Welcome to the Colombo Medical Congress 2024 on “Advancing Health and Wellness through Impactful Research”. In an era where the boundaries of medicine are constantly being redefined, this conference serves as a pivotal platform for exchanging knowledge, fostering collaborations, and exploring innovative approaches to enhancing health and well-being globally.

The theme of this year’s conference underscores the vital role of research in driving the evolution of healthcare. Our collective commitment to impactful research not only advances our scientific understanding but also translates into meaningful improvements in patient outcomes and public health. Through rigorous inquiry and collaborative efforts, we can address the pressing health challenges of our time, from chronic diseases to emerging health threats, ensuring a healthier future for all.

We have gathered a diverse and distinguished group of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to share their expertise and insights. The programme is designed to inspire and challenge us to think critically about the ways in which our research can be applied to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities.

As we engage in these discussions, let us keep in mind the broader impact of our work. Together, we have the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare, making it more equitable, accessible, and effective for everyone.

Thank you for your participation and dedication to advancing health and wellness through research. I wish you all a productive and inspiring conference.

Vidya Jyothi Professor Vajira H. W. Dissanayake
Dean, Faculty of Medicine
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Dear Colleagues and Esteemed Alumni,
Colombo Medical Congress 2024 the flagship scientific gathering organized by the Colombo Medical Faculty and CoMSAA is scheduled to be held in December 2024.
I take this opportunity as Co-Chair of the Congress and President of CoMSAA to extend a cordial invitation to all of you- very specially to our Alumni- to be part of this event.
The Colombo Medical Congress brings together a galaxy of experts in medicine and all branches of academia from all over the world. The environment of the congress encourages and ensures exchange of ideas and concerns, vibrant discussion, networking and fellowship as we tackle the challenges and innovations shaping current and future healthcare.
This year’s congress promises to be a landmark event, featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, and cutting-edge research presentations across a wide range of specialties.
Your presence will not only enhance the depth of discussion but also further strengthen the bonds within our medical community.
We look forward to seeing you in Colombo this December for what will undoubtedly be an inspiring impactful and memorable event.

Warm regards

Dr. D. K. D. Mathew ,
President, Colombo Medical School Alumni Association
Co-Chair, Colombo Medical Congress 2024

It is with great pleasure that we send this message to the Colombo Medical Congress 2024, which will be held from 9^th to 13^th of December at the UCFM Tower, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. This annual international event is jointly organized with the Colombo Medical Faculty Alumni Association (CoMSAA) as a component of the Annual Research Symposium of the University of Colombo. This year’s theme “Advancing Health and Wellness through Impactful Research” was chosen carefully to showcase basic and translational research by our Faculty members and its Alumni which have contributed to improve and advance health and wellness of our fellow countrymen and others beyond our shores.

The congress includes Pre-congress activities comprising workshops organized by individual Departments and Clinical Centers of the Faculty, giving an opportunity to show-case their vast and varied research activities and their translations into service components; leading to better healthcare in the country. The Alumni Day will provide a forum for Alumni living throughout the globe to present their research work and make collaborations with the Colombo Medical Faculty to enhance research activities. This year the scientific programme of the main congress is unique as the themes of the symposia and plenaries are centered around the undergraduate curriculum. Research topics relevant to the planned teaching content during the Congress week will be deliberated highlighting translational research. Thereby we aim to achieve greater student engagement in the congress whilst creating awareness, interest and inculcate a research culture among Colombo Medical Faculty graduates. Furthermore, the conference is a great way to share with our country and the world the research capabilities of the Colombo Medical Faculty, create new collaborations and enter into new vistas in research, health and wellness.

The Inauguration ceremony held on 12th of December will mark the commencement of the main scientific sessions. Senior Professor (Chair) H. D.  Karunaratne, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo will grace the occasion as the Chief guest and Dr. Ajantha Athukorala, Director, University of Colombo School of Computing will deliver the keynote address; on a timely topic for the nation; Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education. Many dignitaries from the academia and public and private sector organizations are invited to this ceremony. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the main auditorium with plenaries and symposia spread across other venues of the UCFM Tower.

It is indeed with pride that we announce that this year’s congress will consist of two plenaries, six symposia, free oral and poster sessions. The Medical Faculty Oration and the CoMSAA Oration will be the highlight events of the congress, which will be delivered following the inauguration ceremony and the closing ceremony of the main congress respectively. The pre-congress sessions will provide updates on many areas in medicine and surgery to the medical fraternity and relevant stakeholders. Continuing our tradition, a full day post-congress workshop titled “Non-Academic Career Development 2024” will be held, marking the conclusion of this year’s Congress. In view of the ‘green’ concept of the Faculty and Congress, the proceedings book will be in electronic form and the link will be shared with the participants.

The organization of this event was planned over many months by the faculty organizing committee comprising staff members from three Departments namely, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care and Department of Anatomy, Genetics and Biomedical Informatics of the Faculty of Medicine, and President and Council of CoMSAA and ably supported by academic and non-academic staff of other departments of the medical faculty, Dean’s office staff and both medical and allied health sciences students. All members of the organizing committee worked with commitment and dedication to make the event a success.

The success of the Congress depends on many people who have worked alongside the organizing committee in planning, organizing the conference and precise implementation of the planned activities. We take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Congress, Senior Professor Vajira H.W. Dissanayake, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and Dr. D.K.D. Matthew, the President of CoMSAA for their leadership and constant support. We also wish to extend our gratitude to our Co-secretaries Dr. Asha Wettasinghe and Dr. Nilanka Wickramasinghe for their untiring work, and all members of committees for their hard work. A special thanks goes out to oration and abstract reviewers, orators and keynote speakers, resource persons in the workshops, plenaries and symposia, free paper presenters, judges and session chairs. Finally, we wish to thank our sponsors for their generous support to our conference. And above all, a big thank you to our audience without whom no conference is complete!

We wish to welcome all the dignitaries, invitees and delegates to the Colombo Medical Congress 2024 and we wish you all fruitful deliberations.