K N Seneviratne Oration
In memory of late Prof. Keerthi Nissanka Seneviratne, the second Ceylonese Professor of Physiology, the Physiological Society of Sri Lanka organises the Annual KN Seneviratne memorial oration to be delivered by a distinguished physiologist, scientist or clinician. Keerthi Nissanka Seneviratne, was born in Southern Sri Lanka in 1929. He had his school education at the Royal College
Biography of Professor K N Seneviratne
Keerthi Nissanka Seneviratne, was born in Southern Sri Lanka in 1929. He had his school education at the Royal College, Colombo and university education in the Colombo Medical School. He graduated MBBS with honours in 1954, gaining a distinction in Medicine and Gold Medal in Operative Surgery. Unsurprisingly in the second MB he had been awarded a distinction in Physiology. He joined the Department of Physiology as a lecturer in 1958. He acquired a PhD in Neurophysiology as well as his life partner, Alison, from Edinburgh. He was appointed to the Chair of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo at the age of 39 years and held this post for 13 years.
In 1981 he left Sri Lanka to take up an appointment with the World Health Organization, as Regional Advisor in Health Manpower Development. His untimely death in 1986, at the age of 56, left a void in the field of physiology which to date has not been filled.
Prof. Seneviratne's work was on the study of the functions of nervous system, the field of neurophysiology. His PhD was on how neurophysiology of vision happens. His later research work carried out in Sri Lanka was on diabetic neuropathy. During his 30 year long career, he published about 40 papers including several in prestigious international journals such as JNNP (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry). He became something of a world authority on diabetic neuropathy at that time.
Past Orations
| Year | Orator | Title |
| 2022 | Prof. Deepthi de Silva | Insights into physiology through the study of rare genetic diseases |
| 2021 | Vidya Nidhi Prof. Mangala Gunatilake | Rabies Revisited: Past, Present and the Way Forward |
| 2019 | Prof. Sudharshani Wasalathanthri | "Lifestyle modifications: a physiological approach to combat metabolic syndrome” |
| 2018 | Prof. Yoshihiro Ishikawa | Development and Failure of Human |
| 2017 | Prof. Sampath Gunawardena | One Animal Model-Many Experiments: Use of Animal Models in Physiology Experiments |
| 2016 | Dr Rohan Gunawardena | When the heart and brain disagrees |
| 2015 | Prof. Michael Sedgwick | Physiology in transition – challenges for the future |
| 2014 | Prof. Kemal Deen | Gracilis muscle as a neosphincter; exploiting physiology |
| 2013 | Prof. Naima Moustaid-Moussa | Novel functions of the Adipocyte Renin Angiotensin system in obesity associated inflammation and insulin resistance |
| 2012 | Professor Janaka de Silva | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: The challenge before us |
| 2011 | Professor Vajira Weerasinghe | Magnetic stimulation of the brain : A new era in human brain studies |
| 2010 | Professor Harshalal R Seneviratne | Physiological challenges of polycystic ovarian disease |
| 2009 | Professor Susirith Mendis | Conflict of interest: The relationship between industry and science |
| 2008 | Professor Kamani Tennekoon | Physiology in the postgenomic era |
| 2007 | Professor Visvan Navaratnam | Early problems for the myocardium |
| 2006 | Professor Diyanth Samarasinghe | Alcohol and pleasure |
| 2005 | Professor Ananda Weerasuriya | Neurobiology of consciousness |
| 2004 | Ashima Anand | Presence of Lobeline-like sensations in exercising patients with left ventricular disease |
| 2003 | Professor M P J Senaratne | Cardiovascular deaths: Can we identify risk and prevent them? |
| 2002 | Professor T Varugunam | Enhancing clinical competence |
| 2001 | Professor Carlo Fonseka | K N Senaviratne: The man and his work |
| 2000 | Professor Nimal Senanayake | Postischaemic paraesthesiae and the diabetic nerve revisited |
| 1999 | Dr Palitha Abeykoon | A task with a vision: Two decades of reorientation of medical education |
| 1998 | Dr D S Kumararatne | Mechanisms of human immunity to mycobacteria: tales that patients tell |
| 1997 | Professor Usha Nayar | Modulation of endogenous pain control mechanisms by the hypothalamolimbic system |
| 1996 | Not held | |
| 1995 | Professor S N Arseculeratne | Professor K N Seneviratne and the concept of a University |
| 1994 | Professor Kamini N Mendis | Research on malaria and the health system in Sri Lanka |
| 1993 | Professor M Mya-Tu | Two physiologists journey into primary health care |
| 1992 | Dr Ranjit Roy Chaudhury | Quest for a herbal contraceptive |
| 1991 | Professor CT Kappagoda | Cardiac Asthma : a journey from the laboratory to the bedside |
| 1990 | Dr AS Paintal | A new view of the origin of cardiac pain |
| 1989 | Professor Nimal Senanayake | Toxic polyneuropathies |
| 1988 | Professor V Basnayake | "And The Twain Shall Meet": tropical and temperate man |
| 1987 | Professor D Whitteridge | Nissanka Seneviratne |
