After having secondary education from Central college, Kuliyapitiya Dr. Mrs. D.A.R Sakumthala entered the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo as an undergraduate student in 1983. She obtained Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) with first class honor pass including the distinctions in Aetiopathogenesis/ Therapeutics(Nidana Cikitsa), Surgery(Shalya), Obstetrics (Prasuti) and Gynaecology (Striroga). She served the university as temporary assistant lecturer in 1991 and was appointed as Medical officer in charge at Ayurveda hospital, Murutange, Kuliyapitiya in the department of Ayurveda in 1992. In August 1993 entered the university as a Probationary lecturer in Ayurveda and attached to the department of Basic Principle first. She was awarded Commonwealth scholarship from Indian government in 1994 and obtained her postgraduate qualification MS (Ay) in 1997 from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi with specification of Shalya Sangyaharan.. She is working unit of Shalya Shalakya from 1998. During this period she taught various subjects such as Maulika Siddhantha (Basic priciples of Ayurveda), Sharera Rachana (Ayurveda anatomy), Shalya (Ayurveda Surgery), Shalakya (Ayurveda ENT & Opthamology) & Prasuti (Obstetrics) for undergraduates and Sharera Rachana (Ayurveda anatomy), Shalya (Ayurveda Surgery), Shalakya (Ayurveda ENT & Opthamology) for postgraduates. She was a Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce – in the year 2000 and represented the Institute as a Member of Ayurveda Medical council, Sutra Committee and many Educational boards in the department of Ayurveda. She was appointed various academic as well as administrative positions. She has served nine years as the head – department of Shalya Shalakya, Member of Curriculum Revision & Evaluation Committee of undergraduate as well as Postgraduate courses, Secretary – Ayurveda Sectional committee, Member of Examination subcommittee, Member of Board of study MD (Ayu), Member of Research and Higher Degree committee, Member of career & personal development committee, Member of Project Proposal evaluating Committees of Postgraduate studies and Course Coordinator of Postgraduate Diploma in Ayurveda Medicine.
Dr. Sakunthala has contributed her time as Vice president & member of Executive committees of Teachers Association, Chairperson & Keynote speaker in several National & International conferences also. She organized workshops in her department & curriculum revision workshops in the Institute as a coordinator to uplift the quality of the students and the Institute.
Currently She is working as a Senior Lecturer Gr I in the Unit of Shalya Shalakya in the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo and as a Honorary Consultant in Ayurveda Teaching Hospital – Borella. She will definitely serve to the University with her steadfast dedication to uplift its quality furthermore in future also.