Vice Chancellor, Head of Faculty of Food Sciences and Consultant Academic, International Institute of Health Sciences, Welisara, Sri Lanka, Medical Specialist in Community Medicine, Public Health Nutrition & Clinical Nutrition.

• Email: renuka@iihsciences.edu.lk

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renuka-jayatissa-838ba786/?originalSubdomain=lk

• Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sN0qOkQAAAAJ&hl=en

• OCRID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3961-8735

Profile

Dr Renuka Jayatissa is a medical specialist with over 37 years of expertise in general medicine, Paediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, critical care, public health and clinical nutrition, serving in the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka, UNICEF, and academia. Dr Jayatissa holds an MBBS, MSc, and MD in Community Medicine, along with advanced training in nutrition from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Royal London Hospital. Dr Jayatissa played a pivotal role in introducing the therapeutic feeding and multiple micronutrient programs for children at UNICEF and has conducted and published over 100 nutrition studies. Dr Jayatissa pioneered to develop curriculum for a master’s in human nutrition and a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition for the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka, paving the way for around 400 physicians in clinical nutrition. Additionally, Dr Jayatissa established over 50 nutrition clinics across Sri Lanka to address disease-related malnutrition. She was the founder member of Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association and past president of Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka. She has contributed nutrition-related guideline committees for WHO, WFP and the World Bank. Currently, Dr Renuka serves as Vice Chancellor of IIHS Multiversity, Regional Coordinator of Iodine Global Network for South Asia, President of the SAARCFOOD Association, President elect College of Palliative Medicine of Sri Lanka, Director of Association of South Asian Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Director of Health Professional Association, and She is a honorary fellow of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Academic Background

Chairperson speciality board clinical nutrition (2017- 2023 June)	MD clinical Nutrition and MSc Human Nutrition course, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo
Convener clinical nutrition postgraduate course (2013-2023 June)	Development of prospectus for MD clinical nutrition and MSc Human nutrition
Course Unit Advisor (2013-2023 June)	MSc Human Nutrition – clinical nutrition module and MD Clinical Nutrition course, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo
Main trainer for health personnel (medical officers, Public health staff)               (2000-2023)	Nutrition Emergency training for medical officers. Anthropometric measurement for nutrition surveys, Infant and young child feeding, Nutrition in schoolchildren and adolescents, Management of severe acute undernutrition, Integrated Nutrition Package throughout life cycle, Nutrition in Emergencies, Diet and diseases, Diabetics, Dietetics, Nutrition assessment in population, individual and hospital settings, Nutrition in elderly and adults, Nutrition in non-communicable diseases
Chief examiner or Examiner for postgraduate exams:	Examination for M.Sc Human Nutrition, Diploma Elderly Medicine, Masters in Palliative Medicine, Masters in Sports medicine Examination for MD Clinical Nutrition Examination for M.Sc and MD (Medical Administration), Examination for M.Sc and MD (Community Medicine) PhD/MPhil Examinations, Faculty of Medicine, Ruhuna; Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Avinash Institute of Home science and Nutrition, Chennai

Research Interest

• The research focus is mainly on the fields of nutrition, public health, emergencies and food systems.  

Awards and Recognition

Presidential Award	Recipient of Research award 2020
Oration	Recipient of College of Community Physician Oration on Micronutrient deficiencies – key to achieve SDGs in Sri Lanka (2015)   Recipient of Sir Marcus Fernando Oration by Sri Lanka Medical Association for research on Iodine deficiency disorders in Sri Lanka (2012)   Recipient of College of Palliative Medicine Oration on “Feed or Starve in Palliative Care” (2023)
Best Research	Recipient of Prize and Best Research publication for year 2011 for “Landscape Analysis to accelerate the maternal and child nutrition programmes in Sri Lanka at the Anniversary Academic Sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association (2011)
Prize	Recipient of prize and Best Research award for research in “Geographical variations of iodine deficiency in Sri Lanka Iodine nutrition status among schoolchildren” at the 8th sessions of College of Community Physicians, Colombo (2002) Joint Recipient of Ramachandra prize on Nephrology for “Impact of the composition of selected dug well water from North Central Province (NCP) in the development of interstitial nephritis, hepato cellular carcinoma and hepatitis in Wistar rats” at the Anniversary Academic Sessions of Sri Lanka Medical Association (2012)   Recipient of runner up for best poster presentation for Nutrition Gaps in the resettled population, at 16th Annual sessions of College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (2011)
Fellowship	Recipient of the titular award of “Fellow of the PGIM”, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (2010)   Recipient of the “ Fellow of the CCP”, College of Community Physician (2015)   Recipient of the “Fellow of the ESPEN”, European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (2024)

Research Interest

• President Elect College of Palliative Medicine in Sri Lanka
• South Asia Regional Coordinator Iodine Global Network
• President SAARC FOODS Association in Sri Lanka
• Life member Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association
• Past council Member Sri Lanka College of Endocrinologist
• Past Council Member European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition till 2023
• Past Council Member Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition South Asia till 2023
• Member American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
• Member World Public Health Association
• Member American college of Lifestyle Medicine
• Life member Sri Lanka Lifestyle medicine Association
• Past member Specialty Board in elderly, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine
• Past Convener Sub committee in Human Nutrition course, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine
• Past member Committee for Module development for diabetes educators, Sri Lanka Medical Association
• Past member Research committee, Medical Research Institute for 25 years
• Past member Ethical Committee, Medical Research Institute for 25 years
• Past member Board of study – MSc and MD in Medical Administration, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine
• Past Secretary – Osteoporosis Sri Lanka
• Past member Board of study – MSc and MD in Medical Administration, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine
• Past Secretary – Osteoporosis Sri Lanka
• Life Member College of Community Physicians Sri Lanka
• Life Member Sri Lanka Medical Association.
• Life Member Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka.
• Life member Peri-natal Society of Sri Lanka
• President Nutrition Society of Sri Lanka – 2004
• Founder President Sri Lanka Medical Nutrition Association since 2015
• Founder President Sri Lanka SAARCFOOD Association since 2023
• Director South Asian Association of Parenteral and Enteral since 2023

Research Interest

Jayatissa R and Piyasena CL. Effect of daily and weekly iron supplementation. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. 1999; 20(4), December.

Jayatissa R, Fernando DN and WijesinghaS. Development of Screening test to detect anaemia among pregnant women.  Journal of the college of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, Vol. 6:2001.

Pathmeshwaran, Jayatissa R, Samarasingha S, Liyanage P, De Silva N. Learning achievement and health Nutrition status of schoolchildren, Ceylon Medical Journal, August. 2005.

Jayatissa R, Gunathilaka MM and Fernando DN. Iodine nutrition status among schoolchildren after salt iodisation, Ceylon Medical Journal, February, 2006.

Jayatissa R, Bekele A, Piyasena CL, Mahamithawa S.Nutritional status among children under five and pregnant women affected by Tsunami, Food and Nutrition Bulletin. June, 2006.

 Jayatissa R, Ranbanda JM. Challenges of nutritional problems among school adolescents, Food and Nutrition Bulletin. June, 2006.

Jayatissa R, Bekele A, Kethiswaran A, and De Silva A. H. Community-based management of severe and moderate acute malnutrition during emergencies in Sri Lanka: Challenges of implementation. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 33, no. 4 © 2012

R Jayatissa , Y Yamori, AH De Silva, M Mori, S Gunawardana, U De Silva, JM Ranbanda. Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in an urban and rural adult population in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism 2014; 4: 9-16 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sjdem.v4i1.7241

Scammell, K., Noble, D. J., Rasanathan, K., O’Connell, T., Ahmed, A. S., Begkoyian, G., Goldner, T., Jayatissa, R., Kuppens, L., Raaijmakers, H., Simbeye, I. V., Varkey, S., & Chopra, M. (2016). A landscape analysis of universal health coverage for mothers and children in South Asia. BMJ Global Health, 1(1), e000017. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2015-000017

Jayatissa, R., & Wickramage, K. (2016). What Effect Does International Migration Have on the Nutritional Status and Child Care Practices of Children Left Behind? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 218. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020218

Jayatissa R, Weerasekara WMSK, Ganga MWDWL, Jayaweera JRT, Pigera ADGSB, Samarasekara TG, Saparamadu AAGH, Kurukulasuriya S, MallawaArachchi S, Jayasekara P and Rushdi A.Disease-related adult malnutrition in tertiary health care settings in Sri Lanka. Integr Food Nutr Metab, 4(6);2017:1-4

Bhutta, Z. A., Bang, A., Afsana, K., Gyawali, B., Mirzazada, S., & Jayatissa, R. (2018). Rethinking community-based strategies to tackle health inequities in South Asia. BMJ, k4884. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k4884

Hettiarachchi, J., Jayatissa, R., Wickramasinghe, S. C., & Wijeywardena, K. (2018). Overweight and obesity among adolescent school children in the Colombo education zone. Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, 5(1), 63. https://doi.org/10.4038/jpgim.8177

Perkins, J. M., Jayatissa, R., & Subramanian, S. V. (2018). Dietary diversity and anthropometric status and failure among infants and young children in Sri Lanka. Nutrition, 55-56, 76–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2018.03.049

Janitha Hettiarachchi, Jayatissa R, Wickramasinghe SC, Wijewardena K. Overweight and obesity among adolescent school children in the Colombo education zone. Journal of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. 2018;5(1):E63 1-7.

Jayatissa R and Fernando DN. Supplementation of micronutrients in children and food fortification initiatives in Sri Lanka: Benefits versus risks. ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 2018:1-14. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13987

Perera DRG, Gunawardana D. Jayatissa R. Silva BG. Iron Content of Some Popular Cooked Foods Consumed by the Rural School Children in Sri Lanka. Journal of Food Quality. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6972745.

Renuka Jayatissa, Sarath Lekamwasam, Jayawardana M Ranbanda, Samantha Ranasingha, Amila G Perera , Krishan H De Silva. Vitamin D deficiency among children aged 10-18 years in Sri Lanka Ceylon Medical Journal 2019; 64: 146-154 DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cmj.v64i4.8991

H Amadoru, Dias, A. R., None K.R.N.Wijesiri, None P.M.Gamage, Perera, T. R., De, A. P. N., S.N. Liyanage, Arunie Kokila Malwatta, A Ravikaran, Mahesh, P. K. B., None K.M.V.R.Alles, Wasana Sooriyarachch, Sumudu P.R. Siriwardena, Prasanna Jayasekara, Renuka Jayatissa, R.Y. De Silva, & A.D. Kapuruge. (2020). Excessive amounts of salt consumption and atheroma formation among patients awaiting coronary-artery-bypass-grafting at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka. Research Square (Research Square). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-82633/v1

Jayatissa, R., Gorstein, J., Okosieme, O. E., Lazarus, J. H., & Premawardhana, L. D. (2020). Stable Iodine Nutrition During Two Decades of Continuous Universal Salt Iodisation in Sri Lanka. Nutrients, 12(4), 1109. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041109

HMSL Jayasekara, TG Samarasekara, SN Perera, Renuka Jayatissa, KH De Silva. Malnutrition in Children with Congenital Heart Disease – is it a concern? Sri Lankan Journal of Cardiology. Volume 3: Issue 2- June 2020.

Jayatissa R, Santos JA, Rannan-Eliya RP, Trieu K, Perera AG, De Alwis N, Ranasingha S, Ranbanda J, De Silva KH. An alternative approach to monitor the national salt reduction efforts and status in Sri Lanka: recommendations for action. J. Natn. Sci. Foundation Sri Lanka 2020 48 (3), Accepted for publication.

Jayatissa, R., Yamori, Y., De Silva, A., Mori, M., De Silva, P., & De Silva, K. (2020). Estimation of salt intake, potassium intake, and sodium-to-potassium ratio by 24-hour urinary excretion: an urban rural study in Sri Lanka. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.17.20068833

Jayatissa, R., Herath, H. P., Perera, A. G., Dayaratne, T. T., De Alwis, N. D., & Nanayakkara, H. P. L. K. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on child malnutrition, obesity in women and household food insecurity in underserved urban settlements in Sri Lanka: a prospective follow-up study. Public Health Nutrition, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980021001841

Jayatissa R, Okosieme OE, Ranasinghe S, Carter JL, Gunatunga IP, Lazarus JH, Premawardhana LD. Thyroid Autoimmunity and Dysfunction in Sri Lankan Children and Adolescents After 22 Years of Sustained Universal Salt Iodization. Thyroid. 2021 Feb 15. doi: 10.1089/thy.2020.0798.

Jayatissa R, Haturusinghe C, Knowles J, odling K, Gorstein J (2021) Estimated contribution of most commonly consumed industrialized processed foods to salt intake and iodine intakes in Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE 16(9):e0257488. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.

Jayatissa R. Translation of evidence into practice: public health nutrition research. Journal of College of Community Physicians in Sri Lanka2021, 27 (1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/jccpsl.v27i1.8417.

Shamara Perera, A. Buddhika G. Silva, Yashora Amarathunga, Shiromi De Silva, Renuka Jayatissa, Ashoka Gamage, Othmane Merah and Terrence Madhujith. Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Underutilized Fruits Grown in Sri Lanka. Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1073; doi:10.3390/agronomy12051073

Jayatissa, R., Wickramage, K., Denuwara, B. H., Herath, H., Jayawardana, R., Perera, A. G., & De Alwis, N. (2022). When husband migrate: effects of international migration of husbands on fetal outcomes, body mass index and gestational weight of female spouses that stay behind. BMC Public Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12615-0

Gunarathne, R., Mendis, E., Jayatissa, R., & Buddhika, S., A. (2022). Determination of fat, salt and sodium contents of selected fast food items available for sale in Colombo city, Sri Lanka: An approach to color coding of fast foods. Uni-Kassel.de. https://doi.org/10.17170/kobra-202110144891

Perera, S., Silva, A. B. G., Amarathunga, Y., De Silva, S., Jayatissa, R., Gamage, A., Merah, O., & Madhujith, T. (2022). Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Underutilized Fruits Grown in Sri Lanka. Agronomy, 12(5), 1073. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051073

N.P.S. Jayathissa, Silva, A. B. G., W.M.T. Madhujith, P.G.S.M. De Silva, & R. Jayatissa. (2023). Comparison of physicochemical and sensory properties of African butter seed (Pentadesma butyracea) and cocoa fats for potential use in future food applications. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 51(1), 69–69. https://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v51i1.10982

Rannan-Eliya, R. P., Wijemunige, N., Perera, P., Kapuge, Y., Gunawardana, N., Sigera, C., Jayatissa, R., Herath, H. M. M., Gamage, A., Weerawardena, N., Sivagnanam, I., Dalpatadu, S., Samarage, S., Samarakoon, U., Samaranayake, N., Pullenayegam, C., & Perera, B. (2023). Prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in Sri Lanka: a new global hotspot–estimates from the Sri Lanka Health and Ageing Survey 2018/2019. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, 11(1), e003160. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-003160

Jayatissa R, Jayawardana R, Perera A, De Alwis N, Abeysingha D, De Silva KH. Nutritional status and dietary intake of the population aged 1-60 years during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka Ceylon Medical Journal 2023.

Fernandopulle, A. N. R., Rushdie, A., Matthias, A. T., Nawarathne, N. M. M., & Jayatissa, R. (2023). Endoscopic Intra gastric Balloon placement for Obesity: Case series of the first five balloons placed in Sri lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Surgery, 41(2), 32–34. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljs.v41i2.9055

Silva, A. B. G., Renuka Jayatissa, Pathirathne, S., None Wijelath Arachchige Gihan Erandika Wijelath, & None W.A. Deepthi Nayananjalie. (2023). Determination of protein content in cooked foods consumed by toddlers aged 1-2 years in Sri Lanka. Vidyodaya Journal of Science, 26(02). https://doi.org/10.31357/vjs.v26i02.6805

Cederholm, T., Jensen, G. L., Ballesteros-Pomar, M. D., Blaauw, R., Isabel, M., Cuerda, C., Evans, D. C., Fukushima, R., Ochoa, J. B., Maria Cristina Gonzalez, A. Van Gossum, Gramlich, L., Hartono, J., Heymsfield, S. B., Harriët Jager‐Wittenaar, Renuka Jayatissa, Keller, H., Malone, A., Manzanares, W., & M. Molly McMahon. (2023). Guidance for Assessment of the Inflammation Etiologic Criterion for the Global Leadership Initiative (GLIM) on Diagnosis of Malnutrition: A Modified Delphi Approach. Clinical Nutrition, 43(5). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2023.11.026

Jayatissa, R., Perera, A., & De Alwis, N. (2023). National Nutrition and Micronutrient Survey in Sri Lanka: 2022. https://www.mri.gov.lk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/National-Nutrition-and-Micronutrient-Survey-Sri-Lanka-2022.pdf

Singh, N., Scott, S., Kumar, N., Ramani, G., Marshall, Q., Sinclair, K., Saman Kalupahana, Fernando, M., Silva, R., Perera, S., Renuka Jayatissa, & Olney, D. K. (2023). Food Insecurity and Perceived Effects of COVID-19 on Livelihoods in Rural Sri Lanka. Food and Nutrition Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721231197249

Joyce, C. A., Aulo Gelli, Caswell, B. L., Hess, S. Y., Hasara Sitisekara, Tan, X., Renuka Jayatissa, Peiris, K., Silva, R., & Olney, D. K. (2024). An Assessment of Dietary Patterns and Micronutrient Intake Among Farming Adults in Rural Sri Lanka. Current Developments in Nutrition, 8, 102709–102709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.102709

Željko Krznarić, Darija Vranešić Bender, Milena Blaž Kovač, Cuerda, C., Annemieke van Ginkel-Res, Hiesmayr, M., Marinho, A., Mendive, J., Monteiro, I., Matthias Pirlich, Jayatissa Renuka, Nada Rotovnik Kozjek, Schneider, S., Chourdakis, M., Barazzoni, R., Mahmoud, A., Irene, A., Julia, A., Isabel, M., & Dams Karolien. (2024). Clinical nutrition in primary care: ESPEN position paper. Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2024.02.017

Pineda, E., Petya Atanasova, Nalinda Tharanga Wellappuli, Kusuma, D., Herath, H., Alexa Blair Segal, Vandevijvere, S., Ranjit Mohan Anjana, Abu Ahmed Shamim, Afzal, S., Akter, F., Aziz, F., Gupta, A., Abu Abdullah Hanif, Hasan, M., Renuka Jayatissa, Jha, S., Jha, V., Prasad Katulanda, & Khadija Irfan Khawaja. (2024). Policy implementation and recommended actions to create healthy food environments using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI): a comparative analysis in South Asia. The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, 26, 100428–100428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100428

Jensen, G. L., Cederholm, T., Ballesteros-Pomar, M. D., Blaauw, R., Isabel, M., Cuerda, C., Evans, D. C., Fukushima, R., Ochoa, J. B., Maria Cristina Gonzalez, A. Van Gossum, Gramlich, L., Hartono, J., Heymsfield, S. B., Harriët Jager‐Wittenaar, Renuka Jayatissa, Keller, H., Malone, A., Manzanares, W., & M. Molly McMahon. (2024). Guidance for assessment of the inflammation etiologic criterion for the GLIM diagnosis of malnutrition: A modified Delphi approach. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.2590

Rannan-Eliya, R. P., Dissanayake, V. H., Perera, P., Perera, B., Herath, M., Nilmini Wijemunige, Dalpatadu, S., Sarath Samarage, Gamage, A., Renuka Jayatissa, & Fernando, E. Y. (2024). Cohort Profile: The Sri Lanka Health and Ageing Study (SLHAS). International Journal of Epidemiology, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyae044Jayatissa R., Silva B.G., Amaratunga Y.N.  (2024). Acceptability of locally produced Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) among children aged 2-4 years in Sri Lanka. World Nutrition,15(3), September; 56–62. https://doi.org/10.26596/wn.202415356-62.