Dr. Pradeep Jayawardena

Dr. Pradeep Jayawardena is a Gastroenterologist at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo, the country's largest and most comprehensive public hospital and a major centre for specialist medical care in South Asia. With over 16 years of clinical experience, Dr. Jayawardena provides specialist gastrointestinal and hepatological care to patients across the full spectrum of digestive diseases. The National Hospital of Sri Lanka is affiliated with the University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine and offers advanced diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, liver services, and inflammatory bowel disease management. Sri Lanka has a growing burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and colorectal disease, reflecting changes in dietary patterns and lifestyle. Dr. Jayawardena holds the prestigious Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP UK), a British postgraduate qualification that reflects international standards of training. He participates in the Sri Lanka College of Gastroenterologists and contributes to postgraduate medical education in the specialty.

Dr. Pradeep Jayawardena completed his MBBS from the University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine followed by postgraduate training that led to an MD in Internal Medicine from a Sri Lankan medical faculty. He subsequently passed the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP UK), an internationally recognised qualification reflecting high-level internal medicine knowledge and clinical skills. He pursued subspecialty training in gastroenterology and hepatology, including fellowship experience at gastroenterology units in the United Kingdom and India, where he gained advanced skills in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, liver biopsy interpretation, and the management of complex inflammatory bowel disease. Dr. Jayawardena is a member of the Sri Lanka College of Gastroenterologists and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL). He contributes to gastroenterology training at the University of Colombo and participates in national and regional gastroenterology congresses.

Dr. Jayawardena's gastroenterology expertise spans hepatology, endoscopy, and inflammatory bowel disease. In liver disease, he manages viral hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and liver cirrhosis with its complications including variceal bleeding, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. He performs and interprets liver biopsies and uses Fibroscan (transient elastography) for non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment. In therapeutic endoscopy, he performs upper and lower GI endoscopy, polypectomy, variceal band ligation, endoscopic haemostasis, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for bile duct stones and biliary disease. In inflammatory bowel disease, he manages Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis using biological therapies. He also evaluates and manages colorectal cancer screening and surveillance programmes.

Sri Lanka is a growing destination for medical tourism in South Asia, offering specialist medical care at costs significantly lower than comparable services in the UK, Singapore, or the Gulf. Dr. Pradeep Jayawardena consults in English and Sinhala, and can accommodate Tamil-speaking patients. The National Hospital of Sri Lanka and leading private hospitals in Colombo offer modern endoscopy suites, liver assessment facilities, and histopathology services. International patients seeking gastroenterology consultations or procedures in Colombo should bring endoscopy reports, liver function tests, viral hepatitis serology, imaging studies (ultrasound, CT, MRI), and details of current medications. Colombo is well served by international air connections. Private hospital options alongside the National Hospital provide additional capacity for international patients seeking guaranteed timely appointments and enhanced facilities.

Dr. Pradeep Jayawardena has been recognised by the Sri Lanka College of Gastroenterologists for his contributions to advancing gastroenterology care and education in Sri Lanka. He has received commendation from the University of Colombo Faculty of Medicine for his postgraduate teaching and clinical research. His MRCP(UK) qualification reflects international recognition of his clinical training standards. Dr. Jayawardena has presented research at Sri Lankan and Asian Pacific gastroenterology meetings, receiving acknowledgment for his work on liver disease outcomes and therapeutic endoscopy in Sri Lankan patients.