College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka

College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka The College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka is the only professional body of ophthalmologists in Sri Lanka Dr.W.H.D. Ferdinands was the founder president.

History of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka
The Ophthalmological Society of Ceylon was formed by a group of interested clinicians who met at the Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital on the 1st December 1957 and is the second oldest specialist association in the country. The first annual congress of the society was held in September 1958 at the Medical Research Institute, Colombo. In keeping with increasing academic demands of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) and the advancement of ophthalmic care in the country, the need for the formation of a College was felt. In 1989-90 the Constitution of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka (COSL) was formulated by a sub-committee headed by Dr.C.A.B. Makuloluwa. The committee comprised of Dr. P.A. Weerasinghe, Dr. Upali Mendis, Dr. M.H.S. Cassim, Dr.Champa Banagala and Dr. B. Stephen.In 1992 Dr. P. Sivasubramaniam was inducted as the Founder President of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka by the President of the Ophthalmological Society of Ceylon, Dr. B. Stephen. The College Mace and the Logo was designed and accepted by the College in 1992. The statement in the Logo is ‘Let there be light’ in Latin (Jrraadialur Caligo). Journal of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka was initiated with the formation of the College and printing of the Journal ‘Transactions of Ophthalmology’ by the Ophthalmology Society ceased and the first edition of the Journal of the COSL was published in1993.From 2001 the publication of the journal was done annually in two volumes. it is Clinically oriented, designed to keep ophthalmologists up to date. It contains peer reviewed articles, current research, case presentations and clinical challenges. Following the passing away of the founder president in December 2002, Dr. Champa Banagala, President 2003 and Dr.B.Stephens was instrumental in initiating the Dr.P. Sivasubramanium Oration. The first oration was delivered on 3rd December 2003. The College holds it's Scientific sessions annually under the supervision of the elected president and the council. The College also successfully conducted the VIIth, VIIIth and XIth SAARC Ophthalmology Congress in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Sessions. Under Dr.C.D. Jayaweera Bandara’s presidency the college office was opened on 20th June 1999 in the Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital (currently National Eye Hospital Colombo)
The college has always been actively involved with the Board of study in Ophthalmology of the PGIM regarding the training of post-graduate trainees in Ophthalmology. The council of the college elects members to represent it at the Board of study and encourages consultants of Teaching Hospitals to teach, train and evaluate trainees. The college actively encourages continuous professional development (CPD) programmes. The college participates in making policy decisions at regional and national level by acting as a advisory body to the Ministry of Health by highlighting shortcomings in patient care and training inadequacies. To function well in this capacity the council actively interacts with other International and Local Colleges and Societies. Reaching out to the public, the college calendar is filled with activities to educate regarding common eye conditions and promotes screening programmes. Print and electronic media is used extensively for this purpose. With its partner, The Ministry of Health, the college carries out the functions of Vision2020 in Sri Lanka. Vision2020 is a global initiative to eliminate preventable blindness by the year 2020.

The countdown begins… 15 days more! Don’t miss it!
03/09/2025

The countdown begins… 15 days more! Don’t miss it!

25/08/2025
The 'Gift of Vision' initiative of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka reached yet another milestone over the l...
24/07/2025

The 'Gift of Vision' initiative of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka reached yet another milestone over the last weekend (19th and 20th July), by conducting its 5th Free Cataract Surgical Camp.
This time, 521 patients underwent surgery at Provincial General Hospital, Polonnaruwa. The College wishes to express its gratitude to Dr. Sarveshwaran and his Assist RR organisation and to Mr. R.S. Boporan for their donation of 500 Intra Ocular Lenses for the project.
Thank you also to the staff of PGH - Polonnaruwa, of Teaching Hospital - Trincomalee, of Base Hospital - Kanthale and of National Eye Hospital - Colombo, to the Consultant Eye Surgeons involved and to be administrative staff of PGH - Polonnaruwa and of the Nephrology Unit and of National Eye Hospital for their support.

Kind Reminder: 8 Days left submit yor Abstracts - COSL 2025
24/07/2025

Kind Reminder: 8 Days left submit yor Abstracts - COSL 2025

July 4th, 5th and 6th saw the completion of yet another Free Cataract Surgical Camp, organised by the College of Ophthal...
14/07/2025

July 4th, 5th and 6th saw the completion of yet another Free Cataract Surgical Camp, organised by the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka, under its 'Gift of Vision' initiative.
The camp took place at Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura and Base Hospital, Kahawatta, simultaneously and a total of 594 patients benefited.
The College is very grateful to HelpAge Sri Lanka for their generous sponsorship of the project. The College also likes to acknowledge the dedication and effort of the staff of both hospitals and of the Regional and Provincial Directors of Health of Ratnapura and Sabaragamuwa.

The inaugural “Subspecialty Day”, held on 25th May 2025 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, marked a historic mileston...
20/06/2025

The inaugural “Subspecialty Day”, held on 25th May 2025 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, marked a historic milestone for the College. As the first event of its kind, it was designed to advance the subspecialty knowledge and clinical skills of medical officers, ophthalmic trainees, associate professionals in ophthalmology, and consultant ophthalmologists across Sri Lanka.

With the theme “Shaping Today’s Ophthalmology for Secure Eye Care Tomorrow,” the event brought together a distinguished panel of local and international experts who are leaders in their respective subspecialties. The scientific programme featured a rich array of presentations covering Lids and Oculoplastics, Cornea and External Eye Diseases, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Low Vision, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Uveitis and Medical Retina, and Medical Ethics. These sessions provided participants with the latest advancements, clinical pearls, and evidence-based practices to enhance patient care and professional development.

The event fostered a unique opportunity for knowledge-sharing, discussion, and collaboration among ophthalmic professionals at various stages of their careers. Attendees praised the high academic standard of the programme, the relevance of the topics, and the engaging format of the sessions.

Adding a vibrant and memorable touch, the evening concluded with a social gathering filled with music, dance, and fellowship, offering a relaxed setting for networking and camaraderie among colleagues.

The College extends its sincere appreciation to the organizing committee, speakers, sponsors, and all participants whose contributions ensured the resounding success of this landmark event. Subspecialty Day 2025 has set a strong precedent for future academic initiatives and underscores the College’s commitment to continuous professional development and excellence in ophthalmic care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRTQ4NcCECY
05/06/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRTQ4NcCECY

With immense pride and gratitude, we are thrilled to share that at the conclusion of the cataract camp at DGH Matara where 400 cataract surgeries were perfor...

Milestone Achieved: 1000 Cataract Surgeries Completed !With immense pride and gratitude, we are thrilled to share that a...
03/06/2025

Milestone Achieved: 1000 Cataract Surgeries Completed !

With immense pride and gratitude, we are thrilled to share that at the conclusion of the cataract camp at DGH Matara where 400 cataract surgeries were performed, we have successfully completed 1,000 cataract surgeries under our college's initiative! The ‘Gift of Vision Sri Lanka’ a humanitarian mission by the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka.

This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication, hard work, and compassion of every team member, volunteer, and supporter who made this possible. Your efforts have brought light and hope into the lives of so many—thank you for being part of this journey.

23/05/2025

Regular registration for closes in less than 3 weeks!

Don't miss your chance to be part of this premier global event for professionals, where leading experts from around the world will be sharing groundbreaking research, cutting-edge treatments, and practical insights to help you improve patient outcomes.

By registering before June 2, 2025, you can save up to $175 versus onsite registration rates.

Secure your seat here: https://tinyurl.com/WGC-2025-Registration

The College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka, through its Gift of Vision humanitarian initiative, successfully conducted...
08/05/2025

The College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka, through its Gift of Vision humanitarian initiative, successfully conducted its second free cataract surgical camp on May 2nd and 3rd at the Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital and Dickoya Base Hospital. A total of 500 cataract surgeries were performed, restoring sight to those most in need.

With the generous sponsorship of HelpAge Sri Lanka, and the steadfast support of the Provincial Director of Health Services of the Central Province, the Director of Nuwara Eliya District General Hospital, and the Medical Superintendent of Dickoya Hospital, the camp became a true collaboration of compassion and purpose.

A heartfelt salute goes to the many dedicated Consultant Eye Surgeons, Medical Officers, Nursing Officers, other healthcare professionals, and the ophthalmic trade for their technical assistance. These volunteers, from across the island, selflessly gave their time and expertise to make this mission a resounding success.

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National Eye Hospital, Deans Road
Colombo
01000

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