Ms. Gallage Hiruni Himanthika Dias

Ms. Gallage Hiruni Himanthika Dias

Lecturer (Prob) in Pharmacy

dias.hiruni@univ.jfn.ac.lk

Overview

Ms. Gallage Hiruni Himanthika Dias is a Lecturer (Probationary) in Pharmacy at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. She is a registered pharmacist with professional experience in hospital pharmacy practice, national-level pharmaceutical supply management, and university-level pharmacy education.

She obtained her Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) degree with First Class, securing the highest GPA of her batch. She was awarded the Prof. Geetha Fernando Gold Medal and received the Outstanding Student Award (2017/2018) in recognition of her academic excellence and professional merit. Her academic and professional interests focus on pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, pharmacy practice, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare quality improvement, and strengthening evidence-based pharmacy services in Sri Lanka. She is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety to further strengthen her contributions to patient-centred care and pharmacy education, while actively seeking postgraduate scholarship opportunities to pursue a PhD in pharmacy-related research.

Postgraduate Qualification

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety – University of Colombo (Ongoing)

Undergraduate Qualification

  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours), University of Sri Jayewardenepura – First Class

Professional Qualification

  • Higher Diploma in Pharmacy (Certificate of Proficiency as Pharmacist, Ceylon Medical College Council) – School of Pharmacy, Ministry of Health
  • Registered Pharmacist – Sri Lanka Medical Council (Since 2017)
  • Lifetime Member – Pharmaceutical Society of Sri Lanka

Lecturer (Probationary) in Pharmacy

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna (July 2025 – Present)

  • Teaching B.Pharm undergraduates in Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Pharmacy Practice, and related subjects.
  • Conducting examinations and contributing to curriculum development and academic activities.

Lecturer (Temporary / Probationary – Contract) in Pharmacy

Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2024–2025)

  • Delivered teaching in Pharmacology, Hospital and Community Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics, Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmaceutical Technology.

Pharmacist – Stock Control Officer

Medical Supplies Division, Ministry of Health (2017–2020; 2023–2024)

  • Managed procurement, inventory control, quality assurance, and national-level distribution of medicines.
  • Handled antibiotics (2017–2020) and pharmaceuticals related to ENT/skin, antiseptics and disinfectants (2023–2024).

Trainee Pharmacist

National Hospital of Sri Lanka (2015–2017)

  • Experience in Outdoor Pharmacy, Indoor Pharmacy, Drug Stores, and Surgical Supply Unit.

Professional Development and Training

  • Management Development Program on Logistic Management of Vaccines (IIHMR University, India),2019.
  • Public Procurement, Bid Preparation & Evaluation – Ministry of Finance, 2018
  • Tamil Language Course for Public Officers – Distinction, 2019
  • Professional Development Program on Clinical Pharmacy Services
  • Seminar on Role of Pharmacists in Managing Asthma
  • ABC of Pharmacology and Pharmacy Workshop
  • Orientation Program for Pharmacists – Ministry of Health

Voluntary Medical Outreach Camps

  • Mobile Medical Camp – Panadura (Hirana Kanishta Vidyalaya), 19 December 2015
    Role: Voluntary Intern Pharmacist – Medication dispensing and patient counseling
  • Medical Camp – Bodhirukkarmaya Temple, Thalahena, Malambe, 02 April 2016
    Role: Voluntary Intern Pharmacist – Medication dispensing and patient counseling

Contribution To The Development of The Department, Faculty and University

At University of Sri Jayewardenepura

  1. Completed training through the National Clinical Pharmacy Train-the-Trainer Program 2024 conducted by the University of Peradeniya in collaboration with CASPPER.
  2. Served as a Judge Panel Member for the Inter-unit Medication Safety Competition at Colombo South Teaching Hospital, supporting medication safety initiatives and quality improvement in patient care.
  3. Workshop Coordinator – Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Workshop: Hands-On Patient Care (CASPPER Collaboration), 23–24 July 2024.
  4. Organizing Team Member – Basics of Pharmacy Workshop, December 2024.
  5. Workshop Coordinator – Workshop on Pharmacy Practice in collaboration with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA), January 2025.
  6. Workshop Coordinator – Advancing Pharmacy Education through a Collaborative Exchange with Mahidol University, Thailand, February 2025.

At University of Jaffna

  1. Facilitator – Vaarpu Life Skills Development Programme, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna (February 2026, Sinhala medium).
  2. Currently involved in the Curriculum Revision Process of the Department of Pharmacy, contributing to the enhancement of academic programs and training quality.

Awards, Medals and Academic Distinctions

  1. Prof. Geetha Fernando Gold Medal – Awarded for the highest GPA of the batch, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
  2. Outstanding Student Award (2017/2018) – Awarded by the Government Pharmacists Association of Sri Lanka.
  3. Merit First in Internal Pharmacy Examination (2016) of Ministry of Health – First Class performance.

Research Interests

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Practice
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety
  • Pharmacy Education Development

Research Projects

  1. Undergraduate Research Project:
    “Surveillance on National and Provincial Antibiotic Consumption in the State Sector of Sri Lanka (2019–2021)”. Conducted national surveillance using ATC/DDD methodology and AWaRe classification.Contributed to antimicrobial stewardship and evidence-based policy development in collaboration with the Medical Supplies Division.
  2. Co-author:
    “Ability to correctly demonstrate asthma inhaler techniques among pharmacists and the effectiveness of an educational guide”– Submitted to BMC Pulmonary Medicine (Under peer review)

Validated Patient Education Resource:

  1. Validated Patient Education Booklet (Sinhala Language); ‘Schizophrenia: Treatment and Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medicines’. Developed during internship at National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. Content validated and approved by supervising clinicians and pharmacists. Printed and distributed at National Hospital Colombo and four specialized psychiatric residential facilities.

Research Interests

  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Practice
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety
  • Pharmacy Education Development

Teaching

B.Pharm undergraduates

  • Pharmaceutical Technology
  • Pharmacognosy
  • Pharmaceutics
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
  • Pharmacy Practice