On Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th December 2025, the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning (SIHL) hosted an on-site, interactive co-learning program for nursing students from the School of Nursing, Colombo. A total of 80 students and three staff members participated on each day, (total 166) engaging in a full-day learning experience from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm.

The program commenced with a plenary session at the Sarvodaya conference hall, where Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, MD, Honorary President of the Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, delivered an insightful presentation on public health in Sri Lanka and Sarvodaya’s long-standing public health interventions. This was followed by a session on Sarvodaya’s community development practice led by Mr. Damith Kulanayake, Executive Director, providing students with a strong conceptual grounding in community-centered development.

After the tea break the second half of the morning was dedicated to immersive unit visits, with students divided into four groups to explore key Sarvodaya initiatives. These included the Suwasetha Nutrition Centre, the Disaster Resilience Unit, the Planetary Health Unit, the SDG Academy, the BEES Network, and the Field Operations Division. Facilitated by experienced Sarvodaya professionals, the visits offered students practical insights into nutrition, disaster preparedness, environmental health, and sustainable development at community level.

Followed by lunch, in the afternoon, participants visited Vishva Niketan and its surrounding premises, guided by Dr. Charika Marasinghe and Dr. Upali Marasinghe. This session provided a reflective and holistic perspective on Sarvodaya’s philosophy and its integration of wellbeing, mindfulness, spiritualism, sustainability, and community living.

The visit offered nursing students a valuable opportunity to connect theory with practice, deepening their understanding of public health, community engagement, and multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare in Sri Lanka.