy congress 2005, In Soul Korea – 30^th October 1^st of November 2005.  

IN PHYSIOTHERAPY – EARLY INTERVENTION GAIN BETTER REHABILITATION OF UPPER LIMB AMPUTEES DUE TO ELECTRICAL BURN INJURIES

Poster presented at Annual scientific session of Sri Lanka   Society of Physiotherapy on 12^th of March 2006.

Poster Presented at 119^th Annual Scientific Session of   Sri Lanka Medical Association on 22^nd – 25^th March 2006.

WHITE CANE ASSERTIVE DEVICE IN THE MANEGEMENT OF BLIND PATIENTS DUE TO SEVERE BURN INJURIES     

REHABILITATION OF MAJOR BURN VICTIMS IN TO SUCCESSFUL SURVIVORS WITH MINIMAL RESOURCES IN SRI LANKA

 Poster Presented at Annual scientific session of Australia and New Zealand Burns Association on September 11^th -14^th 2007in Perth.

RESPONSIVENESS TOWARDS TRANSLATION OF THE DASH QUESTIONNAIRE AMONG THE BURN POPULATION IN SRI LANKA

SALVAGING MAJOR BURNS WITH INHALATION INJURY USING BUBBLING BOTTLE AS INNOVATIVE METHOD

Poster Presented at Annual scientific session of Australia and New Zealand Burns Association on September 22^nd-25^th 2009 in Wellington, New Zealand.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY STRETCHING EXERCISES FOR RANGE OF MOTION OF THE SHOULDER JOINTIN BURNT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE BURNS UNIT OF THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL OF SRI LANKA

 Presented (oral) at International Physiotherapy Congress 2014on May2^nd-4^th2014 in Singapore.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY STRETCHING EXERCISES FOR THE QUALITY OF FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY OF THE UPPER LIMB IN BURNT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE BURNS UNIT OF THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL OF SRI LANKA

 Presented (oral) in the International Society for      Burn Injuries, October 2014, Sydney, Australia.

Presented (oral) in the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, May 2015, Singapore.

CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF THE DISABILITY OF ARM, SHOULDER, AND HAND QUESTIONNAIRE (DASH): ENGLISH IN TO SINHALA TRANSLATION

Presented (poster) in the World Confederation for Physical Therapy,  May 2015, Singapore.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY STRETCHING EXERCISES FOR RANGE OF MOTION OF THE SHOULDER JOINT, STATE OF AXILLARY SCAR AND QUALITY OF RECOVERY IN BURNT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE BURNS UNIT OF THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL OF SRI LANKA

Presented (oral) in the International Postgraduate Research Conference, December 2015, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY STRETCHING EXERCISES FOR RANGE OF MOTION OF THE SHOULDER JOINT AND STATE OF AXILLARY SCAR IN BURNT PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE BURNS UNIT OF THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL OF SRI LANKA

Presented (oral) in National Research Symposium, December 2017, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka.

Previous academic / Administrative position

• Chief Physiotherapist, Burns and Reconstructive Surgical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka from 2002- 2017.
• Visiting Lecturer- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of
• Peradeniya and KDU from 2015-2017.
• Visiting Tutor- School of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka from 2002-2011.
• Visiting Tutor- Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of
• Colombo from 2008-2011.

Membership in academic and professional bodies

• Life Member of the Sri Lanka Society o Physiotherapy (Professional body).
• Member of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT).
• Member of Sri Lanka Medical Council. (Registered No:  0007)
• Member of International Society for Burn Injuries.
• Member of Burns Association of Sri Lanka.
• Member of Organization for Women in Science for the developing World (OWSD)

Contribution to undergraduate / postgraduate education

• Visiting Lecturer and Examiner – Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, and University of Colombo from 2011 to date.
• Course coordinator – Physiotherapy External Degree programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya 2015 to date.