Born in Sri Lanka, Lakshman Samaranayake obtained his BDS and served as a lecturer in Oral Biochemistry at the University of Peradeniya from 1974 to 1977. He obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Glasgow, UK and is considered the foremost authority in oral candidal infections.

Professor Lakshman Samaranayake is the Head of the School of Dentistry and Professor of Oral Microbiomics and Infections at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Since 2004, Professor Samarnayake served as the Dean of Dentistry for decade at the University of Hong Kong, China.

From 2004 to 2008, Professor Samaranayake was a Honorary Professor at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College, London. He was also appointed Director at the Prince Phillip Dental Hospital in Hong Kong in 2004.

In 2005, Professor Samaranayake became the first dental professional in Sri Lanka to receive the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Also in 2005, Professor Samaranyake received his Fellowship in Dental Surgery Royal College of Surgeons (FDSRCS) (ad hominem), U.K. In 2007, Professor Samaranayake was appointed as a Consultant to the Council on Dental Practice in the American Dental Association.

Since 2007, Professor Samaranayake has been an Advisory Professor at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University , School of Medicine in China and the same year was appointed a Member of the International Advisory Panel, Oman Dental College in Oman. In 2008, Professor Samaranayake served as President, Oral Medicine and Pathology Group, International Association for Dental Research.

Since 2008, Professor Samaranayake has served as an Expert Consultant and Key Opinion Leader for Asia Pacific at Colgate Company in U.S.A.

Since 2009, Professor Samaranayake has served Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, Univeritas Inonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

In 2010, Professor Samaranayake became the first and only asian to date to receive the Distinguished Scientist Award of the International Association for Dental Research, Washington, U.S.A. Also in 2010, he received the Distinguished Scientist Award Recipient in Oral Medicine and Pathology from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR).

In 2011, King James IV Professorship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh UK was bestowed upon Professor Lakshman Samaranayake, he became the first and only Asian to have received this high honor either in Medicine or Dentistry.

In 2013, Professor Samaranayake received the Honorary Fellowship in Dental Surgery Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACDS) (ad hominem).

Professor Lakshman Samaranayake is considered the foremost authority in oral candidal infections and has authored more than 400 research articles that have been cited over 12,000 times. He has also written eight books some of which have been translated into five languages. In addition to writing, Professor Samaranayake is a highly sought after speaker on oral infections and infection control and has addressed dental professionals in all five continents.

Professor Samaranayake has served a World Bank consultant in Problem Based Learning (PBL) and as a council member of the FDI (Fédération Dentaire Internationale/World Dental Federation) and served as the Chair of the FDI Science Commission. Professor Samaranayake is also the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry.