Dear Friends, 

Sri Lanka has been the shining example for improving maternal mortality and the envy of many less resourced countries. It is highlighted as an example of good maternity care by international bodies such as the World Health Organisation. This success is to a greater extent due to the high literacy rate of the population, well organised health services and a dedicated profession. The Professional organisation which upholds the standards of the practise of Obstetrics & Gynaecology in the country is the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists.  True to the spirit of the College it devotes its energy to conduct Annual Scientific Sessions to help their members with continuous Professional Development (CPD) to continuously improve the health care for women. The conference in August 2010 has a great scientific programme to suit the needs of every practising clinician from a generalist to the needs of a sub specialist. My congratulations to Dr Sarath Amarasekera, President of the College, the Scientific program and Organising committees of the congress.

The main sessions have several seminars, free communication sessions, plenary sessions, seven plenary lectures and a couple of eponymous lectures. The knowledge gained will help one to enhance good practice, question some of our current practices and is likely to stimulate audit and research. There is a pre-congress course on colposcopy for two days followed by a day of live demonstration and two days post congress course on laparoscopic surgery that includes lectures, dry lab training and live demonstrations. There is no doubt great care and effort has been taken by the organisers to produce this impressive program. Faculty are from Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia and the United States of America making this a truly International conference.

Sri Lankans are known for their warm hospitality. I can assure all who attend that there would be an educational and social feast that will be par excellence. 

My best wishes for a successful and memorable congress. 

Yours sincerely,

It gives me great pleasure to invite you the 43rd Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, to be held from the 6th to 8th August 2010 at the Ceylon Continental Hotel, Colombo. We have drawn up a varied and stimulating scientific programme for the sessions under the theme “Towards Optimizing Care for Women”. The idea has been to find ways to improve care for women in our region by combining the best from here and abroad.

We are privileged that a distinguished invited faculty will grace the Congress this year. The dignitaries include Professors Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran and Albert Singer. Other invited speakers from USA, Singapore, India and Australia will address the sessions. A host of local speakers will also make contributions.  

It would be worthwhile making mention of the Workshops that will be held in conjunction with the Congress. The colposcopy workshop conducted by Professor Albert Singer the preeminent teacher of the technique in the world is a chance not to be missed. The post congress workshop concentrating laparoscopic suturing and laparoscopic hysterectomy will be conducted by a distinguished Faculty. Dr. Jon Einarsson who conducts similar courses at Harvard and Dr. Kurian Joseph, renowned teacher and laparoscopic surgeon are part of it.

The Congress is without a doubt bound to provide and interesting fare!!