Dear friends and colleagues,
I am honored to assume the position of President of the Sri Lanka Society of Nephrology (SLSON) for the year 2025.
I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to the former Presidents and Council members, whose steadfast dedication has greatly contributed to the growth and success of our Society on a solid foundation. I would also extend my appreciation to the newly elected Council for their commitment to improving nephrology services in Sri Lanka.
Together, we shall focus on our theme for the year: “Expanding Access, Enhancing Advocacy: Empowering Kidney Care”. This theme underscores our devotion to empowering the patients, public, and renal care professionals through enhanced renal health literacy, expanding access to kidney disease care, and eliminating barriers to dialysis and transplant.
As the apex body advocating for nephrology services across the island, SLSON plays a vital role in education and serves as the hub for public awareness, ensuring the dissemination of accurate health information while combating misinformation.
In celebration of World Kidney Day, we launched an educational program for school children at the Foundation Institute Colombo, followed by an engaging quiz. Additionally, we have established a YouTube channel as a dedicated educational platform to deliver essential health messages to the public, patients, and healthcare professionals. In conjunction with our main event, our regional nephrologists conducted various activities across different areas to further promote renal health awareness. We encourage the full support of our members to continue these initiatives into the future.
We aim to empower all renal care professionals with the latest knowledge and skills to deliver the highest standard of care to patients. In line with this, regional sessions will be held on the 15th of August 2025 in Anuradhapura in collaboration with the Anuradhapura Clinical Society.
The highlight of our academic calendar, the Annual Academic Sessions, will take place from November 20th to 22nd, 2025, at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo. This premier event offers an unparalleled opportunity for nephrology professionals to engage with cutting-edge research, share expertise, and connect with peers from around the world. For the first time, we are introducing a dedicated pediatric dialysis workshop as part of our three parallel pre-congress workshops. This milestone addition reflects our commitment to advancing pediatric nephrology and ensuring comprehensive care for young patients. Following the workshop, the main congress will unfold during the next two days. Renowned international speakers —both pediatric and adult— will share their expertise during the pre-congress as well as main congress sessions, discussing key topics related to general nephrology, chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis, and renal transplant.
We wholeheartedly invite all dedicated professionals both local and overseas across the South Asian region and beyond, who are committed to the care of patients with kidney diseases to join us for this important event, where you can connect with like-minded peers, exchange the invaluable expertise and immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty and historical architectural marvels of Sri Lanka.
Do not miss this unique occasion to experience the lush landscapes, diverse wildlife, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality of the island nation that make this gathering not just a conference, but a memorable journey of fellowship and learning.
We eagerly look forward to welcoming all national, regional, and international delegates to Colombo from November 20-22, 2025!
Warm regards,
Dr Vindya Gunasekera
President, Sri Lanka Society of Nephrology (SLSON)