14/05/2025
First Batch of Clinical Postgraduates in Physiotherapy
Wednesday, 14 May 2025 , Ceylon Today,News Paper.
In milestone for the Sri Lankan physiotherapy profession and history , a group of 29 students have graduated with a postgraduate degree in clinical Physiotherapy (MSc in Physiotherapy) from the University of Peradeniya. The postgraduate degree in Physiotherapy, which holds significant international recognition and high demand in the global medical field, was first introduced in Sri Lanka in 2005 at the University of Peradeniya and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
The first clinical postgraduate programme in physiotherapy (MSc in Physiotherapy, SLOF Level 10) was launched at the University of Peradeniya in 2022. On the 3rd of this month, the first batch of students successfully completed the programme and
received their post graduate degrees.
These students received their ‘education under the guidance of expert consultant physiotherapists, professors, and specialists from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and India, as well as academic staff from the University of Peradeniya's physiotherapy department and
professors from its Faculty of Medicine.
Physiotherapists in Sri Lanka are engaged in treating a wide range of conditions in both
government and private hospitals. They serve in outpatient departments, hospital
wards, and intensive care units, addressing ailments such as joint diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological conditions, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, paediatric diseases, sports injuries, and conditions associated with
ageing. Currently, approximately 650 physiotherapists are serving in
the public hospital system. However, due to high international demand and growing instability in the country's economic environment, many physiotherapists have migrated
overseas, according to professionals in the field.
They also state that recruitment of physiotherapists into the public healthcare
system has been severely delayed, causing significant hardship for patients who rely on
these services.
They urge the current government to take immediate steps to recruit physiotherapists
who have graduated from the University of Peradeniya and the University of Colombo —
individuals who have followed skill-based programmes approved by the University Grants Commission — based on the merit list, in order to alleviate the difficulties faced by patients in the public health system.
First Batch of Clinical Postgraduates in Physiotherapy
BY FARHAN NIZAMDEEN -GALLE
