The passing of Professor Rezvi Sheriff on March 30, 2026, marks the loss of a visionary physician, a pioneering researcher, and the foundational figure of nephrology in Sri Lanka. Often described as a “Supremely Gifted Son of Lanka,” his career spanned over four decades of dedicated service to clinical excellence and medical education.
I. An Exceptional Educational Foundation
Professor Sheriff’s career was built on a path of academic brilliance, characterized by top-tier local education and elite international specialization.
- Schooling: Zahira College, Colombo; later Royal College, Colombo on scholarship.
- Medical Degrees: MBBS and MD from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
- International Specialization: MRCP (UK).
Fellowships:
- FRCP (London & Edinburgh)
- FRACP
- FNASSL
- FCCP & FSLCGP
- Honorary Fellowship – Sri Lanka Society of Nephrology
II. Pioneering Modern Nephrology and Transplantation
- First Kidney Transplant: Performed in October 1985 with Professor A.H. Sheriffdeen.
- Expansion of Care: Nearly 1,000 kidney transplants conducted under his leadership.
- Institutional Contributions:
- Founder President – SLANT (later SLSON)
- Founder – Sri Lanka Hypertension Society (2000)
III. Academic Leadership and Education
- Director – Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM)
- Senior Professor of Medicine – University of Colombo
- Head – Department of Clinical Medicine
- Academic role – General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU)
- Advisory Board Member – SACTRC
IV. Contributions to Global Science
- Clinical Toxicology: Research on snake bites and yellow oleander poisoning.
- CKDu Research: Leading work on chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka.
- Recognition: Named most prolific Sri Lankan scientist (Web of Science, 2011).
V. National and International Honors
- Vidya Jyothi (1993): Sri Lanka’s highest scientific honor.
- International Society of Nephrology: South Asia Regional Board member.
VI. Personal Legacy and Western Hospital
Professor Sheriff founded Western Hospital (Western Infirmary) in Colombo, which became a premier center for dialysis and transplantation.
In 2022, he personally underwent a successful kidney transplant at the same hospital, demonstrating his trust in the system he helped build.
"Professor Sheriff was more than a clinician; he was a mentor whose humility and gentle disposition defined his interactions with peers and patients."