A SRI Lankan paediatrician who has lent his skills to Winchester for the past three months is going back home to help with the aftermath of the tsunami.

Dr Mohamed Athamlebbe Seisz is heading back to the eastern province in Sri Lanka to lend his medical services.

For the last three months he has been based at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

As well as his medical expertise, Dr Seisz will also take with him £5,500 for the tsunami appeal, donated by colleagues and the Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Healthcare Trust which runs the hospital, and medical equipment and foodstuffs again donated by the hospital.

"I was planning to stay longer in Winchester but made the decision to go back home," Dr Seisz, 40, said.

"I want to go back because I have a post there, and because of the recent events. I think this is the ideal time.

"The eastern province has been badly hit. I think there will be a lot of work."

Dr Seisz said he had enjoyed his time in Winchester and may come back in the future.

"It's a very nice life here, but I have missed home," he said.

A spokesman for the hospital said: "We wish Dr Seisz all the luck in the world and would like to thank him for all his hard work. As a caring organisation we were not surprised that staff wanted to offer their help.