The brief history of SLMA
The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) is the national professional medical association in Sri Lanka, which brings together medical practitioners of all grades and all branches of medicine.
The SLMA is in fact the oldest medical organization in Asia and Australasia, with a proud history dating from 1887. At its inception it was called the 'Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association'. Later it evolved into the 'Ceylon Medical Association' (1951) and after Sri Lanka became a Republic in 1972, it became the 'Sri Lanka Medical Association'.
The office of the SLMA is situated at 'Wijerama House' (named after Dr. E. M. Wijerama, who donated the premises to the SLMA), on Wijerama Mawatha, in Colombo 07.
The Association aims to provide a forum for its members to present their research and to further their professional and academic development.
The Annual Scientific Sessions of the Association are usually held in the month of March every year.
The Foundation Sessions of the Sri Lanka Medical Association were instituted in the year 1997 during the presidency of Dr. S. Ramachandran. It was intended to fill the vacuum in the academic calendar of the Association during the second half of the year and is traditionally held in the month of November because several important events in the Association's history occurred in the month of November.
At its inception, way back in 1887, the Association was called the 'Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association'. Sixty four years later, on 5 November 1951 it was renamed the 'Ceylon Medical Association' and eight days later on the 13 November 1951 incorporated under the Companies Act as a Branch of the British Medical Association. On 15 November 1956 the Association became independent of the British Medical Association. Finally on 17 November 1972, after Sri Lanka became a republic, it was renamed the 'Sri Lanka Medical Association'.
Presidents of the Sri Lanka Medical Association:
2009 - Prof Rezvi Sheriff
2008 - Prof Lalitha Mendis
2007 - Prof Gita Fernando
2006 - Dr Suriyakanthi Amarasekara
2005 - Prof A H Sheriffdeen
2004 - Prof Ravindra Fernando
2003 - Dr Sunil Seneviratne Epa
2002 - Dr Preethi Wijegoonewardene
2001 - Prof Anoja Fernando
2000 - Dr Kumar Weerasekera