Dissection enables medical students to develop skills in locating and identifying anatomical structures, recognizing their variations, and understanding clinical relevance. In Sri Lanka, bodies are obtained through voluntary body donation, where individuals consent to the use of their bodies for education and research after death. While body donation aligns with Buddhist teachings on accruing merit, limited literature exists on commemorative practices that highlight its spiritual significance. Enhancing public awareness of these traditions may encourage greater participation in body donation within Buddhist communities. This article describes the commemorative ceremony conducted by the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, a newly established medical faculty. The event involved Buddhist monks, staff, students, and donor families. Rituals included a dharma sermon, alms offerings to monks, and the transference of merit to donors. Donor bodies were placed in coffins and buried following the ceremony. The ceremony provided a formal opportunity for students and staff to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of donors, reinforced cultural traditions of gratitude, and symbolized the institution's ethical commitment to honoring donors. Outcomes included fostering a culture of respect in anatomy education, strengthening professional values among students, and enhancing public understanding of body donation. Sharing these experiences contributes to broader discussions on integrating cultural and ethical practices into medical education. Future studies exploring the perspectives of students, staff, and donor families could further illuminate the educational and societal impact of such commemorations.
Chandimal et al. (Thu,) studied this question.