Our Story

SLMA, throughout its 134 year-long existence, has been engaged in providing relief to persons affected during disasters. SLMA was in forefront in supporting healthcare professionals with rations during long hours of their work in the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka. During that catastrophic Tsunami, the SLMA initiated a fund with finances from The Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia & Oceania (CMAAO) to provide assistance to children affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami. Selected children have been supported by this fund throughout their schooling career and even after some of them entered the university.

During disasters such as flooding episodes in Sri Lanka, the SLMA has liaised with the national and international well-wishers to provide relief such as food items and medicines to those affected.

Many health camps have been arranged by the SLMA Council and other members to provide medical support during the times of the ethnic conflict as well as during natural disasters. 

Since its inception in 1887, SLMA has been a credible organization with an unblemished record and has regularly conducted professional development and welfare activities with the technical and financial support from the Ministry of Health and UN organizations such as WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF & World Bank.

The SLMA is ever so cognizant of the fact that during the current intensely trying period in our country ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are very many needs of the hour to provide a helping hand and succour to the pressing issues affecting the people of our country.

We are well aware of the problems caused by near-saturation of medical facilities and beds, the travesties of those who are kept waiting before admission to hospitals and intermediate care facilities and the significant problems faced by doctors and other health care providers in trying to provide optimal care for those suffering from COVID-19.

In such a scenario, the SLMA has taken an initiative to establish the fund, “SLMA COVID සහන” to try and harness the goodwill, compassion and philanthropy of the more fortunate members of our populace in canvassing as well as soliciting donations which the SLMA would be able to use for the welfare of those afflicted by COVID-19.