Series of events to mark Sri Lanka Medical Association’s 125th anniversary

THE Sri Lanka Medical Association, with a history and legacy spanning over a century will hold a series of Conferences and exhibitions throughout the country to mark its 125th anniversary.
The SLMA is the oldest national medical association in Asia and Australasia and boasts of an illustrious legacy of serving the medical profession and the public during its existence. The series of exhibitions are organised in conjunction with Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services an organisation which is considered the country’s premier Exhibition and Conference organisers.

The events which will consist of trade fairs and conferences will attract the gamut of the membership of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. The membership of the SLMA consists of all Doctors of the medical profession ranging from the most senior consultants to the medical undergraduates who will be an inherent part of the conferences.
The regional conferences are set to kick off on 27 and 28 of January 2012 in Jaffna. This will be followed by a series of regional conferences to be held in Galle, Batticaloa, Kandy and Anuradhapura during the last week of the preceding months with the grand exhibition and conference set to take place in Colombo at the BMICH on the from 2 to 6 July 2012.
The President-Elect of the SLMA Professor Vajira H. W. Dissanayake is of the opinion that this event would be the central meeting place for all Sri Lankan doctors domiciled In Sri Lanka as well as those abroad. “The event is unique in its nature, with no parallel event of this kind in Asia. It will attract almost all medical practitioners in Sri Lanka together with our very own Doctors who have migrated to all parts of the world. The SLMA aims at bringing down foreign medical specialists from all medical specialties which would help the medical community to share their knowledge and familiarise themselves with latest developments in the medical field,” he said.
The conferences are considered the apex forum for all medical practitioners to meet and discuss and exchange views and ideas pertaining to the health care industry.
These events will also be seen as a platform to showcase the high standards set by Sri Lanka in the field of healthcare. Sri Lanka boasts of the of the highest health care indicators in the entire South Asian region together with a magnitude of other advancements which keeps the country on par with the most advanced systems of healthcare around the globe.
Professor Dissanayake believes that this would be the ideal opportunity to project the image of the countries health care industry to the world. “The Sri Lankan health care industry is one of the best in the region and we have professionals within our system who are considered the best by global standards, this would be an ideal opportunity to showcase what the country has to offer in terms of health care to the rest of the world,” he said.
The event will consists of exhibitions and all fields relevant to the industry will have an ideal opportunity to showcase their products to the specific target market. The exhibitions will be unique in essence providing for a trade fair aimed at the doctors which will be a one of a kind event to all those participants and visitors alike.
The exhibition will provide for unparalleled access to Sri Lankan doctors and paramedical staff from all parts of the country together with the Sri Lankan Diaspora engaged in the medical profession throughout the world. The exhibitions will also be a platform for exhibitors to showcase their products to visiting medics and Para medics of foreign countries. Director of event organiser LECS Imran Hassan believes that this event would be the best opportunity to gain access to large population of medical practitioners under one roof.
“The event will first and foremost be seen as an event which could showcase the strength of our health care industry to the rest of the world. There will be a large and never before witnessed gathering of individuals related to the medical profession which includes all facets within the profession as well. It will be the best platform to convey the message of products and services to the most important people within the industry,” he said.
The event which is scheduled to kick off in January next year culminating with the mega conference and exhibition in July 2012 will be one of the most unique initiatives taken by Sri Lanka in making the country the true wonder of Asia.