News & Events

New Chairperson of Behavioural Scences Stream, Dr. Wasantha Gunathunga took over duties from Dr. Priyadharshini Galappatthy in March 2010.
Academic staff -
Ms. Santhushi Amarasuriya has completed her M.Phil course in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colombo. Dr. Kavinda Gunathillaka, a graduate of the Colombo Medical Faculty was seconded to the BSS from the Ministry of Health to serve as a temporary lecturer, from October 2009.
Dr. N.T. Wijeratne and Ms. Arundathi Abeypala have left BSS after serving as academic staff for several years. Their contribution to the success of BSS is much appreciated.

The Behavioural Sciences Stream teaching/learning activities for the BSc. Physiotherapy Course commenced from July 2007. The curriculum for this course is based on the Behavioural Sciences Stream curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. In addition to the traditional method of assessment done via written examinations, another form of assessment, which is the assessment of student portfolios was introduced to this programme. Students are expected to compile these portfolios throughout their Behavioural Sciences Stream academic programme, under the guidance of an assigned portfolio supervisor who has been nominated from the academic staff of the Faculty of Medicine. These portfolios will be assessed on completion of their BSS academic programme.
One batch of students have already completed their Behavioural Sciences Stream activities and are now awaiting their final results. The next batches of students are undergoing the teaching/learning activities of the behavioural sciences stream.

Behavioural Sciences Stream in collaboration with Allied Health Sciences Unit of the faculty organized a workshop on Ethics in Physiotherapy Practice for the practicing physiotherapists. The objective of the workshop was to sensitize the practicing physiotherapists about the ethical issues that are being taught for the B.Sc Physiotherapy students. It was held on 23rd of July 2010 at the Faculty Board room.

The Behavioural Sciences Stream in collaboration with MEDARC conducted a workshop to develop new teaching/ learning methods and new generic skills of behaviour. this was held over three days in May 2010, and extended faculty staff as well as faculty staff participated. Several new ideas in the field of teaching Behavioural Sciences were proposed, and were incorporated into a publication.

A new assessment method "Script Concordance Test" was proposed as a possible method in assessing students in the Behavioural Sciences Stream. A workshop to introduce the method to faculty staff was held in December 2010. There was extensive discussion on the idea and it is hoped to assess its viabilty by pilot study.

A workshop titled "Perfect Professional" is being developed by the Behavioural Sciences Stream. The objective is to introduce reflective practice and methods of stress managment and insight meditation for professionals in both public and private sector. The workshop will be an open, fee levying programme.