Sri Lanka – The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU) has further expanded its international network by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. The signing ceremony took place on July 20, 2026, at the University of Peradeniya.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari, M.Gizi., Sp.GK., Subsp.PK., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Internationalization of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, together with Dr. E.M.P.C.S. Ekanayake, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and Prof. Saman Nanayakkara, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. The agreement reflects the commitment of both institutions to strengthening collaboration in education, research, community engagement, and academic capacity development.
During the visit, Prof. Dina Keumala Sari was accompanied by Dr. dr. Yetty Machrina, M.Kes., Ph.D., Head of the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, USU.
The establishment of this partnership was made possible through the support of Prof. K.S.H.M.V.W. Walter Senevirathne, a faculty member of the Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, who served as the liaison and facilitated communication, coordination, and discussions between the two institutions throughout the collaboration process leading to the signing of the MoU.
The partnership is expected to provide a strong foundation for various collaborative initiatives, including faculty and student exchange programs, joint research projects, scientific publications, curriculum development, and the organization of international academic activities that will bring mutual benefits to both institutions.
Following the MoU signing ceremony, the delegation presented an ulos, the traditional woven cloth of North Sumatra, as a commemorative gift and symbol of friendship. The ulos was personally presented by Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. W.M. Terrence Madhujith.
The presentation of the traditional gift reflected both respect and an opportunity to introduce Indonesia's rich cultural heritage, particularly that of North Sumatra, to its international partner. The occasion symbolized the close relationship being established between FK USU and the University of Peradeniya, founded on mutual respect, knowledge sharing, and the strengthening of international friendship.
Through this partnership, FK USU continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing the internationalization of higher education, expanding its global academic network, and enhancing the quality of its implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. The collaboration also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting access to quality higher education through international academic collaboration, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering strategic cross-border partnerships that encourage innovation, collaborative research, and institutional capacity building for broader global impact.