Education
Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Veterinary Education Through Collaborative CPD
May 7, 2026
2 min read
Cyclone‑Delayed, Collaboration‑Driven: A CPD Visit That Sparked Ongoing Educational Support
Despite climate change’s best efforts to deliver an out‑of‑season cyclone for our planned December 2025 trip, the remarkable resilience of our Sri Lankan hosts ensured that Dr. Kit Sturgess and Dr. Nic Hayward were still able to deliver a full week of CPD in Colombo and Kandy in January 2026.
This visit was made possible through the generous collaboration of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), who share Vet‑EO’s commitment to strengthening veterinary education worldwide.
A full day of lectures covering a broad range of topics in medicine and imaging was delivered to the Association of Companion Animal Practitioners (Sri Lanka), followed by hands‑on ultrasonography sessions for primary care practitioners in Colombo. An enthusiastic group of veterinarians refined their skills and learned how to get the most from their ultrasound machines—with the help of some exceptionally cooperative street dogs.
From Colombo, a long and eventful drive—dodging boulders and stretches of missing tarmac—took the team to the university, which had recently suffered severe cyclone damage. Staff and students engaged in case discussions, while Kit and Nic spent two days in the clinic, where teams were managing an impressive caseload of around 90 patients per day. Over the course of the visit, we encountered a wide variety of cases, including conditions rarely seen in the UK, and exchanged knowledge with the university’s dedicated clinical staff.
We were also delighted to deliver a substantial collection of BSAVA manuals, kindly donated by the association. These were warmly received and will be a valuable addition to the hospital library, supporting ongoing learning for both staff and students.
The success of the visit has already sparked plans for continued collaboration, with Vet‑EO preparing to support university teaching staff through a programme of online webinars and case discussions to help sustain and expand the educational impact of the trip.
