Prizes and Awards 2018

Awards for research papers presented at the SLMA 131^st Anniversary International Medical Congress

1. E M Wijerama Award

OP 034
Anaemia among women of child-bearing age: Contributions of alpha and beta-thalassaemia.

Mettananda S¹, ², Suranjan PDM¹, Fernando VR¹, Dias TD¹,², Rodrigo R¹, Perera L¹, Mettananda KCD¹, Gibbons RJ³, Premawardhena A¹,², Higgs DR³

¹Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
²Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka
³University of Oxford, United Kingdom

1. S E Seneviratna Award

OP 036
Pattern of dengue virus infections in adult patients from Sri Lanka

Jayarajah U¹,6, de Silva PK², Jayawardena P², Dissanayake U³, Kulathunga A², Fernando H², Perera L^4,6, Kannangara V^{4, 6}, Udayangani C^{4, 6}, Peiris R^{4, 6}, Faizer S⁶, Yasawardene P⁶, de Zoysa I^4,6, Seneviratne SL^4,5,6

¹Dengue Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
²National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
³Department of Medicine, Base Hospital, Panadura, Sri Lanka
⁴Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
⁵Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, UK
⁶Dengue Research Group, Colombo, Sri Lanka

1. H K T Fernando Award

OP 033
Long term use of mefloquine amongst military personnel: A key strategy in the prevention of reintroduction of malaria to Sri Lanka

Fernando SD¹, Booso BR², Madurapperuma C³, Wickramasekara T⁴, Danansooriya M⁵, Ranaweera D⁵

¹Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
²Directorate of Health Services, Sri Lanka Air Force Head Quarters, Colombo
³Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
⁴Preventive Medicine and Mental Health Services, Army Hospital, Narahenpita
⁵Anti Malaria Campaign, Sri Lanka

1. Sir Nicholas Attygalle Award

OP 032
Effects of exercise on body composition in Sri Lankans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Ranasinghe C¹,², Buddhila B¹, Constantine GR³, Katulanda P³, Hills AP4, King NA²

¹Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
²School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
³Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
⁴School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

1. Wilson Peiris Award

OP 003
Fat percentage derived BMI cut-offs for Sri Lankan adults

Jayawardena R¹, Thennakoon SN²,Hills AP³

¹Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
²Diabetes Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
³University of Tasmania, Australia

1. Daphne Attygalle Award for the best paper in Cancer

OP 062
The incidence and patterns of liver cancers in Sri Lanka from 2000-2010: Analysis of National Cancer Registry data

Jayarajah U¹, Fernando AR¹, Fernando EA², Samarasekera DN¹, Seneviratne SA¹

¹Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo
²National Cancer Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Colombo

1. Sir Frank Gunasekera Award for the best paper in Community Medicine

OP 056

Level of empowerment for tobacco control in a rural low-income district in Sri Lanka

Perera KMN¹, Guruge GND², Jayawardana PL¹

¹Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya
²Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

1. Kumaradasa Rajasuriya Award for the best paper in Tropical Medicine

OP 036

Pattern of dengue virus infections in adult patients from Sri Lanka

Jayarajah U¹,6, de Silva PK², Jayawardena P², Dissanayake U³, Kulathunga A², Fernando H², Perera L^4,6, Kannangara V^{4, 6}, Udayangani C^{4, 6}, Peiris R^{4, 6}, Faizer S⁶, Yasawardene P⁶, de Zoysa I^4,6, Seneviratne SL^4,5,6

¹Dengue Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
²National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
³Department of Medicine, Base Hospital, Panadura, Sri Lanka
4Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
5Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital and University College London, UK
6Dengue Research Group, Colombo, Sri Lanka

1. Special Prize in Cardiology

OP 035

Which cardiovascular disease risk estimation tool would be most suitable in detecting underlying atherosclerosis in Sri Lankan adults?

Amarasinghe ATIM¹, Lekamwasam S², Weerarathna TP², Sumanathillake M³

¹Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle
²Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle
³National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo

1. S Ramachandran Award for the best Scientific Communication in Nephrology

OP 020

Protective effect of Barleria prionitis extract (katukarandu) against doxorubicin induced acute nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats

Amarasiri AMSS¹, Attanayake AP², Jayatilaka KAPW², Mudduwa LKB³

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna
²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna
³Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna

1. The Sri Lanka Association of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics award for the Best Paper in Pharmacology

OP 001

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Sri Lankan medicinal plants and evaluation of their antimicrobial potential

Napagoda MT¹, De Soyza WSG¹, Wijayaratne WMDGB², Witharana S³

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna
²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna
³Faculty of Engineering, Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates

1. SLMA Prize for the best Poster

PP 031

Why do people travel upto 70km to seek treatment from the Colombo North Teaching Hospital Outpatient Department? A qualitative study

Perera DP¹, Withana SS¹, Mendis KM¹, Kasunjith DVT¹, Jayathilaka WTS¹, Wickramasuriya SW¹, Govinthadas S¹, Kalansooriya R¹, Welhenage C¹

¹Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

Research Grants

1. Professor Wilfred Perera Travel Grant – 2018

“Climate change adaptation and mitigation at individual level: Capacity assessment of school teachers
Dr. Chintha Rupasinghe, National Institute of Health Sciences, Nagoda, Kalutara

“Trainee’s perception of the post-graduate medical overseas training received in the UK: A survey among the post –MD trainees in Sri Lanka”
Dr. W. D. Dilshan Priyankara, No. 17/ D 3rd Lane, Ambillawatta Road, Boralesgamuwa

“The level of physical activity among 10-19 years aged viually or hearing disabled adolescents in the Western Province of Sri Lanka”
Dr. S. S. Jayasena, Medical Officer, Anti-Malaria Campaign

2. SLMA – Glaxo Welcome Research Grant

Knowledge on prevention of occupational health hazards and utilization of safety measures among construction trade workers in a selected building construction site in the district of Colombo
Dr. K. C. Kalubowila, Medical Officer, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

3. The CNAPT Award in Memory of Richard and Sheila Peiris

Prevention of lightning related adverse effects: knowledge, attitudes and practices among residents in Kiriella Medical Officer of Health area
Dr. K. C. Kalubowila, Medical Officer, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division, Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine

4. SLMA Research Grant

Single blind randomized control trial to evaluate the effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in acute schizophrenia
Dr. Asiri Rodrigo, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

5. Award for Excellence in Health Journalism – 2018

මුව සුව සිතුවිලි – ගෙන දෙයි සුව දිවි
Ms. Harindi Liyanage
“Nawaliya”, Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited