They are the research head, Prof. Neelika Malavige, Director Research and Development/Professor in Immunology and Molecular Medicine, and Prof. Chandima Jeewandara, Director/Professor in Allergy, Immunology and Molecular Medicine. It was the time when she got into dengue research, setting up the Centre for Dengue Research (CDR) in 2012. The leading figures who gave her and Prof. Jeewandara much support were Sri Jayewardenepura University’s then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sampath Amaratunga, and Prof. Krishan Deheragoda, Professor of Geography. It was then that the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit (AICBU) of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura came into being. Sustainability will be guaranteed, assures Prof. Jeewandara, through income from postgraduate courses, clinical laboratory services and commercialisation of product development.

Source: Sunday Times February 22, 2026 06:51 UTC