South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (SAATM) is a trans-national, regional organization comprising of professionals and stakeholders in the field of Transfusion Medicine in South Asian countries; working together towards finding solutions to their common problems in the spirit of friendship, trust and understanding through sharing the knowledge, experience and expertise in the field.

VIII th Annual Congress of the Association is scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 6th to 8th December 2012.

The National Blood Transfusion Service of Sri Lanka is honored being selected to host the Annual Congress this year.    Significance of the event is further highlighted in the back ground of NBTS - Sri Lanka receiving the ISBT Award for Developing Countries from the International Society of Blood Transfusion. 

As the current president of the South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (SAATM), I am extremely happy that Sri Lanka has been privileged to host the VIIIth Annual Conference of the association which is to be held in Colombo, from 6th to 8th December 2012. This would be the 2nd occasion Sri Lanka is hosting the annual conference of SAATM, following the VIth conference held in 2006 in Colombo.

Regional cooperation and sharing of experiences is of utmost importance in any field but is more so in fields such as Transfusion Medicine. The South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (SAATM), would be an ideal platform to share our experiences and to support each other in achieving our objectives for better quality and safety in the field of blood transfusion. Furthermore, in the background of its recent developments there is a bright future for the association, in expanding its boundaries beyond the region, establishing collaboration with other countries at Asian and global level as well as with international organizations such as World Health Organization(WHO) and International Society of Blood Transfusion(ISBT).

As far as Sri Lanka is concerned there has been a remarkable development and advancement in the field of Transfusion Medicine during the past decade. This progress has been well recognized and duly rewarded when the International Society of Blood Transfusion(ISBT) selected the NBTS as the winner of its first ever Developing  Country award which was presented at the recently concluded ISBT conference in Cancun Mexico in August 2012. With all these developments, I think Sri Lanka is not only well set and eagerly awaiting to conduct this international conference but also is well prepared to make a significant contribution to the regional development as well, as a model and a center for transfusion medicine.

I wish the organizing partners of this conference, National Blood Transfusion Service-Sri Lanka, SAATM Sri Lankan Chapter and the Sri Lanka College of Transfusion Physicians every success, and also thank all the sponsors who have extended their generous contributions and support in making this event a reality.

Finally I hope that this conference in addition to providing the obvious benefit of enhancing the knowledge will mark an important milestone in the development of regional cooperation in the field of transfusion medicine.

Dr.Ananda Gunasekera
President,
South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine

Sri Lanka is steeped in heritage. With a history that dates back over 3,000 years, Sri Lanka is home to some of the best preserved Asian monuments and showcases no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, all remarkably preserved to surpass more well-known world class attractions. To this day Sri Lanka’s centuries old heritage lives on, in the culture and the way of life of the Sri Lankan people. The rich tapestry of cultural practice, beliefs and the traditional way of life renews and revives this Island nation’s historic ties, creating an oasis of cultural richness in the modern day.

Sri Lanka though small in size is one of the few places on earth where the world’s largest land and sea mammals can be seen in a day. Home to the inimitable Asian Elephant, Sri Lanka’s southern Ocean waters are the playground to the giants of the sea- the docile Blue Whales.

Sri Lanka wasn't called Serendib by coincidence. As the Persians scoured the seas in search of Oriental treasures, they happened upon a mystical island in the Indian Ocean. This island, a land of great treasures and surprises was named Serendib. Latterly, in modern day English the term Serendipity denotes the property of making fortunate discoveries while looking for something unrelated. Today, Sri Lanka is no different. It is a land of serendipity, one where as you search for one moment of bliss you discover a thousand more.

It is with great pleasure I welcome you to the VIIIth Annual Conference of the South Asian Association of Transfusion Medicine (SAATM) to be held in Colombo, from 6th to 8th December 2012.  I consider it as a privilege and honor to be the chairperson of the Conference Organizing Committee for SAATM Colombo conference 2012.

The conference is jointly organized by its local organizing partners, National Blood Transfusion Service-Sri Lanka, SAATM-Sri Lankan Chapter and the Sri Lanka College of Transfusion Physicians with the blessings of the SAATM International and the concurrence of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.

In addition to providing facilities to conduct the key event of  VIIIth Annual Conference of the SAATM International, the organizing committee has planned a stimulating 2 day scientific programme for the participants giving emphasize to the topics relevant for our region as well as those related to the current trends and new advances in the field of Transfusion Medicine.

While providing maximum opportunity for expanding knowledge and sharing of experience in the field of blood transfusion, the organizing committee has also made arrangements to provide the international participants the opportunity of experiencing the well known friendly Sri Lankan hospitality together with a glimpse of the rich culture, traditions, glamour and scenic beauty of  Sri Lanka, which is considered as the paradise island in the Indian ocean and one of the top ranking tourist destinations at present.

I also take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us in making this event a reality with a special appreciation to all the sponsors who have come forward to support us in organizing this event successfully.

Dr Vijith Gunasekera
Director,
National Blood Transfusion Service