Others

Research Development

  • Initiated a research programme which has been sustained to date through significant capacity building and human resource development in Nutritional Biochemistry at the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Colombo with financial support from   NARESA, NIHS ( Kalutara),WHO, UNICEF, USAID (Micronutrient project, International life Sciences Institute), Programme Support Group & Technical   Assistance Team (funded by Governments of Netherlands and Norway) & the IAEA.  Establishment of facilities and equipment for radioisotopic work and for research using  stable isotopes with a Technical Cooperation grant from the IAEA. Total funds received add upto US$ 344,176.
  • Several postgraduates have benefitted from this research programme. Six  postgraduates have been awarded Ph.D degrees while eighteen postgraduates have successfully completed their M.Sc degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and   two Medical Officers have been awarded the degree of Doctor of Medicine – MD  (Community  Medicine) for research work  carried out under my supervision

Selected Communications

  1. De Lanerolle-Dias MS, de Silva A, Lanerolle P, Arambepola C, Atukorala S. Assessment of percentage fat mass by Fourier-Tansform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) in adolescent girls: Is the use of standard cur-offs appropriate for Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 19th International Congress of Nutrition, Bangkok, Thailand, Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism Suppl. 2009; Abs.p. 405.
  2. De Lanerolle-Dias MS, Lanerolle P, Arambepola C, de Silva A, Atukorala S. Qualitative evaluation of food habits and perceived constraints in practicing good nutrition among out-of school adolescent girls in an urban and rural setting in Sri Lanka. 2nd International meeting of the Micronutrient Forum, Beijing, China, 2009, Abs. p. 143.
  3. Thoradeniya T & Atukorala S.   Micronutrient  Forum Istanbul,  Turkey, 2007
  4. Thoradeniya T, Atukorala S. Urban adolescent girls and young women with low level of education  are at increased risk of folic acid deficiency.  Proceedings of the 18th International Congress of Nutrition, Durban, South Africa September 2005, Abs. p. 369.
  5. Thoradeniya T, Atukorala S, Ramanayake R. Iron deficiency a problem among adolescent girls and women of childbearing age in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG) Symposium, Lima, Peru, December 2004, Abs. p.41.
  6. De Silva A, Atukorala S, Ahluwalia N. Dietary intake of macro and micronutrients in children: does recurrent illness reduce intake? Asia pacific J Clin Nutr 2004:12(Suppl):S119.
  7. Atukorala S, Radhika NML, Hettiarachchi I. Iron supplementation during pregnancy in the estate sector of Sri Lanka: is it effective? Proceedings of the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG) Symposium, Marrakech, Morocco, February 2003, Abs. p. 20.
  8. Atukorala S. Coconut kernel and oil in human health. Proceedings of the National Seminar on: Coconut and coconut products in health and disease, Trivandrum, Kerala, India September  2003, IL 12.
  9. De Silva A, Atukorala S, Weerasinghe I, Ahluwalia N. Iron and folic acid status and effects of iron supplementation on iron status and morbidity in children with or without infection. Proceedings of the 17th International Congress of Nutrition, Vienna , Austria, August 2001, in: Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism Ed. Elmadfa I, Konig J. Karger publishers, Abs. p. 57.
  10. De Silva A, Atukorala S, Weerasinghe I, Ahluwalia N.  Effects of iron supplementation on haemoglobin and morbidity in children with upper respiratory infection. Proceedings of the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG) Hanoi, Vietnam, February 2001 Abs. p.23.
  11. Ahluwalia N, de Silva A, Weaver A, Atukorala S. Evaluation of filter paper based dried serum spots (DSS) from capillary (Cap) and venous (Ven) blood for assessing iron deficiency in children in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG) Meeting, Hanoi, Vietnam,February 2001, Abs. p.17.
  12. De Silva A, Atukorala S, Ahluwalia N. Serum transferrin receptor (TFR) and iron deficiency in Sri Lankan children. Proceedings of the Federation of American Societies for , Abs. p. Experimental Biology March 2001, Florida, USA, Abs. p. 634.
  13. Ahluwalia N, De Silva A, Atukorala S. Defining cut-off for serum ferritin for assessing iron deficiency in children with infections. Proceedings of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology March 2001, Florida,USA, Abs. p. 633.
  14. Atukorala S, Radhika NML, Hettiarachchi I. Effectiveness of interventions to prevent anaemia in pregnancy: a study in the estate sector. Proceedings of the 113th Anniversary  Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association March 2000, Abs. p.44.
  1. Lanerolle P, Atukorala S. Daily iron supplementation of adolescent girls in Sri Lanka:  A study on compliance and effectiveness. Proceedings of the International Nutritional Anaemia Consultative Group (INACG) symposium ,  March 1999, Durban, South Africa, Abs p.7.
  2. De Silva A, Atukorala S, Ahluwalia N. Iron supplementation increases hemoglobin in children with or without infection. Proceedings of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology April 2000,  San Diego, CA, USA, Abs. p.509.
  3. Lanerolle P, Atukorala S. Is nutrition education effective in improving vitamin A and iron status of adolescent school girls? Report of the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) meeting,  March 1999, Durban, South Africa, Abs p.82.
  4. Atukorala S. Trends in nutrition education in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition, July 1997, Montreal, Canada Abs. p. 95.
  5. Lanerolle P, Atukorala TMS. Impact of nutrition education and supplementation on iron status of adolescent girls in an urban and a rural area of Sri Lanka.  Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of  Nutrition, July 1997, Montreal, Canada, Abs. p. 62.
  6. Hapugoda GL, Atukorala TMS, Fernando RM.   Effects of an educational intervention programme on maternal haemoglobin, weight gain and birth weights of new born. Proceedings of the 16th International Congress of Nutrition, Montreal, Canada, July 1997, Abs. p. 235.
  7. Lanerolle P, Atukorala TMS, de Silva G, Samarasinghe S. Prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among adolescent girls in Colombo, Sri Lanka and the impact of nutrition education on vitamin A status. Proceedings of the XVII International Vitamin A Consultative Group Meeting (IVACG), Guatemala City, Guatemala 1996; Abs. p. 24.
  8. Perera RP, Jayasundera SG, Gunasekera MB, Amarasekera AS,  Atukorala TMS.  Analysis of the beta carotene content of fresh and cooked samples of katu-kohila (Lasia spinosa) and wel- kohila (Syngonium podophyllum).  Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 1995; 48(1):379-82.
  9. Thurairajah A, Atukorala TMS, Casinader JK.Effect of a preparation of ground curry leaves and garlic taken with meals on plasma lipid patterns.  Proceedings of the 107th  Anniversary Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1994; Abs. p.20.
  10. Atukorala TMS, de Silva LDR, Jayasinghe KSA.  Lipid patterns and dietary habits of adolescent males in Sri Lanka.  Proceedings of the 15th  International Congress of Nutrition; Adelaide, Australia 1993; Abs. p. 620
  1. Atukorala TMS. Providing quality nutrition.  Silver Jubilee Congress of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Colombo, Sri Lanka 1992; Abs. p. 27.
  2. De Silva LDR, Atukorala TMS. Effect of anthelminthic therapy on iron status of plantation workers during  Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of  Science 1991;48(1): Abs. p. 5.
  3. Ismail MM, Premaratne UN, Abeywickrema W, Jayasinghe KSA, De Silva WAS,Atukorala S, Dissanayake AS, de Abrew K, Senanayake S.  Treatment of Bancroftian filariasis with ivermectin. Proceedings of the 104th Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1991, Abs. p. 14-15.
  4. Atukorala TMS, Pushpa Ranjini LP. Lipid patterns and fibrinogen levels of cigarette smokers and non-smokers. Proceedings of the 103rd Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1990, Abs. p. 19-20.
  5. Atukorala TMS, de Silva LDR.Iron status of adolescent females in an urban area of Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress of Nutrition, Seoul, Korea 1989; Abs. p.440.
  6. Atukorala TMS, Jayasekera S, Seneviratne HR, Perera RS.Vitamin A status of pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Proceedings of the 14th International Congress of Nutrition, Seoul, Korea, 1989, Abs. p. 578.
  7. Atukorala TMS, Perera NSD, Salgado MW, Ramachandran S. Effect of alcohol consumption on serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. Proceedings of the 102nd Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1989; Abs. p.50.
  8. Atukorala TMS, Jayawardene MIFP, Wijayawardhana UD. Lipid profiles in healthy adults from urban and rural areas and in patients with coronary heart disease.  Proceedings of the 101st Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1988, Abs. p.16.
  9. Atukorala TMS, Gunarathna PHCS, Ekanayake RAI. Total cholesterol: albumin ratio as an alternative indicator of risk of cardiovascular disease. Proceedings of the 99th Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association 1986; Abs. p.22.
  10. Atukorala TMS, Gunarathna PHCS, Ekanayake RAI, Wijayawardhana UD. LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in ischaemic heart disease. Proceedings of the 99th Anniversary Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association1986; Abs. 21-22.
  11. Fernando KANC, Atukorala TMS. Total and Glucose Tolerance Factor-chromium content of foods – A preliminary study. Proceedings of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science 1985;41(1): Abs. p. 86.
  12. Atukorala TMS, Herath CA.Zinc and vitamin A status of alcoholics in Sri Lanka.  Proceedings of the XIII International Congress of Nutrition,  Brighton UK. 1985; Abs. p. 136.

Other Posts - University & National Development

  • Member of the Presidential sub-committee on “Micronutrient Policy” of the National Policy and Food Security Programme 1998
  • Contributed to the development of a “National strategy and broad plan of action against anaemia in pregnancy” as a member of the core group convened by the Ministry of Health and Women s Affairs, 1994
  • Contributed to the development of: Guidelines on management of lipid disorders in Sri Lanka as a member of the National lipid Guidelines Committee, 2002-2004
  • Member of the task force for prevention of diabetes and Co-author ( with Dr. R  Jayatissa) of  the Nutrition education component of the advocacy document prepared by the Diabetes prevention task force 2005
  • Contributed to the development of; “Food based dietary guidelines for Sri Lankans” as a member of the core group convened by the Ministry of  Health and Indigenous Medicine, 2002
  • Member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association committee on Nutrition 2002.
  • Participated in nutrition education programmes for patients attending the cardiac rehabilitation programme of the Institute of Cardiology, NHSL  2002-2011.
  • Development of educational material and conducting training programmes for estate health staff on improving nutrition of mothers and children 1998
  • Development of educational material and participating in training programmes conducted by the Minsitry of health for prevention of anaemia and vitamin A deficiency 1994.