Sri Lanka
Temporary / Volunteer Licensure
- Registered Dentists
- Registered dentists with licensure (B.D.S., D.D.S, D.M.D.) in his or her home country may apply to perform volunteer dentistry with either a local Sri Lankan NGO (i.e. Sri Lanka Red Cross, Doctors sans Frontiers, Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka Cancer Society, Lions Club 352 District, Rotary Club, etc.) or the Faculty of Dental Sciences University of Peradeniya located in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Temporary licenses are granted for a maximum of 3 months, but this can be extended once requested at the end of the 3 month period.
- Dental Students
- Current dental students in their clinical years of training of their education may apply to perform volunteer dentistry only with the Faculty of Dental Sciences University of Peradeniya not with NGOs. In most cases, the dental school will allow dental students to perform clinical care under the supervision of a dentist, but this must be worked out directly with the dental school.
- Dental Hygenists / Assistants
- Dental assistants should follow the same directions as that for Registered Dentists, but Sri Lanka does not have dental hygenists. Instead the equivalent profession is dental tech's who provide dental care to children under the age of 13 in primary schools. Hygenists are restricted to providing only oral hygiene instruction and supplies distribution and cannot provide clinical care.
Malpractice
As long as the dentist has applied and been accepted under the requirements in Temporary Licensure / Volunteer Licensure malpractice is covered under the host institution as well.
Contact / Miscellaneous Information
Find an NGO or contact the dean of dental school Faculty of Dental Sciences University of Peradeniya in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. As of April, 2006 the deant is Dr. Laxman Wijayaweera. The NGO or dental school (host) must write a letter requesting permission on your behalf to be invited to Sri Lanka to perform volunteer services. Typically, a volunteer's host will request a C.V., qualifciations and any other supporting documents. Most requests are processed within in one month by the Ministry of Health and an initial maximum 3 month temporary license is granted to approved applicants.
Your supporting host should direct their letter for your invitation to:
Ministry of Health
Attn: Dr. Jayasundera Bandara, Deputy Director General of Dental Services
Suwasiripaya
Ven. Baddegama Wimalawansa
Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka
http://www.health.gov.lk
If you wish to setup a volunteering opportunity through the Peradeniya Dental School, please contact:
Faculty of Dental sciences
University of Peradeniya
Peradeniya
20400, Sri Lanka
Telephone: 094-81-2388045
Email: ardental@pdn.ac.lk
Web Site: http://www.pdn.ac.lk/dental/contactinfor.html
Source: Dr. Jayasundera Bandara; Deputy Director General of Dental Services, Ministry of Health | Last Updated April 4,2006
