Prof. Nilanthi De Silva

Professor Nilanthi R De Silva

MBBS (C'bo), MSc (London), MD (C'bo)

Cadre Chair and Senior Professor
Vice Chancellor
Department of Parasitology

Specialization

Medical Parasitology

Research Interests

Awards and fellowships

Academic honors:

The Patrick Buxton medal for the best student in the MSc in Medical Parasitology course 1988/'89 awarded by the University of London - Sept. 1989.
Commonwealth Medical Fellow at the Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Dept. of Zoology, University of Oxford, U.K. from 1.10.95 to 30.9.96.
S.E. Seneviratne Award for paper titled “Effect of mebendazole therapy in pregnancy on birth outcome” read at 111th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 1998.
Prof. Rajasuriya Award (Tropical Medicine) for paper entitled “Role of antioxidants in filarial infection”, read at 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 2000.
Sir Frank Gunasekera Award for paper entitled “Comparison of methods for diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis” read at 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 2000.
EM Wijerama Award for paper entitled “Clearance of microfilaraemia and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels in asymptomatic microfilaraemics after single dose and fourteen days treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC)” read at 114^th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, March 2001.
President’s Research Bonus 1999 for publications figuring in the Science Citation Index of 1999
FAIMER International Fellow at George Washington University, Washington DC from 1.11.2004 – 30.4.2005.
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka. Merit award for Scientific Excellence, 2006 (Biotechnology), for project on ‘Genetic composition of Plasmodium falciparum in relation to drug resistance and disease transmission in Sri Lanka’.
Presidential Award for Research 2002 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2002.
Award for the best scientific paper in Clinical Immunology for paper entitled ‘The effect of intestinal nematode infections on atopic diseases in children’, read at the 4^th Biennial Scientific Sessions of the Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka, July 2009.
Presidential Award for Research 2003 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2003
Presidential Award for Research 2006 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2006
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2007 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2007
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2008 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2008
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2009 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2009
National Science Foundation Research Awards 2009. Certificate of commendation for the research work carried out in the field of biotechnology on the project ‘Use of molecular markers for the detection of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum infections in Sri Lanka’.
Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka in 2010
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2010 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2010
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2011 for publication in international scientific journals cited in the Science Citation Index in 2011
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2013 for publication in international scientific journals cited in 2013
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2014 for publication in international scientific journals in 2014
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2015 for publication in international scientific journals in 2015
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2016 for publication in international scientific journals in 2016
President’s Award for Scientific Publication 2017 for publication in international scientific journals in 2017

Orations/Guest lectures/Invited Speech/Plenary

Intestinal worms and the human condition: a Sri Lankan perspective. Jaffna Science Association, Prof Kandiah Balasubramaniam Gold Medal Lecture, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 4 May 2015
Vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases in Sri Lanka: a case study. 9^th Global Conference on Health Promotion, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China. Delivered on 14 November 2016
The role of continuing professional development in the national quality assurance framework. University of Kelaniya Staff Development Centre, National Forum on Continuing Professional Development in Higher Education, Ragama, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 3 March 2017
Accreditation of medical schools: a global perspective. Sri Lanka Medical Association, 131^st Anniversary International Medical Congress, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 28th July 2018.
Chief Guest’s address. Batticaloa Medical Association, 18^th Annual Scientific Sessions 2018, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 6^th September 2018.
The supervisor’s role in helping students to publish research. The Research Support Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 25 Sept 2018.
Quality Assurance in Higher Education. University of Kelaniya Staff Development Centre, programme for probationary academic staff, sessions at Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, conducted on 18 January 2018 and 1 November 2019
Worms and disease: demonstrating the impact of soil-transmitted helminths on health and well-being. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Sri Wickremesinghe Oration 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 16 February 2019.
The epidemiology of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka: current status. Sri Lanka Medical Association, Symposium on Soil-Transmitted Helminth infections in Sri Lanka: the way forward, organized by the Communicable Diseases Committee, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 3 July 2019
Guest of honour’s address. College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka, Induction of the President, 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 14 August 2019
Transforming higher education in Sri Lanka: the role of quality assurance and accreditation. Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, 4^th Annual Research Conference, Trinco 2019, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 18 Sept 2019
Chief Guest’s address. College of Medical Educationists, Sri Lanka, 2^nd Colombo Conference on Medical Education, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 14 November 2019.
Quality assurance and accreditation of basic medical degrees in Sri Lanka. College of Medical Educationists, Sri Lanka, 2^nd Colombo Conference on Medical Education, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 15 November 2019.
Soil-transmitted helminths: from control to elimination. Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo Medical Congress 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 13 February 2020.
Quality Assurance in Higher Education. Presentation to the Council of Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Delivered on 18 February 2020

Publications

Books, Book Chapters, Sections and Study Guide

de Silva NR, Bundy DAP. Intestinal nematodes that migrate through lungs (Ascariasis) In: Hunter GW & Strickland GT (eds) Hunter's Tropical Medicine 8th ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company 1999, pp 726 - 730.
Ismail MM, Atukorala TMS, Naotunne TS, de Silva NR, Hettiarachchi I. Control of intestinal helminthiasis in pregnancy – the Sri Lankan experience. In: Crompton DWT, Montresor A, Nesheim MC & Savioli L (eds) Controlling disease due to helminth infections Geneva, World Health Organization. 2003, pp 127 – 133.
de Silva NR. Helminth infections and filariasis. In Kumar P & Clark M (eds) Clinical Medicine. 6^th ed. Edinburgh, Elsevier Saunders, 2005, online appendix.
de Silva NR. Soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka. In: Arizono N, Chai J-Y, Nawa Y, Takahashi Y (eds) Food-borne helminthiasis in Asia. Asian Parasitology series monograph vol 1. Chiba, Federation of Asian Parasitologists, 2005; pp 289 -294.
Hotez PJ, Bundy DAP, Beegle K, Brooker S, Drake L, de Silva N, Montresor A, Engels D, Jukes M, Chitsulo L, Chow J, Laxminarayan R, Michaud CM, Bethony J, Correa-Oliviera R, Xiao Shu-Hua, Fenwick A, Savioli L. Helminth infections: soil-transmitted helminth infections and schistosomiasis. In: Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, Alleyne G, Claeson M, Evans DB, Jha P, Mills A, Musgrove P (eds). Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. 2^nd edition, New York, Oxford University Press and World Bank 2006. pp 467 – 482.
de Silva NR & Cooper ES. Chapter 114: Trichuriasis. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller, PF (eds). Tropical Infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens and Practice 3^rd edition. Edinburgh, Saunders Elsevier 2011: pp 791 - 793.
de Silva NR. Malaria and Helminth infections. In Kumar P & Clark M (eds) Kumar & Clarke’s Clinical Medicine (8^th edition) Edinburgh, Elsevier Saunders, 2012, online appendix.
Bundy DAP, de Silva N & Brooker S. Chapter 108. Intestinal nematodes: Ascariasis. In: Magill A, Ryan ET, Solomon T & Hill DR (eds). Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases (9th edition), Saunders Elsevier, 2012.
Rokni MB, Lotfy WM, Hotez PJ, de Silva NR. Soil-Transmitted Helminth (STH) Infections in the MENA Region. In McDowell, MA & Rafati S (eds). Neglected Tropical Diseases – Middle East and North Africa. Springer-Verlag Wien, 2014, pp 1 – 21.
Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Patton GC, Schultz L, Jamison D. Chapter 1. Child and adolescent health and development: realizing neglected potential. In: Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Jamison D & Patton GC (editors), Disease Control Priorities (3rd edition), Volume 8. Washington DC: World Bank, 2017 pp 1 – 23.
Bundy DAP, Appleby L, Bradley M, Croke K, Hollingsworth TD, Pullan R, Turner HC, de Silva N. Chapter 13. Mass deworming programmes in middle childhood and adolescence. In: Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Jamison D & Patton GC (editors) Disease Control Priorities (3rd edition) Volume 8. Washington DC: World Bank, 2017 pp 165 – 182.
De Silva NR & Perera N. Chapter 60. Helminths. In: Barer MR, Irving W, Swann A, Perera N (editors) Medical Microbiology: a guide to microbial infections: pathogenesis, immunity, laboratory investigation and control (19^th edition). Elsevier, 2018 pp 618 – 629.
Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Appleby L J, Brooker SJ. Chapter 112. Intestinal nematodes: Ascariasis. In: Ryan ER, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aronson NE & Endy TP (editors) Hunter’s Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases (10^th edition). Elsevier, 2020 pp 840 – 844.

Publications in peer reviewed Journals

Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, Mallawaarachchi CH, Gunaratna DGAM, de Silva NR. Lymphatic filariasis in the Southeast Asian Region: status and control options. CAB Reviews 2020; 15 (059). doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR202015059
Ellawala A, Chandrathilake M, de Silva N. Using a consensus approach to develop a medical professionalism framework for the Sri Lankan context. The Asia Pacific Scholar (in press)
Ediriweera DS, de Silva NR, Malavige GN, de Silva HJ (2020) An epidemiological model to aid decision-making for COVID-19 control in Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE 15(8): e0238340. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238340
De Silva N & de Silva H. Regulation of the medical profession in Sri Lanka: reform is urgently needed. Ceylon Medical Journal 2019; 64: 79 – 81
Ediriweera DS, Gunawardena S, Gunawardena NK, Iddawela D, Kannathasan S, Murugananthan A, Yahathugoda C, Pathmeswaran A, Diggle PJ, de Silva N. Scaling down the national deworming programme in Sri Lanka: development of a targeted strategy based on a national school survey of soil-transmitted helminth infections and prevalence mapping The Lancet Global Health 2019; 7 (9), e1237-e1246.
Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, Mallawaarachchi CH, Gunawardena NK, Gunathilaka PADHN, Abeyewickrama WY, de Silva NR. The diversity of human dirofilariasis in Western Sri Lanka. Biomed Research International 2019; Article ID 9209240, 7 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9209240
Gunaratna G, Manamperi A, Bohlken-Fascher S, Wickremasinghe R, Gunawardena K, Yapa B, Pathirana N, Pathirana H, de Silva N, Sooriyaarachchi M, Deerasinghe T, Mondal D, Ranasinghe S, Wahed AAE. Evaluation of rapid extraction and isothermal amplification techniques for the detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from skin lesions of suspected cases at the point of need in Sri Lanka. Parasites & Vectors 2018; 11: 665. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3238-1
Mallawarachchi CH, Chandrasena NTGA, Wickramasinghe S, Premaratna R, Gunawardane NYIS, Mallawarachchi NSMSM, de Silva NR. A preliminary survey of filarial parasites in dogs and cats in Sri Lanka. PLoS One. 2018 Nov 2;13(11):e0206633. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206633. eCollection 2018.
Mallawarachchi CH, Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, Mallawarachchi SMNSM, de Silva NR. Human infection with sub-periodic Brugia in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka: a threat to filariasis elimination status? Parasites & Vectors 2018; 11
Kannathasan S,de Silva NR, Kumanan T. Persistence of amoebiasis in northern Sri Lanka – a public health failure. Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2018; 48 (2) 88-89.
Chandrasena N, Premaratna R, Gunaratna IE, de Silva NR. Morbidity management and disability prevention for lymphatic filariasis in Sri Lanka: current status and future prospects. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2018; 12(5): e0006472. https://doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006472
Bundy DAP, Appleby LJ, Bradley M, Croke K, Hollingsworth TD, Pullan R, Turner HC, de Silva N. 100 years of mass deworming programmes: a policy perspective from the World Bank’s Disease Control Priorities Advances in Parasitology 2018; 100: 127 – 154.
Kannathasan S, Murugananthan A, Kumanan T, de Silva NR; Rajeshkannan N; Haque R; Iddawela D. Epidemiology and factors associated with amoebic liver abscess in northern Sri Lanka. BMC Public Health 2018; 18: 118. DOI 10.1186/s12889-018-5036-2
Dean T Jamison, Ala Alwan, Charles N Mock, Rachel Nugent, David Watkins, Olusoji Adeyi, Shuchi Anand, Rifat Atun, Stefano Bertozzi, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Agnes Binagwaho, Robert Black, Mark Blecher, Barry R Bloom, Elizabeth Brouwer, Donald AP Bundy, Dan Chisholm, Alarcos Cieza, Mark Cullen, Kristen Danforth, Nilanthi de Silva, Haile T Debas, Peter Donkor, Tarun Dua, Kenneth A Fleming, Mark Gallivan, Patricia J Garcia, Atul Gawande, Thomas Gaziano, Hellen Gelband, Roger Glass, Amanda Glassman, Glenda Gray, Demissie Habte, King K Holmes, Susan Horton, Guy Hutton, Prabhat Jha, Felicia M Knaul, Olive Kobusingye, Eric L Krakauer, Margaret E Kruk, Peter Lachmann, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Carol Levin, Lai Meng Looi, Nita Madhav, Adel Mahmoud, Jean Claude Mbanya, Anthony Measham, María Elena Medina-Mora, Carol Medlin, Anne Mills, Jody-Anne Mills, Jaime Montoya, Ole Norheim, Zachary Olson, Folashade Omokhodion, Ben Oppenheim, Toby Ord, Vikram Patel, George C Patton, John Peabody, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, Jinyuan Qi, Teri Reynolds, Sevket Ruacan, Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan, Jaime Sepúlveda, Richard Skolnik, Kirk R Smith, Marleen Temmerman, Stephen Tollman, Stéphane Verguet, Damian G Walker, Neff Walker, Yangfeng Wu, Kun Zhao. Universal health coverage and intersectoral action for health: key messages from Disease Control Priorities. The Lancet. 2018; 391 (10125) :1108-1120. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32906-9.
Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Patton GC, Schultz L, Jamison D. Investment in child and adolescent health and development: key messages from Disease Control Priorities 3rd edition. The Lancet. 2018; 391(10121):687-699. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32417-0.
Kannathasan S, Murugananthan A, Kumanan T, Iddawala D, de Silva NR, Rajeshkannan N, Haque R. Amoebic liver abscess in northern Sri Lanka: first report of immunological and molecular confirmation of aetiology. Parasites & Vectors 2017; 10: 14 DOI: 1186/s13071-016-1950-2
Rashwan N, Bourguinat C, Keller K, Gunawardena NK, de Silva N, Prichard R Isothermal Diagnostic Assays for Monitoring Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Necator americanus Associated with Benzimidazole Drug Resistance. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016; 10 (12): e0005113
Chandrasena N, Premaratna R, Samarasekera D, de Silva NR. Surveillance for transmission of lymphatic filariasis in Colombo and Gampaha districts of Sri Lanka following mass drug administration. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2016; 1–3 doi:10.1093/trstmh/trw067
Chandrasena N, Herath R, Rupasinghe N, Samarasinghe B, Samaranayake H, Kastuririratne A, de Silva NR.Toxoplasmosis awareness, seroprevalence and risk behavior among pregnant women in the Gampaha district, Sri Lanka. Pathogens and Global Health 2016; 110(2): 62-7.
De Silva N, Ahmed B-N, Casapia M, de Silva HJ, Gyapong J, Malecela M, Pathmeswaran A. Cochrane reviews on deworming and the right to a healthy, worm-free life (Viewpoints). PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2015; 9(10):e0004203. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004203
Torgerson PR, Devleesschauwer B, Praet N, Speybroeck N, Willingham AL, Kasuga F, Rokni MB, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Fèvre EM, Sripa B, Gargouri N, Fürst T, Budke CM, Carabin H, Kirk MD, Angulo FJ, Havelaar A, de Silva N. World Health Organization Estimates of the Global and Regional Disease Burden of 11 Foodborne Parasitic Diseases, 2010: A Data Synthesis. PLoS Medicine 2015; 12(12): e1001920. doi:10.1371/ journal.pmed.1001920.
Havelaar AH, Kirk MD, Torgerson PR, Gibb HJ, Hald T, Lake RJ, Praet N, David C. Bellinger DC,de Silva NR, Gargouri N, Speybroeck N, Cawthorne A, Mathers C, Stein C, Angulo FJ, Devleesschauwer B. World Health Organization Global Estimates and Regional Comparisons of the Burden of Foodborne Disease in 2010. PLoS Medicine 2015; 12(12): e1001923. doi:10.1371/ journal.pmed.1001923.
Paul R. Torgerson ,Nilanthi de Silva, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Nicolas Praet, Niko Speybroeck,Arve Lee Willingham, Fumiko Kasuga, Mohammad B. Rokni, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Eric M. Fèvre, Banchob Sripa, Neyla Gargouri, Thomas Fürst, Christine M. Budke,Hélène Carabin, Martyn D. Kirk, Frederick J. Angulo, Arie Havelaar, "World Health Organization Estimates of the Global and Regional Disease Burden of 11 Foodborne Parasitic Diseases, 2010: A Data Synthesis"PLOS Medicine 2015: 25.
De Silva, N. "The neglected tropical diseases in Sri Lanka." Anuradhapura Medical Journal 8, no. 2 (2014): 30-33
Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. L. A., and N. R. de Silva."Burden of mental illness and the need for better undergraduate education in psychiatry." Ceylon Medical Journal 59, no. 2 (2014): 35-38.
Gunawardena S, Gunawardena NK, Kahathuduwa G, Karunaweera ND, de Silva NR, Ranasinghe UB, Samarasekara SD, Nagodavithana KC, Rao RU, Rebollo MP, Weil GJ. Integrated School-Based Surveillance for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections and Lymphatic Filariasis in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2014; 90 (4): 661–666.
De Silva NR. India can do more about intestinal worm infections. Indian Journal of Medical Research2014; 139: 7-9.
Torgerson PR, de Silva NR, Fevre EM, Kasuga F, Rokni MB, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Sripa B, Gargouri N, Willingham AL, Stein C. The global burden of foodborne parasitic diseases: an update.Trends in Parasitology 2014; 30 (1): 20 – 26.
Gunawardena NK, Chandrasena TN, de Silva NR. Prevalence of enterobiasis among primary school children in Ragama, Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2013; 58 (3) 106 – 110.
Ebenezer R, Gunawardena K, Kumarendran B, Pathmeswaran A, Jukes MCH, Drake LJ, de Silva N.Cluster-randomised trial of the impact of school-based deworming and iron supplementation on the cognitive abilities of schoolchildren in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector.Tropical Medicine & International Health 2013; 18 (8): 942 – 951.
Kannathasan S, Muru gananthan A, Rajeshkannan N, de Silva NR . A Simple Intervention to Prevent Cutaneous Larva Migrans among Devotees of the Nallur Temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE 2013 ; 8(4): e61816.
De Silva NR , Priyabhashini GDC, Godage PK, Premakumara P, Pathmeswaran A. Feasibility of introducing General English as an university entry requirement for Medicine: results of a national survey. Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies 2012; 2(2): 23 – 42.
Rodrigo KMDJ , Premaratna R , Chandrasena TGAN , de Silva NR , de Silva HJ. Marked eosinophilia due to intestinal strongyloidiasis in an immunocompetent patient . Ceylon Medical Journal 2012; 57 ( 4 ): 172 - 173 .
De Silva NR & Jayawickrama H. Can we eliminate soil - transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka?Ceylon Medical Jou rnal 2012; 57 (1): 1 - 4.
Amarasekera A, Gunawardena NK, de Silva NR , Douglass J A, O’Hehir RE, Weerasinghe A. Impact of helminth infection on childhood allergic diseases in an area in transition from high to low infection burden . Asia Pacific Allergy 2012; 2:122 - 128.
Kannathasan S, Murugananthan A, Rajeshkannan N, de Silva NR . Cutaneous Larva Migran s among Devotees of the Nallur Temple in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE 2012; 7(1): e30516.
Gunawardena N , Kumarendran B, Ebenezer R, Gunasingha MS, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR . Soil - transmitted helminth infections among plantation - sector schoolchildren in Sri Lanka: prevalence after ten years of preventive chemotherapy. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2011; 5 (9) e1591 .
Chandrasena TGAN, Gunawardena NK, Premaratna R, de Silva NR . Ultrasonic visualisation of live Wuchere ria bancrofti adult worms in situ . Ceylon Medical Journal 2011; 56 (2) 82 – 83.
Hewage SN, Salgado LSS, Fernando GMO, Liyana ge PLCK, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR . Selection of medical students in Sri Lanka: time to re - think criteria? Ceylon Medical Journal 2011; 56 (1) 22 – 28.
Chandrasena TGAN, Balasooriya BADH, Imbulpitiya IVB, de Silva NR . A survey for intestinal parasites in a psychiatric institution in Sri Lanka . Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology , 2010; 104 (7) 605 - 608 .
Hapugoda, MD, de Silva NR , Khan B, Daya nath MYD, Gunasena S, Prithimala LD, Abeyewickreme W. A comparative retrospective of RT - PCR based liquid hybridization assay for early, definitive, diagnosis of dengue. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2010; 104: 279 – 282.
de Silva NR . The changing face of malaria in Sri Lanka: implications for diagnosis and treatment. Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists 2010; 8: 47 – 50.
de Silva NR & Wickremasinghe R. Counting malaria out – what progress? Indian Jo urnal of Medical Research 2010; 131, 475 - 477.
de Silva N & Hall A. Using the prevalence of individual species of intestinal nematode worms to estimate the combined prevalence of any species. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2010; 4 (4); e655.
Amarasekera NDDM, Gunawardena KN, de Silva NR , Weerasinghe A. Prevalence of childhood atopic diseases in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2010; 55 (1): 5 – 8.
Geary TG, Woo K, McCarthy JS, Mackenzie CD, Horton J, Prichard RK, de Silva NR , Olliaro PL, Lazdins - Helds JK, Engels DA, Bundy DA. Unresolved issues in anthelmintic pharmacol ogy for helminthiases of humans. International Journal for Parasitology 2010; 40 : 1 - 13
Chandratilake MN & de Silva NR . Identifying poor concordance between the ‘planned’ and the ‘hidden’ curricula at a time of curriculum change in a Sri Lankan medical school using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure . South East Asian Journal of Medical Education 2009 ; 3 (2): 15 – 19.
de Silva NR , Wijesundera MKdeS. Parasitic infections of the nervous system, with an update on free - living amoebic infections. Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists 2009; 7 (1) 49 – 53.
Hapuarachchi HC, Abeysundara S, Dayanath MYD, Manamperi A, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR .Molecular markers of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Sri Lanka: frequency before revision of the antimalarial drug policy . Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology 2009; 103 (4) 351 – 356.
Hall A, Horton S, de Silva N , The Costs and Cost - Effectiveness of Mass Treatment for Intestinal Nematode Worm Infections Using Different Treatment Thresholds. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2009 ; 3 (3): e402.
Kasturiratne A, Wickremasinghe AR, de Silva N, Gunawardena NK, Pathmeswaran A, Premaratna R, Savioli L, Lalloo DG, de Silva HJ. The Global Burden of Snakebite: A Literature Analysis and Modelling Based on Regional Estimates of Envenoming and Deaths . PLoS Medicine 2008; 5(11): e218
De Silva NR. Quality assurance in tertiary education. The Chartered Accountant 2008; 43 (2) 12 – 15
de Silva NR, Perera KKYW, Gunatunge RS, Tantrigoda DA. How many doctors should Sri Lanka have?Ceylon Medical Journal 2008; 53 (3) 93 – 98
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR, de Silva AP, Jewell DP. Emergence of inflammatory bowel disease ‘beyond the West’ : do prosperity and improved hygiene have a role? Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2008; 102: 857 – 860.
Hapuarachchi HAC, Gunawardane NK, Senevirathne MP, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR. A case of imported malaria: the first report of a Plasmodium malariae infection in Sri Lanka after 37 years. Ceylon Medical Journal 2008; 53 (2) 53 – 54
Gunawardena NK, Amarasekera NDDM, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Effect of repeated mass chemotherapy for filariasis control on soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2008; 53 (1) 13 – 16
Hall A, Hewitt G, Tuffrey V, de Silva NR. A review and meta-analysis of the impact of intestinal worms on child growth and nutrition. Maternal and Child Nutrition 2008; 4 (Supplement 1) 118 – 236
Chandrasena TGAN, Hapuarachchi HC, Dayanath MYD, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Intestinal parasites and the growth status of internally displaced children in Sri Lanka. Tropical Doctor, 2007; 37: 163 – 165
Chandrasena, TGAN, Premaratna R, Muthugala MARV, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Modified Dermatology Life Quality Index as a measure of quality of life in patients with filarial lymphoedema.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2007; 101 (3) 245 – 249
Adikaram ND, de Silva NR, Fernando A, Fernando D, Lamabadusuriya S, Reid CB. Filarial antigens detected in urine using the immunochromatographic card test. Ceylon Medical Journal 2006; 51 (4) 157 – 158.
Hapuarachchi HC, Dayanath MYD, Bandara KBAT, Abeysundara S, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR, Hunt SY, Sibley CH. Point mutations in the dihydrofolate reductase and dihydropteroate synthase genes of Plasmodium falciparum and resistance to sulfadoxinepyrimethamine in Sri Lanka. American Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2006; 74 (2) 198 – 204
de Silva NR, Chandratilake MN, Pathmeswaran A, Dias R. Selection of students to medical school. Ceylon Medical Journal 2006; 51 (2) 51 – 52
de Silva NR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva N, Edirisinghe JS, Kumarasiri PVR, Parameswaran SV, Seneviratne R, Warnasuriya N, de Silva HJ. Admission to medical schools in Sri Lanka: predictive validity of selection criteria. Ceylon Medical Journal 2006; 51 (1) 17 – 21
Padmasiri EA, Montresor A, Biswas G, de Silva NR. Controlling lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis together in South Asia: opportunities and challenges Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2006; 100: 807 -810
Weerasinghe CR, de Silva NR, Michael E. Maternal filarial-infection status and its consequences on pregnancy and the newborn in Ragama, Sri Lanka. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 2005; 99: 813 – 816.
de Silva NR. Making the best of what we have: a plea for wider use of anthelmintics. (editorial). Indian Journal of Medical Research 2005; 122: 1 – 3.
Pathmeswaran A, Jayatissa R, Samarasinghe S, Fernando A, de Silva RP, Thattil RO, de Silva NR.Health status of primary schoolchildren in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2005; 50 (2) 46 – 50.
de Silva NR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva HJ. Selection of students for admission to medical school in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal 2004; 49 (3) 81 – 85
de Silva N, Abhayaratna J, Fernando D. Soil-transmitted helminth infections and Sri Lankan children. Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists 2004; 2 (1) 51 – 58
Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, de Silva NR. Lymphoedema management knowledge and practices among patients attending filariasis morbidity control clinics in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Filaria Journal 2004; 3 (6) 1 – 6.
Chandrasena TGAN, de Alwis ACD, de Silva LDR, Morel RP, de Silva NR. Intestinal parasitoses and the nutritional status of Veddah children in Sri Lanka. South East Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 2004; 35 (2) 255 – 259
Selvaratnam RR, de Silva LDR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Nutritional status and productivity of Sri Lankan tea pluckers Ceylon Medical Journal 2003; 48 (4) 114 - 8.
de Silva NR, Brooker S, Hotez PJ, Montresor A, Engels D, Savioli L.Soil-transmitted helminth infections : updating the global picture. Trends in Parasitology 2003 ; 19 (12) 547 – 551
Weerasinghe CR, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR. Complicance with single-dose diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) mass treatment programme for filariasis in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Regional Health Forum 2003; 6 (2) 43 – 47.
de Silva NR, Pathmeswaran A, Fernando SD, Weerasinghe CR, Selvaratnam R, Padmasiri E. Impact of mass chemotherapy for the control of filariasis on geohelminth infections in Sri Lanka Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology 2003 ; 97 (4) 421 – 425
Premaratna, R, Chandrasena TGAN, Abeyewickreme W, Chandrasena LG, Senarath S, de Silva NR, de Silva HJ. Red blood cell antioxidant levels in Wuchereria bancrofti infection. Experimental Parasitology 2003 ; 102 : 81 – 88
de Silva NR. Impact of mass chemotherapy on the morbidity due to soil-transmitted nematodes. Acta Tropica 2003; 86 (2-3): 197 – 214.
Allen H, Crompton DWT, de Silva N, LoVerde P, Olds GR. New policies for using anthelmintics in high risk groups. Trends in Parasitology 2002 ; 18 (9) 381 – 2.
Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR. Evaluation of the ICT whole-blood antigen card test to detect infection due to Wuchereria bancrofti in Sri Lanka. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2002; 96: 60 – 63.
Kasturiratne KTAA, Premaratna BAHR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR, de Silva HJ. Compliance with the mass chemotherapy program for lymphatic filariasis. Ceylon Medical Journal 2001; 46: 126 – 129
Premaratna, R, Gunatilake AKE, de Silva NR, Tilakaratne, Y, Fonseka MMD, de Silva HJ. Severe hepatic dysfunction associated with falciparum malaria. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine & Public Health 2001; 32: 70 – 72
De Silva HJ, de Silva NR. Morbidity due to intestinal geohelminth infections. Gastroenterology Today 2000; 4: 196 - 198
de Silva NR, Thabrew MI, Saparamadu PAM, Jayawardena DKRC, Aarachchige AA, Weerawardhane M, Gunawardana YINS. Gender differences in undergraduate medical examination results in Sri Lanka.Ceylon Medical Journal 2000; 45: 119 - 122
de Silva NR, Samarasinghe HHR. Quality assurance in medical education. Ceylon Medical Journal 2000; 45: 55-57.
de Silva NR, Abeyewickreme W, Chandrasena TGAN. Sleeping sickness and medical students (letter) Ceylon Medical Journal 2000; 45: 39
Udayani WI, Uduwevidane IK, Uvais AL, Wanniarachchi SL, Warnakulasuriya SN, de Silva NR. Intestinal helminth infections among children in a slum community in Enderamulla. (letter) Ceylon Medical Journal 1999; 44: 187 – 88.
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR. Epidemiology and control of intestinal geohelminths. Gastroenterology Today 1999; 3: 16-18.
de Silva NR, Sirisena JLGJ, Gunasekera DPS, Ismail MM, de Silva HJ. Effect of mebendazole therapy during pregnancy on birth outcome. Lancet 1999; 353: 1145-49
Bundy DAP & de Silva NR. Can we deworm this wormy world? British Medical Bulletin 1998; 54 : 421-432.
de Silva NR, Guyatt HL. The treatment and control of helminth infections prevalent in Sri Lanka: an update. Kandy Medical Journal 1997; 6 (1) 16-23.
de Silva N, Guyatt H, Bundy D. Clinical use of anthelmintics. Medical Progress 1997; 43- 48
de Silva NR, Chan MS, Bundy DAP. Morbidity and mortality due to ascariasis: reestimation and sensitivity analysis of global numbers at risk. Tropical Medicine and International Health 1997; 2 (6) 519-528
de Silva NR, Guyatt HL, Bundy DAP. Worm burden in intestinal obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Tropical Medicine and International Health 1997; 2 (2) 189-190.
de Silva N, Guyatt H, Bundy D. Anthelmintics: a review of their comparative clinical pharmacology. Drugs 1997; 53 (5) 769-788
de Silva NR, Guyatt HL, Bundy DAP. Morbidity and mortality due to Ascaris-induced intestinal obstruction. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1997; 91 (1) 31-36
de Silva NR, Kodituwakku KKAP, Edirisinghe SS, de Silva HJ. Routine use of mebendazole in pregnancy. Ceylon Medical Journal 1996; 41: 99-101
de Silva NR, Jayapani VPP, de Silva HJ. Socioeconomic and behavioural factors affecting the prevalence of geohelminths in preschool children. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 1996; 27: 36-42
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR. Intestinal helminthiases: our turn to turn. Ceylon Medical Journal 1995; 40: 134-136.
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR. Unusual neuromuscular complications of falciparum malaria. Protozoological Abstracts 1994; 18(1)1-6.
de Silva NR, de Silva, HJ, Jayapani, VPP. Intestinal parasitoses in the Kandy area, Sri Lanka. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 1994; 25, 469- 473
Wijesundera MdeS, de Silva NR, Ariyaratne CS. Prevalence patterns of intestinal parasitoses among schoolchildren in Mahaweli System C: a new settlement in Sri Lanka. Kandy Medical Journal 1993; 2(1)5-9
de Silva NR, Medagedara D, Buthpitiya AG, Weilgama DJ. Wound myiasis due to Chrysomyia bezziana: a case report. Kandy Medical Journal 1992;1(2)75-76
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR, Dunuwille A, Kandanarachchi S, Senanayake N. An epidemiological study of delayed onset cerebellar ataxia complicating falciparum malaria. Journal of Tropical and Geographical Neurology 1992; 2: 181-184.
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR, Snook JA. Delayed cerebellar ataxia following falciparum malaria: lack of evidence for antibody mediation. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1992; 86: 608
de Silva HJ, Herath S, de Silva NR. Urinary frequency in falciparum malaria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1992; 86:137
de Silva HJ, Hoang P, Dalton H, de Silva NR, Jewell DP, Peiris JB. Immune activation during cerebellar dysfunction following Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 1992; 86: 129 - 131.
de Silva HJ, Goonetilleke AKE, de Silva NR, Amarasekera LR, Jayawickrema US. Erythema induratum of Bazin in a patient with endometrial tuberculosis. Postgraduate Medical Journal 1988; 64: 242-244.

Publications in Non-peer reviewed Journals

De Silva NR, Premakumara P, Pathmeswaran A. Feasibility of Introducing General English as an Entry Requirement for Medicine. Report submitted to the University Grants Commission August 2011
de Silva NR. Quality assurance in tertiary education. The Chartered Accountant. 2008: 43 (2) 12 – 15
de Silva N, Jayasuriya KD, Pathmeswaran A, Chandratilake MN, Wijesundera R, Dias R, Ranasinghe M. Common General Paper as a predictor of performance in University. Medical Education Centre, University of Kelaniya November 2005
de Silva N, Perera L, Gunetilleke N, Thattil RO. Health for Education: a study of non-school determinants of learning achievement of Grade 4 students in Sri Lanka. Final Report on Intersectoral Study on Education and Health, National Education Commission, September 2005
Hotez PJ, de Silva N, Brooker S, Bethony J. Soil-transmitted helminth infections: the nature, causes and burden of the condition. Working Paper No. 3, Disease Control Priorities Project. Bethesda, Maryland: Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, March 2003

Publications in Conference Proceedings (Oral and Poster Presentations)

Gunawardena NK, Kumarendran B, Manamperi NH, Senarathna BP, Silva M, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Randomized placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of mebendazole polymorphs in the treatment of hookworm infections. 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Washington DC, USA, Nov 2013, p 313
Ebenezer, Gunawardena NK, Kumarendran B, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Cluster randomized trial of the impact of school based deworming and weekly iron supplementation on haemoglobin level of plantation primary school children. 18th Annual Academic Sessions of the College of the Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, Colombo Sept 2013, p21
Gunawardena NK, Chandrasena TGANC, Senarathna BP, Silva GMSK, de Silva NR. Prevalence of enterobiasis among primary school children in Ragama MOH area. 21st Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Colombo Sept 2012, p 10
Priyabhashini GDC, Godage PK, Premakumara P, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR. Feasibility of introducing General English as an entry requirement to study Medicine in Sri Lanka. 12th Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, November 2011, p 127.
Manamperi NH, Anjalee KGC, Gunawardena NK, Sudusinghe H, Nilaweera THWT, de Silva NR. Comparison of laboratory techniques for diagnosis of hookworm infections. 20th Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists Colombo, Sept 2011, p 19.
de Silva NR , Salgado LSS, Fernando GMO, Liyanage PLCK, Hewage S N, Pathmeswaran A. Can we improve the criteria for selection of medical students in Sri Lanka? 123 rd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, June 2010, p 70.
Gunawardena NK, Gunasingha HMMSK, Kumarendran B, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR . Prevalence of soil - transmitted hel minth infections and malnutrition among 9 - 10 year old children attending estate sector schools. 123 rd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, June 2010, p 28
Amarasekera NDDM, Gunawardena NK, de Silva NR , Weerasinghe GAK. Association between asthma and rhinitis. 123 rd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, June 2010, p 19
de Silva NR . How many doctors should Sri Lanka have? Sri Lanka Medical Association, Foundation Sessions November 2009
Chandrasena TGAN, Gunawardane, NK, Imbulpitiya IVB, Balasooriya BADH, Ariyarathna WPH, de Silva NR . Intestinal parasitic infections among a selected group of institutionalised psychiatric patients. Annual Academic Sessions o f the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists 2009, p 18
Amarasekera NDDM, Gunawardena NK, de Silva NR, Douglas J, O’Hehir R, Weerasinghe A . The effect of intestinal nematode infections on atopic diseases in children. 4 th Biennial Scientific Sessions of the Allergy & Immunology Society of Sri Lanka . Colombo, July 2009. p27
de Silva NR. Quality assurance in enhancing graduate employment. Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning Conferen ce 2009 , May 2009
De Silva NR . Impact of migration on the medical workforce in Sri Lanka. Third Conference of the Asia - Pacific Action Alliance on Human Resources for Health. Kandy October 2008
Amarasekera M, Gunawardena K, de Silva N , Pathmeswaran A, Douglass J, O’Hehir R, Weerasinghe A. Reduced risk of atopic diseases among schoolchildren infected with intestinal nematodes. Fourth Congress of the Federation of Immunology Societies of Asia - Oceania . Taipei, October 2008. OP 0024
Amarasekera NDDM, Gunawardena NK, de Silva NR , Weerasinghe A. Allergic sensitization in children. Proceedings of th e Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, 11 th Annual Scientific Congress . Kandy, June 2008. p 67
Wijeratne LT, Williams SS, Peris MUPK, de Silva NR , Hapuarachchi HAC, Perera KPJ, Kawamura N, Wickremasinghe AR. The validation of the Sinhala version of the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) to screen for psychiatric morbidity. 121 st Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2008, p 55
Wickremasinghe AR, de Silva HJ, de Silva HA, de Silva NR , Kasturiratne A, Pinidiyapathirage J, Chakrewarthy S, Pathmeswaran A, Weerasinghe GAK, Abeyewickreme W, Makaya M, Mizoue T, Kato N. The Ragama Health Study: the methodology of the prospective cohort study for the establishment of diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome in Sri Lankans. 121 st Annual Scientific Sessions of t he Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2008, p 46
Premaratna R, Chandrasena TGAN, Gunawardena NK, de Silva NR , de Silva HJ. Filarial dance sign (FDS) in patients wi th lymphatic filariasis. 121 st Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2008, p 21
Hapuarachchi HAC , Dayanath MYD, Abesundara S, Manamperi A, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR . K76T point mutation of chloroquine resistance transporter gene: Is it a potential molecular marker for chloroquine resistance in Sri Lankan Plasmodium falciparum isolates? Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 63 rd Annual Sessions. Colombo, December 2007, p 13
Hapugoda MD, Khan B, de Silva NR , Gunesekera J and Abeyewickreme W. Correlation between clinical and laboratory diagnosis of dengue in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting , Bangkok 20 07, p 128
Bailey, MS, Wijesuriya MTW, de Silva NR , Peacock SJ, Lalloo DJ, de Silva HJ. A fever study in the Gampaha district of Sri Lanka. One hundred years of Tropical Medicine: meeting the Millenium Development Goals (Centenary meeting of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygien e), London, September 2007. P2.10
NK Gunawardena, NDDM Amarasekera, A Pathmeswaran, NR de Silva . Effect of mass chemotherapy for filariasis control on soil - transmitted helminth infections in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. One hundred years of Tropical Medicine: meeting the Millenium Development Goals (Centenary meeting of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene), London, September 2007. P1.25
Hapugoda, MD, de Silva NR , Khan B, Gunasena S, Dayanath MYD, Abeyewickreme W. A comparative retrospective study of novel Reverse - Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction - based Liquid Hybrid ization (RT - PCR - LH) assay with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification, virus isolation and serological techniques for early, definitive laboratory diagnosis of dengue infection. 43 rd MSPTM Annual Scientific Seminar & Centenary Celebration of the Roy al Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (UK). Kuala Lumpur, March 2007, p 33.
Gunawardena NK, Amarasekera NDDM, de Silva NR . Impact of repeated mass chemotherapy for filariasis control on soil - transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka. 120 th Annual Scientific Sessio ns of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2007, p 17
Bailey MS, Wijesuriya T, Premaratna R, de Silva NR , Wuthiekanun V, Peacock SJ, Lalloo DG, de Silva HJ. A fever study at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital. 120 th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2007, p 16
Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, Weerasinghe MMU, Muthugala MARV, Moujooth HMA, de Silva NR . Factors affecting the quality of life of lymphoedema patients in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. 119 th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2006, p 29
de Silva NR , Pathmeswaran A, Chandratilake, MN, Dias R. The Common General Paper as a predictor of performance in medical school. 119 th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Associat ion. Colombo, March 2006, p 28
Hapuarachchi HAC, Dayanath MYD, Abeysundar a S, Bandara KBAT, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR. Evidence for emerging sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine resistance of Plasmodium falciparum isolates in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 61 st Annual Sessions, Part I. Colombo, December 2005, p 15
Pathmeswaran, A, de Silva NR , de Silva N, Edirisinghe S, Parameswaran SC, Seneviratne R, Warnasuriya N, de Silva HJ. Limitations of current measures used for selection of students to medical schools in Sri Lanka. 118 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2005, p 30
Pathmeswaran A, de Silva NR . Inequalities in nutritional status in Sri Lanka: an application of the Gini coefficient. Annual Sessions of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka. Colombo, October 2004, p 14
de Silva N . Soil - transmitted helminth infecti ons: an update. Annual Scientific Sessions of the Jaffna Medical Association. Jaffna, August 2004, p17
Chandrasena TGAN, Premaratna R, de Silva NR . Lymphoedem a management knowledge and practices among patients attending filariasis clinics in the Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Colombo, August 2004; pp 18 – 19
Weerasinghe CR, Wijesinghe PS, de Silva NR . Consequences of ante - natal and intrapartum exposure to Wuchereria bancrofti infection. 117 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, March 2004, p 39
Abeyewickreme W, Hapugoda MD, de Silva NR . Role of Aedes albopic tus in transmitting dengue in Sri Lanka. First ASEAN Congress of Parasitology & Tropical Medicine and 40 th Annual Scientific Seminar of Malaysian Society of Parasitology & Tropical Medicine , Kuala Lumpur, March 2004. p 63
Hapugoda MD, Gunasekera MB, de Silva NR , Gunasena S, Prithimala LD, Dayanath MYD, Abeyewickreme W. Detection of dengue virus in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Liquid Hybridization (RT - PCR - LH) based assay. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists , Colombo, June 2003; pg 30 – 31.
Weerasinghe CR, de Silva NR . Evaluation of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme for filariasis control in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists , Colombo, June 2003; pg 26 – 27
Selvaratnam RR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva LDR, de Silva NR . Nutritional status of tea plucke rs on Norwood Estate, Hatton. 116 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association . Colombo March 2003; p 64
de Silva NR , Pathmeswaran A, Fernando SD, Weerasinghe CR, Selvaratnam RR, Padmasiri EA. Impact of mass chemotherapy filariasis cont rol programme on soil - transmitted helminth infections in Ragama. 116 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association . Colombo March 2003; p 33
de Silva NR , Selvaratnam RR, Pathmeswaran A, de Silva LDR. Nutritional status and productivity of tea pluckers in Norwood Estate, Hatton. 116 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association . Colombo March 2003; p 29
Weerasinghe CR, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR . Prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia and antigenaemia in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 58 th Annual Sessions Part I, December 2002; p 13
Hapuarachchi HAC, Dayanath MYD, Abeysundara S, Bandara KBAT, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR . High occurrence of falciparum malaria and chloroquine resistance in an operational area in the North ern Province. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 58 th Annual Sessions Part I, December 2002; p 8
Hapugoda MB, de Silva NR , Rajamanthri MDS, Abeyewickreme W. Dengue vector surveillance in localities with reported dengue cases in Kurunegala and Gampaha districts. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Pro ceedings of the 57 th Annual Sessions Part I, November 2001; p 5
Gunasekera MB, Hapugoda MD, Gunasena S, Subasinghe SASC, Bandara KBAT, de Silva NR , Abeyewick reme W. Detection of recent dengue infection in patient’s sera by a novel Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction - Liquid Hybridisation (RT - PCR - LH) - based assay. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 57 th Annual Ses sions Part I, November 2001; p 4
Weerasinghe CR, de Silva NR . Evaluation of the single - dose diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) mass treatm ent programme for filariasis in Colombo. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Proceedings of the 57 th Annual Sessions Part I, November 2001; p 2
de Alwis ACD, de Silva NR , de Silva D, Morel R, Chandrasena N, Weerasinghe C. Comparative study of health status of Vedda and Si nhala school children of Mahiyangana. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, Annual Scientific Congress 2001 . Colombo August 2001; p 43
Premaratna R, Chandrasena TGAN, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR , Chandrasena LG, de Silva HJ. Clearance of microfilaraemia and red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels in asymptomatic microfilaraemics after single dose and fourteen days treatment with diethyl car bamazine citrate (DEC). 114 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association . Colombo March 2001; p24 – 25
Premaratna R, Chandrasena TGAN, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR , Chandrasena LG, de Silva HJ. Red blood cell antioxidant levels after treatment with diethyl carbamazine citrate in persons with asymptomatic microfilaraemia. 114 th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association . Colombo March 2001; p23 – 24
Chandrasena TGAN, Morel RP, de Alwis C, Sudusinghe HP, de Silva NR . Intestinal parasitic infections in primary school children in Mahiyangana district. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists , Colombo, 3 June 2000
Hapugoda GPGMD, de Silva NR , Abeyewickreme W. Breeding of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in some dengue endemic areas. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists , Colombo, 3 June 2000
Premaratna BAHR, Chandrasena TGAN, Senerath GLCS, Chandrasena LG, de Silva NR . Role of antioxidants in filarial infection. 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association , Colombo March 2000; p 32 - 33
Chandrasena TGAN, Premarathna BAHR, Abeyewickreme W, de Silva NR . Comparison of methods for diagnosis of Bancroftian filariasis. 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association , Colombo March 2000; p 33
de Silva NR , Thabrew I, Saparamadu PAM, Jayawaradena DKRC. Gender issues among medical students in Sri Lanka: a preliminary study. 113th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association , C olombo March 2000; p 35 - 36.
Gunawardene YINS, de Silva NR, Abeyewickreme WA. Potential use of IGR, pyriproxyfen for the control of dengue vector Aedes albopictus. Annual Sessions of the Sri La nka College of Microbiologists, Colombo May 1999
Udayani WI, Uduwevidane IK, Uvais AL, Wanniarachchi SL, Warnakulasuriya SN, de Silva NR . Geohelminth infections among children in Enderamulla. Annual Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, Colombo May 1999
Sirisena J, de Silva N , de Silva J, Gunasekera D. Alcohol consumption in pregnancy in Ragama and Peradeniya. 4th International Medical Congress, Kandy 1998: p 91
de Silva NR , Sirisena JLGJ, Gunasekera DPS, Ismail MM, de Silva HJ. Effect of mebendazole therapy on birth outcome. Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 4th Residential Meeting, Liverpool 1998: p 86
de Silva N , Sirisena J, Gunasekera D, de Silva J. Effect of mebendazole therapy in pregnancy on birth outcome. 111th Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Colombo March 1998 ; OP 28
de Silva NR , Guyatt HL, Bundy DAP. Morbidity and mortality due to Ascaris - induced intestinal obstruction. Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hy giene, 3rd Residential Meeting, Cambridge 1996: p11
de Silva NR , Kodituwakku A, Edirisinghe S, de Silva HJ. Use of anthelmintics during pregnancy. 2nd International Conference of Tropical Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Jaipur 1996: G - 7
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR . Epidemiology and control of intestinal helminths. Postgraduate course in Gastroenterology, Oxford 1995: 29 - 30
de Silva NR , Jayapani VPP. Geohelminth infections of pre - school children: relationship between prevalence and some socio - economic factors. Sri Lanka Medical Association 107th Anniversary Aca demic Sessions 1994: 11
de Silva NR , de Silva HJ, Jayapani, VPP. Intestinal parasitoses in the Kandy area: prevalence in slum children and adult out - patients. Sri Lanka Association for the Advanceme nt of Science, 49th Annual Sessions, Proceedings Part I 1993: 5
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR, Jayapani VPP. Abdominal symptoms and intestinal parasitoses: a case controlled study. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 49th Annual Sessions, Proceedings Part I 1993: 4
de Silva, NR , Jayapani, VPP. Prevalence of intestinal parasites among pre - school c hildren living in slum areas in Kandy. Annual Research Sessions, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya . 1993: 9
de Silva NR , Wijesundera MdeS, Ariyaratne CA. Giardiasis in schoolchildren in Mahaweli System C. Kandy Society of Medicine 15th Annual Sessions 1993: 32
Wijesundera MdeS, de Silva NR , Ariyaratne CA. Prevalence patterns of intestinal parasitoses among schoolchildren in the Mahaweli System C. Kandy Society of Medicine 15th Annual Sessions 1993: 31
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR, Dunuwille A, Kandanarachchi S, Senanayake N. Delayed cerebellar ataxia (DCA) complicating falciparum malaria: is a new strain responsible? X IIIth International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria 1992; Vol.2: 70
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR , Dunuwille A, Kandanarachchi S, Senanayake N. An epidemiological study of delayed cerebellar ataxia (DCA) complicating falciparum malaria. Proceedings of the International Medical Congress, Kandy 1992: 106
e Silva HJ, Herath S, de Silva NR . Urinary frequenc y: a new complication of falciparum malaria? Proceedings of the International Medical Congress, Kandy 1992: 104
de Silva HJ, de Silva NR , Peiris JB. Immune activation during cerebellar dysfunction following falciparum malaria. Sri Lanka Medical Association 105th Anniversary Academic Sessions 1992: 12
llangasekera U, de Silva NR , Atapattu DR. Exercise - induced malaria. Kandy Society of Medicine 14th Annual Sessions 1992: 14 - 15

Professional Contributions:

Positions held and holding in academic and scientific bodies :

Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM), University of Colombo:
- Board of Study in Microbiology: Member: 1997 – 2012; Secretary 1999 – 2004. Trainer and examiner for PG Diploma in Medical Microbiology, MD and Board Certification in Medical Microbiology, Medical Parasitology and Medical Virology. Chief Examiner for the MD Parasitology exams in 2015 and 2016.
- Speciality Board in Medical Education: Member: 2008 – 2018; Chair: 2010 – 2018.
- Academic Affairs, Accreditation and Examinations Committee: Member 2012 – 2020; Chair: 2013 – 2016.
Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists: member: 1994 to date; President - 2014 / 2015.
College of Medical Educationists, Sri Lanka: Founder member of precursor Forum of Sri Lankan Medical Educationists (FOSME) and CME: 2011 - to date; President FOSME - 2011 / 2012; patron CME: 2016 – to date.
Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC): member 2012 – 2020; Vice-President – 2016 - 2020.
National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka: Secretary 2012 to 2015.
Hemas Holdings PLC: independent, non-executive Director of Board of Hemas Holdings PLC, 2018 - 2020.
Quality Assurance Council (QAC) of the University Grants Commission: Director 2018 - 2020.

Positions held & holding in committees in the Faculty of Medicine & University of Kelaniya :

Dean, Faculty of Medicine, 2012 – 2018

Contribution to national development activities :

National development in the higher education sector
- Trained reviewer for Subject, Programme and Institutional Reviews conducted by the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council: 2006 – 2012.
- Consultant on Quality Assurance (full-time) for World Bank funded IRQUE Project 2007/08.
National development in the health sector
- Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Strategic Plan 2008 – 2018, for Human Resources for Health, contributions in 2008 and 2012 on training and education of health personnel in the state universities.
- Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Family Health Bureau, Committee on Maternal & Child Nutrition: contributed to revision of national policy on community-based deworming of children and pregnant women in Sri Lanka, leading to Ministry of Health Circular (no 01-58/2018) on “Guidelines on deworming children and pregnant women against soil-transmitted helminths in the community setting, 2019 – 2022”.
International development in the health sector
- World Health Organization: Temporary Advisor to the Department for Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), the Department of Food and Occupational Safety (FOS) and the South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) 2000 – to date; member of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTDs) 2010 – 2018; Chair of STAG: 2015 – 2018.
- Children Without Worms, USA: member of Advisory Board: 2006 - 2010; Chair - 2008 / 2009.
- Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London: member and chair of International Advisory Board - 2008 to 2014
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland: member of Scientific Advisory Committee, 2012 to date
- International Task Force for Disease Eradication, Carter Center, Atlanta, USA: member 2016 - 2020.
- DeWorm3 Project of the Natural History Museum, London, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, member of the Strategic Advisory Group, 2018 to date.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, High Level Scientific Committee on Soil-Transmitted Helminths, member - 2018 to date
- ASCEND Lot 1 project of Oriole Global Health, London, funded by DFID, UK. member of advisory board July 2019 to date.

Editorships:

Journals

Associate Editor, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, published in the USA, 2006 to 2020.
Editor, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2011.

Books

Bundy DAP, de Silva N, Horton S, Jamison DT, & G.C. Patton, (editors) 2017. Child and Adolescent Health and Development. Disease Control Priorities, (Third edition) Volume 8. Washington, DC:

Ongoing research:

Research Grants:

AS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

FROM FUNDING AGENCIES IN SRI LANKA

Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka (Grant No. RG/92/M/1) to study "Pathogenicity and zymodeme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica isolates". Oct. '92 - Sept. '93
University of Peradeniya (Grant no. RG/27/92/M) to study "Intestinal parasites of children living in slum areas of Kandy". Aug '92 - July '93.
University of Kelaniya (grant no 97/01-22) to study “The epidemiology of strongyloidiasis in the Ragama area” Dec 1997 - June 1999.
University of Kelaniya (grant no. 97/01-23) to study “Insect growth regulators and bioinsecticides for the control of dengue vectors” Dec 1997 - Dec 1998.
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (grant no SIDA/2001/BT/01) to study “Genetic composition of Plasmodium falciparum in relation to drug resistance and disease transmission in Sri Lanka” for 3 years commencing June 2001 (in collaboration with Dr W Abeyewickreme).
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (grant no SIDA/2005/BT/03) to study “Use of molecular markers for identification of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Sri Lanka” for 3 years commencing (2005 – 2007).
National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka (grant no RG/2006/HS/06) to study ‘Atopy, allergic diseases and helminth infection in children in Sri Lanka’ (2006 – 2007).
State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Corporation of Sri Lanka to study ‘Comparative efficacy of different mebendazole polymorphs in the treatment of hookworm infections and molecular markers of drug resistance in hookworms’ (2010 – 2011).
University of Kelaniya Research Grant (No RP/03/04/06/01/2018) for ‘A study on lapses in professionalism among Sri Lankan medical students and appropriate remedial measures’ (2018 – 2019).

FROM INTERNATIONAL FUNDING AGENCIES

World Health Organization, Intestinal Parasite Control Programme (Grant no. P21/181/63) to study “Effect of mebendazole therapy during pregnancy on the occurrence of congenital malformations” June 1996 - Dec 1998.
TDR (UNDP/World Bank / WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases), grant no M8 / 181 / 4 / w.174, to study “Transmission of infection and disease burden in bancroftian filariasis” for 2 years commencing February 2001
World Health Organization, South East Asia Regional Office (APW no SE / ICP CPC 222 XA.02.W) for ‘Evaluating the impact of the mass chemotherapy filariasis control programme on soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka’ (April – December 2002).
World Health Organization, South East Asia Regional Office (SN 1141) for study on ‘Impact of repeated mass chemotherapy for lymphatic filariasis on soil-transmitted helminth infections in Sri Lanka’ (Dec 2005 – Dec 2006).
Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London, to study ‘The impact of school-based deworming and iron supplementation on the cognitive abilities of school children in the plantation sector of Sri Lanka’ (2009 – 2010).
Task Force for Global Health, Georgia, USA, to conduct ‘National Survey of Intestinal Nematode Infections in Sri Lanka 2017’ (2016 – 2017).

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