Dr. Dulan Tharanga Kodikara

Director/ Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist

Dr. Dulan is a highly esteemed specialist Sports Physiotherapist with the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) title. With over 15 years of experience, he is a distinguished academic, PhD scholar, and highly skilled clinician.

Dr. Dulan holds a Doctorate in Cricket Injury Epidemiology from Federation University, Australia, and has earned double master’s degrees in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia (UniSA). In 2010, he completed a training fellowship with the Dutch (Netherlands) Olympic and Soccer Medical Teams. His passion for research is evident, particularly in the field of cricket injuries, and he has recently had his work published in two prestigious international sports science and sports medicine journals.

Dr. Dulan’s expertise primarily lies in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy. He recently served as the lead sports and exercise physiotherapist for the Galle Marvels franchise in the Lanka Premier League T20. Currently, he is part of the Sports Science and Sports Medicine (SSSM) team at Cricket Australia, where he maintains strong connections with various elite sports organizations. Additionally, he is a Level 1 Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA).

 

With a deep understanding of injuries and their impact, Dr. Dulan is a dedicated advocate for injury risk minimization and prevention strategies, which he considers crucial to effective injury management.

  • 2018 - 2019 Sports Physiotherapist, Melbourne Renegades Champions League Squad
  • 2018 - 2019 Sports Physiotherapist, Casey- South Melbourne Premier Cricket Club, Australia
  • 2018 - 2019 Head Sports Physiotherapist, Nunawading City Soccer Club, Victoria, Australia
  • 2018 - 2019 Sports Physiotherapist, Eastern Ranges, TAC Cup Team, Victoria,Australia
  • 04/2018 Basketball Venue Sports Physiotherapist, Commonwealth Games 2018, Cairns, Australia
  • 2016 - 2017 Sports Physiotherapist, Northcote Premier Cricket Club, Victoria, Australia
  • 08/2016 - 08/2017 Sports Physiotherapist, AFSL, International Cup 2017, Victoria, Australia
  • 01/2016 - 04/2016 Sports Physiotherapist, Future Stars Cricket Academy, Australia
  • 03/2013 - 12/2013 Consultant Sports Physiotherapist, Sri Lankan National Elite Pool Athletes, Sri Lanka
  • 03/2013 – 12/2013 Consultant Sports Physiotherapist, Sri Lanka Navy Rugby team, Sri Lanka
  • 2013 - Medical Team member, Adelaide Athletic Track Championships, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2013 - Medical Team member, Oceania Track Cycling Championships, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2012 - Physiotherapist, West Adelaide Football Club, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2012 - Head Trainer, West Adelaide U 16/18 Football Teams, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2012 - Medical Team member, Australian University Games, Adelaide,Australia
  • 2011 - Medical Team member, Australian Masters Games, Adelaide,Australia
Degrees:
  • 2016-2020 - Doctor of Philosophy, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia Project: Head, neck and facial injuries in Australian community cricket
  • 2012 - Master of Musculoskeletal & Sports Physiotherapy University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
  • 2007 -  Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, India
  • Professional development Courses: 2019 -  Dry needling for Physiotherapists CPD Health Courses, Melbourne, Australia3
  • 2017 - Strength and Conditioning Level I for Physiotherapists Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), Helensvale, Australia
  • 2016 - Sports Physiotherapy Level I Australian Physiotherapy Association, Camberwell, Australia
Employment history:
  • 2019 - Current Lead Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (Part-time) De Power Physio Sports & Spine, 100-106, High Street, Cranbourne, VIC 3977
  • 2019 - Current Head Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (Contract) Australian Indigenous National Cricket Team, Cricket Australia
  • 2019 - Current Head Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (Contract) Australian ID National Cricket Team, Cricket Australia
  • 2018 - Current High Performance Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist (Contract) Cricket Victoria Academy, Citi Power Centre, Lakeside Dr, St Kilda VIC 3182
  • 07/2018 – 03/2019  - Senior Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist (Full-time) Bounce Health Group, 1101, Wellington Road, Rowville, Vic 3178
  • 01/2018 – 06/2018  - Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist (Full-time) Physiofit, 197, High Street, Berwick, Vic 3806
  • 02/2015 – 03/2015 - Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist/ Trainer (Contract) Australian ID National Cricket Team, Cricket Australia
  • 01/2014 – 04/2014 -  Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist (Full-time) Spine and Sport Physiotherapy, Mackay, Australia
  • 04/2008 – 12/2013 - Lecturer (Full-time) Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
  • 04/2008 – 12/2013 - Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist National Disabled Athletic Team, Sri Lanka
  • 01/2008 – 04/2008 - Clinical Physiotherapist (Full-time) Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
  • 03/2007 – 11/2007 - Lecturer (Full-time) Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
  • Australian Physiotherapy Association (APAM) – Titled Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist
  • Australian College of Physiotherapy (MACP)
  • Sports Medicine Australia (SMA)
  • Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA)
Kodikara, D.; Plumb, M.S.; Twomey, D. A decade of head, neck and facial cricket injury hospitalisations in Victoria, Australia: From 2007/08 to 2016/17. J Sci Med Sport. 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.06.010
International conferences:
  • Kodikara, D.; Twomey D, Plumb M. Head, neck and facial injuries in cricket: A straight-drive through knowledge gaps. The 6th World Congress of Science and Medicine in Cricket. Loughborough, UK. Ballarat. July 2019.
National conferences:
  • Kodikara, D.; Finch CF, Fortington LV. Time to keep your head down: A review of head, neck, facial and dental injuries in cricket. 13th Australasian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference (AIPN). Ballarat. November 2017.
Regional conferences:
  • Kodikara, D.; Twomey D, Plumb M. Headgear in cricket. HDR Research Conference, Federation University Australia. Ballarat. July 2018.
  • Kodikara, D.; Finch CF, Fortington LV. Cricket injury surveillance studies: a straight drive through knowledge gaps. HDR Research Conference, Federation University Australia. Ballarat. July 2017.
Academic/Research:
  • Key Research Priority Area (RPA) High Degree by Research Scholarship Scheme, Federation University Australia (2017 - 2020)
Community engagement:
  • 2015 Serendib Sri Lankan Awards Australia – Silver, Health Category in recognition for the involvement with both Australian and Sri Lankan sporting community and thevoluntary contributions made.
  • 2014 Serendib Sri Lankan Awards Australia– Bronze, Health Category in recognition for the contributions to the Physiotherapy education and contribution towards various sportsin Sri Lanka, particularly involvement as team Sports Physiotherapist with the Sri Lankan Disabled Athletic Team.
Working groups:
  • Social media team lead, Inaugural Sri Lankan Sports and Exercise Medicine Conference, 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka (July 2017 – September 2018)
Peer Reviewer:
  • Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports (JSAMS)