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SLMANEWS+
 The Official eMagazine Of The Sri Lanka Medical Association
 January 2021          VOLUME 14      ISSUE 01          ISSN : 1800 – 4016 (Printed)
                                                                                            www.slma.lk
                                                                                       2550 – 2778 (Online)

 Invoking                                          “Professional Excellence towards
 blessings                                                      Holistic Healthcare”
 on Dr. & Mrs E.
 M. Wijerama
 Page 03

 Presidential
 Address
 Pages 05-10

 “Is science
 ever
 enough?
 Dare to play
 politics”
 Page 18

 Call for
 abstracts and
 orations
 Pages 20-22

Dr Palitha
Abeykoon:
Special Envoy
on COVID-19                  Cover Story
for WHO
 Page 26-28                  Induction of the
                             President of the
                             SLMA - 2021
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
SLMANEWS+
ISSN : 1800 – 4016 (Printed) 2550 – 2778 (Online)
“Wijerama House”, No. 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, Telephone: +94 112 693 324, Email: office@slma.lk

  SLMA News Editorial
  Committee 2021                                                   Contents
=Editor-in-Chief                         President’s Message                                                   2
 Professor Hasini Banneheke
                                         SLMA News-in-Brief                                                3-4
=Editorial Committee
 Dr. B.J.C. Perera                       Induction of the President of the SLMA-2021
 Dr. Sarath Gamini De Silva                                                                                5-10
                                            Presidential Address
 Professor Jennifer Perera
 Professor A. Pathmeswaran                  Event Coverage                                                 12-13
 Professor Nirmala Wijekoon                 New Council 2021                                               14-15
 Dr. Achala Balasuriya
 Dr. Shehan Silva
 Professor Sampath Gunawardana           Feature Articles
 Dr. Chathurie Suraweera                    History of The Sri Lanka College of Sexual Health
                                            and HIV Medicine                                               16-17
=Cover photo
 Anira Photo by                             “Is science ever enough? Dare to play politics” from Lancet    18
 Mr. Amal Ranawaka
                                         Notices
=MAGAZINE Design
                                            Call for abstracts, guidelines and list of awards
 Wasantha Siriwardena
                                            for free papers and posters                                    20-21
 wasantha.siriwardena@gmail.com
                                            Call for orations                                              21-22
=LAYOUT
 U.R. Sampath
                                         Miscellany
=Printing and Publishing                   A tribute to a legendary medical teacher,
                                           late Professor Eugene Wikramanayake                             24-25
 assistance
 ANANDA PRESS                               Dr Palitha Abeykoon: Appointed Special Envoy on
 T: + 94 11 277 4793                        COVID-19 by the Director General of the World Health
 M: + 94 777 745 389                        Organisation                                                   26-28
 S: www.anandapress.lk
 E: anandapress65@gmail.com
 A: 277, Hokandara Road,                 Voice of Youth
 Thalawathugoda, Sri Lanka                 Life at the slma: in harmony and flourishing                    28

OUR ADVERTISERS
=Glaxosmithkline
                                          SLMA President
 Pharmaceuticals Ltd                       Dr. Padma Gunaratne
=Blue Ocean Group of Companies             MBBS, MD(SL), FRCP
=Anti-Malaria Campaign                     (Edin, Glasg, Lond), FCCP,
=Prime Group                               Hon FRACP, FAAN, FWSO
                                           President, Sri Lanka Medical
=Asset Group of Companies
                                           Association

  SLMA NEWS+ is published by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA). The views expressed in
  it are not necessarily those of the SLMA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
  reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
  mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Editor.
  Permission may be sought directly from the SLMA, Wijerama House, No. 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo
  07, via telephone +94 112 693 324 or E-mail: office@slma.lk

                                         SLMANEWS+                                 January 2021 |         01
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
President’s Message
     Dear Colleagues,                                                           are conducive and are able to

     I
                                                                                allocate a separate room and
          feel      honoured         and                                        a bathroom for themselves
          privileged       for        the                                       could possibly be managed at
          opportunity       to      send                                        home reducing the burden on
          this message to the                                                   Intermediate Centres and ease
     membership as the 127th                                                    the patient as well.
     President of the Sri Lanka                                                     As a result, it is essential
     Medial Association, the apex                                               that the SLMA arranges
     professional organization of                                               training programs for doctors
     the medical profession.                                                    to effectively handle home-
         This is a moment where                                                 management of asymptotic
     the need of the opinion of our                                             COVID-19 patients in the
     Organization and the services                                              future.
     of our profession to the day                                                   The issue of COVID-19 death
     to day lives of all Sri Lankans                                            management in Sri Lanka was
     is required more than ever                                                 another important national
     before.                                                                    concern that created unrest
         We have lived through                                                  among certain communities
     an year with the COVID-19                                                  who believe that burial is an
     pandemic while trying to                                                   essential form of disposal of
     transform all our activities to                                            the dead body.
     suit the “new normal”.                                                         The      SLMA       had    a
         In fact, some activities have                                          brainstorming      session    on
     been more successful when                                                  scientific information available
     compared to the pre-COVID                                                  on this subject and established
     era, while there is a lot left to be                                       our position in this regard.
     desired in other activities such                                               We are proud that the
     as organizing social activities        you can participate with your       release of the SLMA statement
     and education.                         family.                             cleared the doubts in the minds
         Distant Medical Education              The COVID-19 infection is       of many individuals who may
     is one such activity that did          still raging in Sri Lanka with      have been misinformed.
     much better than ever before           an ever-rising number of cases          Furthermore, it is important
     during the COVID-19 pandemic           currently exceeding 40,000          to note that quelling the unrest
     in 2020. The SLMA was able             and over 200 lives lost. While      may improve the adherence
     to develop a fully-fledged             adhering to Ministry of Health      to guidelines on prevention
     auditorium from where we can           Guidelines on prevention, the       of COVID-19 infection and
     now address and educate any of         way forward appears to be able      improve contact tracing efforts.
     our members who are working            to vaccinate all high-risk people       Please check whether you
     in the remotest regions of the         groups as soon as possible.         receive the SLMA alerts via
     Island.                                    I am glad that the SLMA         SMS through which the SLMA
         I urge you to stay tuned,          was able to take it up with the     disseminates key information
     encourage your friends who             Secretary to HE the President       regarding many activities of
     are not already members to             and was able to convince            ours and also would appreciate
     become members of the SLMA,            the authorities of the need         the suggestions by the SLMA
     follow and interact with us via        to expedite the process of          members to be taken up
     our Facebook page, and let us          purchasing vaccines.                by SLMA this year for the
     know your expectations so that             As with the escalating          betterment of the medical
     we can organize and fulfil our         number of cases of COVID-19,        profession to improve the
     obligation to keep doctors up-         it appears that a good number       services to the Sri Lankan
     to-date.                               of Intermediate Centres are         public.
         Please plan to join our            inundated with asymptomatic         Thank you
     Annual Scientific Sessions             cases who are PCR positive.
     scheduled to be held from 27th         Maintaining these centres are       Dr. Padma Gunaratne
     – 30th in July 2021 under the          prohibitively expensive for the     MBBS, MD(SL), FRCP(Edin,
     theme “Professional Excellence         Government.                         Glasg, Lond), FCCP, Hon
     towards Holistic Health Care”.             Therefore,         managing     FRACP, FAAN, FWSO
          There will also be many           asymptomatic             patients   President, Sri Lanka Medical
     social activities for which            whose housing conditions            Association

02    | January 2021
                            SLMANEWS+
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
SLMA News-in-brief

Activities in December and January 2021
     30th December 2020

A   religious function was held at
    ‘Wijerama House’ to invoke
blessings on Dr. & Mrs E. M.
Wijerama and all past Presidents
who are no more, by the President
and Council 2020/21, the staff at
SLMA office and other Colleges/
associations located at SLMA
premises.
   The        events      unfolded
with a chanting of pirith and
almsgiving to Buddhist priests
from     Ashokaramaya      Temple,
Thimbirigasyaya. This was followed
by religious rituals performed by
Rev. Fr. Crispin Leo from St Peters
Church, Moulavi Abdul Sathar
from Maligawatte Islamic Centre
and S Sandhana Krishna Aiyar from
Wellawatte.
   The SLMA, jointly with the Sri
Lanka Association of Geriatric          in Elders’ homes” to State Minister   Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle as
Medicine (SLAGM) presented the          of Primary Health Services,           this group is at a very high risk of
guideline on protecting “Persons        Pandemics and COVID Prevention,       contracting COVID-19.

    31st December 2020

                                        A    brainstorming
                                             session on vaccine
                                        roll out in the country
                                        and compulsory
                                        cremation of COVID-19
                                        dead bodies was held
                                        with the participation
                                        of experts in relevant
                                        fields and some council
                                        members of SLMA.

    1st January 2021

T
       he inaugural council meeting
       was held on first January 2021
       at the SLMA auditorium. The
meeting was presided by Dr. Padma
Gunaratne, President SLMA. The
proceedings commenced with the
traditional New Year reception held
at 3.30 pm, followed by lighting
of the oil lamp of learning and
unveiling the portrait of Professor
Indika Karunathilake, President of
SLMA in 2020, by the new president.

                                              SLMANEWS+                                January 2021 |         03
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
SLMA News-in-Brief

     1st January 2021

T    o mark the beginning of
     the year 2021, Sri Lanka
Medical Association planted
5 native/endemic plants at
Vihara Maha Devi Park to
initiate the new concept of
developing “Urban Forests”.
The trees included Mee
(මී ජාතියේ පොහොර ගස), Neem
Tree     (කොහොඹ),       Indian
Beech (මගුල් කරඳ), Hora
tree (හොර) and Daly River
Satinash (බටදොඹ).

     2nd January 2021                                                         6th January 2021

A   team led by Dr. Padma Gunaratne, President SLMA had deliberations
    on containing the disease, vaccination, stroke care, protecting
persons at elders’ homes and death management of COVID-19 infection         A   follow-up discussion on
                                                                                prevention of COVID
with the Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to His Excellency the President   -19     pneumonia       among
of Sri Lanka.                                                               inmates of Elders’ homes
                                                                            was held with Dr. Sudarshini
     5th January 2021                                                       Fernandopulle, State Minister
                                                                            of Primary Health Services,
                                                                            Pandemics and COVID-19
                                                                            Prevention, in the presence of
                                                                            representatives from SLMA,
                                                                            World Bank, the Ministry
                                                                            of Health and the National
                                                                            Secretariat for Elders.

A   n update on Vaccines was
    held at the SLMA Auditorium
organized by the SLMA Media
                                      the proceedings carried out by
                                      Professor Ariyaranee Gnanadasan.
                                      The resource persons were
Committee on fifth January 2021. It   Dr.    Chandima        Jeewandara,
was conducted in Sinhala Medium       Senior Lecturer, Faculty of
with the Tamil translations of        Medical     Sciences,    University
                                      of Sri Jayawardenapura and
                                      Dr. Deepa Gamage, Consultant
                                      Epidemiologist, Epidemiology Unit,
                                      Ministry of Health. The session was
                                      chaired by Dr. Padma Gunaratne,
                                      President SLMA and compered
                                      by Dr. Pamitha Mahanama. The
                                      media seminar was attended by
                                      media personnel representing
                                      many media institutions.

04       | January 2021
                            SLMANEWS+
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
Presidential Address

Presidential Address - 2021
Good Evening, ladies and
gentlemen,                                The SLMA President - 2021

P
                                           Dr. Padma S Gunratne, nee        Government sector in 2008 and
          rofessor           Indika
          Karunathilake,        the     Ranasingha, is a Board certified    Thrombectomy          programme
          outgoing       President,     Neurologist with experience of      in 2018. She is the founder of
          Chairman and Members          a specialist in Neurology over 30   the National Stroke Centre,
          of the Board of Trustees      years. She entered the Medical      Mulleriyawa Project and the
of the Sri Lanka Medical                Faculty, University of Peradeniya   founder President of the Stroke
Association, Past Presidents,
Council Members and Members             in 1977 and qualified MBBS with     Support Organization for Sri
of the Sri Lanka Medical                2nd Class Honours in 1982.          Lankans. She was instrumental
Association, Dr J. B. Peiris, my        She obtained the MD (General        in establishing practice of total
teacher in neurology, invitees          Medicine) in 1987 and was Board     risk approach for prevention of
representing          Government        Certified as a Neurologist in       CVD in Sri Lanka.
Ministries, State Institutions,
                                        1991. She obtained her MRCP             She was a member of the
academia,        UN       agencies,
statutory bodies, International         (UK) in 1992.                       Board of Directors of the
Organizations,         Professional        She is a Fellow of the           World      Stroke    Organization
Colleges, Academic Colleges and,        Ceylon College of Physicians,       (2008 – 2015) and an executive
all other distinguished invitees,       Royal College of Physicians,        committee member of the Asia
    I feel deeply honoured and          London, College of Physicians       Pacific Stroke Organization
greatly privileged to be appointed
as the 127th President of the Sri       and Surgeons of Glasgow,            (2011- 2014). She held the post
Lanka Medical Association.              Royal College of Physicians         of Chairperson, Specialty Board
    The    Sri    Lanka    Medical      of     Edinburgh,       American    in Neurology, Post Graduate
Association      is    the     apex     Association of Neurologists,        Institute of Medicine, University
professional     organization     of    Royal Australasian College of       of Colombo from 2015 -2018 and
all medical professionals in
                                        Physicians and a fellow of the      she is the Chair, Specialty Board
Sri Lanka. Whether you are a
medical professional in the public      World stroke Organization.          for    Medical     Rehabilitation,
or private sector, young or old,           Dr. Gunaratne worked as the      PGIM, University of Colombo
practising or non-practising,           Consultant Neurologist at the       since 2018 to date.
graduates of local or foreign           Teaching Hospital Kandy for 13          Among      pestigious    posts
universities, specialists or grade      years and as Senior Consultant      she has held, are President,
medical officers, the SLMA
brings all doctors together on          Neurologist at the National         Association of Sri Lankan
to a single platform, enabling          Hospital of Sri Lanka for nearly    Neurologist –– 2008, President,
the establishment of a centre of        15 years. During this period        National Stroke Association
excellence for their continuous         she pioneered introducing of        of Sri Lanka, 2010, 2011, 2012,
professional development.               thrombolysis for stroke patients    President, Ceylon College of
    The SLMA is the oldest national
                                        at the Stroke unit in Colombo.      Physicians, 2011, the Vice
professional     organization     of
medical doctors both in Asia and        She has a special interest in       President SLMA in 2015, and
Australasia. It was established as      Stroke care and pioneered the       President, Sri Lankan Association
the Ceylon Branch of the British        thrombbolytic         programme     of Geriatric Medicine, 2018 and
Medical Association in December         for ischemic stroke in the          2019.
1887, with Dr. P D Anthoniz as
the President, along with 65
Founding Members. Along with           academic organization for doctors    for the Sri Lanka Medical
the declaration of independence,       for over 130 years, the SLMA’s       Association, being compelled to
the Ceylon Branch of the British       contribution    to    professional   face numerous challenging health
Medical Association changed            development of doctors in Sri        issues related to the COVID-19
its name to the Ceylon Medical         Lanka is beyond measure.             pandemic that have engulfed the
Association in 1951. The current          In this context, I consider       whole world with no continent or
name, “The Sri Lanka Medical           myself to be ever so fortunate to    country being spared.
Association” was adopted in 1972,      represent this prestigious Medical      I take this opportunity to
with the promulgation of the new       Association as the President and     thank the outgoing President,
Democratic Socialist Republic of       be able to support the vision and    Professor Indika Karunathilaka
Sri Lanka.                             the mission of the association.      and    his   Council   for   the
    As the leading professional           2020 was a landmark year          unprecedented level of advocacy

                                             SLMANEWS+                              January 2021 |          05
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
Presidential Address

and activities that were carried     of an individual, the health of     in Sri Lanka. The pandemic has
out during this crucial period.      the public, health related to a     robbed many people of their
While transforming the SLMA          particular occupation, or even a    livelihood and inflicted body
to face the challenges innate to     zoonotic environment. To achieve    blows to every strong economy,
a pandemic, many up-to-date          its objectives, the reach of the    all over the world. Its economic
facilities were established for      SLMA has been intentionally         and social impact on Sri Lanka is
virtual communication.               broadened, resulting in 18          immeasurable.
   These           communication     Expert Committees as well as 56         Covid-19 is highly infectious
platforms have now become a          specialties under the umbrella      and has severe consequences
blessing in disguise in that they    of the SLMA Intercollegiate         particularly    in   the    elderly
could be used to propagate distant   Committee.                          population, and in people with
medical education to all medical         Out of the many activities      multiple co-morbidities. As at
professionals, even in the most      that the Council of SLMA intends    present, the management of
remote regions of Sri Lanka. As      to embark on in the year 20 21      COVID-19 is symptomatic, and
a result, the SLMA is currently      under the theme “Professional       measures of prevention is the key
able to promote distant medical      Excellence     towards   Holistic   to control the outbreak. In this
education more than ever before.     Health Care”, there are several     regard, the implied hopes of people
   Medicine is a dynamic and         that represent areas of interest    on vaccination is understood and
an evolving field that sees daily    to me that I believe this august    acknowledged while all efforts
developments due to the latest       audience should be made aware       to vaccinate people at high-risk,
research and advancement in          of. Let me present them to you      at an affordable cost, must be
technology.                          under the heading “A Drop,          prioritized.
   While I appreciate that the       out of the Ocean of Medical             Along with the vaccination,
primary objective of the SLMA is     Rehabilitation”.                    other measures such as wearing
the professional development of      A Drop, out of the Ocean of         a face mask, physical distancing,
doctors with a focus on promoting    Medical Rehabilitation              and frequent hand washing,
physical, psychological, social,                                         combined with lockdowns for
and spiritual wellbeing to our          The Covid-19 pandemic has        highly infected communities, will
nation, it is important that we      been the worst global pandemic      have to be in place long-term,
understand that professional         within my lifetime. So far It       to keep a surge under control.
development       includes     the   has infected over 90 million        Measures taken to minimize
implementation of advanced           (90,077,446) individuals with       infection     among     healthcare
knowledge,       ensuring     high   a mortality of more than 1.9        staff are absolutely essential.
ethical standards of practice. The   million    (1,934,813)  globally.   While continuing with economic
SLMA holds a keen interest in        Hitherto, there has been 46780      development, living in this
health, whether it is the health     diagnosed cases, with 222 deaths    “new normal” will have to be

06       | January 2021
                            SLMANEWS+
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
Presidential Address

encouraged long-term.                  a wide range of rehabilitation           Education on Medical
    In terms of individual health,     measures are offered to all those        Rehabilitation
COVID-19 impacts the physical,         affected in various ways following          Upon inquiry, it was revealed
mental, social, and spiritual          the outbreak. There are certain          that many medical schools
wellbeing of people. While the         steps that have already been             are short of a comprehensive
physical and mental impact of          implemented by the Government            and adequate education on
Covid-19 may remain for longer         to reduce the economic impact            rehabilitation for their graduates.
than one would envisage, the           of COVID-19. In terms of health,         However, patients under a
psychological consequences of          while realizing that there is vast       range of specialties including
some others are a result of loss of    room for improvement from                Neurology,          Rheumatology,
their loved ones or of economic        health care to humanitarian care,        Orthopaedics,       Neurosurgery,
losses.                                the contribution that has already        Geriatrics,        Ophthalmology,
    Research shows that COVID-19       been made by the healthcare              ENT and Paediatrics, require
has caused an increase in family       professionals, along with the tri-       rehabilitation services. Within
disputes and it is likely that other   forces and the police, is nothing        these specialties, stroke, spinal
non-communicable diseases may          but praiseworthy.                        cord injury, cerebral palsy,
also show an increase owing to            It is in this perspective that        cerebral infections, musculo-
the unhealthy lifestyle brought        I am talking about Medical               skeletal     disorders,      visual
on with the restrictions imposed       Rehabilitation.               Medical    handicaps and impaired hearing
on the movement of people. In          Rehabilitation is a specialty            are common entities that need
addition, Covid-19 convinced           relevant to a range of disabilities      medical rehabilitation.
us how it could affect spiritual       originating from any form of                A research study was carried
wellbeing of individuals. Certain      physical or mental disorder.             out, with my hospital team, to
communities were disturbed by          The hallmark of successful               learn the practices carried out
the policy of essential cremation      rehabilitation          is      multi-   by varying levels of medical
for all COVID -19 deaths.              disciplinary team care.                  professionals with regard to
    On the other hand, the                While        appreciating       the   stroke rehabilitation.
projected economic growth for          significant contributions made              The study included 110
Sri Lanka is 3.4% in 2021. As          by the Sri Lankan tri-forces and         medical professionals made up
responsible health professionals,      the Specialists in Rheumatology          of Interns, Medical Officers,
it has to be emphasized that the       and Rehabilitation in the field          Registrars,     Physicians,    and
physical, mental, social, and          of rehabilitation of the disabled        Neurologists, in equal numbers.
spiritual wellbeing of people          over the past several decades, I         Their practices in regard to the
should be essential for the healthy    see, Medical Rehabilitation as a         varying components of stroke
economic growth of the country.        Specialty that is still in an evolving   rehabilitation were inquired
Therefore, it is imperative that       state of flux in Sri Lanka.              into. The findings revealed that

                                             SLMANEWS+                                  January 2021 |         07
SLMANEWS+ - The Sri Lanka ...
Presidential Address

all doctors believed that a multi-    proposal submitted by me,               with the Association of Sri Lankan
disciplinary team care approach       the SLMA initiated the Expert           Neurologists, to the Ministry
was useful in stroke rehabilitation   Committee for Rehabilitation            of Health, the result has been
and more than 80% paid special        of Disabilities as another step         significant    improvements        in
attention to nursing and the          forward in the development of           stroke services.
physiotherapy components of           Medical Rehabilitation. Based               Our achievements over last two
rehabilitation in more than 75%       on deliberations from this              decades are substantial. 99.8%
of their patients. However, only      committee, we intend to take            of stroke patients in Sri Lanka
about 50% paid attention on all       Medical Rehabilitation to its           undergo CT scanning of brain
aspects of rehabilitation in more     greatest heights possible in Sri        for diagnosis and management.
than 75% of their patients.           Lanka. We intend to carry out           As the Consultant Neurologist
    The    attention    paid     on   SLMA based skills development           at the National Hospital of Sri
occupational therapy, speech          programmes for multidisciplinary        Lanka, I was able to commence
therapy, counselling, and the         team members in this year.              the very first Thrombolytic
need for social services were         Rehabilitation of Stroke                Programme at the NHSL in
considerably lower. The study         victims                                 2008. Since then, the Ministry of
further revealed that 65% of                                                  Health has made thrombolytic,
general physicians and 85% of            Cardiovascular diseases that         Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen
neurologists would check for all      include Stroke, is currently the        Activator (rtPA) acute treatment
aspects of the multi-disciplinary     leading cause of death in Sri           for ischemic stroke available
team care on more than 75%            Lanka. Stroke which was the third       uninterruptedly.
of their patients while the           leading cause of hospital deaths            As at present, there are 17
perspective was present in less       in 2013 ranked 7th in the year          thrombolytic centres right across
than 40% of junior grade doctors.     2017. Stroke is the leading cause       the country. However, there are
    The implication of these          of adult disability and an ageing       only 62 dedicated stroke beds.
figures suggested that Medical        population further increases the        Dedicated beds for stroke patients
Rehabilitation was considered to      prevalence of stroke, as well as        are essential since, as known
be more a postgraduate subject        disability in the community.            to all medical professionals in
in the medical profession and            There are approximately 1100         this audience, stroke patients
that there was significant room       stroke admissions per year to the       sacrifice their beds, together
for improvement of practices in       National Hospital of Sri Lanka          with their chances of recovery, to
rehabilitation.                       and this figure is about 1500 at        many other conditions in medical
    The SLMA’s contribution to the    the Teaching Hospital, Kandy.           wards.
development of Rehabilitation         In a setting where we discuss the           The mean duration of hospital
Medicine throughout its existence     ethics of equity to a greater extent,   stay for the stroke unit patient
has been remarkable, with             the burning question is whether         is 21 days while it is just 3 to 5
the most recent significant           these patients get their fair share     days in the medical wards. About
contribution being the “Report        of our free health service, when        9% die in the acute stage and
on Disabilities” prepared by the      compared to other patient groups.       another 16% die of preventable
Working Group headed by the              Up until early 1990s, there          complications over the next three
then SLMA President Professor         were no separate Stroke Services        months following premature
Lalitha Mendis in 2008. Much          in existence all over the world.        discharge.
later, and very much based on         However, along with the Stroke              This knowledge led me, as
this report, the MOH published        Unit Titlists’ Systematic Review        the President of the National
the National Guidelines for           published in 1993, which revealed       Stroke Association of Sri Lanka,
Rehabilitation Services from 2014     the benefits of multi-disciplinary      to pressurize the Government
– 2018.                               team care in stroke units, stroke       to establish Stroke Units for
    The PGIM initiated the MD         rehabilitation started improving        patients. As a result, the project on
in     Rehabilitation    Medicine     globally.                               the construction of the National
programme for Postgraduates              In      keeping      with      the   Stroke Centre at Mulleriyawa
in 2018 and has so far enrolled       developments of the rest of the         was born and it is comforting to
8 trainees. The first MD              world, the very first Stroke Unit       note that upon completion of the
qualified specialist in Medical       in Sri Lanka was established in         construction of this project, the
Rehabilitation is expected to be      1998. Since then, the constant          demand for dedicated stroke beds
Board Certified in 2023.              lobbying by the National Stroke         in the Colombo District is likely to
    In   2020,    based     on    a   Association of Sri Lanka, along         become somewhat eased.

08       | January 2021
                            SLMANEWS+
Presidential Address

   Along with this project, the       in the dependent population.            Certification for a Specialist in
Government decided to establish       According to the Department of          Geriatric Medicine will occur in
10 more Stroke Units in 10            Census and Statistics, the window       2024.
different districts.                  of opportunity for Sri Lanka is             The programme for the MD
   Considering the rising elderly     expected to last for about 40 years     in Old Age Psychiatry, which
population and the increasing         starting in the early 1990s.            commenced in 2017, and with
number of strokes, there is a             As such, it is prudent that         four trainees as of today, will
compelling need to expedite the       the Healthcare System is able           complement the team of medical
establishment of these Stroke         to anticipate an increase in the        professionals dedicated to the
Units. In keeping with the            elderly population and address          care of elderly. As such, there is
objectives of the Government of       the challenges that would become        considerable room left for the
Sri Lanka, in being concerned         a problem to the community, well        SLMA for advocacy and training
on equity of services, there is a     in advance.                             for the benefit of elders in Sri
vast need for the development             Have we been concerned on           Lanka.
of stroke services country-wide.      providing a reasonable service              The National Council for Elders
Accordingly, the SLMA Council         for    the     increasing     elderly   is the national body established to
will be paying special attention      population? Is the medical              ensure the independence, care,
to improving stroke care in Sri       fraternity adequately trained in        participation, and protection of
Lanka in 2021.                        delivering Geriatric services?          the rights of elders in Sri Lanka.
Geriatric Services                    Is the infrastructure available,        The SLMA intends to work
                                      sufficient to face these challenges?    closely with the National Council
   The longevity experienced              Majority of the problems            for Elders and the Sri Lankan
by all of us is an outcome of the     faced by the elderly are unique         Association of Geriatric Medicine
improving health services in Sri      to them. Some of the difficulties       to provide advocacy for the
Lanka. Better healthcare, along       encountered by them include             benefit of elders in Sri Lanka.
with the reduction in birth rate,     mental health issues such as            Rehabi litation of
has made Sri Lanka to be one of       depression and dementia, as             Psychoactive substance users
the fastest ageing nations in the     well as falls, musculo-skeletal
region.                               problems,       nutrition     issues,       As per National Dangerous
   The elderly, defined as            incontinence, hearing problems,         Drug Control Board of the
those over 60 years of age in Sri     and visual handicaps. Unless            Ministry of Defence, there have
Lanka, stood at 6.6% of the total     there are well trained multi-           been 89,321 drug related arrests
population in 1981 and rose to        disciplinary teams of healthcare        in 2019. The figures are likely
12.4% in 2012, which is a one         professionals to take care of the       to be much higher in today’s
hundred per cent rise over 30         issues of elders, we could become       context.     Cannabis,    heroin,
years. It is projected that this      the victims of the consequences         methamphetamines, and hashish
figure will increase by another       of poorly trained and under-            are the commonly used psycho-
two fold to 25% by 2040.              prepared systems.                       active substances. Out of all
   When a country is with less            Similar to rehabilitation, do       arrests, 51% were related to
than 45% of dependents (that is       students learn Geriatric Care           Cannabis and 46% were related to
30% below 15 years and less than      as an undergraduate subject?            Heroin in 2019.
15% above 65 years) the United        Upon inquiry, it revealed that              The Government and Non-
Nations Population Department         the undergraduates are either           Governmental       Organizations
defines that country to be in a       not exposed or are exposed only         are providing residential care
demographic window.                   to one or two didactic lectures in      treatment and rehabilitation
   Sri Lanka currently is in          Geriatrics.                             services for drug dependents in
this “window of opportunity”              In 2013, the Post Graduate          Sri Lanka.
or in other words, has the            Institute of Medicine commenced             There are four residential
“demographic        dividend”    to   a Diploma in Elderly Medicine           treatment and rehabilitation
achieve     a    rapid    economic    and it has up to now produced           centres as outreach programmes
growth with a larger working-         105 trained diploma holders. The        for drug dependants under
age population compared to the        MD in Geriatrics was commenced          the purview of the National
population in the non-working         in 2018 and there are 12 trainees       Dangerous Drug Control Board.
age. An ageing population will        in the training programme, as at            The total number of reported
result in a decline in the working-   present.                                drug users who had received
age population and an increase            The      very     first    Board    treatment from these facilities for

                                            SLMANEWS+                                 January 2021 |         09
Presidential Address

the year 2019 was 3,613. Heroin                multi-disciplinary team care                          Strengthening            health
remains the main drug type for                 professionals for their services                   economics,      consolidation    of
which people receive treatment                 without which rehabilitating                       primary healthcare, establishing
in the country.                                disabilities become impractical.                   a      back-referral       system,
    All of them need weaning off               Lack of priority, particularly                     automation of health records,
of psycho-active substances and                in allocation of nurses and                        and the Networking of Health
rehabilitation. The SLMA wishes                allied health professionals for                    Records with unique National
to work in closer liaison with the             rehabilitation, is a challenge faced               Identity Numbers are some of the
National Dangerous Drug Control                by clinicians. There is vast room                  areas of improvement to increase
Board to overcome the drug                     for expansion of training to fulfil                the accountability of staff of all
menace in Sri Lanka in 2021.                   the need of these professionals in                 grades. It is worth considering.
    Use of Novel Psychoactive                  Sri Lanka.                                         Achieving Goals of SLMA
substances and legislation of old                  There is a need to improve
psychoactive substances are other              infrastructure facilities for all of                   The goals of the SLMA cannot
upcoming challenges in this field.             the previously discussed fields,                   be achieved without teamwork
Novel psychoactive substances                  namely Medical Rehabilitation,                     and collaboration. The council
are compounds designed to mimic                Stroke Care and Geriatric Services.                appointed for 2021 is multifaceted,
existing established recreational              One may question whether Sri                       enthusiastic and committed.
drugs. SLMA would be alert                     Lanka can afford this much of                          I am looking forward to
on all developments related to                 infrastructure development at                      working in collaboration with
psychoactive substances.                       the same time in all these fields?                 government       ministries     and
Services for Rehabilitation                    Are we demanding the impossible                    state institutions, UN agencies,
                                               from the Ministry of Health?                       statutory bodies, international
    As highlighted, patients for                    Could we expect such a rapid                  organizations,         professional
rehabilitation have a range of                 transformation from a country                      colleges and associations, trade
disabilities and need the services             like Sri Lanka with a GDP per                      unions and also the general
of multi-disciplinary teams of                 capita of US Dollars 3852 (2019)                   public.
professionals.                                 and a 3.6 % of Gross Domestic                          Let     me     conclude      my
    Irrespective of the disability,            Product allocation for health,                     presentation by humbly pledging
a well rehabilitated person could              compared to an 8 to 10 per cent of                 once again, that I will be
contribute to the economic                     allocation seen in many developed                  committed to serve you in my
development of our country and                 countries.                                         fullest capacity as the President of
would become an asset to the                       Has the Ministry of Health,                    the Sri Lanka Medical Association
nation. As such, giving priority               with 157,000 employees, provided                   to take the association to greater
to the allocation of resources for             us with the best possible facilities               heights of achievement and
rehabilitation would indeed pay                to perform?                                        recognition.
off.                                               As an experienced clinician                        I will be fervently committed
    Over last several decades,                 who worked in the Ministry of                      to the motto of the Sri Lanka
keeping with the expansion of                  Health for over three decades,                     Medical Association “ලංකා දීපස්ස
the medical specialties, there had             my personal opinion is that                        කිචෙචසු මා පමාජී” which translates
been an improvement in numbers                 streamlining many areas in the                     to “Work for the good of Sri Lanka
and the standard of nursing and                Ministry of Health would save                      without delay”.
allied health specialties.                     adequate resources to fulfil all
    I take this opportunity to salute          these needs.

  References
  1.   World report on ageing and health. World Health Organization (2015). https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/186463
  2.   Rehabilitation. World report on disability 2011 https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564182
  3.   Gupta N, Castillo-Laborde C, Landry MD. Health-related rehabilitation services: assessing the global supply of and need for human
       resources. MBC Health Service Research 2011, 11 :276 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/11/276
  4.   National guidelines for rehabilitation services in Sri Lanka (2014 – 2018), Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka
  5.   Statistical report on drug dependents reported from treatment agencies. Drug abuse monitoring system annual report, NDDCB (2019) 115
       http://www.nddcb.gov.lk/Docs/research/Annual%20Report%202019.pd

10        | January 2021
                                   SLMANEWS+
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Event Coverage: President Induction 2021

              Induction of the President
              of the SLMA - 2021
                           Induction of Dr. Padma S Gunaratne, Senior Consultant
                           Neurologist, as the 127th President of SLMA was ceremonially
                           conducted at the BMICH on 23rd January 2021. This event was
                           attended by more than 200 guests strictly adhering to the Covid
                           19 Quarantine regulations. Among the special invitees were Prof.
                           Arjuna Aluvihare, retired Consultant surgeon representing the
                           medical teachers and Mrs. Pradeepa Samarasingha Principal
                           of Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo, alma mater of the incoming
                           President.

12   | January 2021
                      SLMANEWS+
Event Coverage: President Induction 2021

                    SLMANEWS+          January 2021 |   13
President                            Immediate Past President
                                                                                                                     THE SLMA CO     President Elect
                            Dr.  Padma S. Gunaratne
                            President                            Professor
                                                                 Immediate Past Indika
                                                                                    President                                        Professor
                                                                                                                                     President Elect Samath D.
                            MBBS,   MD (SL),S.
                            Dr. Padma        FRCP
                                               Gunaratne         Karunathilake
                                                                 Professor Indika                                                    Dharmaratne
                                                                                                                                     Professor Samath D.
                            (Edin, Glasg, Lond),                 MBBS (Col.), DMedEd (Dundee), MMEdEd
                            MBBS,   MD (SL), FRCPFCCP,           Karunathilake                                                       MBBS, MSc (Com Med), MD (Com Med)
                                                                                                                                     Dharmaratne
                                                                 (Dundee),  FHEA  (UK), (Dundee),
                                                                                        FCGP (SL),MMEdEd
                                                                                                   FCME (SL),                        Chair
                            Hon. FRACP,
                            (Edin, Glasg,FAAN,
                                          Lond), FCCP,           MBBS (Col.),
                                                                 FRCP
                                                                               DMedEd
                                                                      (Edin.)FHEA
                                                                               Head, Department                                      MBBS,Professor
                                                                                                                                           MSc (Com of Med),
                                                                                                                                                       Community  Medicine
                                                                                                                                                             MD (Com Med) and
                            FWSOFRACP,
                                   Consultant                    (Dundee),        (UK), FCGP (SL),ofFCME
                                                                                                     Medical
                                                                                                         (SL),                       Head  of the Department  Faculty of Medicine,
                            Hon.         FAAN,Neurologist        Education,                                                          Chair Professor of Community  Medicine   and
                                                                 FRCP (Edin.)Faculty
                                                                               Head, of Medicine, University
                                                                                     Department   of Medicalof                       University
                                                                                                                                     Head of theofDepartment
                                                                                                                                                   Peradeniya Faculty of Medicine,
                            FWSO Consultant Neurologist          Colombo
                                                                 Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of                       University of Peradeniya
                                                                 Colombo
 Hony. Assistant Secretary                                      Hony. Assistant Secretary /                                           Hony. Assistant Secretary
 Dr. Achala
 Hony.         Balasuriya
       Assistant   Secretary                                    Editor  - SLMA newsletter
                                                                Hony. Assistant       Secretary /                                     Dr.
                                                                                                                                      Hony.Pramil     Liyanage
                                                                                                                                              Assistant   Secretary
 MBBS, MD (Medicine),
 Dr. Achala            FRCP (Edin)
               Balasuriya                                       Professor
                                                                Editor - SLMAB.      M. Hasini
                                                                                 newsletter                                           MBBSPramil
                                                                                                                                      Dr.    (Colombo),   MSc (Biomedical
                                                                                                                                                      Liyanage
 MSc(UK),
 MBBS, MDPG(Medicine),
             Diploma diabetes(UK)
                       FRCP (Edin)                              A. Banneheke
                                                                Professor       B. M. Hasini                                          Informatics),
                                                                                                                                      MBBS           PG Cert.
                                                                                                                                             (Colombo),   MSc(MedEd),  MD
                                                                                                                                                               (Biomedical
 Consultant
 MSc(UK), PGPhysician,
             Diploma diabetes(UK)                               MBBS,
                                                                A.      Dip Med Micro, MD (Med
                                                                   Banneheke                                                          (Health Informatics),
                                                                                                                                      Informatics),  PG Cert.MRSPH   (UK),
                                                                                                                                                              (MedEd), MD
 Hemas  Hospital,
 Consultant       Wattala
            Physician,                                          Parasit)Dip
                                                                MBBS,    Faculty
                                                                            Med of    Medical
                                                                                  Micro,      Sciences,
                                                                                          MD (Med                                     IMFCI
                                                                                                                                      (Health(UK)  Health Informatician,
                                                                                                                                               Informatics),  MRSPH (UK),
 Hemas Hospital, Wattala                                        University
                                                                Parasit)    of SriofJayewardenepura
                                                                         Faculty      Medical Sciences,                               Ministry
                                                                                                                                      IMFCI (UK)of Health
                                                                                                                                                   Health Informatician,
                                                                University of Sri Jayewardenepura                                     Ministry of Health
     Public Relations Officer                                    Social Secretary                                                     Social Secretary
     Dr. Kalyani
     Public         Guruge
            Relations Officer                                    Dr. M.Secretary
                                                                 Social   L. Christo Fernando                                         Dr. Pramilla
                                                                                                                                      Social  SecretarySenanayake,
     MBBS (Ceylon), Guruge
     Dr. Kalyani                                                 MBBS,
                                                                 Dr. M.MACEP,    Dipl HospFernando
                                                                          L. Christo       Admin, MBA                                 MBBS,   PhD, FRCOG,
                                                                                                                                      Dr. Pramilla          FACOG, FSLCOG
                                                                                                                                                         Senanayake,
     MD (Paediatrics)
     MBBS  (Ceylon),                                             Chairman,   New  Philip Hospitals
                                                                 MBBS, MACEP, Dipl Hosp Admin, MBA                                    Medical  Consultant
                                                                                                                                      MBBS, PhD, FRCOG, FACOG, FSLCOG
     Consultant
     MD         Paediatrician
        (Paediatrics)                                            (Pvt) Ltd, Kalutara
                                                                 Chairman,           South
                                                                             New Philip  Hospitals                                    Reproductive   Health
                                                                                                                                      Medical Consultant
     Consultant Paediatrician                                    (Pvt) Ltd, Kalutara South                                            Reproductive Health

     Dr. Chandana Atapattu                             Dr. Iyanthi                                               Dr. Sarath Gamini                                             Dr. Inuka Kishara
     MBBS (Colombo), MScAtapattu
     Dr. Chandana        (Food                         Abeyewickreme
                                                       Dr. Iyanthi                                               De  Silva Gamini
                                                                                                                 Dr. Sarath                                                    Gooneratne
                                                                                                                                                                               Dr. Inuka Kishara
     and
     MBBSNutrition),
           (Colombo),MCGP
                       MSc (Food                       MBBS, Dip Ven, MSc, MD, FCVSL
                                                       Abeyewickreme                                             MBBS (Col), LRCP(Lon),
                                                                                                                 De Silva                                                      MBBS (Col.), MD (Col)
                                                                                                                                                                               Gooneratne
     Colombo
     and      SouthMCGP
         Nutrition), Teaching                          Consultant
                                                       MBBS,       Venereologist
                                                               Dip Ven, MSc, MD, FCVSL                           MRCS(Eng),
                                                                                                                 MBBS         MD(Col),
                                                                                                                       (Col), LRCP(Lon),                                       Constant
                                                                                                                                                                               MBBS     Neurologist,
                                                                                                                                                                                     (Col.), MD (Col)
     Hospital
     Colombo South Teaching                            Hon.  SeniorVenereologist
                                                       Consultant   Fellow, Post Graduate                        FRCP(Lon),
                                                                                                                 MRCS(Eng),FRACP(Hony.),
                                                                                                                              MD(Col),     FCCP                                DGH, Hambantota
                                                                                                                                                                               Constant Neurologist,
     Kalubowila
     Hospital                                          Institute of Medicine,
                                                       Hon. Senior            University
                                                                    Fellow, Post Graduate                        Consultant Physician  Colombo
                                                                                                                 FRCP(Lon), FRACP(Hony.), FCCP                                 DGH, Hambantota
     Kalubowila                                        of Colombo
                                                       Institute of Medicine, University                         Consultant Physician Colombo
                                                       of Colombo
 Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya                                  Dr. Peethambaram                                         Dr. Dushantha
 MBBS (Cey), DTPHJayasuriya
                  (Lond), FCMA,
                                                                                                                                                                               Dr. Pramitha
 Dr. Lucian                                             Jeepara                                                  Madegedara
                                                                                                                 Dr. Dushantha                                                 Mahanama
 FSLCoSHH,                                              Dr. Peethambaram                                                                                                       Dr. Pramitha
 MBBS (Cey),Hony.DTPHFCGP
                        (Lond), FCMA,                   MBBS, MS, FRCS, FCSSL                                    MBBS, MD, FCCP (SL),
                                                                                                                 Madegedara                                                    MBBS (SJP), Dip. in
 Hony.  SeniorHony.
                 Fellow   Postgraduate                  Jeepara                                                                                                                Mahanama
 FSLCoSHH,            FCGP                              Consultant                                               FCCP
                                                                                                                 MBBS,(USA),  FRCP(SL),
                                                                                                                                   (Edin)
 Institute  of Medicine    (PGIM),
 Hony. Senior Fellow Postgraduate                       MBBS, MS, General  Surgeon
                                                                   FRCS, FCSSL                                           MD, FCCP                                              World (SJP),
                                                                                                                                                                               MBBS   AffairsDip.
                                                                                                                                                                                              andin
                                                        Teaching Hospital                                        Consultant  Respiratory
                                                                                                                 FCCP (USA), FRCP (Edin)                                       Diplomacy,
 Founder
 Institute &ofPatron
               MedicineVaccine  & Infectious
                           (PGIM),                      Consultant General Surgeon
                                                                                                                 Physician, Respiratory                                        World AffairsMedical
                                                                                                                                                                                              and officer,
 Diseases
 Founder &Forum
              PatronofVaccine
                       Sri Lanka, Founder
                                & Infectious
                                                        Batticaloa
                                                        Teaching Hospital                                        Consultant  RespiratoryDisease                                Asiri Surgical Hospitals,
                                                                                                                                                                               Diplomacy, Medical officer,
 President   Sri Lanka   College of Sexual                                                                       Treatment   Unit
                                                                                                                 Physician, Respiratory  Disease                               Colombo
 Diseases Forum of Sri Lanka, Founder                   Batticaloa                                                                                                             Asiri Surgical Hospitals,
 Health  andSriHIV
 President         Medicine
                 Lanka   College of Sexual
                                                                                                                 &Treatment
                                                                                                                    National Unit
                                                                                                                             Hospital, Kandy
                                                                                                                                                                               Colombo
 Health and HIV Medicine                                                                                         & National Hospital, Kandy
  Dr. Surantha Perera                                   Deshamanya Vidya                                         Dr. Sankha Randenikumara                                       Dr. Udayangani
  MBBS(Col) DCH(SL) MD
  Dr. Surantha      Perera                              Jyothi   Dr. J. B.Vidya
                                                        Deshamanya        Peiris                                 MBBS (SJP), PDAR (Kel), PgDTox (                               Ramadasa
                                                                                                                 Dr. Sankha       Randenikumara                                 Dr. Udayangani
  Paed(SL)
  MBBS(Col)DCH(UK)
             DCH(SL)FRCP(Edin)                          MD, FRCP                                                 Col),
                      MD                                Jyothi Dr. J. B. Peiris                                  MBBSMCGP
                                                                                                                        (SJP),(SL),
                                                                                                                               PDARFPallCare   (IPM) (
                                                                                                                                      (Kel), PgDTox                             MBBS, MD(Medicine), FCCP,
                                                                                                                                                                                Ramadasa
  FRCPCH(UK),   Consultant                              Consultant
                                                        MD, FRCP Neurologist,                                    Family  Physician  - The Family
  Paed(SL)  DCH(UK)  FRCP(Edin)                                                                                  Col), MCGP   (SL), FPallCare  (IPM)                            Dip PallMD(Medicine),
                                                                                                                                                                                MBBS,    Med(Clinical) (RACP
                                                                                                                                                                                                        FCCP,
                                                        Nawaloka                                                 Health  Clinic; Medical
                                                                                                                                    - The Officer
  Paediatrician &
  FRCPCH(UK), Consultant                                ConsultantHospital, Colombo
                                                                   Neurologist,                                  Family Physician         Family                                Consultant Physician (RACP
                                                                                                                                                                                Dip Pall Med(Clinical)
  Neonatologist                                         Past President-SLMA                                      -Health
                                                                                                                    Planning, Base  Hospital
  Paediatrician &Castle Street                          Nawaloka Hospital, Colombo                                       Clinic;
                                                                                                                  Panadura;
                                                                                                                                 Medical  Officer                               Teaching Hospital
                                                                                                                                                                                Consultant Physician
  Hospital for Women
  Neonatologist  Castle Street                          Past President-SLMA                                       - Planning,Regional   Chair - WONCA
                                                                                                                              Base Hospital                                     Ratnapura
                                                                                                                  Young  Doctors’
                                                                                                                  Panadura;       Movement,
                                                                                                                             Regional           South Asia
                                                                                                                                        Chair - WONCA                           Teaching Hospital
  Hospital for Women                                                                                             Young Doctors’ Movement, South Asia                            Ratnapura

 Professor Gitanjali                                    Dr. Sashika                                               Dr. Asitha Koshala                                             Dr. Bhanuja
 Sathiadas                                              Sandaruwani
                                                        Dr. Sashika                                               Thanippuli  Arachchi                                           S. Wijayatilaka
 Professor Gitanjali                                    MBBS (Colombo)                                            Dr. Asitha Koshala                                             Dr. Bhanuja
 MBChB, DCH, MD, MRCPCH,
 Sathiadas                                              Sandaruwani                                               MBBS (Col)
                                                                                                                  Thanippuli  Arachchi                                           MBBS, MSc, MD(Com Med
                                                                                                                                                                                 S. Wijayatilaka
                                                        Pg
                                                        MBBSDip(Colombo)
                                                                in Healthcare Quality and
 PGDipMedEd
 MBChB, DCH, MD, MRCPCH,                                Safety                                                    Medical officer-Mental Health,
                                                                                                                  MBBS (Col)                                                     Consultant
                                                                                                                                                                                 MBBS, MSc,Community
                                                                                                                                                                                              MD(Com Med
 Professor in Paediatrics                               Pg Dip (Colombo)   Medical
                                                                in Healthcare Quality and                         Base Hospital, KekirawaHealth,                                 Physician
 PGDipMedEd                                             officer-Technical
                                                        Safety (Colombo)Evaluation
                                                                           Medical                                Medical officer-Mental                                         Consultant Community
 Faculty ofinMedicine,
 Professor    Paediatrics                               Committee    Coordinating Unit,                           Base Hospital, Kekirawa                                        Ministry of Health, Sri Lan
                                                                                                                                                                                 Physician
                                                        officer-Technical Evaluation
 University  of Jaffna
 Faculty of Medicine,                                   Ministry
                                                        Committee of Health
                                                                     Coordinating Unit,                                                                                          Ministry of Health, Sri Lan
 University of Jaffna                                   Ministry of Health

14                | January 2021
                                               SLMANEWS+
OUNCIL - 2021
    Vice President                                                         Vice President                                              Honorary Secretary
    Professor
    Vice President Sudharshani                                             Dr. Manilka
                                                                           Vice President Sumanatilleke                                Dr. Sumithra
                                                                                                                                       Honorary           Tissera
                                                                                                                                                  Secretary
    Wasalathanthri
    Professor Sudharshani                                                  MBBS,  MD(Col), MRCP(Lon),
                                                                           Dr. Manilka       Sumanatilleke                             MBBS  (Col), PG Dip
                                                                                                                                       Dr. Sumithra Tisserain Health
    MBBS, PhD
    Wasalathanthri                                                         MRCP-Diab    & Endo(UK),
                                                                           MBBS, MD(Col),   MRCP(Lon),FRCP(Edin),                      Development,
                                                                                                                                       MBBS  (Col), PGMSc
                                                                                                                                                       Dip (London)
                                                                                                                                                           in Health
    Professor
    MBBS,  PhDin Physiology, Department of                                 FACE(USA),  FSLCE(SL)
                                                                           MRCP-Diab & Endo(UK), FRCP(Edin),                           Vindana Reproductive
                                                                                                                                       Development,           Health Centre
                                                                                                                                                      MSc (London)
    Physiology,
    Professor in Faculty of Medicine,
                 Physiology, Department of                                 Consultant Endocrinologist
                                                                           FACE(USA),  FSLCE(SL)                                       Vindana Reproductive Health Centre
    University
    Physiology,ofFaculty
                  Colomboof Medicine,                                      National Hospital
                                                                           Consultant         of Sri Lanka
                                                                                       Endocrinologist
    University of Colombo                                                  National Hospital of Sri Lanka
  Hony. Assistant Secretary                                                 Honorary Treasurer                                         Honorary Assistant Treasurer
  Dr.
  Hony.F.Assistant
          H. D. Shehan
                     SecretarySilva                                         Professor      Asela Olupeliyawa
                                                                            Honorary Treasurer                                         Dr. E. A. Sajith
                                                                                                                                       Honorary  AssistantT.Treasurer
                                                                                                                                                              Edirisinghe
  MBBS
  Dr. F.(SJP)
          H. D.MDShehan
                   (Col) MRCPSilva
                                (Lon) MRCPE                                 MBBS(Colombo),
                                                                            Professor         PG.Cert.Med.Ed
                                                                                           Asela     Olupeliyawa                       MBBS,
                                                                                                                                       Dr. E.MSc
                                                                                                                                              A. (Clinical
                                                                                                                                                 SajithGenetics),
                                                                                                                                                           T. Edirisinghe
  (Edin)
  MBBSDip   MedPract
         (SJP)       (LSTM
               MD (Col)     UK) (Lon)
                         MRCP   MRCP (Diabetes
                                      MRCPE                                 (Dundee), PhD. (UNSW)
                                                                            MBBS(Colombo),    PG.Cert.Med.Ed                           MSc
                                                                                                                                       MBBS,(Health Administration)
                                                                                                                                              MSc (Clinical Genetics),
  and Endocrinology)
         Dip MedPractMRCP
                       (LSTM(Geriatrics)   IFME                             Department   of Medical                                    Lecturer and Clinical Geneticist, Department
  (Edin)
  (Cantab),  AFHEA (UK)MRCP
                              UK) MRCP (Diabetes
                         Senior  Lecturer IFME
                                           in                               (Dundee),  PhD. (UNSW)Education,                           MSc (Health Administration)
  and Endocrinology)         (Geriatrics)                                   Faculty of Medicine,  University of                        of Anatomy,
                                                                                                                                       Lecturer andFaculty
                                                                                                                                                    ClinicalofGeneticist,
                                                                                                                                                               Medical Sciences,
                                                                                                                                                                          Department
  Medicine                                                                  Department   of Medical   Education,
  (Cantab), &AFHEA
               Consultant Physician
                   (UK) Senior       Faculty
                                 Lecturer  in of                            Colombo                                                    University
                                                                                                                                       of Anatomy,ofFaculty
                                                                                                                                                    Sri Jayewardenepura
                                                                                                                                                            of Medical Sciences,
  Medical  Sciences, University of Sri J.pura
  Medicine & Consultant Physician Faculty of                                Faculty of Medicine, University of
                                                                            Colombo                                                    University of Sri Jayewardenepura
  Medical Sciences, University of Sri J.pura
       Past Presidents’ Representative                                      Co-Editor (Ceylon Medical Journal)                          Co-Editor (Ceylon Medical Journal)
       Dr. Lakshman
       Past                Ranasinghe
            Presidents’ Representative                                      Professor
                                                                            Co-Editor      A. Pathmeswaran
                                                                                        (Ceylon  Medical Journal)                       Professor
                                                                                                                                        Co-Editor      Senaka
                                                                                                                                                    (Ceylon MedicalRajapakse
                                                                                                                                                                     Journal)
       FRCP(Edin), FCCP, DCH
       Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe(Lond), FCGP                                  MBBS, MD A. Pathmeswaran
                                                                            Professor                                                   MBBS, MD, FRCP,
                                                                                                                                        Professor         FCCP, FACP
                                                                                                                                                       Senaka      Rajapakse
       Founder President
       FRCP(Edin),        Sri Lanka
                   FCCP, DCH  (Lond),College
                                       FCGP                                 Senior Professor,
                                                                            MBBS,   MD        Department of                             Professor
                                                                                                                                        MBBS,  MD,inFRCP,
                                                                                                                                                     Medicine
                                                                                                                                                          FCCP, FACP
       of Dermatologists
       Founder President Sri Lanka College                                  Public Health, Faculty  of Medicine
                                                                            Senior Professor, Department    of                          Consultant  Physician
                                                                                                                                        Professor in Medicine
       of Dermatologists                                                    University of Kelaniya
                                                                            Public Health, Faculty of Medicine                          Director, PGIM
                                                                                                                                        Consultant  Physician
                                                                            University of Kelaniya                                      Director, PGIM

                                  Professor Sampath                                         Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa                                    Dr. Kapila Jayaratne
                                  Gunawardena
                                  Professor Sampath                                         MBBS, DFM, MSc,Haniffa
                                                                                            Dr. Ruvaiz      MD, FCGP,                             MBBS, MSc, DCH,Jayaratne
                                                                                                                                                  Dr. Kapila      MD (Com Med)
                                  MBBS, PhD                                                 PgDip,                                                Consultant
                                                                                                                                                  MBBS, MSc,Community
                                  Gunawardena                                               MBBS, MRCGP
                                                                                                   DFM, MSc, MD, FCGP,                            Physician
                                                                                                                                                              DCH, MD (Com Med)
                                  Professor
                                  MBBS,  PhDof Physiology                                   Senior lecturer,
                                                                                            PgDip, MRCGP                                          ConsultantNational Programme
                                                                                                                                                             Community
                                                                                                                                                  Manager
                                                                                                                                                  Physician-National
                                                                                                                                                             MaternalProgramme
                                                                                                                                                                       & Child
                                  Department   of Physiology
                                  Professor of Physiology                                   Family Medicine Unit, Faculty of
                                                                                            Senior lecturer,                                      Morbidity & Mortality
                                                                                                                                                  Manager - Maternal & Child
                                  Faculty of Medicine
                                  Department of Physiology                                  Medicine,  University
                                                                                            Family Medicine  Unit,ofFaculty
                                                                                                                      Colombo
                                                                                                                            of                    Surveillance, Family Health
                                  University of Ruhuna                                      Past President-SLMA-2018                              Morbidity & Mortality
                                  Faculty of Medicine                                       Medicine,  University of Colombo                      Bureau,  Ministry
                                                                                                                                                  Surveillance,     of Health
                                                                                                                                                                Family Health
                                  University of Ruhuna                                      Past President-SLMA-2018                              Bureau, Ministry of Health
                                                                                           Dr. B. J. C. Perera                                   Professor Jennifer Perera
                                   Prof. R. M. Mudiyanse                                   MBBS(Cey),
                                   MBBS,                                                   Dr. B. J.DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD
                                                                                                      C. Perera                                  MBBS, MD Microbiology
                                                                                                                                                 Professor     Jennifer(Colombo),
                                                                                                                                                                             Perera
                                   Prof.DCH, MD,Mudiyanse
                                         R. M.  MRCP (UK),                                 (Paed),  MRCP(UK),
                                                                                           MBBS(Cey),           FRCP(Edin),
                                                                                                         DCH(Cey),   DCH(Eng), MD                DipMedED    (Dundee), DipWomen's
                                   FAIMERDCH,
                                           Fellow                                                                                                MBBS, MD Microbiology     (Colombo),
                                   MBBS,        MD,(USA)
                                                      MRCP (UK),                           FRCP(Lon),   FRCPCH(UK),    FSLCPaed,                 Studies
                                   Professor in Paediatrics
                                                                                           (Paed), MRCP(UK),
                                                                                           FCCP,
                                                                                                                FRCP(Edin),                      DipMedED (Dundee),MBA
                                                                                                                                                         (Colombo),        (Wales),
                                                                                                                                                                        DipWomen's
                                   FAIMER Fellow    (USA)                                  FRCP(Lon), FRCPCH(UK), Hon.
                                                                                                  Hony  FRCPCH(UK),        FCGP(SL)
                                                                                                                       FSLCPaed,                 FNASSL,  FSLCM MBA (Wales),
                                                                                                                                                 Studies (Colombo),
                                   Department    of Paediatrics
                                   Professor in Paediatrics                                 Founder  President,  Sri Lanka College
                                                                                           FCCP, Hony FRCPCH(UK), Hon. FCGP(SL)                  Professor of Microbiology
                                                                                           ofFounder
                                                                                               Paediatricians;Past                               FNASSL, FSLCM
                                   Faculty of Medicine
                                   Department    of Paediatrics                                      President, SriPresident  SLMA
                                                                                                                     Lanka College               University
                                                                                                                                                 Professor ofofMicrobiology
                                                                                                                                                               Colombo
                                   University of Peradeniya                                Year  2013; Consultant   Paediatrician
                                                                                           of Paediatricians;Past President SLMA                 Past President-SLMA-2015
                                   Faculty of Medicine                                                                                           University of Colombo
                                   University of Peradeniya                                Year 2013; Consultant Paediatrician                   Past President-SLMA-2015

                                   Dr. S. B. Anuruddhika                                   Dr. Sunil Seneviratne Epa                              Dr. Chathurie Suraweera
                                                                                                                                                  MBBS (Col), MD (Psychiatry),
                                                                                                                                                  Dr. Chathurie        Suraweera
                                   S.M.
                                   Dr. S.Rathnayake
                                          B. Anuruddhika                                   MBBS MD MRCP
                                                                                           Dr. Sunil    UK
                                                                                                     Seneviratne Epa                              MRCPsych
                                                                                                                                                  MBBS (Col),(UK)
                                                                                                                                                                MDConsultant
                                                                                                                                                                    (Psychiatry),
P,                                 MBBS                                                    FRCP LONDON,
                                                                                                 MD MRCPFCCP
                                                                                                           UK (SL)
                                   S.M.(Pera), MSc (Com Med),
                                         Rathnayake                                        MBBS                                                   Psychiatrist,
                                                                                                                                                  MRCPsych (UK) Senior Lecturer in
                                                                                                                                                                   Consultant
P,P)                               FRSPH(UK)                                               Consultant Physician,
                                                                                           FRCP LONDON,          Matara
                                                                                                          FCCP (SL)                               Psychiatry Department      of in
                                   MBBS  (Pera), MSc (Com Med),                                                                                   Psychiatrist, Senior Lecturer
                                                                                           Nursing Home,  Matara                                  Psychiatry
 P)                                Department
                                   FRSPH(UK) of Community                                  Consultant Physician, Matara                           Psychiatry Faculty  of Medicine,
                                                                                                                                                             Department      of
                                   Medicine,  Faculty of Medicine,                         Past President-SLMA
                                                                                           Nursing Home, Matara                                   University
                                                                                                                                                  Psychiatry of  Colombo
                                                                                                                                                             Faculty  of Medicine,
                                   Department   of Community
                                   University Faculty
                                              of Peradeniya                                Past President-SLMA                                    Consultant
                                                                                                                                                  University ofPsychiatrist,
                                                                                                                                                                 Colombo
                                   Medicine,          of Medicine,                                                                                National Hospital   of Sri Lanka
                                   University of Peradeniya                                                                                       Consultant  Psychiatrist,
                                                                                                                                                  National Hospital of Sri Lanka
                                     Professor C. Nirmala                                  Dr. Dakshitha                                         Professor M. C.
                                     Wijekoon
                                     Professor C. Nirmala                                                                                        Weerasinghe
                                     MBBS, MD, MRCP(UK), FRCP
                                                                                           Wickramasinghe
                                                                                           Dr. Dakshitha                                         Professor M. C.
 d)                                  Wijekoon                                              MBBS, MD(Surgery) DM MRCSEd,                          MBBS, MSc, MD(Com Med)
                                                                                                                                                 Weerasinghe
                                     (London),
                                     MBBS, MD,FRCP    (Edinburgh),
                                                             FRCP FCCP
                                                                                           Wickramasinghe                                        Consultant
                                     Professor
                                                  MRCP(UK),                                PGCertMedEd    FMAS DM MRCSEd,
                                                                                           MBBS, MD(Surgery)                                     MBBS, MSc,Community
                                                                                                                                                             MD(Com Med) Physician,
 d)                                  (London), FRCP (Edinburgh),and
                                                in Pharmacology     FCCP                   Lecturer in Surgery                                   Professor
                                                                                                                                                 Consultantand Head, Department
                                                                                                                                                                         Physician,of
                                     Specialist Physician  Facultyand
                                                                   of                      PGCertMedEd    FMASand Honorary                       Community
                                                                                                                                                            Community
                                                                                                                                                             Medicine,  Faculty of of
                                     Professor in  Pharmacology                            Consultant  Surgeonand
                                                                                                               University   Surgical             Professor and Head, Department
                                     Medical                                               Lecturer in Surgery      Honorary
nka                                  Specialist Physician Faculty of Sri
                                              Sciences  University of
                                                                                           Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka                  Medicine,
                                                                                                                                                 CommunityUniversity
                                                                                                                                                             Medicine,ofFaculty
                                                                                                                                                                         Colomboof
                                     Jayewardenepura                                       Consultant Surgeon University Surgical
nka                                  Medical Sciences University of Sri                                                                          Medicine, University of Colombo
                                                                                           Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka
                                     Jayewardenepura

                                                                                                 SLMANEWS+                                                       January 2021 |         15
Feature Article                                                           HISTORY
                                        1995 The first set of office bearers of the

History of the                          college of Genitourinary Physicians of Sri
                                        Lanka was elected on 7th October.
                                        1996 First Annual Academic Sessions of the

Sri Lanka College of                    College of Venereologists of Sri Lanka was
                                        held.
                                        1998 The name of the college was changed

Sexual Health and
                                        to the college of Venereologists of Sri Lanka.
                                        2001 Board of study in Venereology was
                                        formed under the PGIM, University of Colombo

HIV Medicine
                                        on 1st October.
                                        2002 The postgraduate Diploma in
                                        Venereology (Pg Dip Ven) course commenced
                                        on 19th July.

T
       he Sri Lanka College of          were     recognized        as part-qualified       2015
                                                                                           1995.Name
                                                                                                 The ofinfant
                                                                                                        the Sri Lanka Journal of
                                                                                                                College was kept
                                        2002 Dr    & Mrs Lucian Jayasuriya     award for   Venereology was changed to Sri Lanka Journal
       Sexual Health and HIV            the best performance
                                        specialists             in Diploma in The MD
                                                        in venereology.                    active
                                                                                           of Sexualdue  toand
                                                                                                    Health  theHIVefforts
                                                                                                                   Medicineof(JoSHH).
                                                                                                                               a small
                                        Venereology was started.
       Medicine celebrates her          or MRCP was the requirement for a                  groupSriofLanka
                                                                                           2015        doctors   atofthe
                                                                                                           College       NSACP lead
                                                                                                                      Venereologists
Silver Jubilee this year 2020. It       2003 qualified
                                        fully   MD Venereology course was started.
                                                            specialist.                    by Dr.
                                                                                           officially     Iyanthi
                                                                                                      networked       Abeyewickreme,
                                                                                                                with Australasian Society for
was inaugurated as the College of       2003WithWebpage
                                                     the ofadvent
                                                             the Sri Lanka   College of
                                                                         of HIV/AIDS       HIV
                                                                                           who   Medicine
                                                                                                      was (ASHM)   and through that,
                                                                                                            ably supported         by Dr.
                                        Venereologists created.                            networked with 42 Asia Pacific Professional
Genitourinary Physicians of Sri         in the early 1980’s, the Anti-                     Thiloma
                                                                                           Societies.     Munasinghe       and    late Dr.
                                        2007 First MD Venereology exam was held in
Lanka on 7th October 1995, and was      VD       Campaign
                                        collaboration with the PGIM.was renamed            Sarojini
                                                                                           2016     Perera.
                                                                                                Online version of the JoSHH with online
renamed as the Sri Lanka College        the
                                        2008 National
                                                The college wasSTD/AIDS         Control
                                                                   named Sri Lanka         review system was established with
                                                                                            The objectives of the College
of Venereologists (SLCoV) in 1998.      Programme          (NSACP)
                                        College of Venereologists         in 1985, and
                                                                     in October.           international network for availability of scientific
                                                                                            were: (INASP) and National Science
                                                                                           publications
Its present name was adopted as it      more
                                        2007 Sri  attention
                                                   Lanka Journal was     given to was
                                                                    of Venereology   the   Foundation (NSF).
aligns itself better with the global    started and first publication
                                        prevention        of HIV was   anddone   in
                                                                              provision    i. To advance the knowledge,
                                        December.                                          2016 The first satellite symposium was held on
recognition of the need for holistic    of treatment and care for people                   14thpromote
                                                                                                July.              research          and
                                        2012 Patient support fund of the Sri Lanka
sexual health services.                 infected    with HIV.                                  postgraduate            education      in
                                        College of Venereologists started.                 2016 The name of the Sri Lanka College of
    Following the establishment              From 1980, the Ministry of                        venereology
                                        2013 Dr Iyanthi Abeyewickrema award for            2016 Venereologists was changed to Sri
of the Anti-Venereal Diseases           Health        decidedin MDto
                                        the best performance                 recognize
                                                                        in Venereology     ii. ToCollege
                                                                                           Lanka    act as     the authentic
                                                                                                            of Sexual            body in
                                                                                                                      Health and HIV
campaign in 1952, venereology           started.
                                        only postgraduate qualifications                   Medicine   (Sri Lanka CoSHH).
                                                                                               venereology
was recognized as a public health       awarded by the Postgraduate                        iii.         To promote fellowship
specialty by the Ministry of Health.    Institute of Medicine (PGIM). The                      among those engaged in
The Central Venereal Diseases           postgraduate qualification to be a                     the practice and research in
Clinic (CVDC) was established           venereologist was not clearly laid                     venereology.
in Colombo while out-patients           down. The MSc and MD Community                          Dr Lucian Jayasuriya was
departments of provincial hospitals     Medicine with a dissertation/thesis                elected Founder President and
had rooms demarcated for the VD         on sexually transmitted diseases                   the Founder Member Dr Iyanthi
clinic with separate access. A new      were recognized as the qualification               Abeyewickreme was elected the
separate cadre of venereologists        to be a venereologist.                             Founder Secretary.
was created to provide specialised           Although there were many                           The First Annual Academic
services.                               professional              colleges           and   Sessions of the College was
    For a career in venereology,        associations dedicated to the                      inaugurated on 17 August 1996, with
applications were called from           development of their specialty,                    the Hon. A H M Fowzie, Minister
medical officers who had at least       including community medicine,                      of Health as the Chief Guest.
two years of service as a Medical       there was no such college or                       Due to the efforts of Dr Iyanthi
Officer of Health.                      association for venereology.                       Abeyewickreme, the Chief Guest
    Following a selection interview          Dr Iyanthi Abeyewickreme took                 at the Second Annual Academic
chaired by the Director General         the initiative to form a college as she            Sessions in 1997 was Dr. George
of Health Services, successful          felt that such an organization was                 Robert           Kinghorn,         Consultant
applicants were trained for three       necessary to develop venereology                   Genitourinary             Physician       and
months at the CVDC and appointed        as a separate specialty rather than                Clinical Director, Department of
to head the VD clinics at the           as a subsidiary of community                       Genitourinary Medicine, Royal
Provincial hospitals.                   medicine.                                          Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield,
    After two years of service, they         After much discussions with                   UK.
were sent abroad for the Diploma        the consultants and medical                             The MSc and MD Community
in Public Health or equivalent to the   officers at the NSACP, the College                 Medicine provided knowledge
UK or USA, and further training in      of       Genitourinary              Physicians     and training in public health but
venereology at a centre or centres      was founded by Dr. Iyanthi                         the SLCoV did not consider these
of excellence. On their return they     Abeyewickreme on 7th October                       as adequate for practicing as a

16        | January 2021
                              SLMANEWS+
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