Sunshine Medical Devices (SMD) has partnered with the Sri Lanka Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (SLAPRAS) to support Sri Lanka’s first national suturing competition for undergraduate medical students, reinforcing its commitment to developing the country’s future healthcare workforce through education, clinical excellence and industry collaboration.
The Master of Precision Suturing Championship brought together fourth-year medical students from 11 medical faculties across Sri Lanka, creating a national platform to identify emerging talent while strengthening practical surgical competencies at an early stage of medical training.
Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd., Executive Director and Sunshine Medical Devices and Lina Manufacturing CEO Dr. T. Sayandhan, said the partnership reflects Sunshine Healthcare’s broader vision of strengthening Sri Lanka’s healthcare ecosystem through long-term investment in both technology and people. ‘Healthcare transformation is driven not only by innovation, but by the capability of the professionals delivering care. By partnering with SLAPRAS on this pioneering initiative, we are investing in future Surgeons by providing opportunities to learn from experts, strengthen practical skills and aspire to higher standards of clinical excellence. Developing healthcare talent today is essential to delivering better patient outcomes tomorrow,’ he said.
Designed as both a competition and a learning experience, the program provided participants with direct mentorship from leading plastic and reconstructive surgeons while exposing them to the standards, discipline and precision expected in modern surgical practice. Competitors were assessed on key aspects of suturing, including tissue handling, instrument control, precision, knot security, consistency and overall technique.
Plastic and Reconstructive Consultant Surgeon and SLAPRAS President Dr. Yasas Abeywickrama said: ‘This initiative is about far more than recognising technical skill. It is about cultivating the craftsmanship, discipline and professional standards that define surgical excellence. By providing students with early exposure to structured skills development and specialist mentorship, we are helping prepare the next generation of surgeons to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.’
The initiative was spearheaded by Plastic and Reconstructive Consultant Surgeon Dr. Gayan Ekanayake with the objective of creating a structured national platform to complement undergraduate medical education through practical skills development, mentorship and performance-based learning.
SLAPRAS intends to establish the championship as an annual national program, expanding opportunities for undergraduate medical students to benefit from structured surgical skills training, specialist mentorship and practical assessment.