College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka

We are proud to celebrate Prof Shyamalee Samaranayake of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, who has been named a 2026 Regional Five Star Doctor Award recipient by the World Organization of Family Doctors - WONCA.

This prestigious recognition reflects the strength and commitment of our College in advancing excellence in family medicine and primary care.

Congratulations! 👏🇱🇰

Across the world, family doctors are strengthening communities, advancing primary care, and mentoring the next generation of physicians.

Today we celebrate the 2026 Regional Five Star Doctor Award recipients – family physicians whose work reflects the highest ideals of our profession.

The Five Star Doctor Award recognises family physicians who demonstrate excellence across the full scope of family medicine – as care providers, decision makers, communicators, community leaders and team members. These doctors represent the breadth and strength of family medicine around the world, and their work reflects the values of person-centred, community-based primary care.

2026 Regional Five Star Doctor Award recipients:

Professor Shyamalee Samaranayaka
South Asia Region
College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka

Dr Seni Ononuju
North America Region,
Caribbean College of Family Physicians (Jamaica)

Dr Aura Liliana Arias Castillo
Wonca Iberoamericana CIMF Region
Sociedad Colombiana de Medicina Familiar - Socmef

Dr Hesham Abdussalam Ben Masaud
WONCA EMR (Eastern Mediterranean Region)
Libyan General Practice Society-LGPS

Dato’ Dr Hjh Norsiah binti Hj Ali
Asia Pacific Region
Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia

Dr Adekunle Ariba
Africa Region
Society of Family Physicians of Nigeria (SOFPON)

Dr Robin Ramsay
WONCA Europe Region
Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland)

Each of these doctors has made an important contribution to strengthening primary care in their communities, their countries and internationally.

We invite you to learn more about their work and achievements on the WONCA website:

🔗 https://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/News/2026FiveStarDoctors.aspx

From the regional winners for 2026 and 2027, an overall Global Five Star Doctor will be selected and announced at the WONCA World Conference 2027 in Cape Town, South Africa.

📸 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲 & 𝐀𝐈 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 at GP Sri Lanka ’26 invites SLMC-registered doctors to creatively capture the connection between health, environment, and primary care.

Submit your entries under:
📷 DSLR Photography
📱 Mobile Photography
🤖 AI-Generated Posters

Let your creativity highlight the story of planetary health in everyday medical practice.

🗓 Submission deadline: 10 May 2026

🔗 Visit www.cgpsl.lk for details.

Join us at GP Sri Lanka ’26 – 51st Annual Academic Sessions of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka as we welcome an outstanding International Faculty bringing global expertise and practical insights to strengthen primary care.

Register now and take advantage of super early bird rates.

🔗 https://cgpsl.lk/cgpsl-conference/gp-sri-lanka-26-annual-academic-sessions-2026/

𝐆𝐏 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 ’𝟐𝟔
51st Annual Academic Sessions
College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰! ⏳
Don’t miss out!

🔗 Learn more and register:
https://cgpsl.lk/cgpsl-conference/gp-sri-lanka-26-annual-academic-sessions-2026/

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🌿 𝐂𝐆𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐮 𝐖𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤

Research shows that spending just 20–30 minutes in nature can significantly reduce stress levels.

Building on this simple yet powerful idea, members of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL) and their families joined an early morning nature walk, spending nearly three hours immersed in urban biodiversity.

The walk was organised by the Planetary Health & Sustainability Committee of the CGPSL.

The guided walk offered opportunities to observe birdlife, flora, and wetland ecosystems, while informally reflecting on the connections between nature, mental well-being, and planetary health. It served as a refreshing pause from busy clinical routines and a practical reminder of the healing value of nature.

The session concluded with fellowship and breakfast, strengthening camaraderie and our shared commitment to planetary health in primary care.

Photo credits: Dr Shihari Abeysena and Pavishanth Jayaseelan

𝐆𝐏 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 ’𝟐𝟔 - 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Showcase your scholarly work, innovations, and research in Family Medicine and Primary Care

🗓 Deadline: 7 April 2026

🔗 Submit here:
https://cgpsl.lk/gp-sri-lanka-26-oration-submission/

A Successful Training Session was held for the employees of a leading Corporate Institution in Colombo recently (27th January 2026) on awareness on Occupational Health and Safety Hazards and how to detect and prevent it. This was conducted by Dr Aseni Wickramathilake a well-known Occupational Health & Safety Specialist and Expert in Sri Lanka and Globally, together with the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka. It was well attended and was very useful with lot of insights to Occupational Health and Safety shared, which is a very important part of any corperate institution for the safety of their employees.

We are deeply shocked and saddened to inform you of the passing of 𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐝𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐚, a dedicated Family Physician from Ratnapura and an active member of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Jayawardena was not only a committed clinician, but also a valued colleague, a trusted friend, and a compassionate human being who touched the lives of patients and peers alike. He was a leading figure in the general practice community in the Ratnapura region, and his contribution to family medicine and to the wider GP fraternity will be remembered with respect and gratitude.

On behalf of the College, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Jayawardena’s family, loved ones, colleagues, and patients during this difficult time.

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟!

𝐆𝐏 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚 ’𝟐𝟔 - 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬

Showcase your work in Family Medicine & Primary Care

📍 Hotel Galadari
📅 20–21 June 2026
🗓 Deadline: 7 April 2026

🔗 Submit here:
https://cgpsl.lk/gp-sri-lanka-25-abstract-submission/

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 & 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

An engaging and insightful panel discussion organized by the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka was successfully held on Sunday, 25th January 2026 at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium, SLMA.

The session brought together a distinguished multidisciplinary panel - Dr Will Ponsonby, Past President, Society of Occupational Medicine UK (Ireland), Dr Aseni Wickramatillake, National Secretary, International Commission on Occupational Health (Sri Lanka), Mr Mahinda Seneviratne, Certified Hygienist of Government of New South Wales(Australia), Mr Geoff Currie – Head of Health & Safety, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka and Dr Asela Anthony, Consultant Family Physician.

The discussion highlighted how collaboration between healthcare professionals, industry, and safety experts is essential to shape the future of worker health and workplace safety.

Key takeaways included:
🔺 The expanding role of family doctors in occupational health
🔺Global perspectives with local application
🔺 Building a strong workplace safety culture
🔺 Multidisciplinary teamwork in prevention and worker well-being

The event reinforced the vital role of GPs and family physicians in linking clinical care with occupational and workplace health.

Thank you to our panellists, moderators, and all participants for making this session a success.

🌿 𝐂𝐆𝐏𝐒𝐋 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 🐾
Understanding Human–Nature Connections

Open for CGPSL members, Associates and GP trainees

🗓️ Sunday, 22nd February 2026
🕡 6.30 am – 9.30 am
📍 Diyasaru Wetland Park, Japan Sri Lanka Friendship Rd, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝?
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰!
https://forms.gle/VWCxWCT9dijpKaEo9

Organised by:
Planetary Health & Sustainability Committee
College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL)