History of Surgery in Jaffna

History of Surgery in Jaffna (1820–2020) is an authoritative historical text written by Prof. Sittampalam Rajendra, a senior academic and surgeon at the University of Jaffna. Published in 2021 by Kumaran Book House, this book chronicles exactly two centuries of Western surgical practices and advancements in Sri Lanka’s northern peninsula.

The text details the introduction of Western medicine to the region by American missionaries, highlighting Dr. John Scudder’s pioneering operations beginning in 1820. It also records the foundational work of Dr. Samuel Green, who established Ceylon’s first medical school in Manipay and trained the country’s first local Western-certified doctors.

Beyond its medical origins, the book tracks the structural evolution of regional healthcare, mapping how the Jaffna Civil Hospital transformed into today’s Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Furthermore, the narrative serves as an essential registry, documenting the biographical details, intense challenges, and major achievements of the many surgeons who built the specialty across the region.