Message From the Chairperson - Centenary Celebrations Committee, Sri Lanka Medical Council
Celebrating 100 Years of Dedicated Service in Regulating the Medical Practice in Sri Lanka
It is indeed a difficult task to organize a celebration of a century of service provided by an organization. It is a singular honour to be the chairman of the Centenary Celebrations Committee, and it is a privilege to share some thoughts with everyone on this landmark occasion.
Following its humble beginnings in 1925, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has provided a dedicated service in ensuring that the health care in Sri Lanka maintains the quality of care expected from a health care system. It has been a rather eventful journey with many challenges, especially as the state health care system provides care with no payment at the point of delivery. The rules and regulations drafted during the British period prevailed till a comprehensive revision was undertaken in 2024. The celebrations need to reflect the history of the SLMC, the journey in the last 100 years, with the inclusion of public perceptions, the reforms undertaken, and how the SLMC foresees its future role.
The theme chosen for the celebration was “Patient safety and quality health care for all – a Century of dedication,” encompassing the objectives stated above.
There are two segments to the event to be held on the 5th of July 2025 at the Lotus Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial Conference Hall. In the morning, an academic session incorporating the themes of history of the SLMC, quality of health care, patient safety, rules & regulations, ethics & ethical standards, methods of aligning with global health standards, and incorporation of newer technologies and treatment options, etc., will be held. A panel of expert resource personnel, including leading global health regulatory experts, will deliver talks and share their knowledge.
The ceremonial celebration in the evening will be held at the same venue with the participation of many dignitaries, including the Head of State, the Prime Minister and some Ministers and special invitees. This is expected to highlight the achievements of the SLMC in the last 100 years and reflect on its role for the future. The issuance of a special commemorative stamp will also take place during the ceremonial celebration.
Organizing a national event of this significance needs the assistance of many people. On behalf of the organizing committee, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to all the resource personnel and chairpersons who willingly agreed to be part of the academic event. We hope that the academic event will provide much for thought and provide some direction to the future role of the SLMC.
We are very grateful to all the Government and other dignitaries who will grace the ceremonial event. Their presence has added much value to the centenary celebrations.
My task as the Chairman of the Centenary Celebrations Committee has been made easy by the excellent team assigned for this task. The committee members and many staff members of the SLMC office have worked tirelessly and with great dedication in making this event a reality, and the SLMC is eternally indebted for the services rendered, as naming them is not feasible due to constraints of space.
We sincerely hope that the events and the planned programme will pay a fitting tribute to the crucial role played by SLMC during the last 100 years to the public of this beautiful country and the role they would continue to play in the future.
Prof. Ranil Fernando
Chairperson, Centenary Celebrations Committee
Sri Lanka Medical Council
It is indeed a difficult task to organize a celebration of a century of service provided by an organization. It is a singular honour to be the chairman of the Centenary Celebrations Committee, and it is a privilege to share some thoughts with everyone on this landmark occasion.
Following its humble beginnings in 1925, the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) has provided a dedicated service in ensuring that the health care in Sri Lanka maintains the quality of care expected from a health care system. It has been a rather eventful journey with many challenges, especially as the state health care system provides care with no payment at the point of delivery. The rules and regulations drafted during the British period prevailed till a comprehensive revision was undertaken in 2024. The celebrations need to reflect the history of the SLMC, the journey in the last 100 years, with the inclusion of public perceptions, the reforms undertaken, and how the SLMC foresees its future role.
The theme chosen for the celebration was “Patient safety and quality health care for all – a Century of dedication,” encompassing the objectives stated above.
There are two segments to the event to be held on the 5th of July 2025 at the Lotus Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial Conference Hall. In the morning, an academic session incorporating the themes of history of the SLMC, quality of health care, patient safety, rules & regulations, ethics & ethical standards, methods of aligning with global health standards, and incorporation of newer technologies and treatment options, etc., will be held. A panel of expert resource personnel, including leading global health regulatory experts, will deliver talks and share their knowledge.
The ceremonial celebration in the evening will be held at the same venue with the participation of many dignitaries, including the Head of State, the Prime Minister and some Ministers and special invitees. This is expected to highlight the achievements of the SLMC in the last 100 years and reflect on its role for the future. The issuance of a special commemorative stamp will also take place during the ceremonial celebration.
Organizing a national event of this significance needs the assistance of many people. On behalf of the organizing committee, I wish to express our sincere gratitude to all the resource personnel and chairpersons who willingly agreed to be part of the academic event. We hope that the academic event will provide much for thought and provide some direction to the future role of the SLMC.
We are very grateful to all the Government and other dignitaries who will grace the ceremonial event. Their presence has added much value to the centenary celebrations.
My task as the Chairman of the Centenary Celebrations Committee has been made easy by the excellent team assigned for this task. The committee members and many staff members of the SLMC office have worked tirelessly and with great dedication in making this event a reality, and the SLMC is eternally indebted for the services rendered, as naming them is not feasible due to constraints of space.
We sincerely hope that the events and the planned programme will pay a fitting tribute to the crucial role played by SLMC during the last 100 years to the public of this beautiful country and the role they would continue to play in the future.
Prof. Ranil Fernando
Chairperson, Centenary Celebrations Committee
Sri Lanka Medical Council
