These guidelines developed through a consultation process involving all stakeholdres involved in Animal Research in Sri Lanka was launched on 18 January 2010 at a simple ceremony at the Board Room of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.

This picture shows Dr. Mangala Gunathilake handing over the guidelines to Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo.

This picture shows the Vice Chancellor handing over a copy of the Guidlines to Prof. Priyani Soysa, Chairperson, National Health Research Council.

SIDCER RECOGNITION
FOR THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE, FACULTY OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF COLOMBO

The Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (Colombo/ERC) became the first Ethics Review Committee in Sri Lanka to be recognized by the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethics Review (SIDCER) - a worldwide initiative supported by the World Health Organisation. The plaque certifying the recognition was awarded at the Awards Ceremony held in Chang Mai, Thailand on 25 November 2009 at the Annual Conference of the Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific Region (FERCAP). The ERC/Colombo joints a distinguished group of first three ERCs in the South Asian Region to be recognized under the SIDCER programme - the other two being the ERCs of the TATA Memorial Hospital and the Seth GS Medical College both in Mumbi, India. Only 54 Ethics Committees in the Asia Pacific region have so far received SIDCER recognition and most of them are located in South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.

The Secretaries of the first three South Asian ERCs to receive SIDCER recognition
after the award ceremony at the FERCAP conference

The ERC/Colombo, established in 1981, is the oldest Ethics Review Committee in Sri Lanka. The members of the ERC/Colombo include: Prof. Hemantha Senanayake – Chairperson; Dr. Vajira H. W. Dissanayake (Joint Secretary); Dr. Enoka Corea (Joint Secretary); Prof. Rohini Fernandopulle, Prof. Manouri Senanayake; Mrs. Kantha Lankathilake, Dr. Mangala Gunathilake; Dr. T. Chenthuran; Dr. Priyadarshani Galapaththy; Dr. Charukshi Arambepola; Dr. Varuni De Silva; Prof. Mandika Wijeyarathne, Dr. Malk Fernando; Dr. Sriyakanithi Beneragama; Ms. Poornima Perera; Ms. Naazima Kamardeen; Dr. Maithree Wickramasinghe; Ms. Kumudini Hettiarachchi; Ms. Rathsara Gunasekara; Dr. Samanthi Premarathne; Ms. Madubashini Jayamanne (Research Assistant); and Dr. Lakshy Sivapriyan (Research Assistant). The SIDCER recognition is the culmination of activities initiated by the committee in 2005 under the chairmanship of Prof. Nalaka Mendis.

The SIDCER recognition certifies that the ERC/Colombo has fulfilled the requirements under the SIDCER recognition programme which includes structure and composition of the committee, adherence to specific policies, review procedures, after review process, documentation and archiving.

The ERC/Colombo is a member of the Forum for Ethics Review Committees in Sri Lanka (FERCSL) established by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (http://www.fercsl.net). The forum consists of Ethics Review Committees of Colombo, Peradeniya, Jaffna, Ruhuna, Kelaniya, and Sri Jayewardenepura Medical Faculties; Peradeniya Dental Faculty; Medical Research Institute; Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians; Asiri Surgical Hospital and SLMA. It is hoped that the recognition of the Colombo/ERC would serve as a stimulus for all other ERCs in Sri Lanka to work towards obtaining SIDCER recognition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------