Prof. Yoshito Fuji, Professor at the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Sanyo Women’s College, Japan visited the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University Kelaniya, Ragama. He severed from 26th August to 7th September 2018 at the Department of Parasitology.

He was involved in screening of micro-flora of Leishmaniasis vectors to detect the presence of bacteria/ae in order to explore the feasibility of developing paratransgenic sand flies to be used as a control strategy for Leishmaniasis vectors in Sri Lanka. Further, he conducted the quality control evaluations for molecular based detection protocols optimized for the detection of blood and intestinal parasites at the Department of Parasitology.

He was participated in the 6th Conference on Sri Lanka- Japan Collaborative Research organized by Sri Lanka- Japan Study Centre, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. One of our team member presented progress of our collaborative work at the same conference.

During his service period as the Visiting Scholar at the Department of Parasitology, he conducted a Lecture for MBBS (Phase ii) 3rd year Medical Students on Importance of Molecular based diagnostic techniques of Parasitological and vector borne diseases on 3rd September 2018. He shared his expertise in research with the academic, Postgraduate students and Technical staff at the Department of Parasitology. Dr. Nayana Gunathilaka, Head of the Department of Parasitology awarded a token of appreciation and appreciation letter to Prof. Fuji at the closing ceremony held at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya.