Our Core Team
Our core clinical team is drawn from within Sri Lanka and internationally. Experts in psychology, psychiatry, counselling and nursing bring a deep understanding of and experienced approach to the challenges of addiction, mental health, and trauma.
David Montgomery
Clinical Director
David, an Australian-based registered clinician, boasts diverse experience in mental health care, education, and counselling. With a background in psychiatric nursing, he has led teams in community and primary mental health clinics in both Australia and Asia. David employs a holistic, evidence-based approach to enhance mental well-being and physical health. Additionally, he is a positive psychology educator trained in CBT, DBT, neurostimulation, and neuro-nutrition techniques.
Professor Shehan Williams
Chief Psychiatrist
Professor Shehan Williams specialises in General Adult Psychiatry with an emphasis on addiction and dual diagnosis. With credentials like MBBS (Jaffna) and FRCPsych (UK), he has advanced understanding in South Asian psychiatric contexts, especially addiction and co-morbidities. He is also the editor of the South Asian Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr Nelusha Chamindi
Medical Doctor
Dr Nelusha brings a wealth of experience as a medical practitioner. She has over 15 years of expertise in leading quality assurance and risk management initiatives in hospitals across Sri Lanka. Her diverse background in medicine and business administration equips her to effectively drive excellence in healthcare standards and patient care at The Sapphire.
Craig, an Addiction Counsellor from New Zealand, draws from his own recovery experience to provide comprehensive support. With qualifications in Addiction Counselling, he excels in Motivational Interviewing, ACT therapy, CBT, mindfulness, and clinical case management. Registered with "Drug and Alcohol Practitioners New Zealand," "Counselling New Zealand," and as a Gambling Therapist, Craig is dedicated to guiding individuals towards recovery.
Craig Macdonald
Behavioural & Addictions Counsellor
Dr Roshan Fernando
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr. Roshan Fernando, MBBS, MD Psychiatry, is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer, specializing in General Adult Psychiatry in Sri Lanka. Awarded the Professor Andrew Sims Gold Medal for Psychiatry by the University of Colombo, he offers extensive clinical expertise in treating various mental health conditions, including addiction disorders.
Necib Varan
Psychotherapist & Addictions Counsellor
Necib has worked as a psychotherapist, sex therapist, and addictions specialist for over 25 years, primarily in the UK and Thailand. He has extensive experience working with individuals facing depression, anger, work-related stress, family dynamics, relationship difficulties, sexual identity crises, trauma, and drug and alcohol-related problems.
Afra Jameel
Clinical Psychologist
Afra is a Clinical Psychologist holding a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology from Coventry University, UK, and an MPhil in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colombo. She specializes in various therapeutic modalities, including CBT, DBT, interpersonal therapy, ACT, trauma-focused CBT, and narrative exposure therapy.
Navneth Mendis
Clinical Psychologist
Navneth is a Clinical Psychologist and EMDR practioner with a special interest in working with survivors of trauma, including adverse childhood experiences. Other therapeutic modalities used include CBT, DBT and ACT. He is a trained psychological first-aid provider and trainer. He is also a lecturer and the current president of the Sri Lanka EMDR association.
Rashmi Kavindya
Naturalist & Mindfulness Coach
As a dedicated naturalist, Rashmi has extensive experience in forest and wildlife conservation projects across Sri Lanka’s national parks, with a strong focus on wildlife species identification, ecology, and behaviour. Additionally, she brings mindfulness experience and likes to combine her nature expertise with mindfulness practices to support clients with their recovery, enriching our holistic approach to mental wellbeing.
Lisa Air
Admissions Director
Lisa oversees the admissions process under the direction of senior management. She has over six years’ experience in the treatment field and admissions. In this time, she has assisted hundreds of patients and their loved ones from all over the world while working in several renowned programmes, particularly in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Bangladesh & the UAE.
David Swannell
Chairman
David is a graduate of Oxford and Cambridge Universities and had a career in investment banking in London, at banks including SG Warburg, and ended as Head of Europe for a ASX 100 global financial services group. He moved to Sri Lanka in 2008 and has involvements in hotels, restaurants and wellness centres.
Andrew Anthony
General Manager
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Anthony has honed his expertise across a wide range of hotel environments, thriving in multicultural settings. He is a passionate and visionary professional, dedicated to driving innovation and exceeding guest expectations. His commitment to excellence is evident in his meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each guest’s stay is tailored to perfection.
Luke Boobbyer
Head of Partnerships
Luke is a dynamic marketing professional with experience as a business development lead for leading organisations. Skilled in business strategy and forging high-impact partnerships with C-Suite executives, he brings a unique blend of business development, marketing and recruitment expertise. Driven by a passion for mental health, Luke is committed to building trusted collaborations with leading professionals & organisations.