President's Message

“Envisioning the future, Empowering the Physicians”.

As the 8th President of the Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine (SLCIM), it gives me great pleasure to compose this message. Since its establishment in 2016, SLCIM has rapidly gained the recognition as one of the country’s foremost professional bodies. As the new president, I am privileged to guide SLCIM towards excellence in healthcare through our holistic mission. I am humbled by the trust placed in me by my fellow specialists, and I pledge to work tirelessly towards our collective goal of advancing the art and science of internal medicine in Sri Lanka.

The brain drain has become a challenging situation due to the country’s economic instability. The migration of highly skilled professionals to other countries in search of perceived greener pastures can result in a shortage of specialised healthcare professionals. This will obviously increase the workload of remaining physicians and reduce access to specialised care. Despite this, our dedicated and committed members tirelessly strive for healthcare excellence. I admire the devotion of our previous council members who, in honorary positions, have elevated the college alongside visionary past Presidents. Internal medicine, foundational to comprehensive healthcare, focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating internal diseases.

Our theme for the year 2024 is “Envisioning the future, Empowering the Physicians.” The College has a vibrant and diverse calendar for the year. Launching a National Internal Medicine Day and a public awareness platform are among them. Most of the successful College programs will continue with new vigour infused with the theme of the year. The academic programs for this year will prioritise preparing physicians for future challenges, empowering them with knowledge, skills, and comfort in utilising cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI), alongside enhancing their soft skills.

The highlight of the year will be SIMCON, the annual congress of the College, scheduled from November 7th to 9th, 2024, in Colombo. SLCIM aims to collaborate closely with sister colleges and associations to share knowledge and address issues related to members’ rights.

I hope you will continue to help us achieve our objectives this year to uplift the college to greater heights and to keep the momentum going. “Every dream begins with a wish.”

Unity has always been our strength. I encourage all SLCIM members to unite with the College for the advancement of our esteemed profession. Let us join together envisioning the future in order to empower the physicians and ultimately achieve excellence in patient care.