Ophthalmology in Sri Lanka
About the tour
With no fewer than eight sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Sri Lanka offers mystical ruins, jungles, pristine tropical beaches, spice plantations and gemstone markets, national parks with huge herds of elephants, vivid green mountains and the best place for seeing blue whales in the world. Stay in some stunning hotels and enjoy mouth-watering cuisine.
Led by Prof. Harminder Dua, a leading ophthalmologist who has made significant contributions to the field, professional visits include the National Eye Hospital in Colombo, dinner with local ophthalmologists and visits to other hospitals and clinics.
Download our brochure Ophthalmology in Sri Lanka
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.
Your tour leader
Professor Harminder Dua
Harminder Singh Dua MBBS, DO, DO(London), MS, MNAMS, FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth., FRCP(Ed), FEBO, FRCOptom., MD, PhD is an Indian-British medical doctor and researcher. He is the chair and professor of ophthalmology at University of Nottingham and is the head of the Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Previously he was associate professor at the Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA when he was invited to chair in Nottingham in April 1994.
Professor Dua specialises in corneal transplantation and ocular surface diseases. He has served the profession in various capacities, which include: President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (2011-14); Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Ophthalmology (2007-14); President of EuCornea, and of EVER. He is currently member of the International steering committee of the second Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS II), Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis, and the American Ophthalmological Society. He is also Editor-in-chief of the Journal of EuCornea and Chairman of the Advisory committee of the International Council of Ophthalmology. He has more than 120 awards and accolades which include 35 eponymous and award lectures; The Times Higher Education Award 2014 for ‘Research project of the year’; the Rotary Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award (2013) and the Vice-chancellor’s medal (2016) amongst others. He was listed by the magazine ‘Ophthalmologist’ in the top 20 most influential individuals in Ophthalmology worldwide (2014); and amongst in the top 100 in 2016. He was one of five Ophthalmologists in the list of ‘Britain’s Top Doctors’ (2010) published by The Times magazine.
He has over 325 scientific publications, has supervised 43 post-graduate (PhD and MD) students and has been endowed with honorary life memberships of four international academic societies. One eponymous lecture, “The Dua Lecture” Birmingham, and a seminar room in the Nottingham post-graduate centre, “The Dua Room” have been named after him. He, has previously led a highly successful ophthalmology tour to south India.
Need more information?
- Tel: (Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764
- Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Itinerary at a glance
- Day 1: Colombo (Sun, 2 Feb) Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Settle in before dinner at the hotel.
- Day 2: Colombo (Mon, 3 Feb) Visit the National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka and the Siddhalepa Ayurveda Hospital and their herbal pharmacy. Enjoy a foot massage and travel by rickshaw back to the hotel.Welcome dinner with local ophthalmologists at a local restaurant.
- Day 3: Colombo / Habarana (Tues, 4 Feb) Visit the Lions Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital of Kadawatha. Drive to Habarana and check into Sigiriya Village.
- Day 4: Habarana (Wed, 5 Feb) Visit the legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, famous for the ‘Lion Rock’ and its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’. Visit a local village, including its local health clinic. Take part in a cookery demonstration using local spices, followed by a delicious lunch. At leisure before dinner.
- Day 5: Habarana (Thurs, 6 Feb) Option to visit the ancient site of Ritigala, including the historic Ayurveda hospital, or at leisure. Later in the afternoon visit Minneriya National Park and see large herds of elephants and huge flocks of birds. Return to the hotel and relax before dinner.
- Day 6: Habarana / Kandy (Fri, 7 Feb) Drive to Kandy via Cave Temples of Drambulla. Visit the spice plantations of Matale where nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper are grown. Watch a cookery demonstration using many spices followed by a delicious Sri Lankan lunch. Arrive in Kandy and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. See the blessing ceremony with drums, trumpets and brightly coloured monks performing rituals. Transfer to the hotel and dinner at the hotel.
- Day 7: Kandy (Sat, 8 Feb) Visit Peradeniya Medical University and meet staff and students. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradaniya, visit the plantations of coffee, tea, rubber and cinchona and the orchid house along with medicinal herbal section Visit the gemstone market and gem workshops. Local dinner.
- Day 8: Kandy / Nuwara Eliya (Sun, 9 Feb) Take the scenic train journey to Nuwara Eliya. Sightseeing of the colonial hill station including the golf course, race track, gentlemen’s clubs, British cemetery, Holy Trinity Church, Queen Victoria Park and botanical gardens. Check in to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
- Day 9: Nuwara Eliya (Mon, 10 Feb) Visit the Somerset Tea Estate and their health clinic. Hear a talk and at leisure. Dinner at the Hill Club.
- Day 10: Nuwara Eliya / Galle (Tues, 11 Feb) Drive to Galle. Arrive Galle in the late afternoon and check in to the hotel, where you will have dinner.
- Day 11: Galle (Wed, 12 Feb) Explore the colonial walled city of Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city’s walls, narrow streets, secluded courtyards and mansions Lunch at a local restaurant. At leisure.
- Day 12: Galle (Thurs, 13 Feb) Day at leisure or option to take a boat out into the ocean and go whale watching for sperm and blue whales and dolphins. The waters off Mirissa have the largest concentration of blue whales in the world. Return late afternoon. Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Day 13: Galle / Colombo (Fri, 14 Feb) Visit the Geoffrey Bawa Garden at Lunuganga. Continue to Colombo. Farewell dinner at the hotel.
- Day 14: Colombo (Sat, 15 Feb) Depart hotel after breakfast.
Tour cost
The cost of the tour is USD $4,172 per person sharing. The cost of the tour with a room to yourself is USD $5,258. (Excluding international flights and transfers).
Our online booking system is temporarily unable to accept payments. If you would like to book this tour please call our office on:(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764.