Last month, in my role as British High Commissioner, I visited the Northern Province something I do three or four times a year. Jaffna and the North play an important role in the Sri Lanka / UK relationship.
As many people know Britain’s National Health Service has many medical professionals of Sri Lankan origin, including many who trace their roots to the north. Less well known is the vibrant research collaboration between UK and Sri Lanka in the medical field. Many Sri Lankan Universities are part of this joint work, but the purpose of this article is to highlight the relationship with the famous Faculty of Medicine of the University of Jaffna. Here long-term engagement with the UK is helping to strengthen health research, improve education, and create new opportunities for communities in the North. I am honoured therefore to have the chance to write this article jointly with Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, Professor in Community Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna.
Since 2018, researchers in Jaffna have been working alongside colleagues from UK universities on health challenges that matter deeply to people in this region. Heart disease. Chronic illness. Access to quality care. These aren't abstract research topics—they affect families and communities every day.
Largest cardiovascular survey
One of the first projects, supported by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research through the University of Birmingham, carried out the largest cardiovascular survey ever conducted across all five districts of the Northern Province that looked at both the amount of disease and how care was provided. For the first time, we had clear evidence of where the gaps in care were and what could be done to address them. Just as importantly, it built something that statistics alone can't capture: experience, confidence, and a generation of local researchers ready to lead. It also worked closely with local communities; good health care and research are built in partnership with the people they serve.
That foundation has allowed us to grow. The Faculty of Medicine has now established a Centre for Digital Epidemiology—CoDE—which is becoming a national platform for health of the public. A new Clinical Trials Unit is positioning Jaffna as a serious centre for ethical, high-quality medical research. These aren't just facilities; they represent a shift in what's possible for researchers and healthcare professionals in the North.
The scale of UK investment tells part of the story: over £2.3 million committed since 2018, more than 100 skilled jobs created for researchers and technical staff in the Northern Province, and partnerships, in addition to Birmingham, now extended to UK institutions in Kings College, Liverpool, Oxford, Edinburgh, Leicester, Manchester and beyond. But what excites us most is what those numbers represent—talented young Sri Lankans building careers in research and medicine without having to leave their region to do it.
The UK's commitment to nurturing the next generation is something we're particularly proud of. Two Sri Lankan researchers are currently pursuing PhDs at UK universities through Welcome-supported programmes, with plans to return home and strengthen teaching and mentorship at the Faculty. This matters because sustainable progress isn't built on projects—it's built on people who stay, who lead, and who inspire others to follow.
Genuine commitment to education
For the UK, this partnership reflects a genuine commitment to education and skills as drivers of development—not just in Colombo, but across Sri Lanka. Through the British Council and UK university partnerships, we're supporting English language training, transnational education, and internationally recognised qualifications. As Sri Lanka positions itself as a regional education hub, the Northern Province has an essential role to play.
For the Faculty of Medicine, these collaborations have opened doors the University could only have imagined a decade ago. Today, Jaffna researchers are equal partners in global conversations about managing chronic disease, improving critical care, and understanding environmental health risks. That recognition matters—not for prestige, but because it means the knowledge generated here can shape policy and practice far beyond our borders.
What gives us the greatest hope is this: for communities in the North, this partnership is already making a tangible difference. Better healthcare. Meaningful employment. Young people who can see a future for themselves in research and medicine, right here at home.
The truth is, UK–Sri Lanka educational ties are nothing new. For generations, Sri Lankan students have studied at British universities, and UK institutions have worked alongside Sri Lankan partners to strengthen teaching, research, and professional training. What we're building in Jaffna today draws on that long history of exchange and mutual respect—but it also points to something new: a future where world-class research and learning can flourish in every part of Sri Lanka, not just its capital.
We've come a long way together. And we're both committed to continuing this work—because when UK and Sri Lanka invest in each other's people and institutions, everyone benefits. The progress at the Faculty of Medicine in Jaffna shows what's possible. We look forward to seeing what comes next.
A joint article by Andrew Patric, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and Prof. R. Surenthirakumaran, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna
------
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication