Staff
Mr. Hema Nishantha Withanage - Manager of Training & SRIC
Mr.Hema Nishantha Withanage provides services as Manager of Training & SRIC (Sahanaya Resource and Information Centre) Mental Health Officer and senior Counsellor. He was the former administrator of Gorkana Residential Centre (2008-2018).
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Kelaniya. He completed his Postgraduate diploma in counselling at University of Colombo and member of Association of Postgraduates counselling service He has been exposed to several training sessions on Psycho-social Skills Development and Psychological Counseling from the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH), Government and non-Governmental organizations. He has contributed his service to the Institute of Psychological Studies (IPS) as a behavioral therapist, after successfully completing the Diploma in Psychological counseling in the same institute. He also obtained the membership at the Sri Lanka National Institute of Professional Counselors (SLNIPC).
Furthermore, Mr. Withanage, successfully completed the Diploma programmes in Peace and Conflict Process and mass media from the University of Colombo media foundation, as well as the media foundation of mass communication. This is a significant milestone in his academic achievements. He has been offering his tremendous service to the National Council for Mental Health since 2008.
Being a Justice of the peace (All Island) he is serving as the president of the Bandaragama mediation board in Mediation boards commission (Ministry of Justice)
Dr.Usha Gunawardena - Consultant of SRIC
Dr. Usha Gunawardhana is a prominent consultant psychiatrist in Sri Lanka and consultant of SRIC. She was the former consultant psychiatrist of National Council for Mental Health- Sahanaya. After completing the basic education from Rishy Valley school India. She entered Andra University to study Medicine- MBBS. Then she pursued DPM in England and returned to Sri Lanka in 1986. She has completed MD in Sri Lanka. Later she was the president of “Sri Lanka Collage of Psychiatrists” from 2010-2012 and received the fellowship from Sri Lanka Collage of Psychiatrists. Her working experience and contribution to mental health field made her one of the best psychiatrist in Sri Lanka.
Mr. I.D. Danasiri
Mr. Danasiri has joined the NCMH in the year 2005 and served as the Coordinator at the District Resource Centre Kalutara , Administrative Officer Resource Centre Gorakana, Panadura till April 2008. He was transferred to the Main Resource Centre Borella in May 2008 and serving as the Community Mental Health Coordinating Officer. While serving in that capacity he is serving as the Facilitator SRIC.
He has served in the Department of Health Services for thirty six years as, Public Health Inspector, Supervising
Public Health Inspector and also as Tutor Public Health at National Institute of Health Sciences Kalutara.
He has followed the Public Health Inspectors’ Training Course in 1962/1963 and obtained Diploma in Public Health from Royal Society of Health England. He has been a lecturer in Public Health at National Institute of Health Sciences Kalutara and also a visiting lecturer at the Regional Training Centres Kurunegala, Kadugannawa and Galle where Public Health Inspectors are trained. He has followed special training programmes in Community Health Management, Health Systems Research Methodology, Occupational Health and Educational Science. He also has also followed the Master trainer Programme in mental Health and Psychosocial care under the Child and Family Resilience project conducted by Israeli Psychologists and Psychiatrists at NCMH Resource Centre Gorakana, Panadura.
Training abroad
He has followed Family Planning training in Nepal in 1990, Primary Health Care training programme in Thailand and Nutrition training Programme in Indonesia in 1993.
After retirement he has served as the National Coordinator School Health Clubs Programme funded by UNICEF and also as the Water and Sanitation Project Coordinator Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, in Galle District.
Mr. Danasiri has excellent communication and PR skills.
SRIC Staff
- Mr. Hema Nishantha Withanage- Manager of SRIC
- Ms. Ruwanara Weeraddana
- Ms. Shashika Karunarathne
- Ms. Nadeeka Kumudini
Ms. Ruwanara Weeraddana - Information Officer
Ms. Ruwanara Weeraddana joined the Sahanaya Resource and Information Centre in June 2018. She has completed her Clinical training at National Council for Mental Health (NCMH). Currently she is following Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from University of Colombo. She has successfully completed B.A. Philosophy and Psychology from University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 2017.
Ms. Shashika Karunarathne - Information Officer
Ms. Shashika Karunarathne joined the Sahanaya National Council for Mental Health- SRIC in January 2019. She has completed Diploma in English at Colombo University in 2011 and Diploma in English from British Council in 2019. She completed Diploma in Early Child Education at Open University in 2015. She has one year experience in working with children as an Assistant Montessori Teacher in Private Sector.