The Bulletin Vol. 23 No. 1 (2025) is Now Live!
We are pleased to announce the launch of the latest issue of the Bulletin of the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists, featuring abstracts and research from the 34th Annual Scientific Sessions.
Annual Scientific Sessions 2026
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Early Bird Registration Ends: 10th July 2026
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Days
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Wound Care Beyond Boundaries:
A Practical, Multidisciplinary
Approach to Infection, Healing, and
Surgical Decision-Making.
A Practical, Multidisciplinary
Approach to Infection, Healing, and
Surgical Decision-Making.
8.00 a.m. - 8.30 a.m.
Registration
8.30 a.m. - 8.40 a.m.
Lighting of the traditional oil lamp & National Anthem
8.40 a.m. - 8.50 a.m.
Welcome address:
Dr. Jayanthi Elwitigala (President / SLCM)
8.50 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.
Microbiology of Wound Infections:
Dr. Pavithri Lewke Banara
9.00 a.m. - 9.45 a.m.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives
(Ischemia, Deep Infections, Plastic Surgery)
9.45 a.m. - 10.15 a.m.
Multidisciplinary Wound Board:
Real Case Discussions
10.15 a.m. - 10.45 a.m.
Tea
10.45 a.m. - 12.15 p.m.
Case-based discussion
12.15 p.m.
Lunch & end of session
Programme: 11th August 2026
Morning Sessions
07.30 - 08.00
Registration
08.00 - 08.45
Free Paper Session 1 (3 papers)
08.45 - 09.00
Tea Break
09.00 - 10.35
9.00 - 9.20 a.m.
Can We Recognize It Before It Breaks In?
• Dr. Mahen Kothalawala
9.20 - 9.40 a.m.
The First Golden Hour in Sepsis: How Fast, How Much, How Right?
• Dr. Pavan Kumar Vecham
9.40 - 10.00 a.m.
Sepsis Beyond the ICU: The Global Shift Towards Early Detection and Prevention
• Dr. Jessica Martin
10.00 - 10.20 a.m.
Bug, Host, or Both? Precision Microbiology & the Microbiology Dilemma in Era of AMR
• Dr. Nandini Sethuraman
10.20 - 10.35 a.m.
Q&A Session
10.35 - 11.20
PLENARY 1: Infection modelling
• Dr. Sheela Godbole
11.20 - 12.50
11.20 - 11.40 a.m.
The Changing Landscape of Sexually Transmitted Infections and emerging threat of substance abuse
• Dr. Nimali Jayasooriya
11.40 - 12.00 p.m.
HIV in transition: 'missed opportunities : Opportunistic Infections becomes the first clue"
• Dr. Iruka Rajapakse
12.00 - 12.20 p.m.
From Dual Elimination to Triple Elimination: Integrated Action for Hepatitis B, HIV, and Syphilis
• Dr. Lilani Rajapakse
12.20 - 12.40 p.m.
HPV infection and vaccine
• Dr. Priya Abraham
12.40 - 12.50 p.m.
Q&A Session
12.50 - 13.10
Flashback to Four Decades of Dengue Control: Success Story or Moving Target • Dr Aravinda M.De. Silva
13.10 - 13.45
Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13.50 - 14.30
PLENARY 2: Hepatitis C and emerging viral threats
• Dr John Flecher
14.30 - 16.00
13.50 - 14.30 p.m.
Building Resilient Laboratory Systems: Quality Assurance, Standardisation, Accreditation, and Sustainability in Microbiology Services
• Dr Courtney
14.30 - 15.00 p.m.
Next-Generation Sequencing and Epigenomics: Translating Sequence Data into Disease Prevention and AMR Control
• Dr Courtney
15.00 - 15.30 p.m.
Artificial Intelligence & diagnostic stewardship in Microbiology Enhancing Accuracy, Speed, and Clinical Decision-Making
• Dr Chanaka Mannapperuma
15.30 - 16.00 p.m.
Detection to prevention - Role of POCT in microbiology - Past, present and future
• Dr Priya Abraham
16.00 - 16.45
Panel Discussion: Syndromic Testing Demystified: Delving into the 'Why', 'When' and 'How': The Hidden Cost of Care
Dr Nandini Sethuraman, Dr Pavan Kumar Vecham, Dr Raymond Oppong, Dr Kushlani Jayathilake
16.45
Tea and End of the Day-1 Proceedings
CONGRESS - DAY 2 PROGRAMME: 12th AUGUST 2026
Morning Sessions
07.30 - 08.00
Registration
08.00 - 08.45
Free Paper Session 2 (3 papers)
08.45 - 09.00
Tea Break
09.00 - 10.15
09.00 - 09.20
Zero Harm or Zero Chance? Healthcare-Associated Infections in the 21st Century
• WHO/ Dr. Jessika
09.20 - 09.40
Designing for Safety: Integrating Infection Prevention into Healthcare Facility Planning and Construction
• Dr. Sarika Mohan
09.40 - 10.00
'Sri Lanka's Respiratory Infection Challenge: Can Better Healthcare Design Be Part of the Solution?'
• Dr. Jude Jayamaha
10.00 - 10.15
Q&A Session
10.15 - 11.00
PLENARY 3 ‘Decoding Pathogens, Shaping Prevention: The Power of Genomics in Public Health’
• Dr. Swarali Kurie
11.00 - 12.00
11.00 - 11.15
AI on Stage: A Live Microbiology Clinic
• Dr. Menaka Ranaweera
11.15 - 11.30
From Sequence to Clinical Decision: Can AI Close the Last Mile?
• Dr. Chanaka Mannapperuma
11.30 - 11.45
The Microbiologist and the Machine: Revolution, Hype, or Partnership?
• Dr. Nandini Sethuraman
11.45 - 12.00
Responsible AI In Microbiology: Ethics, Privacy and Governance
• Dr. Chanaka Mannapperuma
12.00 - 12.40
PLENARY 4 ‘Water Quality for infection prevention: Environmental Determinants of Healthcare-Associated Infections’
• Dr. Jessica Martin
12.40 - 13.00
Flashback: When TB Isn't TB – Recognizing NTM in Modern Clinical Practice
13.00 - 13.40
Lunch Break
Afternoon Sessions
13.40 - 14.20
PLENARY 5 Emerging challenges in Fungal Pathogens and AMR: Are We Prepared for the Next Challenge?
• Dr. Anuradha Chawdry
14.20 - 16.00
14.20 - 14.40
Antimicrobial Resistance in the 21st Century: Sri Lanka in the Global Context and Emerging Priorities
14.40 - 15.00
Antimicrobial Use in Livestock and Aquaculture: One Health Perspectives on Resistance Emergence, Transmission, and Control Strategies
• Dr. Roshan Madalagama
15.00 - 15.20
Climate Changes affecting AMR. Implications for Agriculture, Food Safety, and Ecosystem
15.20 - 15.40
The Economics of Antimicrobial Resistance: Evidence-Based Modelling of Costs, Consequences, and One Health Investment Strategies
• Dr. Raymond Oppong
15.40 - 16.00
Q&A Session
16.00 - 16.45
Case based interactive session
16.45
Award Ceremony and Close of Conference
17.15
Tea and end of the day proceedings
Call for Contributions
Annual Bulletin 2026
35th Annual Scientific Sessions (10th – 12th Aug 2026)
Deadline: 19th March 2026
We look forward to your valuable contributions.
Editor, Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists
https://slmicrobiology.lk/etn/abst-workshop
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