Ms. J.K. Thilakshi Udeshika

Graduated from the School of Social Work, National Institute of Social Development in 2010 with a First Class .Awarded with NOMA Full Scholarship in year 2011 to pursue a Master Degree at Tribhuvan University, Nepal and therefore, completed the Master Degree in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Joined the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo in year 2012 as an Instructor in Social Work and served in the position for 6 years. In year 2019, rejoined the Department of Psychiatry as a Lecturer (Probationary) in Social Work. Since then, has provided the academic and clinical input at the Faculty of Medicine and at the University Psychiatry Unit, Ward 59, National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Apart from the Department of Psychiatry, has provided the academic input in the academic programs such as Family Attachment Program of the Clinical Medicine Department.

Before joining the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, has held several positions in the Non-Government Organizations which has worked for the Development of Sri Lankan community such as Alcohol and Drug Information Centre, Friends of Children (Amici Dei Bambini) and EMDH – Children of the World, Human Rights. Working experience in such institutions has immensely supported to get a first-hand experience in the Sri Lankan Social Work discipline and to practice numerous social work interventions to understand what interventions sustain amongst the Sri Lankan community.

A member of the Sri Lanka Professional Social Workers Associations (SLPSWA) since 2016 and was selected as an Executive Committee Member of the SLPSWA since 2019 to present. Also, provides the Professional Supervision for local and international students pursuing studies in the discipline of Social Work, Sociology and Counseling.

The research interests are Social Work, Gender Equality and Mental Health.