IDEA Lab

Day 02 Highlights – IDEAnet One Health Forum 2025
11th November 2025

Day 02 of the IDEAnet One Health Forum brought together an exceptional panel of experts to explore emerging pathogens, strengthen diagnostic capacity, and advance One Health surveillance in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Session 01 – “Identification of Emerging Agents”
Chaired by Dr. Wipula B. Yapa and Prof. Inoka C. Perera (Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences, University of Colombo).
Guest Speakers:
• Dr. Rohitha Muthugala – Consultant Medical Virologist, Medical Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
• Dr. Andreas Puyskens – Research Scientist (Postdoc), ZBS1
• Prof. Saminda Fernando – Professor, Department of Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka

Session 02 – “Diagnostics and Public Health”
Chaired by Prof. Andreas Nitsche (Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany) and Dr. Gayani Premawansa (Physician, Colombo North Teaching Hospital).
Guest Speakers:
• Dr. Priyantha Atapaththu – Deputy Director General (Laboratory Services), Ministry of Health
• Dr. Janine Michel – Robert Koch Institute, Germany
• Dr. Hamsananthy Jeevatharan – Consultant Community Physician, Ministry of Health

Session 03 – “Prevention and Surveillance”
Chaired by Prof. Sunil Premawansa (Department of Zoology & Environment Sciences, UoC) and Prof. Shiroma Handunnetti (Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, UoC).
Guest Speakers:
• Dr. Hasitha Tissera – Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
• Dr. Tharaka Prasad – Director, Wildlife Health, Department of Wildlife Conservation
• Dr. Lukas Murajda – Medical Doctor & Head of Health Authority, District of Central Berlin, Germany

At the conclusion of each session, brief flash talks were delivered by postgraduate researchers of the IDEAnet project, showcasing ongoing research innovations and strengthening the forum’s collaborative learning environment.

A sincere thank you to all our speakers, chairs, participants, and partners for their invaluable contributions.
Together, we continue strengthening the One Health ecosystem for a safer, healthier future.

Opening a new chapter in One Health collaboration.

The Inauguration Ceremony of the IDEAnet One Health Forum 2025 was held on 10th November at the University of Colombo, marking the official launch of a two-day forum dedicated to advancing regional preparedness, molecular surveillance, and cross-sectoral cooperation.

The forum hosted by the IDEA Laboratory of the Department of Zoology and Environment Science of University of Colombo, in collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute, Germany, and the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, and held in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Mass Media of Sri Lanka, the ceremony brought together distinguished guests, scientists, and representatives from government and the health sector committed to strengthening One Health capacity in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Successful Completion of Pre-Conference Workshop 02

The IDEA Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, in collaboration with the Robert Koch Institute, Germany, successfully conducted Pre-Conference Workshop 02 on the 6th and 7th of November 2025.

This two-day, hands-on training program brought together doctors, consultants, microbiologists, and medical laboratory technicians from partner hospitals across Sri Lanka to strengthen their practical skills in advanced molecular diagnostics.

Key components of the workshop included:

A comprehensive introduction to internal controls and their importance in ensuring accuracy and reliability in diagnostic assays

A detailed refresher on the application and troubleshooting of Molecular Diagnostic Kits used across the IDEAnet laboratory network

Hands-on training in Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) for the detection of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), highlighting its rapid and field-deployable molecular advantages

Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in interactive discussions, practical bench work, and collaborative problem-solving exercises, guided by expert facilitators from the IDEAnet teams in Germany and Sri Lanka.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all trainers, participants, and partner institutions for their active involvement and commitment. Workshops such as this play a crucial role in enhancing Sri Lanka’s capacity for early pathogen detection and contribute significantly to national One Health preparedness.

Learn more about our upcoming workshops and initiatives:
https://idea.cmb.ac.lk/

Strengthening Molecular Diagnostic Capacity in Colombo North Teaching Hospital - Ragama

On 3rd November 2025, the IDEA Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo, organized a comprehensive refresher session on PCR and RT-PCR diagnostics at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Ragama.

The session was conducted by Prof. Andreas Nitsche with the support of the IDEAnet Sri Lankan team leader, Prof. Inoka Perera, the session covered essential aspects of molecular diagnostics, including primer orientation, contamination control, qPCR interpretation, diagnostic controls, assay validation, and the Good Laboratory Practices required for accurate and reliable PCR-based testing.

We were pleased to engage with Medical Officers, Medical Laboratory Technologists, and the Consultant Microbiologist at the CNTH. Enhancing diagnostic literacy and strengthening technical capacity remain central to IDEAnet’s mission to support national laboratory excellence.

The pre-conference workshop on “Practical Skills in Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Techniques” was successfully conducted on the 18th and 19th of October 2025 at the University of Colombo.

Organized by the IDEA Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, Faculty of Science, the workshop provided valuable hands-on training in molecular diagnostic applications, including nucleic acid extraction, Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Oxford Nanopore Technology, and Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP).

The program brought together aspiring biomedical scientists, graduates, and researchers for an enriching learning experience ahead of the IDEA One Health Forum 2025.

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by JAGATH KANAHARAARACHCHI of DIVAINA newspaper
https://www.divaina.lk/main-news/26674

මාරාන්තික ‘නිපා’ ලංකාවටත් රිංගයි ද සොයා කොළඹ සරසවිය මාවවුලන්ට GPS කරපටි දමයි මාවවුලන්ගෙන් මිනිස් සෞඛ්‍යයට තර්ජනයක් විය හැකි වෛරස් රෝග පැතිරීමේ අවදානම තක්සේරු කිරීමට සහ මාවවුලන්ගේ ගමන් රටා...

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by KASUN WARAKAPITIYA of THE SUNDAY TIMES newspaper
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250914/news/study-of-bats-hunts-for-clues-on-viruses-harmful-to-humans-612128.html

Study of bats hunts for clues on viruses harmful to humans By Kasun Warakapitiya Scientists are hoping to use the findings of a study of flight routes of bats and the correlation to the spread of deadly viruses to form an early warning system for disease outbreaks. In an inaugural study of large bat flight pathways in Sri Lanka, scientists had attached GPS....

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by IFHAM NIZAM of THE ISLAND newspaper
https://island.lk/flying-foxes-take-flight/

Flying Foxes take flight … Sri Lankan scientists Map Bat Highways to Stop Future Pandemics In the twilight skies over Colombo, a dark silhouette of giant wings flits between treetops, its shadow briefly blotting out the last streaks of evening light. This is the flying fox, Sri Lanka’s largest bat, revered by some for i...

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by SAVANI SHESHADI of MAWBIMA newspaper
https://mawbima.lk/2025/09/07/%e0%b6%9a%e0%b7%9c%e0%b7%85%e0%b6%b9-%e0%b6%91%e0%b6%bd%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%bd%e0%b7%94%e0%b6%ab%e0%b7%94-%e0%b7%80%e0%b7%80%e0%b7%94%e0%b6%bd%e0%b6%b1%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%a7-%e0%b6%9a%e0%b7%9c%e0%b6%bd/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAM0zn5jbGNrAzTOYmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeDuay66FkExt5dI1gN5FvWo-Icvb2782QZnWtdYvNG-QKGXCP6lEPXWEdbmA_aem__j7NqFX_ZaLcHUsB4VriZQ

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by HIRU TV Channel
https://youtu.be/0YwBEmA1oW8?si=GFadvvgevqEhtwfo

'නීපා' සොයා කොළඹ වවුලන්ට GPS පටි පළඳවයි "එයාලා යන්නේ මොනාටද? කොහෙද යන්නේ කියලා අධ්‍යයනය කිරීම වැදග 'නීපා' සොයා කොළඹ වවුලන්ට GPS පටි පළඳවයි "එයාලා යන්නේ මොනාටද? කොහෙද යන්නේ කියලා අධ්‍යයනය කිරීම වැදගත්" - Hiru News ...