Professor Sureka Chackrewarthy
BSc (Hons)(Kel’ya), Ph.D (Glas)
Professor of Biochemistry
Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry
Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry
Specialization
Molecular Enzymology & Protein Chemistry
Research Interests
- Aetiology of insulin resistance
- Micronutrients in health and disease
- Health effects of coconut
Publications
Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals
- Kasturiratne A, Ediriweera D. S, De Silva S. T, Niriella M. A, Thulani U. B, Pathmeswaran A, Dassanayake A. S, De Silva A. P, Chackrewarthy S, Ranawaka U, Kato N, Wickremasinghe A. R, De Silva H J. Patterns and predictors of mortality in a semi-urban population-based cohort in Sri Lanka: findings from the Ragama Health Study. BMJ Open 2020;10:e038772
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Wijekoon CN, Pathmeswaren A, Chackrewarthy S, Kato N, Wickremasinghe AR. Utility of glycosylated haemoglobin in diagnosing diabetes in an urban Sri Lankan community. Ceylon Medical Journal 2017; 62(1): 57-62
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Ranawaka UK, Wijekoon CN, Pathmeswaran A, Kasturiratne A, Gunasekera D, Chackrewarthy S, Kato N, Wickramasinghe AR. Risk estimates of cardiovascular diseases in a Sri Lankan community. Ceylon Medical Journal 2016; 61: 11-17
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E Marasinghe, S Chackrewarthy, HTCS Abeysena, S Rajindrajith. Micronutrient status and it’s relationship with nutritional status in preschool children in urban Sri Lanka. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015: 24(1); 144-151
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Koichi Akiyama, Fumihiko Takeuchi, Masato Isono, Sureka Chakrawarthy, Quang Ngoc Nguyen, Wanqing Wen et al.Systematic Fine-Mapping of Association with BMI and Type 2 Diabetes at the FTO Locus by Integrating Results from Multiple Ethnic Groups. PloS one 9, no. 6 (2014): e101329
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Chackrewarthy S, Gunasekera D, Pathmeswaren A, Wijekoon CN, Ranawaka U, Kato N, Takeuchi F, Wickremasinghe AR. A Comparison between Revised NCEP ATP III and IDF Definitions in Diagnosing Metabolic Syndrome in an Urban Sri Lankan Population: The Ragama Health Study. ISRN Endocrinology: Volume 2013, Article ID 320176, 7 pages
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F Takeuchi, T Katsuya, S Chackrewarthy, K Yamammoto, A Fujioka, M Serizawa, T Fujisawa et. al. Common variants at the GCK, GCKR, G6PC2-ABCB11 and MTNR1B loci are associated with fasting glucose in two Asian populations. Diabetologia 2010: 53; 299-308
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S Chackrewarthy, MI Thabrew, MKB Weerasooriya, S Jayasekera. Evaluation of the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects of an ethylacetate fraction of Artocarpus heterophyllus (jak) leaves in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Pharmacognosy Magazine 2010:6(23); 186-190
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Dassanayake AS, Kasturiratne A, Rajindrajith S, Kalubowila U, Chackrewarthy S, De Silva AP, Makaya M, Mizoue T, Kato N, Wickremasinghe AR, De Silva HJ. Prevalence and risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among adults in an urban Sri Lankan population. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2009, 24; 1284- 1288
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Chandrasena LG, Chackrewarthy S, Perera TMJ, de Silva D. Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in patients with cataracts. Annals in Clinical and laboratory Science 2006, 36(2); 201-204
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Thabrew MI, Munasinghe TMJ, Chackrewarthy S, Senarath S. Effects of cassia auriculata and cardiosoermum halicacabum teas on steady state blood level and toxicity of cabamazepine. Journal of Ethanopharmacology 2004, 90: 145-150
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Thabrew MI, Munasinghe TMJ, Chackrewarthy S, Senarath S. Possible interaction of herbal tea and carbamazepine. Drug metabolism and drug interactions 2003, 19(3); 177-187
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Maclean J, Campbell S, Pollock K, Chackrewarthy S, Coggins JR, Lapthorn AJ. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of shikimate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli. Acta Crystallographica 2000; D56: 512-515
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Krell T, Chackrewarthy S, Pitt AR, Elwell A, Coggins JR. Chemical modification monitored by Electrospray Mass spectrometry: a rapid and simple method for identifying and studying functional residues in enzymes. Journal of peptide Research 1998, 51: 201-210
Publications in Conference Proceedings (Oral and Poster Presentations)
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Chackrewarthy S, Medagoda K, Marasinghe E, Wijayasinghe S. Serum adiponectin levels in overweight and obese women: discrimination between insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. Clinical Chemistry 2016: 62(10) Supplement, Abstract A-169. Annual conference of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2016, Philadelphia, USA
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Samaranayake HAE, Thammitiyagodage MG, Galhena BP, Chakrewarthy S, Wickremasinghe AR. Optimization of reverse transcriptase PCR for selected hepatic cytokines in Wistar Rats, p. 211, In: Proceedings of the International Postgraduate Research Conference 2015, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Abstract 339
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HAE Samaranayake, S Chackrewarthy, R Karunakaran, AR Wickremasinghe Effects of White Coconut oil, Virgin Coconut oil and grated coconut on blood glucose and serum lipids in Wistar rats. 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress of Sri Lanka Medical Association, 6th -8th July 2015, Colombo. Abstract PP026
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HAE Samaranayake, S Chackrewarthy, AR Wickremasinghe, MG Thammitiyagoda, R Karunakaran. Determination of the proximate composition of rat feed used at the Medical Research Institute, Sri Lanka. 2nd Scientific sessions of the Sri Lanka Association for Laboratory Animal Science, January 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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E Marasinghe, S Chackrewarthy, HTCS Abeysena, S Rajindrajith. Serum Zinc level and its association with nutritional indices in preschool children in a Sri Lankan community. Annual Scientific sessions of the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, January 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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S Chackrewarthy, E Marasinghe, HTCS Abeysena, S Rajindrajith. Hypovitaminosis D and associated factors in preschool children in a sunny country. 20th IFCC-EFLM European Congress of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EuroMedLab), 2013,Milan, Italy. Biochemica Clinica, 2013; 37(SS), S259
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E Marasinghe, S Chackrewarthy, HTCS Abeysena, S Rajindrajith. Serum vitamin A status and its association with haemoglobin level and growth in preschool children in a Sri Lankan community. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 69th Annual Scientific Sessions, December 2013, Sri Lanka
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E Marasinghe, S Chackrewarthy, HCTS Abeysena, S Rajindrajith. Vitamin D status and its association with parathyroid hormone in preschool children in a Sri Lankan community. 125th Annual Scientific sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association, June 2012, Volume 57, Supplement 1, Abstract OP07
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Wijekoon CN, Pathmeswaren A, Chackrewarthy S, Kato N, Wickremasinghe AR. Usefulness of HbA1C in screening for diabetes mellitus: evidence from an urban Sri Lankan community. 45th annual academic sessions of Ceylon College of Physicians, September 2012, Colombo. Abstract OP05
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E Marasinghe, S Chackrewarthy. A preliminary study on milk and dairy food consumption frequency and nutrient intakes of 2-5 yr old children in Nattandiya MOH area, Sri Lanka. Annual Scientific sessions of the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka, January 2011, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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S Chackrewarthy, YS Wijayasinghe, D Gunasekera, R Wickremasinghe, N Kato. Correlates of serum homocysteine in a Sri Lankan population. Clinical Chemistry 2010: 56(6) Supplement, Abstract C-48. Annual conference of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry, 2010, July 25-29, Anaheim, California, USA.
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Chackrewarthy S, Wijayasinghe YS, Gunasekera D, Wickremasinghe AR, Kato N. Association between serum homocysteine and markers of insulin resistance. 123rd Annual Scientific sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association, June 2010, Volume 55, Supplement 1, Abstract OP3
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Pinidiyapathirage MJ, Chackrewarthy S, Perera PS, Wijayasinghe YS, Williams S, Williams SS, Kato N, Wickremasinghe AR. Cardiovascular risk profile of the estate population of Sri Lanka. 123rd Annual Scientific sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association, June 2010, Volume 55, Supplement 1, Abstract OP41
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N Wijekoon, UK Ranawaka, A Pathmeswaren, D De Silva, D Gunasekera, S Chackrewarthy Prevalence and adequacy of control of cardiovascular risk factors in a Sri Lankan community. 50th Annual conference of the American Heart association, March 2010, San Francisco, CA, USA, Abstract P382
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Takeuchi F, Katsuya T, Ogihara T, Chackrewarthy S, Wichremasinghe AR, Kato N, Yamamoto K, Ranawaka U, Sugiyama T, Fujioka A, Yamori Y, Yamaguchi S. Confirmation of Eight loci Associated with measures of Obesity in two Asian populations with substancial ethnic heterogeneity. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Obesity Society, 2009, Washington DC, USA
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Chackrewarthy S, Thabrew MI, Weerasoriya MKB, Jayasekera S. Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effect of an ethylacetate fraction of Artocarpus herterophyllus leaves in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 65th Annual Scientific Sessions, December 2009
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Chackrewarthy S, Gunasekera D, de Silva LDR, Pathmeswaren A, Wijekoon CN, Ranawaka U, Mizoue T, Kato N. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Sri Lankan community. Sri Lanka medical Association, 121st Annual scientific Sessions, March 2008, Volume 53, Supplement 1, Abstract OP62
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Ranawaka U, Wijekoon CN, Pathmeswaren A, de Silva LDR, Gunasekera D, Chackrewarthy S, Mizoue T, Kato N. Cardiovascular risk in a Sri Lankan community. Sri Lanka medical Association, 121st Annual scientific Sessions, March 2008, Volume 55, Supplement 1, Abstract OP2
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Wickremasinghe AR, de Silva HJ, de Silva HA, de Silva NR, Kasturiratne A, Pinidiyapathirage J, Chackrewarthy S, Pathmeswaren A, Werasinghe GAK, Abeyewickrema W, Makaya M, Mizoue T, Kato N. The Ragama Health Study: Methodology for establishment of diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome in Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka medical Association, 121st Annual scientific Sessions, March 2008. Volume 55, Supplement 1, Abstract OP64
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Wickremasinghe AR, de Silva HJ, Kasturiratne A, Pinidiyapathirage J, Chackrewarthy S, Pathmeswaren A, Abeyewickrema W. The Ragama Health Study; A prospective cohort study for the establishment of diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome in Sri Lankans. 6th Asian Pacific Congress of Hypertension, November 16-19, 2007, Beijing, China.
Professional Contributions
Professional Service/ Other Appointments
Professional affiliations
- Chairperson, Research Management Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya - 2025
- Chairperson, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)/ Section A (Medical, Dental & Veterinary Sciences) - 2017
- Chairperson, Ethical Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya – 2017 to 2019
- Editor - Book titled ‘Glucose Tolerance’, InTech, Croatia, 2012. ISBN 978-953-51-0891-7, DOI: 10.5772/2916
- Head of Department, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. (May 2006 to April 2012)
- Master of Science Degree in Food & Nutrition, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2008 to date)
- Biomedical Science Degree Programme, Kaatzu International University, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka (2017 to date)
- Biomedical Science Degree Programme, BMS School of Science, Colombo 6, Sri Lanka (2013 to date)
- Diploma in Nursing, Naval Nurses’ Training School, Welisara, Sri Lanka (2017 to date)
- Biochemistry Honours Degree Programme, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of
- Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2017, 2018)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Physiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2014, 2016, 2018)
- School of Nursing (Kandana), Department of Health, Sri Lanka. (2008/2009)
- Institute of Ayurveda Medicine, Yakkala, Sri Lanka. (2009)
- Certificate course in Community Health, Centre for Tropical Medicine and
- International Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka (2004 - 2006)
- Examiner of Postgraduate thesis evaluation and viva voce examination
- Reviewer of manuscripts submitted to national/ international journals
- Reviewer of research proposals for National Science Foundation & National Research Council, Sri Lanka
Professional affiliations
- Member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (Life member)
- Member of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon (Life member)
- Member of the Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka (Life member)
- Member of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry (2010 to date)
- Member of the Biochemical Society, United Kingdom (2012 to date)
- Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science/ Section A (Medical, Dental & Veterinary Sciences): 2013 -2017
- Council Member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science -2017
- Ethical Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka: Secretary 1997- 2000 & 2004-2007, Member 2002-2003 & 2008- 2010,
Chairperson – 2017 - Member of the Forum of Ethical Review Committees, Sri Lanka (FERCSL): 2005 -2007, 2017 – 2019
- Member of the Senate of the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka 2006-2012, 2017 to date
- Board of Study in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of
Kelaniya: Secretary 1999-2000
Awards and Academic Distinctions
Awards and Academic Distinctions
- University of Kelaniya, Faculty of Medicine award for Excellence in Teaching – 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020
- Sri Lanka President’s award for scientific publications – 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010
- Sri Lanka National Research Council merit award for scientific publications – 2014, 2015
- University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Senate award for research publications – 2014, 2015
- University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Vice Chancellor’s award for research – 2011, 2015
- E. M. Wijerama Award for the best free paper, Annual Conference of the Ceylon College of Physicians, November 2020, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Henry Rajaratnam Award for the best Free Paper in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 45th Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians,
September 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka - Overseas Research Student award- 1994. Awarded for post graduate studies by the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, Universities of the United Kingdom
- Sri Lanka President’s Scholarship for Ph.D. in Biochemistry, 1992 awarded by the President’s Fund, Presidential Secretariat, Sri Lanka

Contact Details
Department
Bio-Chemistry & Clinical Chemistry
Bio-Chemistry & Clinical Chemistry
Tel
+94 11 2961131 (Office)
+94 11 2961130 (Office)
+94 11 2973602 (Residence)
+94 11 2961131 (Office)
+94 11 2961130 (Office)
+94 11 2973602 (Residence)
Email
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