Military Medicine 2nd Annual Academic Sessions Inaugurated at Colombo Cinnamon Grand

The second Annual Academic Sessions - 2018 of the Sri Lanka College of Military Medicine (SLCOMM) were inaugurated this evening (23) at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo under the aegis of Mr Austin Fernando, Secretary to HE the President as the Chief Guest, together with Mr Kapila Waidyaratne PC, Secretary Defence, Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army and Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, Commander of the Navyat the invitation of Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, President of SLCOMM and also the Director General Army Health Services at the Army Headquarters and Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps (SLAMC).

Chairman of the International Committee of Military Medicine, Lieutenant General B. Puriwill delivered the keynote address in the first day session. Delegates from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Oman and the UK are attending the sessions.

Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, President of SLCOMM made the welcome speech while Professor Janaka De Silva, Professor of Medicine at the University of Kelaniya and Director, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine at the University of Colombo delivered the inaugural academic speech after the lighting of traditional oil lamp.

The three-day (23-25) symposium expects to focus its academic sessions on ‘neglected tropical diseases and military medicine’, ‘facial aesthetic and comprehensive approach’, ‘aviation medicine, a way forward and dangers in the underwater environment’, etc.

Plenary sessions include lectures by specialists on ‘management of diabetic foot’, ‘current management of breast carcinoma’, ‘medical challenges of female combatant’, ‘responsibilities of a civil general surgeon during war time’, ‘robotic surgery; management of dead in disaster; role of the first responders’, ‘CBRN warfare and medical ethics’, etc.

The SLCOMM, fulfilling a long-felt need to provide an opportunity for professional development of the specific field has contributed largely to improve the country's readiness to respond to disasters, both natural and manmade.

In the past year, the council of the SLCOMM under the guidance of Major General SanjeewaMunasinghe held six workshops for membership aiming continuous updates on professional development and also an outreach medic clinic for the benefit of 1200 civil population with significant numbers affected by kidney diseases in the district of Mullaittivu.

Turning a new leaf in the military medicine sector, a combined gathering of 400 tri-service medical and dental Officers founded this first ever Sri Lanka College of Military Medicine (SLCOMM) during an academic forum that gathered at Colombo Army Hospital on 18th March 2016.

The SLCOMM aims to promote research, innovation, training and advocacy in military medicine among membership. Establishment of a master level postgraduate qualification for military medical officers and dental officers is being formulated with Post Graduate Institute of Medicine of University of Colombo.

Sri Lanka College of Military Medicine received recognition in the International Committee of Military Medicine (ICMM) where 120 countries of the world joined together for professional improvement of military medicine, a few years ago.