Sri Lanka Medical Association

What Sri Lanka Medical Association does

Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) is a nonprofit professional medical association headquartered at Wijerama House, No. 06 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07. Founded on 26 February 1887 as the Ceylon Branch of the British Medical Association and recognized as the oldest professional medical association in Asia, SLMA serves medical practitioners of all grades and specialties across Sri Lanka. It was renamed the Ceylon Medical Association in 1951 following independence, then adopted its current name in 1972 after Sri Lanka became a republic. Membership grew from 19 founding members to 113 by 1898 and now operates under a member-elected Council led by the 132nd President, Dr Manilka Sumanatilleke (2026).

SLMA's core offerings include the Ceylon Medical Journal (CMJ), a quarterly peer-reviewed open-access journal indexed by Index Medicus and the only internationally accepted medical journal in Sri Lanka; an online CPD Portal for continuing professional development tracking; and the annual International Medical Congress, with the 139th edition scheduled for July 22-25, 2026 at Cinnamon Life, City of Dreams, Colombo. The association also runs monthly clinical meetings, Saturday Talk webinars, regional meetings across Sri Lanka, named orations, research awards, a SLMA Newsletter (monthly eMagazine on Mailchimp), clinical guidelines publications, a Relief Fund for disaster response, and an online store at shop.slma.lk. The technology stack integrates a mobile-responsive website, online registration and payment gateways, Zoom for virtual events, Mailchimp for newsletter distribution, and integrations with Sri Lanka Journals Online (SLJOL) for journal hosting. The Intercollegiate Committee, established in April 2020, unites 48 professional medical colleges for coordinated national consensus and disaster response.

SLMA generates revenue through membership subscriptions (Ordinary Rs. 2,500/year, Life Rs. 10,000 one-time, Student Rs. 500 initial then Rs. 100, Overseas USD 250), conference registration fees (consultant Rs. 12,500-15,000, non-consultant Rs. 10,000-12,000, undergraduate Rs. 8,000, day passes Rs. 7,500, workshops Rs. 3,500), publication and book sales, event tickets (e.g., Doctors' Concert Rs. 2,500), and corporate advertising via the newsletter. SLMA is governed by an elected council, holds official advisory status to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health, and collaborates with WHO, the World Bank, Mobitel (DocCall helpline), Dialog (e-learning), and GSK (digital kiosk). It is not publicly traded, has no parent company, and operates with 11-50 employees.

Name

Sri Lanka Medical Association

Legal name

Sri Lanka Medical Association

Website

https://slma.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) is the oldest professional medical association in Asia, founded in 1887 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It serves medical practitioners of all specialties across Sri Lanka through membership services, the Ceylon Medical Journal, CPD programs, and the annual International Medical Congress.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)

Keywords

• Professional medical association
• Continuing professional development
• Medical congress conferences
• Peer-reviewed medical journal
• Health policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions from Ordinary Members (Rs. 2,500/year), Life Members (Rs. 10,000 one-time), Student Members (Rs. 500 initial, Rs. 100 subsequent years), and Overseas Members (USD 250). Subscriptions entitle members to journal access at subsidized rates and all membership privileges.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual medical congress registration fees including full registration for consultants (Rs. 15,000 regular), non-consultants (Rs. 12,000), undergraduates (Rs. 8,000), day registration (Rs. 7,500), workshop/symposia (Rs. 3,500), and overseas delegates (USD 250-350).
3. Publications and Books: Sale of SLMA publications including books, guidelines, abstract books, annual reports through the online store (shop.slma.lk). Revenue from the Ceylon Medical Journal and specialized medical publications.
4. Event Tickets and Merchandise: Revenue from specialty events such as the Doctors' Concert (Rs. 2,500 per ticket) and other social events organized by SLMA.
5. Corporate Partnerships and Advertising: Corporate advertising and sponsorship revenue through the eBulletin service and newsletter platform, developed as a self-sustainable revenue generation service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Sri Lanka Medical Association is a nonprofit professional membership body that delivers membership subscriptions, the Ceylon Medical Journal, a Continuing Professional Development portal, an annual International Medical Congress, clinical guidelines and named research awards, regional clinical meetings, and the SLMA 247 health helpline services. It operates as the official health-policy advisory body to the Sri Lankan government and as the umbrella for 48 affiliated professional medical colleges through its Intercollegiate Committee. Revenue is generated through annual and lifetime membership fees, tiered conference registration, publication sales, event tickets, and corporate sponsorship of the eBulletin.

Product overview

The Sri Lanka Medical Association operates a comprehensive professional medical association platform offering membership services, continuing professional development, academic publishing, and event management. The core offerings include the Ceylon Medical Journal (quarterly peer-reviewed journal), CPD Portal for doctor education, annual International Medical Congress, expert committee programs covering AI in Medicine and Palliative Care, clinical guidelines publications, awards and research grants, online registration systems, and the SLMA Newsletter. The association also provides humanitarian relief services through its Relief Fund and hosts various educational events including Saturday Talks, Monthly Clinical Meetings, and workshops. The platform operates across web and mobile channels with virtual meeting capabilities via Zoom integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ceylon Medical Journal (CMJ) Peer-reviewed, open-access quarterly medical journal published by SLMA; the only internationally accepted medical journal in Sri Lanka, indexed by Index Medicus. Targeted at medical practitioners, researchers, and academics.
• CPD Portal (Continuing Professional Development) Online continuing professional development tracking system for doctors in Sri Lanka, supporting CPD credit accumulation and lifelong learning requirements.
• SLMA Membership Annual and lifetime membership subscriptions for medical practitioners and students, offering journal access, professional networking, event discounts, and all SLMA privileges.
• International Medical Congress Annual flagship international medical congress offering academic sessions, workshops, symposia, orations, and abstract presentations for medical professionals locally and overseas.
• Research Awards and Grants Program Named research awards and grants recognizing outstanding research papers presented at the annual congress, including the E M Wijerama Award, S E Seneviratna Award, Wilson Peiris Award, and others.
• SLMA Monthly eMagazine Newsletter Official monthly eMagazine providing updates on association activities, medical news, and professional development resources, distributed to members and subscribers.
• SLMA Clinical Guidelines Peer-reviewed clinical guidelines and recommendations including vaccine guidelines, end-of-life care, suicide prevention, dengue management, snakebite prevention, and antimicrobial agents.
• SLMA Publications and Books Medical publications including Guide to Stroke Rehabilitation, Patient Information Booklets, Microplastics education materials, Palliative Care Manual, and End-of-Life Care Guidelines.
• Monthly Clinical Meeting Regular monthly clinical meeting sessions covering current medical topics, with downloadable recordings for continuing medical education.
• Saturday Talk Series Weekly Saturday Talk webinar series covering various medical topics with expert speakers, delivered via Zoom.
• Abstract Books and Annual Reports Compilation of peer-reviewed abstracts from SLMA Scientific Sessions and annual reports documenting organizational governance, financial statements, and activities.
• Oration Series Multiple named oration programs including SLMA Oration, Dr C G Uragoda History of Medicine Oration, Sir Nicholas Attygalle Oration, and Sir Marcus Fernando Memorial Oration.
• SLMA Relief Fund Humanitarian relief fund for disaster response supporting hospital restoration, medical equipment replacement, and healthcare services in affected communities.
• Conference Registration Platform Online registration system for the Annual International Medical Congress with separate local and overseas delegate registration, workshop fees, and abstract presenter day registration.
• SLMA Online Store E-commerce platform for SLMA publications, books, guidelines, and event registrations.
• Palliative Care Program Multi-disciplinary palliative care initiative promoting dignity, comfort, and support for people with life-limiting illness, including advance care planning and bereavement support.
• SLMA 247 Health Helpline Services 24/7 SLMA 247 Health Helpline offering emergency medical advice via phone, WhatsApp, and online consultation, including dedicated COVID-19 and flood/cyclone helpline services.

Quantifiable outcome

• CPD credits and professional development points for medical practitioners
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Mobitel (Sri Lanka Telecom Mobile)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to launch DocCall - Sri Lanka's first health information service enabling users to ask questions about basic health problems via telephone. SLMA became the first medical association to launch a health information service in partnership with Mobitel. The service won the eSwabhimani award in 2014.
• Ministry of Health Sri LankacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLMA works in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health on national health policy, disaster response coordination, guideline development, and COVID-19 response. The Intercollegiate Committee coordinates with Ministry on behalf of 48 professional medical colleges.
• 48 Professional Medical CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Intercollegiate Committee established in April 2020 unites 48 professional medical colleges to provide national-level consensus and advocate for health excellence. Enables coordinated response during health emergencies and prevents duplication of guidelines.
• World Health Organization (WHO) Sri LankacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLMA collaborated with WHO Country Office during COVID-19 response, contributing to nation's successful control of COVID-19. WHO representatives contribute to SLMA events and publications.
• World BanknotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong collaboration established in 2018 under the guidance of Dr Ruvaiz Haniffa to strengthen primary healthcare, with World Bank support for health system strengthening initiatives.
• HNB (Hatton National Bank) Cinnamon Gardens BranchminorOthersBanking partner for SLMA Relief Fund donations. Account Name: SLMA Relief Fund, Account Number: 076010138305 for cyclone relief efforts.
• DialognotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for pilot e-Learning System allowing virtual classroom for doctors online. Signed agreement in 2013 for pilot implementation.
• GSK (GlaxoSmithKline)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Digital Information Kiosk at SLMA, supported by GSK. The kiosk houses vital updates of SLMA and library information near Sri Lanka Medical Library.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• British Medical Association: The original parent body of SLMA (founded as Ceylon Branch of the BMA in 1887) and the most direct analog: a national professional medical association serving UK doctors through membership, advocacy, publishing (BMJ), and CPD. Same organizational model and similar governance structure.
• Australian Medical Association: National medical association running membership, MJA publishing, and policy advocacy. Comparable in operating model and in serving as the umbrella body for medical colleges and specialty societies.
• Canadian Medical Association: Canadian national medical association with CMAJ journal, MD-affiliated services, and health system advocacy. Comparable scope and peer-reviewed publishing platform (CMAJ indexed globally, like Ceylon Medical Journal).
• American Medical Association: The largest and most established national medical professional association, running membership services, JAMA publishing, CPT coding, and policy advocacy. Closely comparable in mission, scale ambition, and the journal-plus-congress-plus-policy model that SLMA operates.
• Medical Association of Thailand: Thai national medical professional body providing membership, journal publication, and continuing medical education. Comparable Asian peer with similar scale and policy advocacy scope.
• Pakistan Medical Association: National medical association in a South Asian peer economy, with similar membership tiers, journal (JPMA), and disaster/health emergency response role. Direct comparison point for how SLMA can scale regionally.
• Indian Medical Association: South Asian national medical professional association with similar structure, member base, journal publishing, and policy advisory role to the Indian government. Geographic and demographic context closely mirrors Sri Lanka's medical landscape.
• Malaysia Medical Association: Southeast Asian national medical association offering membership, the Medical Journal of Malaysia, and continuing professional development. Closely comparable in regional context, scale, and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• World Medical Association: International confederation of national medical associations. SLMA is indirectly a constituent member through the broader medical association ecosystem; WMA represents the broader global policy and ethics layer above SLMA's national remit.

Regional players

• College of Physicians of Sri Lanka: A specialty medical college in Sri Lanka affiliated with SLMA through the Intercollegiate Committee. Competes for specialist mindshare and CPD engagement but in a narrower specialty domain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/SLMAonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/SLMAonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sri-lanka-medical-association
• Xx.com/SLMAonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka Medical Association