Faculty of Medicine Academic Sessions (FMAS) – 2024 was successfully held on the 8th May 2024, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna under the theme “Health Across the Life Cycle”. Senior Prof Vijitha De Silva and Prof Nayana Liyanarachchi were the Chairperson of FMAS 2024. The Chief Guest for FMAS 2024 was Senior Professor Sujeewa Amarasena, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna. Keynote Address was delivered on “Challenges in ensuring Health Across the Life Cycle in Sri Lanka” by Dr Palitha Mahipala, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. FMAS oration entitled “Ensuring Every Child Counts; Expanding Newborn Screening for Inherited Metabolic Disorders in Sri Lanka” was delivered by Dr. Imalke Kankananarachchi, Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna. Miss JAML Jayawickrama, Mr Mevan Induruwa and Dr Devuni Wijenayaka were awarded the Dean’s awards for the year 2024 as the best 2nd MBBS student, the best 3rd MBBS student and the best final MBBS student respectively. Academic staff members of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna who had published articles indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded or Social Science Citation Index received the “Research Publication Awards” for the Year 2023. Twenty-five academic members received the Research Publication Awards for the Year 2023.
The inauguration ceremony was followed by the FMAS symposium. FMAS symposium on “Health Across the Life Cycle; Challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals” was held and symposium subthemes were “Challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals in child healthcare in Sri Lanka” by Prof. Pujitha Wickramasinghe, Senior Professor in Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka , “Challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals in adolescent healthcare in Sri Lanka” by Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, Director, Planning, and Focal Point of SGDs, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka and “Challenges in achieving Sustainable Development Goals in elderly healthcare in Sri Lanka” by Dr. Shiromi Maduwage, Consultant Community Physician, Youth, Elderly and Disability Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.
This session was followed by the free paper session and poster session from both open category and undergraduate category. Senior Professor Thilak Weerarathna, Dean, Faculty of Medicine awarded the certificates to the winners of best oral and poster presentations.