Orations delivered

• 2002 Murugesu Sinnathamby Oration (SLMA) on “Role of forceps in modern obstetrics”
• 2004 D.E. Gunethilake oration (SLCOG) on “The role of laparoscopic surgery in current gyneacological practice”
• 2007 D.A. Ranasinghe oration (SLCOG) on “Contribution of endoscopic surgery in management of subfertility”
• 2019 Nalin Rodrigo oration (SLCOG) on “Screening for Gestational Diabetes: (we are still looking for that elusive test)”
• 2021 - Perinatal society oration on “Challenges of pre-maturity: the obstetrician's role”
• Presidential address - 2017 - Sri Lanka College of obstetrician & gynaecologists

Publications 

• “The role of forceps in modern obstetrics” Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (1999) - Vol 19 No 2 Carfax publishers, UK (Weerasekara DS - single author Paper)
• “The value of serum fructosamine in comparison with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as a screening test for detection of gestational diabetes mellitus” Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2000) - Vol 20 No 2 Carfax Publishers, UK (Weerasekara DS & Peris H)
• “Placenta Praevia and scarred uterus - an obstetrician's dilemma" Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2000) - Vol 20 No 5 Carfax publishes, UK (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• “A retrospective evaluation of early carcinoma of the cervix treated surgically in a provincial general hospital” The Ceylon medical journal (1994) Vol 30, No , (Weerasekara DS & Gunawardene K)
• “Stamy procedure: A retrospective analysis of clinical outcome in stress incontinence” The Ceylon medical journal (1995), Vol 40 No 30 (Weerasekara DS & Gunewardene K)
• “Ketamine as an anaesthetic agent for tubal sterilization” The Ceylon medical journal (1996) Vol 41 No 3 (Weerasekara DS & Gunewardene K)
• “Adolescent pregnancies - is the out-come different?” The Ceylon Medical Journal (1997) , Vol 42 No 1 (Weerasekara DS - Single author)
• “Glycolysated haemoglobin (HbA1_c) - Is it a useful screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus?” Ceylon journal of Medical sciences (2000) Vol 43, No 1 (Weerasekara DS & Peris H)
• “A study of the morbidity associated with episiotomy” The Ceylon Journal of Medical Science, Vol 45, No 2, December 2022 Weerasekara DS & Udugama SG)
• “A randomized prospective trial of the obstetric forceps versus vacuum extraction using defined criteria” Journal of Obsetrics & Gynaecology, Vol 22 No 4 July 2002, Published by Taylor & Francis, Oxford, UK (This journal is indexed in EMBASE & ELSEVIER) (Weerasekara DS & Premerathne S)
• “The significance of serum uric acid, creatinine and urinary microprotein levels in predicting pre-eclampsia” Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vol 23, No 1 January 2003 published by Taylor & Francis, Oxford, UK (This journal is listed in Index Medicus/MEDLINE, EMBASE & ELSEVIER) (Weerasekara DS & Peris H)
• “Susceptibility to rubella among pregnant women and the serological evidence of congenial rubella in newborn babies at Colombo South Teaching Hospital” The Ceylon Medical journal (2003), Vol 48 No 2 (Weerasekara DS, Fernando S, Weerasekara MM)
• “Pregnancy at 40 and over: a case-control study in a developing country” Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vol 23, No 6, November 2003, (This journal is indexed in MEDICINE index Medicus, EMBASE & EKSEIER) (Weerasekara DS & Udugama SG)
• Four years of the FIGO post-partum intra-uterine device initiative in Sri Lanka: pilot study to National Policy (Weerasekara DS, Senanayake L, Ratnasiri PU, Perera GY, Lenerolle S.) International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics 143, 28-32
• The effect of a post-partem IUD intervention on counseling and choice: evidence from a cluster - randomized stepped wedge trial in Sri Lanka (Weerasekara DS, Karra M, Pearson E, Canning D) Trails 20 (1), 1-15
• “Kielland's forceps delivery: Should it be abandoned” Sri Lanka journal of medicine (1999) Vol 8 No 1 (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• “Pulmonary functions in pregnant Sri Lankan women” Sabaragamuwa University journal (1999) Vol 2 No 1 (Weerasekara DS, Ruberu K, Sivayohan S)
• “A review of post-operative morbidity following laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy compared to conventional types of hysterectomy” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, (2002) Vol 24 (Weerasekara DS & Padumadasa GS)
• “Antisperm antibodies: Incidence, isotypes and location on spermatozoa, their implications on fertilization and on pregnancy rate at a selected center in Sri Lanka” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, (2010) Vol 32 No 1 (Tennakoon V, Yasawardene SG, Weerasekara DS)
• “Successful pregnancy outcomes following in vitro fertilization in infertile couples with high levels of antisperm antibodies” Sri Lanka journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2010) Vol 32, No 2 (Tennakoon V, Yasawardene SG, Weerasekara DS)
• “Possible risk factors for the formation of antibodies in a subfertile population” Sri Lanka journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, (2011) Vol 33, No1 (Tennakoon V, Yasawardene SG, Weerasekara DS)
• Wrote the commentary on “Gynaecological malignancy in pregnancy” in Journal of Obsetrics and Gynaecology, Published by Taylor & Francis, Oxford, UK (This journal is listed in Index Medicus and Medline) Vol 25, No 4, May 2005. (F.Alexander-Sefre, N.Siddiqui, DS Weerasekara)
• “Sweeping of the membranes is an effective method of induction of labour in prolonged pregnancy” British journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (1993), Vol 100 (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• Correspondence on "Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) The Ceylon Medical Journal, Vol 50, No2, 2005 (Weerasekara DS)
• “Problem based learning - Is it the ideal way” Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine (1998) Vol 7, No 1 (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• “Hormone replacement therapy - Risks and benefits” Galle Medical Journal (1998) Vol 3 (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• “Pain relief in labour” The Sri Lanka Prescriber (1999) March (Weerasekara DS)
• “Menopause and hormone replacement therapy” Sri Lanka Prescriber (2000) March Vol 8, No 1 (Weerasekara DS)
• “Overian stimulation for assisted reproduction” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Vol 30, 2008 (Weerasekara DS & Tennakoon V)
• “Overview of intra-uterine insemination in a Sri Lankan scenario” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2010) Vol 32, No 1 (Weerasekara DS - single author)
• “Pneumothorax during laparoscopic surgery” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2010) Vol 32, No 3 (Weerasekara DS, Kumarasinghe G, Hewawasam M)
• “Refining ovarian stimulation in ART” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (2011) Vol 33, No 2 (Weerasekara DS)
• “Challenges of pre-maturity: the obstetrician's role” Sri Lanka Journal of Perinatal Medicine (2022) Vol 3, issue 1 (Weerasekara DS)
• “Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction in a patient following total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (Ogilvie syndrome)” Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2020) Vol 42, issue 4 (DS Weerasekera, WDD de Silva, NK Rodrigo, TKIN Nanayakkara)
• “Late presentation of a cauda equina lesion with a vulval abscess: a case report” Journal of Medical Case Reports (2021) Vol 15 Issue 1 (Deepal Weerasekera, Chanil Deshan Ekanayake, , Dilini Dissanayake, Ranga Wickramarachchi, Saman Pushpakumara, Dumitha Govindapala)

Editorial work

• Wrote the chapter on “Twin Delivery” in OBSTETRIC & INTRAPARTUM EMERGENCIES - A Practical Guide to Management Edited by Edwin Chandraharan and Sri Sabaratanam Arulkumaran, Published by Cambridge university press 2012, Revised edition 2022
• Functioned as the editor - in - chief for the Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology for years 2010, 2011. This is a peer reviewed journal which is published quarterly and available on-line. I have edited 8 issues of this journal during these two years. This journal is indexed in journals and committee on publication ethics.
• Member of the editorial board of Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - 2012 - 2023
• Edited the Abstract book “Towards optimizing care for women” of the 43^rd annual scientific sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, August 2010.
• Edited the book of Abstracts of the 8^th South Asia Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology conference and the 44^th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, April 2011.
• Text book “Labour ward manual” - Authored by Deepal S.Weerasekara, Kapila Gunawardene, Nilan Rodrigo. (2000) Deepal S. Weerasekara is the first author of this book and has contributed to more than 50% of the work. This book was described as an “Excellent Publication” by Professor David James, Professor of fetomaternal medicine. University of Nottingham, UK who is also a world authority on fetomaternal medicine and as a book “Achieving so much in such a compact volume” by Professor Gillian Turner, Emeritus Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
• Text book “Essential antenatal care” Authored by Deepal S. Weerasekara (2000) this book was described as “A very useful ready reference document for the trainee in obstetrics & gynaecology. It is easily readable with problems set out well and plenty of bullet points for ease of reference. This is a very useful and practical pocket manual” by Professor David James, Professor of Fetomaternal Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK
• “Essential Gynaecological care” A guide for the trainee by Deppal S.Weerasekara - 1^st Published 2015, 2^nd edition 2021

Current Position

• Professor of Obstetrics Gynaecology
• Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University

Past Experience

01.08.1991 - 15.09.1995

• Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, General hospital, Badulla
• Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, General hospital, Anuradhapura

Both these hospitals have over 10,000 deliveries per year and considered as two of the busiest hospitals in Sri Lanka. Both hospitals were manned by two consultant obstetrician and gynaecologists during this period.

• Clinical director, Prarthana center for ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) from 01.03.2004 to 01.03.2012

This center is affiliated to IVF Monash, Australia and provides latest techniques in reproductive endocrinology including ivf, icsi, sperm and embryo freezing, and sperm preparation techniques. Center performs over 100 ivf cycles annually

• Senior lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (grade 1), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 17.10.1995 - 12.06.2001
• Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 12.02.2001 to 31.10.2004
• Head of the Division of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 12.02.1996 - 30.06.1996
• Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 01.07.1996 - 31.07.1997
• Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, 18.02.2002 - 31.03.2003
• Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, & Head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, South Asian Institute of Medicine & Technology Malabe, Sri Lanka, 2013 - 2017

• FIGO-94-SOGC International fellowship award in 1994 for the best Young Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in developing countries and training fellowship in University of Calgery, Canada
• Award for the best paper at the 27^th Annual scientific sessions of Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in 1994 for the paper titled “Urinary fistule re-visited”
• WHO fellowship on medical education 1996 to visit school of medical sciences, university Sains Malaysia, Kota-Baru, Malaysia.
• Award for the best scientific presentation at the spring meeting of the Welsh Obstetrics and Gynaecological society - April 1998, Wales, UK for the paper titled "When to start oral fluids safely in post-caesarian patients"
• John St.George Award for the best paper at the 32^nd annual scientific sessions of Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (1999) for the paper titled “Transcervical resection of the endometrium -  a review of the first twenty cases done in Sri Lanka”

• Secretary, Clinical Society, Colombo South Hospital - 1986
• Council Member - Sri Lanka Medical Association - 1993, 1997
• President, Anuradhapura Clinical Society - 1993
• Branch president GMOA, Anuradhapura branch - 1994, 1995
• Executive committee member - OBA, Ananda College - 1996
• Council member - Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists - 1998, 19999
• Member, academic activities committee of SLCOG - 1998, 1999
• Member coordinating committee of HRP - 1999, 2000
• Member of SLMA steering committee for 111^th anniversary academic sessions - 1998
• President, faculty of medicine teachers association (FMTA), University of Sri Jayewardenepura - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
• Editor - Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2010, 2011
• Council member - Sri Lanka College of Obstetrician & Gynaecologists - 2012 - 2018
• Chairmen - academic activities and research - Sri Lanka College of obstetricians & Gynaecologists - 2014
• President - Sri Lanka College of obstetricians & Gynaecologists - 2017