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Lankan women upstage male dominance in trauma surgery in US

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/12

NEW YORK— In a highly-competitive profession, dominated largely by men, three young Sri Lankan women in their thirties are making a name for themselves as trauma surgeons specializing in emergency surgeries on people who’ve had a critical injury or illness.

All three – Dr Sayuri Jinadasa, Dr Ashanthi Ratnasekera and Dr Tanya Egogade — are sub-specialist surgeons in the field of Acute Care Surgery (ACS), which includes emergency general surgery, and surgical critical care, in hospitals in three US states: New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia.

As one of them pointed out “finding other Sri Lankan trauma surgeons in this field in the US is like finding a needle in a haystack”—even if the haystack is smaller and the needle larger.

“We take care of a wide range of surgical patients including those who are critically ill with acute surgical emergencies, traumatic injuries, and organ failure. In order to be an Acute Care Surgeon, we must be double board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care,” said Sayuri Jinadasa, MD MPH.

“My parents came to the US from Sri Lanka in the 1970’s. I was born in New Jersey and lived in Rahway, New Jersey through high school. I did my undergraduate degree in chemistry at Princeton University in New Jersey from 2004-2008 and graduated magna cum laude”.

Since age five, she said, she wanted to become a doctor, so she went to medical school from 2008-2012 at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City where she earned her MD.

“I did my residency training in general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts from 2012-2020. During my residency, I spent three years fully dedicated to clinical research in critical care and obtained my Masters of Public Health at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health”.

Once she completed her residency, she did a fellowship in surgical critical care from 2020-2022 and now works as an attending Acute Care Surgeon at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

The three doctors share similar philosophical, family, and medical values. “We are looking forward to collaborating on research projects within the US and Sri Lanka, and I am grateful to have them as mentors and friends.”

Tanya Egodage, MD, FACS is a trauma surgeon at Cooper University Health Care, through which she holds multiple roles in addition to her clinical role. “I am triple board certified in (1) General Surgery, (2) Surgical Critical Care, and (3) Neurocritical Care. I am interested in conducting research to improve care for injured patients”.

Through this effort, she has received a $91,000 grant to investigate the epigenetics of frailty through her University (to look at how changes to someone’s DNA affects how patients perform after an injury).

“I recently received a scholarship from a national trauma organization to further this work. I am the site-Principal Investigator for several research endeavors, including some for which we will receive several hundred thousand dollars (federal and other funding)”.

“I am also the current Medical Director of Cooper’s Violence Intervention Program, for which we have received both state and federal funds to implement and expand (the state of New Jersey and the Department of Justice.”

She was featured on a local radio station to discuss this work, and serves as the Associate Program Director for Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, which chooses and trains surgeons to specialize in trauma surgery and critical care of surgical patients.

“It is not forgotten to me that I am a Sri Lankan, and am interested in giving back to our lovely nation. I had the opportunity to come to Sri Lanka and work with some local physicians to perform bleeding control courses (Stop the Bleed) several years ago— courses which are taught by the American College of Surgeons. I look forward to helping the local surgeons in Sri Lanka to further the amazing work they are doing.”

Asanthi Ratnasekera DO FACS was born and raised in Ja Ela Sri Lanka.

“My family migrated to the US when I was 13-years old when my father passed away suddenly. I went to high school in Northern High School in Durham NC. After I graduation, I did a biology major in Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia for four years. I did not get into medical school right away from university, so took an year off to work. I was then accepted to medical school in Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate Tennessee and was in their inaugural class. I knew I wanted to be a surgeon when I was a medical student doing my surgical clerkship rotations in a rural hospital in Tennessee.

She said she was absolutely amazed by the surgeons she worked with, “who opened my world to the wonders of being a surgeon and how to help people in their most dire moments”.

“I was then accepted to a surgical residency program in University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Stratford New Jersey where I spent fiive years doing surgical residency training. I then realized that I loved trauma surgery because trauma surgeons took care of the most critical patients and were fearless in the face of the most critically injured and ill patients,” she said.

As trauma surgeons, “we also have to be fellowship trained in surgical critical care. Therefore, I went back to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to complete a one-year surgical critical care fellowship. As trauma surgeons, we are double board certified in general surgery and critical care. I cannot see myself do anything else but this.”

“As for my fellow Sri Lankan women trauma surgeons, we collaborate in research, and we mentor each other since it is a highly male dominated field with a low number of minority women surgeons”.

“I am very lucky to have them in my life. We recently got together at a trauma conference which is where we took that photo! One of our future goals, is to collaborate with surgeons in Sri Lanka on trauma systems advancement in Sri Lanka. I think there’s a lot that we can learn from each other,” she declared.

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House erupts over suspension of Deputy Secretary General

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday raised concerns over the recent suspension of Parliament’s Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff, G.K.A. Chaminda Kumara Kularatne, alleging that the process appeared to be mala fide. Addressing Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne in Parliament, Premadasa said that the existence of a personal disagreement between the Speaker and the suspended official had created a potential conflict of interest.

Premadasa said disciplinary action against senior parliamentary officials had to be taken in keeping with established parliamentary precedents. He also questioned the legality and propriety of a lower-ranking official leading an inquiry against a senior officer.

“For the first time, we are witnessing a rift between the Speaker and the staff of the Secretary-General. All parties must step back, act democratically and ensure that the fundamental rights of Chaminda Kularatne are safeguarded,” he added.

ITAK Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said Kularatne had not been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations made against him.

“This is a disgraceful situation. A complaint has been lodged against you with the Bribery Commission. Parliament is the supreme institution of democracy in this country, and the precedent being created here is dangerous,” Rasamanickam said, addressing the Speaker.

SJB Kandy District MP Chamindranee Kiriella said the Speaker was duty-bound to inform the House before disciplinary action was taken against a parliamentary official. SJB MP Ajith P. Perera said it was unethical for the Speaker to assume a leadership role in the inquiry, and called for the matter to be entrusted to an independent authority.

Responding on behalf of the Government, Chief Government Whip and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said the chief investigating officer, S.K. Liyanage, an Additional Secretary, had been appointed by the Staff Advisory Committee on 25 August, 2025. He said Liyanage had been selected from a pool of qualified officers at the Ministry of Public Administration and had prior experience in conducting investigations.

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said the Staff Advisory Committee had agreed on the respective powers of parliamentary officials, noting that the Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of Ministry Secretary, while the Deputy Secretary General would hold powers equivalent to those of an Additional Secretary.

“There is no irregularity in the conduct of the investigation or in the appointment of the investigating officers,” Rathnayake said.

On 24 January, 2026, Parliament announced the immediate suspension of Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Chaminda Kularatne with effect from 23 January, citing concerns relating to his appointment. Kularatne had assumed duties on 15 September, 2023.

On Monday, Kularatne filed a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne, alleging corruption. His legal counsel, Attorney-at-Law Mithun Dias, said the complaint had been filed against the Speaker in his personal capacity and not against the government.

However, Dr Jayatissa told the House that the investigation into Kularatne was based on concerns relating to his appointment, qualifications and the process by which he had been confirmed in that post and was not linked to any personal dispute with the Speaker.

By Saman Indrajith

News

78th Independence Day celebrations at Bogambara Stadium

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 78th Independence Day celebrations in the Central Province are scheduled to be held today from 8:00 AM at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.

The celebrations are jointly organised by the Central Provincial Council and the Kandy District Secretariat. The Governor of the Central Province, Prof. S.B.S. Abeykoon, is expected to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The event will also see the participation of Kandy District Members of Parliament, the Chief Secretary of the Central Province, Mr. Ajith Premathilake, as well as representatives from the Tri-Forces, Police, school students, and various voluntary organisations.

The ceremony will feature a formal parade and cultural performances by school children.

By S.K. Samaranayake

News

Colombo-Kandy railway line to be fully restored this year – Minister Bimal

Published

11 hours ago

2026/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, has announced that the reconstruction of the Colombo-Kandy railway line, which was severely damaged by landslides in the Balana and Kadugannawa areas, will be completed within this year to restore normal train services.

The Minister made this statement during the Kandy District Development Committee meeting held at the District Secretariat. He noted that work will commence following the observations and technical reports provided by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) regarding the stability of the landslide-affected areas.

Financial Management and Development

Minister Rathnayake emphasised that the government possesses the necessary funds for development projects.

“Our government has the funds. However, all officials must ensure these funds are managed efficiently so that they are fully utilised for development, without being returned to the Treasury at the end of the year,” he stressed.

Improvements in Public Transport

Highlighting the progress in the transport sector, the Minister shared several key updates

• Recruitment: 700 new employees have been recruited to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and are currently undergoing training.

• School Transport: Steps are being taken to strengthen the ‘Sisu Sariya’ school bus service within the Kandy District.

• Infrastructure: The reconstruction of the Peradeniya Black Bridge (Kalu Paalama), which was damaged during the ‘Ditwah’ disaster, is nearing completion.

Welfare facilities for Private Transport Workers

The Minister also revealed plans to support the welfare of private bus drivers and conductors.

“We must look after the workers in the private transport sector as well. We are planning to establish a welfare fund for them and are taking steps to include them in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) system,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, the Minister urged state officials to perform their duties responsibly and ensure that the inefficiencies seen under previous administrations do not recur.

By S.K. Samaranayake