Associate Professor Viraj Kariyawasam
Associate Professor Viraj Kariyawasam is a distinguished Senior Gastroenterologist and endoscopist, holding academic positions at Macquarie University and Western Sydney University. He is a Senior Visiting Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist at Concord Repatriation Hospital and an integral member of the Concord Hospital IBD team.
A/Prof Kariyawasam completed his medical degree with Honours from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, followed by gastroenterology training at Gosford, Westmead, and Concord Hospitals. He obtained his FRACP in 2011 and later pursued advanced endoscopy and IBD fellowships at Concord Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK. He completed his PhD at the University of Sydney in 2020, focusing on immunomodulators in IBD management.
A/Prof Kariyawasam's expertise includes IBD, advanced therapeutic endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and stricture dilatation), and cancer screening, with a focus on colorectal, oesophageal, and stomach cancer prevention and early detection. He specializes in advanced IBD surveillance techniques and the endoscopic removal of precancerous stomach lesions and large colon polyps.
Committed to personalized, high-quality care, A/Prof Kariyawasam is a strong advocate for Open Access endoscopy to improve accessibility for privately insured patients. He performs procedures at Macquarie University Hospital, Pennant Hills Day Surgery, Norwest Private Hospital and Somerset Private Hospital.
A/Prof Kariyawasam co-founded the IBD Sydney Organization, dedicated to improving IBD care in rural and metropolitan NSW. He has contributed to national and state-level IBD guidelines, particularly in dysplasia surveillance. Fluent in English and Sinhalese, he is widely published and committed to advancing research and education. Outside his professional life, he enjoys family time, balancing his career with being a dedicated father of two.