Professor Gameela Samarasinghe

Selected publications

  • Salih M, Samarasinghe G. Transitional Justice in the Context of Psychosocial Work in Sri Lanka. The Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre, University of Colombo. 2006
  • Fernandopulle NMR, Ghai A, Samarasinghe G, Fernandopullet M. War and Peace through the eyes of children in Sri Lanka. 12th Asia Pacific Congress of Paediatricians, 12 – 15 March Colombo – Sri Lanka, 2006. – Awarded: Best Outstation Paper
  • Salih M, Samarasinghe G. Perceptions of Human Rights and Justice in Sri Lanka; Themes from interviews in four selected sites. The Asia Foundation, Sri Lanka. 2008
  • De Mel N, R.uwanpura K, Samarasinghe G (Editors). After the Tsunami: The Impact of the Asian Tsunami on Women in Sri Lanka. Social Scientists Association. 2009
  • Fernando S, Weekakoddy C. Mental Health and Wellbeing of Communities affected by conflict and the tsunami in Sri Lanka, G. Samarasinghe (co-editor). PRDA/Oxfam. 2009
  • Samarasinghe G.  Psychosocial Interventions in Post-War Sri Lanka in Scarred Communities edited by Daya Somasundaram. Sage. 2012 (in press)
  • Samarasinghe G. Rethinking Psychosocial Programming in Post-War Sri Lanka in a book (Title to be determined) to be published by INCORE, University of Ulster. 2012.

Selection of scientific communications published in abstract form

  • Samarasinghe G. Community Interventions versus Counselling in the Context of Ongoing Conflict in Sri Lanka, a Dilemma facing Service Providers. National Council for Mental Health. 2002
  • Samarasinghe G. Truth Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry. Some Thoughts on the Psychosocial Impacts on Individuals and Communities in the context of Sri Lanka in Exhuming Accountability: Conference on Transitional Justice in South Asia. International Centre for Transitional Justice and Himal. 2007

Research Grants

  • Member of the Research Advisory Group, Care and Protection of Children in Crisis Affected Countries (CPC) Project, Columbia University School of Public Health, USA, 2006 – to date
  • Resource Person, Teasdale-Corti Research and Capacity Building Partnership Programme, Political violence, natural disasters and mental health outcomes: Developing innovative health practices and interventions, Mc Gill University, Canada. 2007 to 2009
  • Member of the Research Advisory Group for the research on Children Displaced due to Armed Conflict in Sri Lanka, Save the Children in Sri Lanka, October 2007.
  • Consultant for the research on “Factors that Influence the Production of and Responses to Intimate Partner Violence in the Sri Lankan Context”, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, June 2007 to May 2009
  • Commissioner, Citizen’s Commission to Investigate the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE in October 1990, Law and Society Trust, Sri Lanka 2009 to 2011
  • § Member of the research team on “Trauma, Peace building and Development”, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, May 2010 to date

  • Member of the team of experts for “Enhancing human rights protections in the context of law enforcement and security – Torture Prevention Research Project – The University of Sydney, 01/04/2012 – 31/12/2014)

Research Awards

  • Scholarship for 3-week Exchange-Program, University of Heidelberg-University of Colombo, December 2002
  • Visiting Scholar, Asch Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA,  5-week Fellowship awarded by the Asch Center, September – October 2002
  • Awarded Fulbright-Hays Senior Research Scholar Award for 2004-2005. Spent 9 months at the Department of International Health,  School of Public Health, Medical Center, Boston University, USA,  October 2004 – July 2005

Ongoing Research Projects

Title of research project Participating academics
  • Member of the research team on “Trauma, Peace building and Development”, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, May 2010 to date
  • Member of the team of experts for “Enhancing human rights protections in the context of law enforcement and security – Torture Prevention Research Project – The University of Sydney, 01/04/2012 – 31/12/2014)
 International Team comprising of academics from the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, Columbia University, USA etc.

International Team of academics including researchers from the University of Sydney, Columbia University and the Kathmandu School of Law.

Conferences where academic staff members have participated as Resource Persons

Name of conference Name of academic Session to which the academic contributed
  • The research seminars series by The A.C.S Hameed Peace Foundation 3rd – 8th November 2003.
  • Development Work in Sri Lanka: The Challenges of Integrating a Psychosocial Perspective, Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies and the Psychosocial Support Program, Sri Lanka, 2004
  • Islamic Identity in Emerging Global Scenario & Mental Health Dilemmas in Modern Society. Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi,  Pakistan, 10 - 12 September 2007
 Gameela Samarasinghe Research Design

Identifying the Psychosocial Impacts of Projects &

Reorienting Projects towards Greater Psychosocial Sensitivity” presentation at the

Guest Speaker

List of Collaborative Research

  • Member of the research team on “Trauma, Peace building and Development”, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, May 2010 to date
  • Member of the team of experts for “Enhancing human rights protections in the context of law enforcement and security – Torture Prevention Research Project – The University of Sydney, 01/04/2012 – 31/12/2014