Sri Lanka Launches Robotic Surgery Era With Live Workshop Led by Indian Surgical Expert

• Prof. Subhash Khanna joined Sri Lanka’s first live robotic surgery workshop in Colombo as international faculty.

• The programme marked the launch of Kings Hospital’s robotic surgery services.

• India’s SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System was introduced at the event.

• Around 65 surgeons and trainees attended.

• The workshop featured landmark robot-assisted procedures, including cholecystectomy.

Sri Lanka took a significant step forward in advanced surgical care with its first live robotic surgery workshop, hosted at Kings Hospital in Colombo. The landmark academic and operative programme brought together leading surgeons from Sri Lanka, India and the United Kingdom, with Prof. Subhash Khanna of Guwahati serving as one of the key international faculty members.

Prof. Khanna, Chief of Minimal Access, GI and Robotic Surgery at Swagat Super Speciality Surgical Institute, Guwahati, was invited to take part in the programme as an operating faculty member. Before performing live surgeries, he was formally registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council, meeting the country’s regulatory requirements for an international surgeon to operate on patients.

The workshop was organised by Kings Hospital under the guidance of Prof. Bawantha Gamage, President-Elect of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka. The event coincided with the introduction of the hospital’s robotic surgery programme, powered by the SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System, an indigenous surgical robot developed in India.

The programme drew nearly 65 surgeons and surgical trainees from across Sri Lanka, reflecting strong interest in robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques. During the live operative sessions, Prof. Khanna demonstrated advanced robotic procedures and performed a robotic bilateral TAPP groin hernia repair in collaboration with Prof. Gamage.

Another major highlight of the workshop was a robot-assisted cholecystectomy performed by Prof. Khanna, which was announced as Sri Lanka’s first such procedure. The achievement was described as an important milestone in the country’s evolving surgical landscape and a step toward wider adoption of robotic technology in operating rooms.

The live surgery schedule included robotic bilateral TAPP groin hernia repair, robotic TAPP repair for recurrent inguinal hernia in a patient who had previously undergone open surgery, and robot-assisted cholecystectomy. These procedures gave participating surgeons and trainees an opportunity to observe the use of robotic systems in complex and routine abdominal operations.

The international faculty team also featured Prof. Chelliah Selvasekar and Prof. Jim Khan from the United Kingdom, along with N. Venkata Jayanthi, also from the United Kingdom. They were joined by senior Sri Lankan surgeons who contributed to the academic discussions and operative demonstrations throughout the workshop.

Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman and CEO of SS Innovations, delivered the keynote address at the event. He also formally handed over the Indian-developed SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System to Kings Hospital in the presence of senior government representatives, medical leaders, surgeons, hospital officials and invited dignitaries.

Speaking about the programme, Prof. Khanna described the workshop as a historic moment for Sri Lanka’s surgical community. He said it was a privilege to participate in the launch and to witness the beginning of a new phase in robotic surgery in the country. As Founding President of the Association of Robotic and Innovative Surgeons, India, he also assured Sri Lankan colleagues of continued academic and training support.

Prof. Khanna said efforts would be made to extend teaching, training and academic initiatives to Sri Lankan surgeons, with the aim of helping expand robotic surgery in a safe, structured and sustainable manner.

His formal registration with the Sri Lanka Medical Council and participation as an international operating faculty member also underscored the growing recognition of his surgical expertise beyond India. The event further placed focus on the role of Swagat Super Speciality Surgical Institute, Guwahati, in promoting robotic surgery, surgical education and cross-border academic collaboration.