Professional Biography

Prof. Bogahawatte Samarakoon Mudiyanselage Samadarani Siriwardena is a qualified and experienced academic and specialist in clinical oral pathology, with over a decade of local, regional and international experience in academia, research and teaching. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, with an h-index of 25, and has contributed to book chapters, including the 5th edition of the WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumours (2023); these achievements have been recognised through several awards. She serves as a reviewer for several journals. Her administrative experience includes serving as Head of Department and as Secretary of the Centre for Research in Oral Cancer (CROC) for two terms, and she has served on national postgraduate boards. She currently teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students in Oral Biology and Oral Pathology, and has served as an external examiner in the exit examination of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of Malaya.

Qualifications

• FRCPath, Royal College of Pathologists, UK (2023)
• MD in Oral Pathology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2013)
• PhD in Dentistry, Hiroshima University, Japan (2009)
• MPhil in Oral Pathology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2006)
• BDS with honours, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2000)

Experience

• Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE (Sep 2025 – Present)
• Senior Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Aug 2021 – Sep 2025)
• Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Feb 2018 – Aug 2021)
• Fellow, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Sheffield, UK (Feb 2017 – Feb 2018)
• Professor, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Aug 2013 – Feb 2017)
• Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Mar 2009 – Aug 2013)
• Reader, PhD, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathobiology, University of Hiroshima, Japan (Feb 2005 – Mar 2009)
• Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Jan 2002 – Feb 2005)
• Lecturer (contact basis), Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (Jun 2000 – Jan 2002)

Courses Taught

• DOB 126 – Oral Biology and Tooth Morphology
• DPM 211 – Practice Management
• DOP 326 – Oral Pathology
• DRP 503 – Research Project
• MOB112 – Master of Dental Surgery in Orthodontics, Basic Sciences (Anatomy, Embryology, Genetics, Molecular Biology)

Achievements & Honours

• Prof. Laksman Samaranayake Award for the Best Researcher in Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya (2023)
• Presidential Awards for Research, National Research Council, Sri Lanka (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018)
• Gold Medal for the Best MD (Doctor of Medicine) trainee of the year across all MD categories, medical and dental, PGIM, Colombo (2013)
• Monbukagakusho Scholarship for PhD, Government of Japan (2004)
• Other research awards (12 awards from 2001 to date)
• Award for Most Encouraged Research Student by Alumni Association of Hiroshima University, 2009
• Research presentation “Periostin Plays a Role in Invasion and Metastasis in Oral Cancer” selected as one of the top 3 presentations, Hiroshima University Dental Society, 2008
• Commendable papers in symposia (2000, 2001, 2003, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)

Areas of Teaching & Research Interests

• Oral Pathology and Oral Biology
• Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral cancer
• Odontogenic tumours
• Salivary tumours
• Immunological diseases of the oral and maxillofacial region

Selected Publications

• Ramanathan A, Ghani WMN, Zakaria SS, Siriwardena BSMS, et al. Development and internal validation of a multifactorial risk model for predicting disease-free survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Pathology. Published online 7 July 2026. doi:10.1136/jcp-2025-210609
• Kodikarage CH, Batuwanthudawa M, Senevirathna K, Siriwardena BSMS, et al. Molecular mechanisms of human papillomavirus-induced tongue carcinogenesis: a systematic review. Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research. 2026;16(1):198–221. doi:10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.11.011
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Rahman MM, Mohammed R, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Elsheikh M, Abduljalil SMA, Mahmoud G, Chaitanya NCSK, Siriwardena BSMS, Ahmed A, Gismalla BG. Targeting bacterial infections in periodontal disease: from conventional antibiotics to next-generation therapeutics. Antibiotics (Basel). 2026;15(4):397. doi:10.3390/antibiotics15040397
• Hashim NT, Babiker R, Mohammed R, Elsheikh M, Padmanabhan V, Islam MS, Gesm Elseed M, Chaitanya NCSK, Siriwardena BSMS, Rahman MM, et al. Porphyromonas gingivalis-associated modulation of β-catenin signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma: molecular perspectives from periodontal dysbiosis. Molecules. 2026;31(5):901. doi:10.3390/molecules31050901
• Mohd Danil N, Siriwardena BSMS, Goh YC, Tilakaratne WM. Expression of interleukin 1-alpha, interleukin 6 and CD10 in predicting recurrence of ameloblastoma. Discover Oncology. 2025;16(1):1390. doi:10.1007/s12672-025-03235-2

Further Publications

• Kallarakkal, T. G., Siriwardena, B. S. M. S., Samaranayaka, A., Ekanayaka, R. P., & Tilakaratne, W. M. (2025). Prediction of Extranodal Extension in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Demographic and Clinicopathological Variables. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1111/jop.70086
• RD Jayasinghe, BSMS Siriwardena. Clinical Aspects of Oral Cancer and Potentially Malignant Disorders with Special Relevance to South Asia. Annals of Maxillofacial Surgery 2025;14(2):128-136
• BSMS Siriwardena, YC Goh, WM Tilakaratne. Analysis of Demographic Differences According to Histomorphological Subtypes of 1312 Cases of Ameloblastoma. Malays J Pathol. 2025;47(2):253-261
• L Jayasinghe, P Peiris, BSMS Siriwardena. Clinical and Histopathological Features of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Sri Lankan Young Adults. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2025;54:165
• BSMS Siriwardena, K Hettiarachchi, R Jayasinghe. Clinical and Demographic Profile of Oral Lichen Planus in Sri Lanka: A Retrospective Study. European Oral Research 2025;59(1):1-6
• Kallarakkal TG, Zaini ZM, Ghani WMN, Karen-Ng LP, Siriwardena BSMS, Cheong SC, Tilakaratne WM. Calibration Improves the Agreement in Grading Oral Epithelial Dysplasia—Findings from a National Workshop in Malaysia. J Oral Pathol Med. 2024;53(1):53-60
• Baddevithana AK, Jayasinghe RD, Tilakaratne WM, Illeperuma RP, Siriwardena BSMS. Expression of Human Papillomavirus and the p16 Gene in Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMD): A Comparative Study with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2023;31(5):331-338
• Pilana Vithanage Kalani Shihanika H, Nadisha P, Bogahawatte Samarakoon Mudiyanselage Samadarani S, Ruwan Duminda J, Sriyani P, Tilakaratne WM. Controversies in Verrucopapillary Lesions of the Oral Cavity—A Systematic Review. Oral Dis. 2023;29(8):3049-3060
• Kallarakkal TG, Siriwardena BSMS, Samaranayaka A, De Silva R, Tilakaratne WM. A Validated Predictive Model for Risk of Nodal Metastasis in Node-Negative Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Buccal Mucosa and Tongue. J Oral Pathol Med. 2022;51(5):436-443

Professional Memberships

• Fellow, Royal College of Pathologists (2022 onwards)
• Member, Asian Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (ASOMP) (2016 onwards)
• Member, International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists (IAOP) (2016 onwards)
• Member, Sri Lanka Association of Oral Pathology and Medicine (2023 onwards)
• Member, Sri Lanka Dental Association (2002 onwards)

Professional Development & Training

• RAKCODS Faculty Development Programme, OBEF (June 2026)
• AURAK Biotech Talks webinar, AI in Healthcare: Ethics, Data and Decisions, Ras Al Khaimah (26 March 2026)
• RAKCOMS Medical Conference on Common Infectious Diseases in the UAE, RAKMHSU (February 2026)
• Workshop on Item Construction in Undergraduate Medical Examinations, in collaboration with Kuwait University, Ras Al Khaimah (15–17 January 2026)
• Basic Life Support training programme, American Safety and Health Institute (24 October 2025)