The Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, proudly hosted the Young Researchers' Symposium (YRS) 2024, an event dedicated to showcasing the research talents of our students. This year’s symposium was particularly special as it was aligned with the Prof. Carlo Fonseka Memorial Lecture, honouring a luminary in medical education.

The day began with an opening ceremony graced by the presence of Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, who served as the Chief Guest. The event featured inspiring speeches from key faculty members, including the Dean, Prof. Madawa Chandratilake, and the Chairman of the Research Council, Prof. Sachith Mettananda.

YRS 2024 also marked a significant milestone by welcoming research contributions from students of other medical faculties across Sri Lanka, enriching the symposium with diverse perspectives. The plenary sessions, led by distinguished alumni Dr. Thamara Perera and Dr. Tharindi Sooriyapperuma, provided valuable insights into the journey from medical training to impactful research careers.

The symposium included three oral and poster presentations, where students presented their innovative research. The event culminated with an awards ceremony recognising the best oral presentations.

YRS 2024 was a testament to the Faculty of Medicine’s commitment to fostering a robust research culture, providing students with platforms to share their work, and encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration. It was organised collaboratively by the Departments of Public Health and Medical Education. Dr Lathika Athauda (Public Health) and Dr Harith Wickemasekara (Medical Education) co-chaired the organising committee.