- Newly appointed College of Palliative Medicine Sri Lanka President Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa on their goals and objectives
The presidential induction ceremony of the College of Palliative Medicine of Sri Lanka was recently held at the Jubilee Ballroom, Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. This body of professionals was established to promote evidence-based palliative medicine and palliative care in the country, and consists of a variety of medical multidisciplinary professionals uniting to reach the single goal of improving the quality of life of palliative patients on the island.
The College of Palliative Medicine of Sri Lanka, founded by National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Chairman Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa, elected Dr. Rajapaksa as the President of the college for the period of 2022-2023 in the presence of Chief Guest Embassy of Brazil in Sri Lanka Counselor Ronald Cardoso and Guest of Honor Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva. High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba Andres Marcelo Gonzalez Garrido, WHO representatives, and presidents of other professional colleges graced the gathering.
Dr. Rajapaksa is highly recognised in the international arena of palliative medicine. Speaking to The Morning Brunch on this achievement, he commented: “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the President of the Palliative Care College. I am honoured to be a part of such a dedicated and compassionate team, and I look forward to working together to improve the lives of those facing life-threatening illnesses. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the members of the college for entrusting me with this important role.”
Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil Sergio Canaes handing over the official certificate of International
Honourary Professorship to Dr. Rajapaksa
Dr. Rajapaksa, speaking on their goals, stated that they strive to create a specialist palliative medicine training pathway for Sri Lanka, which will promote physician readiness in symptom management, supportive care, awareness of a range of medical and nonmedical options available for disease management, and psychosocial support to patients and families. The college also promotes working in a multi-/interdisciplinary team, working in different clinical settings, communication skills, decision-making skills, procedural skills relevant to palliative medicine, ethics-based good clinical practice, leadership, teaching, and research.
“The World Health Organisation defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, impeccable assessment, treatment of pain and physical, psychosocial, and spiritual issues,” he told us, adding that service provision in palliative care is multidisciplinary and teamwork is an essential requirement.
Two excellence awards for palliative medicine were also awarded at the event, by the College of Palliative Medicine of Sri Lanka, to the CANE Jaffna Hospice, in the hospice category, and to Teaching Hospital Batticaloa Consultant Clinical Oncologist Dr. Ahmed Iqbar, in the individual category.