Conforming to the current health and safety regulations, the induction and oration were conducted this year as a ‘hybrid event’.
The Siri Wickremesinghe Oration 2021, “Fighting the rising tide of antibiotic resistance;
exploring non-pharmacological options, challenges and benefits
Prof. Nelun Perera
Consultant Microbiologist & Hon. Associate Professor
University Hospitals of Leicester, UK & University of Leicester, UK
The Siri Wickremesinghe Oration was held on Tuesday 27th February 2021, at the Galle face Hotel Colombo. The Orator was Prof. Nelun Perera, Consultant Microbiologist & Hon. Associate Professor, University Hospitals of Leicester, UK & University of Leicester, UK. The topic of the oration was, “Fighting the rising tide of antibiotic resistance; exploring non-pharmacological options, challenges and benefits.
The Orator participated virtually from UK and the orator’s medal was handed over to Dr. Sunil Perera (spouse of Prof. Nelun Perera) on behalf of the orator.
The Orator was Prof. Dona Nelun Priyanjani Perera. Prof. Nelun Perera commenced her career as an academic staff member in the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and currently works as a Consultant Microbiologist, University Hospitals of Leicester and Hon Associate Professor, University of Leicester, UK.
Prof. Nelun Perera did her MBBS at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, which she completed with an second class upper division honours. She had an impressive record as a medical undergraduate obtaining Distinctions in Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
She obtained the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Microbiology in the year 1996 and the MD in Medical Microbiology in the year 1999 from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo and then proceeded to the UK for her post MD training. She successfully completed the FRCPath of the Royal College of Pathologists, UK in 2004 while in the UK and was certified as a consultant there.
She has also obtained certification for mentoring from the De Montfort Univeristy, Leicester and the Postgratduate certificate in Medical Education from the University of Cambridge.
Other awards she has received include the Presidential award for excellence in research, Sri Lanka and Fellowship award in Medical Eduation from the Health Education dept in England.
Her research interests are in the fields of medical mycology and mycobacteriology and she remains as an active member of the Leicester Tuberculosis research group. She has been awarded many research grants, especially to explore the field of mycology.
She has an impressive record of publications and the textbook in Medical Microbiology: A Guide to Microbial Infections, Nineteenth Edition, an Elsevier publication that Nelun co-edited stands out since this book remains as a bible of young microbiologists and medical undergraduates across the world, including in Sri Lanka.
She has delivered many guest lectures in many countries and Nelun remains as a greatly valued resource person at the annual scientific sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists.
