Professor in Community Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Professor Christine Sampatha Evangeline Goonewardena is an accomplished academic and medical professional specializing in Community Medicine. With a career spanning over three decades, she has made substantial contributions to public health, particularly in maternal and child health, reproductive health, and public health education. As a professor at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka, she has led numerous research projects that have influenced health policies and improved community-level healthcare practices. Her work has garnered several national and international awards, underscoring her impact in public health. In addition to her research, she has held leadership positions and contributed to academic development through teaching and mentoring young researchers. Her publications, both individually and in collaboration, have addressed critical public health challenges and brought her widespread recognition in Sri Lanka and beyond. Professor Goonewardena’s dedication to improving healthcare outcomes reflects her commitment to academic excellence and community well-being.
Profile:
Scopus Profile
Education
Professor Goonewardena has an extensive educational background in medicine and public health. She earned her MBBS from North Colombo Medical College in Sri Lanka in 1990, laying the foundation for her medical career. She later pursued an MSc in Community Medicine from the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, in 1994, which included in-depth research on breastfeeding practices in urban slums. Her commitment to advancing community health led her to complete her MD in Community Medicine from the same institution in 2001, with a thesis focused on intrapartum and postpartum care in primary care settings. In 2003, she further specialized by obtaining a Diploma in Reproductive Health from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK. This diverse academic background, combining clinical and public health expertise, has equipped her to address key health issues at both national and international levels.
Professional Experience
Professor Goonewardena has held various pivotal roles throughout her career in academia and public health. Currently, she serves as a Professor of Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, a position she has held since 2017. Before this, she served as a Senior Lecturer in the same department from 2002 to 2017, demonstrating her deep commitment to teaching and research. She also led the Department of Community Medicine as Head from 2006 to 2009 and again from 2012 to 2014. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Medical Officer specializing in Maternal and Child Health in the Colombo Municipality from 1991 to 1996. Her extensive work experience includes both clinical practice and academic roles, allowing her to bridge the gap between research and practical health solutions. She also serves as a Specialist Community Physician in the University Field Health Area.
Research Interests
Professor Goonewardena’s research interests primarily focus on maternal and child health, reproductive health, adolescent health, and health system improvements in low-resource settings. She has a particular interest in exploring ways to improve healthcare delivery at the community level, especially in underprivileged and rural areas. Her work has frequently addressed issues such as postpartum care, antenatal care, menstrual hygiene, and breastfeeding practices, aiming to provide evidence-based solutions to improve public health outcomes. In recent years, she has expanded her research to include mental health and cancer pain management, reflecting a holistic approach to healthcare that considers both physical and mental well-being. Her research is not only academically rigorous but also highly practical, often leading to recommendations that influence health policy and clinical practice in Sri Lanka.
Award and Recognition
Professor Goonewardena has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for her contributions to public health and research. In 2002, she received the Sir Nicholas Attygalle Award for her research on improving intrapartum and postpartum care. She has also been recognized with multiple Best Paper and Best Oral Presentation awards at national and international conferences, including the South Asian Association of Physiologists and the Sri Lanka Medical Association. In 2015, she won the Best Poster Award at the International Research Conference of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University for her work on antenatal care knowledge. Her achievements reflect both the depth and breadth of her research, with accolades in areas ranging from adolescent health to cancer pain management. These awards underscore her role as a leading researcher in community medicine, both within Sri Lanka and internationally.
Publication Top Notes
- Delay among women reporting symptoms of breast cancer
📝 Authors: Kumari PBV, Goonewardena CSE
📅 Year: 2011
📚 Citation: JCCPSL, Vol 16, No 1, June 2011
- Cancer: A hidden burden (Editorial)
📝 Author: Goonewardena CSE
📅 Year: 2011
📚 Citation: JCCPSL, Vol 16, No 1, June 2011
- Extra-Curricular Activities and Factors Associated Among School-Going Adolescents in an Urban Area of Sri Lanka
📝 Authors: Weerasinghe IE, Gunawardana CSE, Jayatilake JAMS
📅 Year: 2014
📚 Citation: Global Education Review, Vol 2, No 2, February 2014, 72-82
- Vaginal discharge: Women’s health-seeking behavior and cultural practices
📝 Authors: Ilankoon IMPS, Goonewardena CSE, Perera PPR, Fernandopulle RC
📅 Year: 2015
📚 Citation: International Journal of Current Research, Vol 7, Issue 6, June 2015
- Quality of life of caregivers and impact on the nuclear family of children with leukaemia in the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka
📝 Authors: Pathirana TI, Goonewardena CSE, Wijesiriwardane I
📅 Year: 2015
📚 Citation: Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Vol 2: E18, 1-5
- Factors associated with growth faltering in Sri Lankan infants: A case-control study in selected child welfare clinics in Sri Lanka
📝 Authors: Nevinda de Silva, Wijerathna K, Kahatapitiya S, Silva P, Perera R, Goonewardena S
📅 Year: 2015
📚 Citation: Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Vol 2: E19, 1-9
- Public Health Midwives’ role in health education regarding vaginal discharge: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study
📝 Authors: Ilankoon IMPS, Goonewardena CSE, Fernandopulle RC, Perera PPR
📅 Year: 2016
📚 Citation: International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, Vol 4, Issue 06, 4303-4310
- Pre-hospital care received by injured children less than five years admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for children, Colombo
📝 Authors: Gunawardhana YAGK, Goonewardena CSE
📅 Year: 2015
📚 Citation: Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, Vol 21, No 1
- Self-medication practices and misuse of medicine among mothers of young children attending a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka
📝 Authors: De Silva BP, Hussain FH, Ginige G, Kulathunge A, Kannangara H, Goonawardane S, Gamage M
📅 Year: 2017
📚 Citation: Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 46
- Assessment of knowledge on the disease, its complications, and management strategies among hypertensive patients attending medical clinics at Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka
📝 Authors: Kisokanth G, Illankoon IMPS, Arulanandem K, Goonewardena CSE, Sundaresan KT, Joseph J
📅 Year: 2016
📚 Citation: Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Vol 3: E30, 1-1