Dr. Manoj Fernando

Senior Lecturer

manojf@as.rjt.ac.lk
+94773417444


Education

  • M. Phil. in Public Health, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2017)
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2000)
  • Certificate course in Public Health, Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
  • Certificate course in Health Promotion, Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Professional Qualification

  • Certificate Course in Teaching in Higher Education – Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (2010)

Memberships of Professional Bodies/Associations

  • The Foundation for Health Promotion, Sri Lanka – Hon. Chairman (Since 2005)
  • National Child Protection Authority, Sri Lanka – Member – National Coordination Forum (Since 2015)
  • Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) – Life member (Reg No.17250), [Member – Expert Committee on Tobacco and Alcohol (2016 – 2017), Member/Resource person – Nirogi Lanka Diabetes Prevention Program (2013 – 2015)]
  • Family Health Bureau, Sri Lanka – Committee member – Development of “Teen Health Website” (2015)
  • Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Development – Member – Steering Committee on Women Help Line (Since 2016)
  • Ministry of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs – Advisor – National Drug Prevention Operational Unit (Since 2013)
  • Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention, Presidents Secretariat Sri Lanka – Member (Since 2005)
  • Sri Lanka Federation of Non-Governmental Organization against Drug Abuse (SLFONGOADA) – Executive Committee Member (2010 -2012)
  • National Drug Prevention Operational Unit – Advisor (2005 – 2016)
  • Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Sri Lanka – Board Member – Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Counselling (Since 2005)
  • Rajarata University of Sri Lanka – [Committee Member – Curricular Development, Postgraduate Diploma in Child Protection (Since 2016), Coordinator – Diploma in Health Promotion for the WHO
  • Fellow from Myanmar (2015 – 2016), Member – Workers Ordinance Development Committee (2012
  • Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) on Health Promotion, World Health Organization (WHO) – Member (2015 – 2016)
  • Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka – Resource person – Multi stakeholder meeting to finalize “National Youth Policy” (2014)

Research Interests

  • Health Promotion
  • Gender and Gender based violence
  • Nutrition
  • Early Childhood Care and Development
  • Child Well being
  • Tobacco, Alcohol and other substance use prevention
  • Tobacco cessation
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Non Communicable diseases prevention
  • Child Protection
  • Mental Health
  • Adolescent Health
  • Social determinants of Health

Teaching Courses

Theory

  • HPT 1201 – Basic Physiology
  • HPT 1207 – Sexual Health and Reproductive Physiology
  • HPT 1202 – Introduction to Human Diseases and Health
  • HPT 1208 – Principles Strategies and Practices in Health Promotion
  • HPT 2202 – Working with Communities
  • HPT 2205 – Determinants of Health
  • HPT 3202 -Commercial Influences on Health
  • HPT 4503 -Reduction of Tobacco and Alcohol and other drug related harm

Field Practical Placement

  • First Year Field Practical Placement
  • Second Year Field Practical Placement
  • Third Year Field Practical Placement

Appointments

  • Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion (Since January 2016) – Faculty of Applied Sciences Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  • Lecturer in Health Promotion (January 2008 – December 2015) – Faculty of Applied Sciences Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Other Appointments

  • Head, Department of Health Promotion (August 2021 – to Present), Faculty of Applied Sciences Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  • Chief Student Counselor, (2022 to Present), Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  • Senior Student Counselor, (December 2020 – December 2021) Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
  • Visiting Lecturer in Health Promotion (Since 2006) – [Postgraduate Institute of Medicine University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine University of Colombo, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Faculty of Medicine University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, Faculty of Medicine University of Sri Jayawardhanapura Sri Lanka]
  • National Consultant (2016 -2017 & 2012 – 2014) – United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sri Lanka
  • Senior Gender Consultant (2019 to date) – United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Sri Lanka
  • Honorary visiting lecturer at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
  • National Consultant (2020 -2021) – United nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Sri Lanka
  • Consultant of expert committee for the preparation of National Strategy for Home Based Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) for 2020-2024
  • International Consultant (2014 -2015) – United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Maldives
  • Honorary Consultant (2008 – 2015) – Sri Lanka Sumithrayo (Mel-Medura) – Drug Demand Reduction Program
  • Executive Director (July 2002 – January 2008) – Sri Lanka Sumithrayo (Mel-Medura) – Drug Demand Reduction Program

Conference/ Journal Article Reviewer

  • Journal of World Non-Communicable Disease Federation – Member – Editorial panel (Since 2016)
  • PLOS Journal – Reviewer

Research and Projects

  • Promoting adolescent wellbeing in North Central Province – funded by WHO
  • Capacity Building of Field Officers of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Awards and Achievements

  • The Award for the Best Research Paper 2022 – National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Research Symposium.
  • The Award for the Most Hardworking Teacher 2008 – presented by the Improving Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education (IRQUE) project in Rajarata University of Sri Lanka funded by World Bank.

Publications and Presentations

Books

  • Fernando, Manoj. (2022). Handbook on Gender, SGBV in disaster.
  • Fernando, Manoj. (2023). National Guidelines Booklet.
  • Fernando, Manoj. (2023). Standard Operating Procedures for First Contact Point Health Care Providers in Sri Lanka.
  • Fernando, Manoj. (2022). healthcare-10-02251. Healthcare. 10. 10.3390/healthcare10112251.
  • “Health promotion for the prevention of lifestyle diseases”, A resource book for facilitators, Non Communicable Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
  • “Mental health – alcohol”, Facilitators guide and handbook for primary healthcare workers, Mental Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
  • “Gender based violence”, Facilitators manual for training of care staff on gender based violence – befriending component, Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
  • “Health promotion process” (Co-author), Sri Lanka Medical Association and Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
  • “What you can do to reduce harm associated with substance use”, Ministry of Religious Affairs
  • “Help your patients quit smoking” (Co-author), Sri Lanka Medical Association
  • National guidelines for the first contact point health care providers on reponding the survivors of gender based violence – Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka (2019)
  • Standard operative procedures for the first contact point health care providers on responding to the survivors of gender based violence – Family Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka (2019)

Full Papers/Abstracts – International journals

  • Nair, Divya & Thekkur, Pruthu & Fernando, Manoj & Kumar, Ajay & Satyanarayana, Srinath & Chandraratne, Nadeeka & Chandrasiri, Amila & Attygalle, Deepika & Higashi, Hideki & Bandara, Jayasundara & Berger, Selma & Harries, Anthony. (2023). Outcomes and Challenges in Noncommunicable Disease Care Provision in Health Facilities Supported by Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project in Sri Lanka: A Mixed-Methods Study. Healthcare. 11. 202. 10.3390/healthcare11020202.
  • Thekkur, Pruthu & Fernando, Manoj & Nair, Divya & Kumar, Ajay & Satyanarayana, Srinath & Chandraratne, Nadeeka & Chandrasiri, Amila & Attygalle, Deepika & Higashi, Hideki & Bandara, Jayasundara & Berger, Selma & Harries, Anthony. (2022). Primary Health Care System Strengthening Project in Sri Lanka: Status and Challenges with Human Resources, Information Systems, Drugs and Laboratory Services. Healthcare. 10. 2251.
  • Gunasekara, Sonali & Wickramasinghe, Nuwan & Agampodi, Thilini & Fernando, Manoj & Liyanage, Chandani & Dikomitis, Lisa & Agampodi, Suneth. (2022). ‘Do I Really Need Treatment for This?’: The Journey of Seeking Healthcare for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Rural Sri Lanka.
  • Gunasekara, Sonali & Wickramasinghe, Nuwan & Fernando, Manoj & Dikomitis, Lisa & Liyanage, Chandani & Agampodi, Thilini & Agampodi, Suneth. (2022). ‘IS MY FIRST RESPONSE TO THE LESION REALLY IMPORTANT?: EXPERIENCE OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS PATIENTS IN A RURAL DISEASE ENDEMIC REGION IN SRI LANKA.
  • Gunasekara, Sonali & Agampodi, Thilini & Wickramasinghe, Nuwan & Fernando, Manoj & Liyanage, Chandani & Dikomitis, Lisa & Agampodi, Suneth. (2022). Seeking initial health care in a “misleading” disease: From the experience of people with cutaneous leishmaniasis in a disease endemic region in rural Sri Lanka.
  • Herath, Prasanna & Wimalasekera, Savithri & Amarasekara, Thamara & Fernando, Manoj & Turale, Sue. (2021). Adverse effects of cigarette smoking on exhaled breath carbon monoxide, blood carboxyhemoglobin, and hematological parameters amongst Sri Lankan adult tobacco smokers: A descriptive study. Population Medicine. 3. 1-10. 10.18332/popmed/143076.
  • Herath, Prasanna & Wimalasekera, Savithri & Amarasekara, Thamara & Fernando, Manoj & Turale, Sue. (2021). Effect of cigarette smoking on smoking biomarkers, blood pressure and blood lipid levels among Sri Lankan male smokers. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 98. postgradmedj-2021. 10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-141016.
  • Herath, Prasanna & Wimalasekera, Savithri & Amarasekara, Thamara & Fernando, Manoj. (2021). Effect of Smoking Cessation Interventions on Adult Tobacco Smokers in Colombo District, Sri Lanka.
  • Kuruwita, A & Perera, Whdc & Paramika, Kps & Keerthisinghe, Imdcb & Rajasekara, Rwkc & Herath, Prasanna & Fernando, Manoj. (2021). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Secondhand Smoking among Pregnant Mothers in Selected Peri-urban Areas in Colombo District.
  • Gunasekara, Sonali & Wickramasinghe, Nuwan & Fernando, Manoj & Agampodi, Thilini & Agampodi, Suneth. (2021). Pandemic on the Social Wellbeing and Resilience Mechanisms of Three Rural Communities in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.
  • Herath, Prasanna & Wimalasekera, Savithri & Amarasekara, Thamara & Fernando, Manoj. (2020). TOBACCO SMOKING, INTENTION TO QUIT AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS. SSRN Electronic Journal.
  • Samarasinghe, D. Fernando, W M S. Arambepola, C. and Wijerathne, C. (2013). Empowering communities to reduce the burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk: lessons from the Nirogi Lanka project in Sri Lanka, Regional Health Forum journal, 17(1), WHO.
  • Fernando, M.S., 2007. Role of Ngo’s and Civil Society in Addressing Alcohol-Related Harm, Symposium on Reducing Harm From Alcohol Use in the Community. Bali, Indonesia, 4-6 October 2007
  • Fernando, M.S., 2006. Sri Lankan Patients Response on Doctors Advise on Quitting Smoking. World Congress on Tobacco or Health ( WCTOH ) , Washington, USA, September 2006
  • Kandegedara, K.G.P.H., Fernando, W.M.S. and Guruge, G.N.D., 2012. Health Promotion Approach to Optimize the Fulfillment of Children Needs through Strengthening Mother’s View. In: International ECCD Conference, (Organized by ARNEC, National Coalition for ECCD and the World Bank) Indonesia, Jakarta.

Full Papers/Abstracts – Local journals/conferences

  • HMTP Herath, WMS Fernando, L Senarathne, GND Guruge, 2015. Evaluation of a Health Promotion Intervention in Changing Acceptance of a Gender norm which Justifies men’s Tobacco use among Women in a Rural Community in Sri Lanka, Research Symposium; Combating Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs in National Development. Alcohol and drug Information Center (ADIC), Colombo, Sri Lanka 26 March, 2015.
  • Herath, P. Wimalasekera, S. Amarasekara, T. Fernando,W.M.S. Turale, S. (2021) Effect of cigarette smoking on smoking biomarkers, blood pressure and blood lipid levels among Sri Lankan male smokers, postgraduate medical journal, (0:1–7), BMJ.
  • Herath, P. Wimalasekera, S. Amarasekara, T. Fernando,W.M.S. Turale, S. (2021) Adverse effects of cigarette smoking on exhaled breath carbon monoxide, blood carboxyhemoglobin, and hematological parameters amongst Sri Lankan adult tobacco smokers: A descriptive study, Popul. Med. 2021;3(October):27
  • Pallewaththa, W.P.W.K. Fernando, W.M.S. Duminda, G.G.N. (2020) Effectiveness of a Health Promotion Approach to Address Knowledge and Selected Attitudes on Sexual Well-Being among Three-Wheeler Drivers in Anuradhapura town, Sri Lanka,
  • Fernando, W M S. and Indika, S. (2013). A community based intervention to reduce cigarette consumption among smoking males between 21-64 years at Undurawa North, Annual research symposium on cancer, National cancer control unit and Sri Lanka Medical association.
  • PWPWK Pallewaththa, HMTP Herath, NK Liyanage, CJ Fernando, CS Croos, AMCSRK Athapaththu, WMS Fernando, GND Guruge, 2015. Changing peer pressure of smoking behaviour among youth in a rural village in Anuradhapura district Sri Lanka, Research Symposium; Combating Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs in National Development. Alcohol and drug Information Center (ADIC), Colombo, Sri Lanka 26 March, 2015.
  • JEMSS Jayarathna, HMTP Herath, WMS Fernando, L Senarathne, GND Guruge, 2015. Norms on attractive image given to alcohol among students in a government school in North Central Province in Sri Lanka: Findings from a cross-sectional survey. In: Research Symposium; Combating Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs in National Development. Alcohol and drug Information Center (ADIC),Colombo, Sri Lanka 26 March, 2015.
  • NK Liyanage, PWPWK Pallewaththa, HMTP Herath, CS Croos, AMCSRK Athapaththu, CJ Fernando, WMS Fernando, GND Guruge, 2015. Wellawaya: A community based health promotion intervention to reduce smoking in public places. In: Research Symposium; Combating Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs in National Development. Alcohol and drug Information Center (ADIC), Colombo, Sri Lanka 26 March, 2015.
  • Ihalahewage, I.D.N., Weliange, S. and Fernando, W.M.S., 2015. Improving Practices of Parents and Caregivers to reduce Unintentional Home Injuries of Children below 5 years in Wannammaduwa Village in Thirappane MOH area. In: 128th Anniversary international Medical Congress of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, Sri Lanka 5-8 July, 2015.
  • Rishani, W.T., Chandraratne, M.A.N.K. and Fernando, W.M.S., Improving parent adolescent communication on selected sexual and reproductive health problems among adolescents in a rural village in Anuradhapura District . In: 128th Anniversary International Medical Congress of Sri Lanka Medical Association. Colombo, Sri Lanka 5-8 July, 2015.
  • Rishani, W.T., Chandraratne, M.A.N.K. and Fernando, W.M.S., 2015. Assessment of Parental Involvement in addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health problems among adolescents in two rural villages in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. In: 8th International Research Conference of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
  • Reyal, H. P., Guruge, G.D.N. & Fernando, W.M.S., 2013. A Health Promotion Intervention to Reduce Domestic Violence in a Rural Community in Anuradhapura District. In: NIHS (National Institute of Health Sciences) International Conference on Public Health Innovations: “sharing evidence based interventions and best practices to meet the public health challenges”. Kaluthara, Sri Lanka 2-4 May 2013.
  • Kandegedara, K.G.P.H., Fernando, W.M.S. and Guruge, G.N.D., 2012. Effectiveness of health promotion approach in improving maternal knowledge regarding importance in fulfilling children’s needs in a village in Anuradhapura District: In: National Science and Technology Commission YSF Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • Herath, T., Guruge, D. & Fernando, M., 2012. Evaluation of a health promotion intervention in changing the acceptance of gender roles among women in a rural community in Sri Lanka. In: International Conference on Public Health. Colombo, Sri Lanka 3-4 December 2012. Colombo: ICRD

Presentations and Speeches – International

  • First World Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Congress organized by the World NCD Federation, Chandigarh, India.
  • NCD Prevention through health promotion, China Heart Congress, Beijing, China 2016.
  • Health promotion as an effective tool to address NCD risk factors, 8th Shanghai International Forum of Brain Health organized by the Shanghai Health Education Institute, China, Shanghai, China 2016.
  • Priorities for global health, Social Innovation Think Tank Round Table, York University, Toronto, Canada, 2016
  • Regional Workshop to Strengthen Health Promotion in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Regional trainer and temporary adviser to the Regional Director, WHO SEARO, Bangkok, Thailand, 2016.
  • Community Interventions to Address Adolescent Health., Regional Program Managers Meeting on Adolescent Health organized by WHO SEARO, Delhi, India, 2014. (25th – 27th November 2014 – Delhi, India)
  • Role of NGO’s and civil society in addressing alcohol related harm, WHO regional workshop on Addressing Alcohol Related Harm, Temporary adviser to the Regional Director, WHO SEARO, Bali, Indonesia, 2012

Presentations and Speeches – Local

  • There are more than 200 local trainings, workshops and speeches delivered during a period of 10 years for Health care officers attached to Ministry of Health, Teachers, Students, staff of other Ministries, communities, women’s groups and youth on subjects Health Promotion, Community based Health Interventions, Alcohol and tobacco prevention, Addressing GBV and Improving wellbeing.

Mentoring and Supervision

PhD
  • Developing and assessing the feasibility of a community-based intervention to improve health-seeking in cutaneous leishmaniasis in Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka. By Ms. Sonali Dinushika Gunasekara
  • Cardiorespiratory Effects of Tobacco Smoking and Smokers’ Compliance to a Tobacco Smoking Cessation Programme Amongst Male Smokers in Colombo District, Sri Lanka; A Quantitative and Qualitative Study. By Herath Mudiyanselage Prassanna Herath.
MSc
BSc (Honors) in Health Promotion
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in reducing child abuse in an inland fishing community, Badulla District. By Ms. M.W.A.K. Airawansha
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention to improve mental wellbeing among working women in selected tea estates in Nuwara Eliya District. By. Ms. H.D.N. Soysa
  • Changing selected negative health related behavioral practices of paddy farmers in Polonnaruwa District through health promotion approach. By. Ms. W.M.A. Madumali
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in improve emotional wellbeing among children in selected children’s homes in Gampaha District. By Ms. P.K.N.D. Karunarathna
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in changing determinants of adolescent mental wellbeing in selected schools in Gampaha District: A Quasi Experimental Study. By Ms. S.D. Karunarathna
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in improving academic engagement among schooling adolescents in grade 06 to 08 in selected schools in Kandy District: A Quasi Experimental Study. By Ms. H.M.N.T. Wickramasooriya
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in empowering schooling adolescents aged 13-16 to address father’s alcohol use and related behavior. By Ms. B.A.N. Madubashini
  • Effectiveness of a health promotion intervention on improving practices of mothers having under 5 year children, to enhance child-mother positive interrelationships: A selected area of child supportive environment in Kaummennawa Village. By Ms. S.A.V. Karunarathna
  • A health promotion intervention to cope, negative peer pressure towards smoking among schooling adolescents in Anuradhapura educational zone. By Ms. G.M. Kallegoda.
  • Effectiveness of a school-based health promotion intervention in reducing the attractive image on smokeless tobacco use among adolescents. By Mr. T. Sri Rajeewan
  • Improving practices of parents and caregivers to reduce unintentional home injuries of children below 5 years in Annamaduwa village in Thirappane MOH area. By Ms. I.D. Nayana Ihalahewage.
International Students
  • Lee Kwong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore – 12 Medical students (14th July – 22nd July 2015) – Community based interventions to prevent chronic kidney diseases prevalent in Sri Lanka
  • The Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden – 01 student (20th February – 28th March 2013) – Community based health promotion
  • The Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gothernburg, Sweden – 17 Medical Students (04th – 21st December 2011) – Community based health promotion
  • The Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gothernburg, Sweden – 13 Medical Students (02nd – 19th May 2011) – Community based health promotion
  • The Sahlgrenska Academy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Gothernburg, Sweden – 05 Public Health Students (02nd – 19th May 2011) – Community based health promotion