The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine (FIM), University of Colombo, successfully conducted the Pre-Conference International Forum on Cooperative Oncology on 20th August 2026, held at the Mini Auditorium, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, as an official pre-conference event of iCAUST 2026 (12th International Conference on Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology and Waste Management).

The forum was jointly organized by the Department of Ayurveda Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology and Gynaecology, Obstetrics & Paediatrics of the Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, in collaboration with the Personalized Precision Health Systems (PPHS) Foundation, India.

Objectives

The forum aimed to:

• Share practical models of cooperative care between Ayurveda and modern oncology, covering surgical, supportive, and palliative dimensions
• Examine the role of pharmaceutical science and emerging technologies such as nanomedicine in bridging traditional and modern therapeutic systems
• Provide a platform for discussion on the epistemology of evidence in integrating indigenous knowledge with modern research
• Strengthen the working relationship between FIM and the PPHS Foundation ahead of the main iCAUST 2026 conference

Programme Highlights

The forum opened with the traditional lighting of the oil lamp, followed by welcome remarks by the Dean of the Faculty and an address on the forum’s objectives by Dr. Saroja Weerakoon, Head of the Department of Ayurveda Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology and Gynaecology, Obstetrics & Paediatrics.

Seven keynote sessions were delivered over the course of the day, two of them conducted online, featuring speakers from Sri Lanka, India, Germany, and the United States. Topics covered included cooperative and supportive cancer care, emergency management using Ayurveda medicine, the role of pharmaceutical science in bridging traditional and modern therapies, holistic approaches to cancer care, integrative healthcare in the era of nanomedicine, and the epistemology of evidence in integrating indigenous knowledge with modern research.

An interactive discussion session followed, allowing participants to engage directly with speakers on both practical and conceptual questions relevant to cooperative oncology.

The forum concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. B. M. S. Amarajeewa, Coordinator, followed by refreshments.

Eminent Speakers

• Sasikumar Nechiyil — Opening keynote on cancer care
• Anand S. — Supportive cancer care, with a focus on the management of prostate cancer
• Ashwath Rao C. R. — Central keynote address on emergency management of cancer patients using Ayurveda medicine
• Uthpali Mannapperuma — Role of pharmaceutical science in bridging traditional medicine and modern oncology
• Eric Rosenbush — Holistic aspects of cancer care
• Nirmal Ghosh O. S. (Online) — Integrative healthcare in the era of nanomedicine
• V. S. Kiran Lal — Epistemology of evidence in integrating indigenous knowledge with modern research

The technical sessions were chaired and coordinated with contributions from Dr. Saroja Weerakoon, Head of the Department of Ayurveda Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology and Gynaecology, Obstetrics & Paediatrics, and Dr. B. M. S. Amarajeewa, Forum Coordinator.

Participation

The forum was attended by 32 registered participants, with additional faculty members and invitees joining based on interest.

Key Themes and Takeaways

• Cooperative models combining Ayurveda and modern/surgical oncology approaches are already being practiced but require clearer frameworks for inter-system coordination
• Pharmaceutical science and emerging technologies such as nanomedicine offer potential bridges between traditional formulations and modern therapeutic delivery
• Classical Ayurveda diagnostic and therapeutic reasoning continues to inform supportive cancer care in current practice
• Multidisciplinary cooperation between traditional and modern practitioners faces practical challenges, including documentation and safety screening

The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine extends its gratitude to the Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Medicine, the Head of the Department of Ayurveda Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology and Gynaecology, Obstetrics & Paediatrics, all resource persons, panelists, and participants for their valuable contribution to the success of this forum.