Let me at the outset remind our members that the Council of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka was incorporated under (Incorporation) Act, No.18 of 1999 [Certified on 24th June, 1999] and was with the following objectives 

a)     To organize programmes on Community Medicine including post graduate education and research, in order to promote knowledge and                       experience in the subject among medical practitioners.

b)     To organize programmes on community medicine for the welfare of the people, and to promote awareness of the subject among the people.

c)     To promote fellowship with, and assist, persons and institutions engaged in the practice of community medicine.

d)     To do other acts and things as are conducive or incidental to the attainment of the above objects.

The current constitution was adopted at the AGM 2012 which also has similar objectives. (please see attached copies of the Act and constitution adopted). 

The immediate past President Dr. Sapumal Dhanapala and I agreed for a two-year plan for the CCPSL. The main aim of the year 2019/20 was to improve the image of the Community Physicians, PG trainees and promote the interest of PH in the periphery, to get more interested MOHs and MOs to apply for our MSc course. Year 2020/21 will continue the above and promote our image further and we will plan to establish a few collaborations with overseas PH Institutions.

As you already know the theme for the year is “Improving Human Capital through an Integrated Approach to Primary Health Care”. I strongly believe that we in Sri Lanka should have one plan for health development. We need to improve the quality of health services that we provide across the country. We need to ensure that we maintain equality in the provision of health care to all citizens. We need to support implementation of the new model of Primary Care Strategy that has been initiated. 

We have already planned to have the first council meeting on 6^th October 2020 and will share the activity plan with you once the Council approved it.

There have been good initiatives started by previous Councils which we will continue. To name a few “Super 8”, “Clinical Governance” and “Youth as a Smart investment” , PG student mentoring and career development, and research cell activities initiated by the last council. 

I invite all members of the CCPSL who are interested in supporting the College activities to volunteer to serve either by informing the Secretary Dr. Anuji Gamage or any Council Member. 

Finally, I thank all the council members for accepting my invitation to be in the Council and the permissive gesture in conducting the election of office bearers and committee at the AGM. Thank you all. Committee appointed for the year 2020/2021 is given below. 

I wish all members of the CCPSL a very productive year ahead.

Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe

President   CCPSL