Was established in May 2006 in partnership with the Hubert-Yeargan Center (HYC), the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI), Duke University, North Carolina, USA and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka to facilitate bi-directional collaboration on health-related research and student /clinician training exchanging programs. To establish the program, office space was provided in the 3rd floor, Clinical Block, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna Galle. The South Asian tsunami disaster of 2004, which severely affected the city of Galle, was the initial impetus for the Ruhuna-Duke collaboration.

The Collaboration has supported a staff of more than 100 research personnel including administrative staff, research assistants, data entry operators, and laboratory technicians, all of whom have contributed invaluably to the projects. Currently, the Collaboration’s day-to-day operations are managed seamlessly by a staff of approximately 15 highly dedicated and competent personnel, ranging from data managers and statisticians to laboratory managers and research scientists.