Since its inception, the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists has strived to serve as a pinnacle of respiratory health in Sri Lanka, and it gives me great pleasure to serve as its President this year. The SLCP has served tirelessly over the years to ensure quality respiratory health in sri Lanka. However, the recent tumulus times faced with the COVID pandemic and the subsequent economic collapse has left deep scars in the health care system, posing unique challenges.

It is in this background that we wish to strive towards “Equity in Respiratory Health – for the right to breath free”. Sri Lanka is blessed with a system of free health care for all. However, recent economic challenges has augmented the gap between the range of services and therapeutics available within the government and private sector. It has been a true challenge to follow established, evidence based guidelines due to inequity of resources.

This year, I hope to uphold and value all the facets of the many responsibilities of the college as a professional body, being a voice, an advocate, for quality patient care, continuous medical education for all, improvement of services, uplifting undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, keeping in mind the goal of striving towards equity.