The College of Otorhinolaryngologists and Head & Neck Surgeons of Sri Lanka has been conducting Annual Academic Sessions focusing on different areas of the specialty since its establishment in 2002.

The theme of the 19^th Annual Academic Sessions is “Back to basics – Strengthen the foundation” focusing mainly on the surgical management of mastoid and thyroid diseases. Mastoid and thyroid diseases have been a common problem handled by the ENT surgeons now as well as in the past. Increasing number of ENT surgeons are involved in head and neck soft tissue construction. Hence, the guest lecture on this topic. Currently less complications are seen in mastoid diseases due to early identification and management by well qualified competent ENT surgeons spread throughout Sri Lanka.

The chief resource person for this year’s sessions is Dr. Madhuri Mehta, an eminent surgeon from Haryana, India, who has gracefully accepted our invitation. She is familiar to some of our senior ENT surgeons as she has attended the SAARC 2014 congress. I warmly welcome her for the 2024 annual academic sessions of CORLHNS Sri Lanka.

I would take this opportunity to thank the local faculty, the editorial board of the “Ceylon Journal of Otolaryngology”, the council members, college members, the contributors to the journal and free paper sessions, staff of the NHSL ENT Theatre and the staff of Hotel Galadari. I would also like to thank our sponsors for their continued support for this event despite the financial constraints faced by these companies since 2022.

Finally, I warmly welcome all the delegates and resource personnel to the 19^th Annual Academic Sessions at Hotel Galadari. I sincerely hope that this will be of immense benefit to all the participants providing an excellent opportunity for professional advancement, socializing and building up of long-lasting friendships.

Dr. W.M.C. Narampanawa
President-CORLHNS