Celebrating Success: IIHS Reaches a Historic Milestone in the UK

The International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS), Sri Lanka’s leading healthcare education institute, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone in the United Kingdom, marking the success of its long-standing partnerships with the UK’s higher education system and healthcare industry.

Hosted at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK, this prestigious event brought together distinguished leaders and stakeholders from both nations — including Mr. Sameera Dayasekara, First Secretary of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the UK — to honour the transformative achievements of IIHS on a global stage.

A Partnership of Excellence in Healthcare Education

For over a decade, IIHS has been at the forefront of exporting world-class healthcare talent from Sri Lanka to the UK. Through its strategic collaboration with Coventry University and the National Health Service (NHS), IIHS has successfully graduated over 1,200 highly skilled nursing and healthcare professionals.

Notably, more than 250 IIHS graduates have secured employment within the NHS, directly strengthening the UK’s healthcare workforce while also elevating Sri Lanka’s reputation as a trusted source of skilled healthcare professionals.

This partnership reflects IIHS’s unwavering commitment to delivering internationally recognised healthcare qualifications and fostering global career pathways for Sri Lankan students.

Inspiring Speeches from Global Leaders

At the event, several industry leaders shared powerful reflections on IIHS’s journey:

Mr. Paul Morris, Regional Director of the Royal College of Nursing, commended IIHS’s ethical recruitment practices and the exceptional patient care and professionalism of its nursing graduates. He also admired the sustainable and environmentally friendly design of the IIHS Multiversity campus, noting how the NHS has been inspired by these concepts when designing new hospital facilities in the UK.

Dr. Kithsiri Edirisinghe, CEO and Co-Founder of IIHS, highlighted the transformative power of a single idea – explaining how IIHS was built on the vision of empowering Sri Lankan youth through globally recognised healthcare education, enabling them to uplift their families and communities.

Ms. Gabrielle Irwin, Associate Director of Quality and Transformation at NHS England, praised IIHS’s commitment to educational excellence and ethical international recruitment, acknowledging how Dr. Edirisinghe’s visionary leadership has created positive change across two healthcare systems thousands of miles apart. She emphasised the importance of collaboration beyond cultural and national boundaries, building a bridge between the UK and Sri Lanka to deliver shared value to both health systems.

A Testament to Quality Partnerships

Further reinforcing the strength of IIHS’s partnerships:

• Mr. Charles Cross, CEO of Anglian Care under Care England, applauded IIHS’s support for ethical recruitment, explaining how it has saved thousands of pounds for both employers and healthcare workers while maintaining uncompromising quality. He described IIHS-trained care workers as highly compassionate and exceptionally skilled.
• Dr. Amal Harsha De Silva, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of IIHS and Chair of the Asia Wellness Forum, extended his gratitude to the UK for supporting Sri Lanka’s healthcare education system and for providing opportunities for Sri Lankan medical professionals to excel within the NHS.
• Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, Vice Chancellor of IIHS, and Ms. Minnell Vander Poorten, Director of GHC Global Education, also participated, strengthening academic and industry ties between the two countries.

A Heartfelt Conclusion

The ceremony concluded with an emotional address by Assistant Professor Ayodya Karunaratne of Coventry University, a proud alumna of IIHS, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to IIHS for transforming her life and the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans. She praised IIHS for its strong mentorship culture and empowering learning environment, which have helped her achieve remarkable professional success on an international level.

Transforming Lives Through Global Healthcare Education

This celebration stands as a powerful testament to the success of IIHS’s global partnerships and the life-changing impact of quality healthcare education in Sri Lanka.

By building strong bridges between Sri Lanka’s healthcare talent and the UK’s world-leading health systems, IIHS continues to play a pivotal role in reshaping global healthcare and creating brighter futures for the next generation of healthcare professionals.