Inauguration ceremony - 8th SARCD 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Venue: Waters Edge.
Inauguration ceremony of the 8th South Asian Regional Conference of Dermatology, Leprology and Veneriology was held on 1st of August 2013 at Waters Edge, Colombo. The ceremony commenced with a traditional procession which lead the chief guest and guest of honor to the head table, after lighting the oil lamp. Chief guest was honorable minister of health Sri Lanka, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena. Eminent dermatologist from UK, Dr. Peter Motimer was the guest of honor. President SARAD Prof. Serajul Islam and Secretary General of SARAD Dr. Eshanul Kabeer and Exco members of the SARAD were among other distinguished participants. In the audience there were around 300 hundred participants including delegates from all SSARC countries.
Chief guest in his speech, admired the effort of the dermatologists in the region in uplifting the level of dermatology care in the region. Guest of honor elaborated on the academic bonds between UK and Sri Lanka. , President of the Sri Lanka College of Dermatologists Dr. Chalukya Gunasekara in her speech emphasized the value of cooperation among SAARC countries. Organizing Chairperson of 8th SARCD Prof. Jayamini Seneviratne mentioned about the progress of SARAD. President of SARAD talked about common and unique features of the dermatological diseases in the region. Country representatives from other SAARC countries in there short speeches expressed their good wishes for 8th SARCD. Secretary of SLCD delivered the vote of thanks. It was followed by few cultural items and cocktail and dinner.
Inauguration ceremony was followed by two and half days of conference of high academic content.
Minute of the SARAD EXCO meeting held on 03/08/2013 at 12.15 in Waters Edge Colombo.
1. The president SARAD, Prof. Serajul Islam, welcomed the executive committee members and listed the agenda of the meeting. EC members from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were present in the meeting. The secretary general, Dr. Eshanul Kabeer Jaglul presented the report of the secretary and read out the minutes of the last EC meeting held in Ahmedabad, on 25th of January 2013. The EC confirmed that the minutes were in order.
2. SARAD Organizational matters: The president expressed that the organizers of SARCD follow different rules, and suggested that a guideline or a standard operational procedure(SOP) should be formulated. He further suggested forming a committee for this matter. Dr. Suresh Josiphura supported the suggestion and EC adopted it. The SOP is to be submitted to the next EC meeting. The committee appointed by the EC consists of Dr. Suresh Josiphura (Chairperson), Dr. Eshanul Kabeer Jaglul, Dr. Jayadev Betkerur, Dr. Janaka Akarawita, Prof. Jayamini Seneviratne.
Prof. Senevirathna explained why it was difficult to change the program of inauguration of 8th SARCD at the last moment and the difficulties faced in communication with the outgoing president and the secretary general while organizing the 8th SARCD. He pointed out the importance of hosting an independent SARCD like the 8th SARCD in Colombo without amalgamating it to the annual session of the respective association/society. The EC members agreed with the explanation.
Dr. Shristi Shrestha suggested that the minutes of the meeting and a report on SARCD should be circulated to the EC members and uploaded to the SARAD website. Prof Serajul Islam assured he would attend to that.
Prof. Sudha Agraval brought up the question of combining annual sessions of the host country with SARCD. Dr. Deepak Parikh suggested that these controversies and profit sharing should be considered in formulating SOP.
The EC decided to increase the membership fees to 200 USD per year with effect from 2014. This is to be paid at the SARCD. It was decided to waive off the fee for associated member countries (Maldives and Bhutan) for the next two years.
3. SARAD Exchange program.
The registration fee for SARCD is to be waived off for two PG trainees nominated by each member country. The registration fee for annual scientific sessions of the member countries should be waived off for two PG trainees nominated from each member country.
4. The collaborative research program was postponed due to various practical difficulties in its implementation.
5. It was decided not to take up the allocated time in ICD 2013 for the sister society meetings considering the practical difficulties in participation.
6. 9th SARCD will be held from 4th to 6th September 2015 in Mysore India, Dr. S. Sacchidanand as chairperson and Dr. Jayadev Betkeruru as organizing Secretary. The registration fee for SARCD was increased to 250 USD and fee for PGs would be 175 USD.
7. Treasurer, Dr. Shristi Shrestha forwarded the financial report for the last year. It was confirmed by the EC.
8. Miscellaneous
Dr. Deepak Parikh and Dr. Jayadev Betkerur suggested having an award paper session in future SARCD consisting of two prizes for oral and poster presentations.
Dr. Eshanul Kabeir Jaglul suggested that EC members from each member country or at least someone nominated by him/her should attend the EC meetings and this to be made compulsory. The EC endorsed it.
9. Election of new executive committee of SARAD(2013-2015).
Following were appointed.
President: Prof Jayamini Seneviratne (Sri Lanka)
Secretary General: Dr. Janaka Akarawita (Sri Lanka)
Treasurer: Dr. Shristi Shrestha (Nepal)
Vice President: Dr. S. Sacchidanand (India)
Joint Secretary: Dr. Shahbaz Aman (Pakistan)
Committee: Prof. Agha Masoor Chaudry (Bangladesh)
Dr. A.S.M. Jakaria Swapan (Bangladesh)
Dr. W. Nargid Akhtar (Bangladesh)
Dr. Tez Kumari Sharma (Bhutan)
Dr. Deepak Parikh (India)
Dr Suresh Talwar (India)
Dr. Nuzha Mohamad (Maldives)
Dr. Mohamed Haikal (Maldives)
Prof. Sudha Agrawal (Nepal)
Dr. Sudip Parajuli (Nepal)
Prof. Atif Kazmi (Pakistan)
Prof. Azam Bokhari (Pakistan)
Dr. Iyanthi Abeywickrama (Sri Lanka)
Ex officio members: Prof. Serajul Islam (Bangladesh)
Dr. Eshanul Kabeer Jaglul (Bangladesh)
Co-opted member: Dr. Jayadev Betkerur (India)
Advisors: Prof. Maidul Islam (Bangladesh)
Dr. Suresh Joshipura (India)
Prof. Gurmohan Singh (India)
Prof Anil Kumar Jha (Nepal)
Prof. T. S. Haroon (Pakistan)
Dr. Ganga Sirimanne (Sri Lanka)
SARAD Co-ordinator. Dr. Vijaya Bahadur Rajbhandari (Nepal)
The outgoing president and the secretary general handed over the duties to the newly appointed president and secretary general. The EC kept on record and appreciated the work done by the outgoing president and the secretary general.
10. The new president expressed his gratitude to the committee and acceptance of the post in his speech and promised to work for the progress of SARAD.
The outgoing president Prof. A. R. M. Serajul Islam concluded the meeting thanking all EC members.
In the General body meeting held on 03/08/2013 at 05.00PM in Colombo the above agenda was endorsed.
Dr. Jayadev Betkerur suggested that savings account money of SARAD to be converted to a fixed deposit. Further he suggested transferring Nepalese Rupees 2 lakhs from the current account to fixed deposit as we don’t have many expenses, and if possible to transfer 6000 USD from current dollar account to a fixed deposit.
Dr. Deepak Parikh suggested to appoint an auditor and to check on taxation. Both suggestions were endorsed by the members.
Dr. Tez Kumari Sharma who participated the meeting was appointed as an EXCO member to represent Bhutan.
The president concluded the General Body Meeting after the speeches of Outgoing Secretary and newly elected president and secretary.