The BMJ South Asia 2018 recognizes excellence in health care by felicitating individuals and teams that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the practice of  Medicine and Surgery in the south Asian region.

In 2018 more than 1500 nominations have been received from 9 countries and 435 semifinalists were shortlisted before selecting the finalists for the 10 awards in different categories.  The only award in the field of surgery is to the Best Surgical Team of the year.

Dr Bawantha Gamage, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenapura has won the best surgical Team of the year 2018 award for his commitment and dedication in implementing the modified Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (mERAS) protocol in managing patients with colorectal cancer in Sri Lanka. His Other team members are Dr Malith Nandasena, probationary Lecturer in the Department of Surgery and Dr Chamila Lakmal, Surgical registrar in training who worked in the University Surgical unit at Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

He was selected for the award after competing with two Indian Surgical Teams in the final presentation for 20 minutes in front of a four-membered jury comprising the members of the editorial board of the BMJ. This is the first time a Sri Lankan Surgeon and the team has won this prestigious award “Surgical team of the year” in the history of BMJ awards South Asia.

Being a member of the first batch of medical students entered in to the Faculty of Medical Sciences in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr.BawanthaGamage currently working as a consultant surgeon and a senior lecturer in surgery says “This is the best tribute can give to the University at the 25^th celebrations of my faculty as a member of the pioneer batch”