‘Your presence on the battlefield has boosted our combatants’ morale, as they were aware that their health was being taken care of.’ – Defence Secretary

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‘I am extremely happy that the College has selected a timely theme this year: “Diversity and Inclusion towards Excellence in Military Medicine.” I firmly believe that striving for excellence in military medicine cannot be achieved by merely being knowledgeable and developing skills in military medicine but by creating and fostering an attitudinal and behavioural change, which is implied by the theme you have selected’.

Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne made these remarks while taking the stage as the Guest of Honour at the Inaugural Ceremony of the Seventh Annual Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Military Medicine (SLCOMM) held at the Wave n’ Lake Navy Banquet Hall, Walisara on Friday (Mar 15).

Hon. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, the Minister of Health and Minister of Industries graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The seventh Annual Academic Sessions of the SLCOMM are to be unwrapped for two days from March 16 at Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo.

President of SLCOMM, Surgeon Commodore Nandanie Wijedoru welcomed the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour on arrival to the venue.

The SLCOMM functions with an executive committee consisting of the respective heads of the military medical services and its seventh annual academic sessions will provide a platform to share experiences and exchange knowledge and insights among Tri-Forces and foreign military medical experts.

The dignitaries  including Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Palitha Maheepala, Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, Directors of the Tri-Forces Health Services, Executive Committee Members of the SLCOMM, senior officials of the Ministry of Health and foreign delegates were present at the occasion.