In a monumental chapter for the annals of South Asian healthcare, a historic surgical procedure has been successfully concluded at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialist Children’s Hospital, where five-year-old conjoined twins were separated following a multi-year medical odyssey. The twins, identified as Linuli Tharulya and Lithuli Manulya, have been the focus of an intensive, multidisciplinary clinical effort that culminated on 10 June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the medical history of Sri Lanka and demonstrating the profound expertise residing within the nation’s public health infrastructure.
The successful separation of the girls, who were born in 2021 in the Aranayake area of Mawanella, was the result of meticulous planning and a series of preliminary surgical interventions that spanned half a decade. This complex undertaking was not merely a single operation but a sustained clinical journey that involved sophisticated imaging, ethical considerations, and pioneering transplant surgery, all orchestrated by a dedicated team of over thirty medical professionals, including fifteen consultant doctors from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and its affiliated teaching hospitals.
A Journey of Unprecedented Clinical Complexity
The story of Linuli and Lithuli began in the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, where they were delivered via caesarean section in 2021. The team was led from the very outset by Dr. Chaminda Kandauda, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist whose initial management of the high-risk pregnancy and delivery set the foundation for the years of care that followed. From the moment of their birth, it was recognised that the separation of the twins would require a level of precision and longitudinal planning rarely seen in regional medicine.
A defining moment in this clinical trajectory occurred in 2024, two years prior to the final separation. One of the twins had been born with two kidneys, whilst the other had none. In a groundbreaking procedure that remains a highlight of paediatric nephrology in Sri Lanka, one kidney was transplanted from the twin with two kidneys to her sister. This instrumental step was essential to ensure that both children would possess the necessary renal function to survive as independent individuals following their eventual physical separation. The surgery was meticulously monitored for two years to ensure the transplanted organ was functioning optimally before the final separation was attempted.
The Decisive Operation: June 10, 2026
The final separation surgery commenced at 7:00 a.m. on 10 June 2026, and continued late into the evening, concluding at approximately 9:00 p.m. Throughout these fourteen intensive hours, the twins were under the constant supervision of a specialized anaesthetic team led by Dr. Ashani Ratnayake, a Consultant Anaesthetist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Peradeniya. The management of anaesthesia for conjoined twins is considered one of the most challenging tasks in the field, as it requires the simultaneous regulation of two distinct yet interconnected circulatory and neurological systems.
The surgical team, guided by the expertise of Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Dr. Mathula Hettiarachchi, navigated the intricate physical bonds that had united the sisters since birth. Dr. Hettiarachchi, who also serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, emphasised that the uniqueness of this case, particularly the preceding kidney transplant, made it a world-class example of paediatric surgical innovation. The precision required to separate shared tissues while preserving the integrity of vital organs reflects a level of craftsmanship and institutional capability that rivals international centres of excellence.
Strengthening the Public Healthcare Posture
This achievement has not only brought joy to the family of Linuli and Lithuli but has also served as a powerful testament to the untapped potential within Sri Lanka’s public healthcare sector. Despite the well-documented challenges regarding resource allocation and equipment shortages that have occasionally plagued the system, the successful separation of these twins underscores the reality that the nation possesses the human capital and intellectual rigour necessary to perform the most sophisticated of medical feats.
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Peradeniya, alongside the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialist Children’s Hospital, has long been a centre for academic and clinical excellence. By successfully managing a case of such extraordinary rarity and complexity entirely within the domestic framework, these institutions have provided a compelling argument for increased investment in the public health sector. Such successes illustrate that when provided with the necessary support, Sri Lankan medical professionals can achieve outcomes that negate the need for families to seek prohibitively expensive treatments in overseas jurisdictions.
A New Chapter for the Global Sri Lankan Community
The news of Linuli and Lithuli’s successful separation has resonated deeply with the Global Sri Lankan community, serving as a beacon of hope and a source of national pride. For Sri Lankans abroad, such stories reinforce the connection to their heritage and the high standard of education and professional integrity that continues to define the nation’s leading institutions. At eLanka, we remain committed to sharing and celebrating these positive stories that highlight the outstanding achievements of our people, whether they are based in the hills of Kandy or in cities across Australia, Canada, the UK, and beyond.
As the twins continue their recovery, the medical community will undoubtedly look back on this case as a masterclass in multidisciplinary collaboration. The transition from a shared existence to independent lives is a journey that mirrors the resilience of the Sri Lankan spirit. It is an achievement replete with the values of service excellence and social consciousness that we hold dear.
The successful outcome for Linuli Tharulya and Lithuli Manulya is more than a medical victory; it is a story of five years of unwavering commitment by a team of doctors who refused to be deterred by complexity. It is a reminder of the extraordinary value of our public institutions and the brilliant minds that work within them to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
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