Commemoration Ceremony Honoring Body Donors

On 8th January 2025, the Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka held a heartfelt Commemoration Ceremony to honor and express profound gratitude to those who selflessly donated their bodies for the advancement of medical education and research.

The event was organized by the 6th batch (2022/2023 intake) of medical students with official support and guidance of the Department of Anatomy. Members of the academic staff, non-academic staff and students of the 5th, 6th and 7th batches participated and contributed in numerus ways to make this event a success. The ceremony was conducted according to Buddhist traditions which included a morning Damma Speech which highlighted the merit that could be earned by body donations following alms giving ceremony for ten Buddhist monks from surrounding temples. Monks attended the alms giving ceremony further highlighted the merits of the body donations to medical education and memorized all body donors in that occasion by reading their names and wished them to attain nibbana. These spiritual practices symbolized the deep respect and gratitude of the medical community toward the donors.

This meaningful ceremony held profound importance not only for the faculty and students but also for the broader medical and spiritual community. It served as an opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the donors and the essential role they play in shaping the future of healthcare. By offering their bodies to the department of Anatomy, they enable and expanded medical students to gain a deeper understanding of human body, which forms the foundation for their future careers as compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals.

The ceremony left a lasting impression on all those who attended, serving as a powerful reminder of the generosity and humanity of the donors. Their remarkable legacy will continue to benefit countless future generations, ensuring that their contribution to medical science and education is never forgotten.