Established in the year 1962, the Faculty of Medicine - Peradeniya is currently rated as one of the top medical schools in Sri Lanka. Set in the foothills of Hantana it has produced many outstanding medical professionals who are scattered world over. Now beyond 60 years in existence, Peradeniya is a much sought after place by many to pursue their undergraduate education in medicine.
The Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association (PeMSAA) established in 1992 was the first such association amongst the medical schools in Sri Lanka. Being the brain child of the first batch of undergraduates of ‘Pera’, PeMSAA has grown from strength to strength over the years and is currently well established and now boasts of international chapters in United Kingdom, Australasia, USA and Bhutan.
I am indeed honored to be inducted as the 16th President of PeMSAA. I stand in line with 15 of my predecessors whose vision and actions has made PeMSAA into what it is today. I must thank and acknowledge the previous council led by Prof. Thushara Kudagammana for the excellent work carried out over the past two years amidst the pandemic and the unprecedented economic crisis that gripped the country. He was ably supported by a team of dynamic people who have contributed immensely to achieve much. I am ever so glad that many of them in his council have pledged their support to work with me to hopefully take PeMSAA to greater heights in the next two years.
I am sure all of us currently feel bit more comfortable now than what we felt in June- July 2022. Although some aspects are slowing becoming normal there remains much to be done. As an alumni association we are aware that our faculty is no exception and we will strive to do our best for our faculty to support our students and staff.
PeMSAA over the years has provided support to students with financial difficulties which was facilitated through the PeMSAA studentship and the bursary scheme. My council and I will continue to support these schemes and strengthen those further thus supporting undergraduates to pursue their education without much burden. We are hopeful that those who receive the bursaries will be mindful of the benefits they have received and will undertake to support another individual in need upon their graduation.
It is no secret that the humane touch of the modern day medical professional is not optimal and patient expectations of receiving holistic care is ever increasing. The recent Covid pandemic too has had a negative effect on this as the contact of the two parties too was minimal. In this background we believe the modern day undergraduate needs to have soft skills to ensure good interactions with those they treat. Our committee hopes to focus on this aspect and will liaise with the faculty administration to facilitate a programme to instill these soft skills in our graduates.
Successive councils have strived to make the faculty a more pleasing and comfortable environment for students to carry on their learning. PeMSAA is happy to have contributed to the infrastructure of such leisure areas and continues to support the maintenance of the faculty premises to maintain it in a pleasing manner. We have plans to develop and landscape few new areas during our term of office to improve the atmosphere within the faculty as we believe that a pleasant environment will foster better learning.
In the modern era continuing medical education too is an aspect that need to be addressed. We have plans to reach our membership through CME activities which will be facilitated through regional clinical societies. This I believe will enable better interaction with our membership that is scattered all over the country.
We acknowledge the support of our overseas chapters and their contribution in student welfare and I hope to further strengthen the bonds with them and plan collaborative work that would be mutually beneficial for PeMSAA and students alike.
The alumni of Peradeniya Medical School are always willing to lend a helping hand to the student, the faculty and to each other when the need arises. We will reach out and harness the untapped support towards betterment of the faculty and the students, engaging the greater community of alumni in PeMSAA activities, enhancing and enriching existing bonds. We will maintain and improve our relationships with our overseas chapters as well.
Dear Alumnus, you could count on my council to deliver a promising programme in the next couple of years and I would like to kindly request all of you to support us in whatever possible way so that our united efforts will help to make ‘Pera” a better place to live study and enjoy life. Let me also extend an invitation to you to come and visit your alma mater to rekindle your memories and to witness how “Pera” has grown over a half a century.
Long live our faculty and PeMSAA!
Prof. Heshan Jayaweera
President
Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association
Professor in Paediatrics & Consultant Paediatrician
Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
Sri Lanka