Standing tall

Ishara JAYAWARDANE

They come from the Sri Lankan diaspora in Britain which is teeming in diversity. Throughout this world the Health Sector is something that transcends race class and religion. In that sense we are all one family. Which is why four young British second generation Sri Lankan doctors were here. To discover the health issues we have in common. Because in that sense we are 'United in Diversity.'

Yes, we come from different countries, but we are united by the same mental and physical health problems that are everywhere in this world. Health issues are not a respecter of persons. It does not discriminate when it come to colour or race. Therefore these young doctors are here to learn. To learn what ties them to us. To learn what solutions can be formulated to combat health problems.

Health issues

"In 2011, January, two organizations at that time came together - International Alert and the Royal Commonwealth society, to organize a series of visits for second generation Sri Lankans in the UK to visit Sri Lanka and find out about the different issues. It gradually evolved and this is the fifth visit in this series. We are currently working with an additional local partner called the 'One text initiative.' And as part of these visits we will be looking at different issues. The first couple of visits were very general - post war issues, resettlement and recovery. But as the programme developed we identified specific themes that were becoming more relevant and areas of common interest across the different participants," said Johann Rebert from International Alert.

Dr. Asanga Fernando	Dr. Crisanthi Pathmanathan	Dr. Akneeswaran Jeganathapillai

This is the first health related visit to Sri Lanka. "We are really grateful that we have four young Sri Lankan diaspora doctors from the UK, who are here to travel around and look at some of the specific issues related to the health sector. The whole issue of the term diaspora also is something that I feel has been misrepresented a little bit in Sri Lanka and the way it is understood. It is usually associated with one particular part of the diaspora. In fact the Sri Lanka diaspora is much more diverse and includes Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others.

It draws upon the work that International Alert has been doing in the UK, to try and bring different communities together to create a space for joint common collaboration in the UK for better understanding across different communities in the UK."

Main objective

One main objective of this project is really to support and build constructive relationships between young cross community Sri Lanka diaspora in the UK and various institutions and individuals from different sectors. "And in this case we are particularly looking at the health sector. So as part of this process participants of those visits would go back to UK and share their experiences within the communities with different community organizations. And previously we held sessions where groups have shared their experiences on the visit in parliament as well. We have engaged here on the ground with different institutions from the government. As part of this particular visit we have already met with the Ministry of Health and soon after we will be meeting the Ministry of External Affairs. Right throughout this programme we have been engaging with the Ministry of External Affairs consistently at this end but also with the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK. It has been a very tight programme, going around the country."

"We are a collection of British Second Generation Sri Lankan doctors, working in the UK. We are representatives of all those ethnic groups and communities in Sri Lanka, but we are also representatives of several different medical sub specialties. And we were brought together for this trip essentially with the aim of finding out, getting a greater understanding about health challenges and issues in Sri Lanka. And more importantly working collaboratively and sustainability at every different level with the institutions and individuals in Sri Lanka.

And also trying to engage with different members of different diaspora communities - Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims together in the UK, as we know there is a lot of different health care professionals with Sri Lankan backgrounds in the UK. And what we want to do is bring them to a point to make it a bit more accessible to engage in a projects here in Sri Lanka and making it a collaborative thing. There are things that we can learn from things happening in Sri Lanka. We have our own areas of expertise so it is about forming collaborative links. It has been an interesting and informative trip so far that has taken us across the whole country and meeting people at different levels," said Dr. Asanga Fernando.

Views of the quartet

Dr. Akneeswaran Jeganathapillai's specialty is psychology. "I graduated from Kings College London. My special interests lie in Psychology as well as community care. I want to engage with communities back in the UK and here and to try and establish links and experiences associated with those respective fields."

Dr. Malathi Gunaratne's field is a specialist registrar in Radiology at Nottingham University Hospital. I completed my medical training in St. Georges hospital Medical School London in 2006.

I also have a Bsc. in medical humanities. "Currently my interests are to do with mainly culture and health and how culture impacts on access to health care and how culture impacts on illness.

I am currently doing my Masters in medical education. So I have an interest primarily in undergraduate medical education " Dr. Chrisanthi Pathmanathan like Dr. Akneeswaran trains at Kings College London. I graduated in 2011 so I am currently in my second year.

"I have a Masters in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research. My main interests are trying to improve access to health care through community awareness projects." Dr. Asanga Fernando is a graduate of St. George's Hospital Medical School. In 2005 he has got his MBBS. He also has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bio chemistry and Pharmacology from King's College London. "In 2010 I completed my post graduate training and got my membership at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

I am currently a specialist registrar in Psychiatry, where I am also a clinical fellow in medical education and I am also an examiner there. I was also the founding President of the Sri Lankan society at St.Georges.

My interests are around Mental Health and around an interface between mental health and physical health and also an interface between mental health and public health. So issues about stigma and discrimination with people with mental illness.

I have an interest in teaching in medical education."