A press release organized by the Communication and Media Unit of the University of Kelaniya, under the supervision of its Director, Senior Lecturer Saman Rajapaksha, was held on June 2, 2025, at the Senate Room of the University. The event was convened to officially introduce the newly established In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Centre at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, and to announce its significant achievement, Sri Lanka’s first successful IVF pregnancy within the government healthcare sector.

The head table comprised key figures who have played instrumental roles in this development, including Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Professor Madawa Chandrathilaka, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Dr. Asantha de Silva, Consultant Anaesthetist and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Professor Tiran Dias, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Senior Lecturer at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital; and Dr. Suranga Hettipathirana, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Subfertility, Senior Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, and Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama. They elaborated on the IVF Centre’s services, its vision, research objectives, and its role in advancing reproductive healthcare in the country.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Kelaniya has been a pioneer in reproductive health services since 2002, offering essential services such as reproductive endocrinology investigations, seminal fluid analysis, and intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments. However, a large number of subfertile couples were unable to access IVF treatments due to financial barriers. Recognizing this critical gap, the Department established the Reproductive Health Unit in 2021, funded through clinical service income and research grants, with the aim of providing advanced fertility treatments at an affordable cost for all Sri Lankans.

The university’s IVF program officially commenced in 2024, and the first successful IVF pregnancy followed shortly after, marking a historic milestone in Sri Lanka’s public health landscape. This success underscores the dedication, technical skill, and clinical excellence of the university’s medical professionals and represents a significant advancement in the accessibility of fertility treatments within the government sector.

Located at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital, the Professorial Unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology now offers an extensive range of fertility services. These include gynecological surgeries such as laparoscopic procedures for endometriosis, adenomyosis, and fibroids, as well as operative hysteroscopy. The unit is also equipped with a modern andrology lab for seminal fluid analysis and sperm freezing, a state-of-the-art IUI laboratory, and a fully operational IVF facility, making it a comprehensive reproductive care centre within the government health system.

The event was attended by academic staff from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and other departments, the wedlock couple treated with the IVF pregnancy treatment, journalists from print and electronic media, members of the Communication and Media Unit, undergraduates of the University of Kelaniya.