Faculty of Medicine Academic Sessions (FMAS) – 2020 was successfully held on 03rd of February, at T.W. Wickramanayake Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna under the theme “Viral Pandemics: A New Beginning”. It was held under COVID-19 regulations. The Chief Guest was Senior Professor Sujeewa Amarasena, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna. Keynote Address was delivered on “Hopes with COVID-19 crisis. Are there any?” by Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, Consultant Physician, National Institute of Infectious Diseases. FMAS oration entitled “Institutionalization of Postpartum Intrauterine Device Service: A story of successful Implementation” was delivered by Dr. Lanka Dasanayake, Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna.
Dean’s award ceremony was also held in line with the inauguration ceremony and three medical students were offered the Dean’s award for overall good performance in 2020 by the participation of the Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor Sujeewa Amarasena and Prof. Vasantha Devasiri, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna.
Morning sessions after the inauguration was enriched with FMAS symposium on “Life in the time of COVID: Winning battles and forging ahead”. Symposium subthemes were “Fresh insights and new directions in university education” by Senior Professor Sujeewa Amarasena, “Role of viral diagnostics in living with the pandemic” by Dr Nayomi Danthanarayana, Consultant Virologist, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, “Transforming the ETU:Leading the way in making hospital safe for all” by Dr Ganaka Senaratne, Consultant Physician,Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, and “Forging Ahead with COVID-19” by Dr Lasantha Malavige Consultant in Sexual Medicine and Chairman Lassana Group of companies. There were four presentations on completed post graduate research projects.
The free paper session included both oral presentations (both open and undergraduate categories) and poster presentations. Best and commended places for oral and poster presentations were selected separately for open category and the undergraduate category. Prof.Vasantha Devasiri, Dean, Faculty of Medicine awarded the certificates to the winners. Prof R S Janaka Lenora and Dr. Pushpika Jayawardena were the Chairperson and Secretary of FMAS-2020.