On 26 November 2025, a group of 12 undergraduate medical students from the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) participated in an interactive field practicum hosted by the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning. The program, facilitated by SIHL, aimed to provide students with firsthand exposure to community realities, development initiatives, and grassroots health practices.

The visit was designed to help students understand the challenges faced by local communities, assess the services available to them, and actively engage in health-promotion activities. Through this experience, students were able to deepen their knowledge of community health needs while exploring Sarvodaya’s holistic development philosophy.

The program began with a warm welcome followed by an in-depth introduction to Sarvodaya’s Community Development Model, delivered by Mr. Damith Kulanayake, Executive Director of Sarvodaya. This session offered valuable insights into the organization’s approach to empowering communities through participatory development and integrated service delivery.

Students then engaged in immersive visits to selected Sarvodaya units, gaining practical understanding of the organization’s diverse service areas. These included the Suwasetha Nutrition Centre, Disaster Management Unit and the Field Operation Division, highlighting field-level program coordination and outreach efforts.

The practicum concluded with a guided visit to Vishva Niketan, where students learned about the centre’s peacebuilding and mindfulness-based activities, as well as its role in community wellbeing.

Overall, the field practicum offered an enriching learning experience, equipping future medical professionals with a deeper appreciation of community health dynamics and the importance of collaborative development work.