“Prof. Carlo Fonseka Research Day 2024” was held in honour of the fifth commemoration of Prof. Carlo Fonseka on the 23rd of August 2024 at the Main Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya.

The event was graced by the participation of Senior Professor Nilanthi De Silva, Vice-chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, as the Chief Guest. The event also saw the participation of the distinguished guests including, Prof. Madawa Chandratilake, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; Prof. Emeritus Abeywickrama; Prof. Emeritus Sunil Chandra; Prof. Emeritus Janak de Silva; Prof. Emeritus A. Pathmeswaran; and Prof. Emeritus Kumar Mendis.

The main objective of this event is to provide opportunities for young researchers to showcase their research and to honour and celebrate the life and work of Prof. Carlo Fonseka.

The Prof. Carlo Fonseka Research Day 2024 was a full-day event dedicated to research of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. The event consisted of two sessions. The morning session consisted of the mini research symposium titled “Young Researchers’ Symposium (YRS) 2024” including 2 plenary sessions, 3 oral presentation sessions, and 4 poster presentation sessions from Medical and Health Professions Education undergraduates and fresh graduates from all medical and other faculties in Sri Lanka.

The evening session consisted of the Prof. Carlo Fonseka Memorial Lecture delivered by Professor Anuja Premawardhena, Carder Chair and Senior Professor of the Department of Medicine of the University of Kelaniya. He shared his experience and work through the lecture titled “Mapping out the burden of Thalassemia in Sri Lanka: The Story of the Ragama Thal Group”.

In addition, graduates of the medical faculty within the past five years who received the Prof. Carlo Fonseka Gold Medal were felicitated and the winners of the oral presentation sessions of the Young Researchers' Symposium were awarded their certificates during the event. The event concluded with refreshments and a musical performance by the students of the Faculty of Medicine who performed songs written by Prof. Carlo Fonseka.

Present at the occasion were academic staff and the undergraduates of the Faculty of Medicine and other university staff.