Dr Manorika Ratnaweera is a Senior Lecturer at the UWA Dental School with extensive experience in clinical dentistry, higher education, and research. Her work integrates evidence-based clinical practice with contemporary educational approaches to improve student outcomes and community oral health. 

Dr Ratnaweera’s research spans general dental practice, dental materials and adhesive science, clinical outcomes research, simulation-based learning, and pedagogical innovation in health professional education. She has an international research profile with a PhD in Prosthodontics from Tokyo Medical and Dental University and a prestigious research fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Her scholarly outputs include peer-reviewed journal articles, international presentations, and interdisciplinary collaborations across dentistry and health sciences.

At UWA, Dr Ratnaweera contributes to curriculum development, research supervision, and the delivery of clinical education in the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program. She supervises postgraduate and DMD research projects and actively contributes to cross-faculty and interprofessional initiatives aligned with university and community health priorities.

Dr Ratnaweera’s research portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to advancing evidence-based dental practice, improving oral health outcomes, and enhancing the quality of dental education globally.

University & Professional Service

• Member of three Standing Committees of the UWA Academic Board:

  • Honorary Degrees Committee

  • Education Committee

  • Learning and Teaching Committee

• Member, ADA Federal Committee for Dental Education and Training

• Examiner, Australian Dental Council

• Member, ADA Western Australia CPD Committee

• Fellow, International College of Dentists (FICD)

• Member, Australian, New Zealand and Sri Lankan Dental Associations

Qualifications

• PhD (Prosthodontics), Tokyo Medical and Dental University

• BDS, University of Otago

• BDS (Honours), University of Peradeniya

• Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

• Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)

Professional Registrations

• AHPRA – General Dentist (Australia)

• NZDC – General Dentist (New Zealand)

• SLMC - Dental Surgeon (Sri Lanka)