Wellness Through Food Expert Perspectives By Ms Parami Weerasinghe

Ms Parami Weerasinghe (SLMC-363) is a dedicated nutritionist, nutrition educator, and wellness professional committed to promoting evidence-based, sustainable approaches to healthy living. With a strong academic background and extensive clinical experience, she combines scientific knowledge with practical guidance to support individuals across diverse health needs and lifestyles. In this insightful interview, she shares her professional journey, addresses common nutrition myths, and highlights the importance of balanced, culturally relevant diets. Her perspectives emphasise long-term wellbeing, mindful eating, and realistic lifestyle changes, offering valuable guidance for anyone seeking to improve their health through informed and sustainable nutritional practices.

Words – Sachini Perera

What inspired you to become a nutritionist, and how did your journey begin?

My journey into nutrition began during my undergraduate studies in Food Science and Nutrition at the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, where I built a strong academic foundation in clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, and food science. A defining moment in my early career was my involvement as a student researcher in a national-level nutrition project conducted by the university in collaboration with the World Food Programme Sri Lanka. Being part of this all-island research initiative exposed me to real-world nutrition challenges faced by Sri Lankan communities, and it became the initial step that sparked my deep interest in pursuing nutrition as a lifelong profession.
Following my undergraduate degree, I further advanced my academic journey by completing a Master of Science in Global Public Health Nutrition, graduating with the highest GPA in my batch. This experience strengthened my research capabilities and deepened my understanding of global and local nutrition issues. As part of my professional training, I completed my clinical dietetics internships at Lanka Hospitals Colombo and Nawaloka Hospitals Colombo, where I gained hands-on experience in medical nutrition therapy and patient counselling. These clinical exposures helped me appreciate the critical role nutrition plays in disease management and recovery. Over time, my professional interests expanded into sports, exercise, and wellness nutrition, recognizing the importance of nutrition in enhancing physical performance, optimizing body composition, and promoting overall wellbeing. Currently, I serve as a Nutritionist at Heracle Care & Wellness under Heracle Holdings and Lyceum Global Holdings. Alongside my clinical and consultancy work, I also contribute as a nutrition educator, sharing evidence-based knowledge to promote sustainable and healthy lifestyle practices.