The Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Paediatric Quiz: A split second can change it all

Dr Amali Dalpatadu, Honorary Secretary, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians

“The bell went off at the allocated time limits and the buzzer bleeped every minute in the Third Round, with the young doctors from the teams as fast as lightning, eager to answer every possible question thrown at them, in a committed quest to secure honours at the competition. “

The Annual Paediatric Quiz organized by the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians was held on 15th October 2022 at the Sri Lanka Foundation, for the 12th year. Eager-to-be young doctors from all nine medical faculties took part in this annual event to test their mettle in childhood diseases.The winner’s trophy was awarded By the President of the Sri Lanka College of paediatricians Professor Guwani Liyanage to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, this being the seventh year that they have won the Challenge Trophy. The first and second runners-up were the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Ruhuna.

The first round was evenly contested with Sri Jayewardenepura and Ruhuna having a slight advantage in the marks at the end of these rounds. The much-anticipated final buzzer round ended with 3 teams in a tie with Ruhuna, Jayawardenepura and Peradeniya vying for honours. A further two rounds were undertaken to resolve the tie.

The three brilliant, multi-talented and versatile Quiz Masters were Senior Specialist Consultant Paediatricians Dr BJC Perera, Dr GN Lucas and Dr Rasika Gunapala. The three quiz masters were precise and well-versed in many areas. Their no-nonsense approach was truly splendid and their impartiality was most definitely a thing to savour.

A team of Senior Consultant Paediatricians from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, who are not connected to universities, had put their heads down to create challenging questions for the quiz. The three judges consisting of Senior Paediatricians Dr Kumudu Weerasekara, Dr Anura Jayawardene and Dr Kosala Karunaratne gave unbiased and transparent judgements on every answer to the questions presented. These members of the Quiz Team and the rest of the team, together with the three Quiz Masters, put together over 100 questions over a period of just five weeks in a fantastic gesture of true commitment to the cause. They were given such short notice to get ready but they showed that come rain or sunshine, they were willing, and immensely capable, of taking up this challenge. This was deeply and openly appreciated by all present at the event.

Dr Navoda Attapattu, Dr Pyara Rathnayake and Dr Viraj Jayasinghe of the Quiz Team kept time and helped to add up the points secured by the teams.

The event was witnessed by the Council Members and Life Members of the paediatric college, a multitude of supporters from the different universities and many Past Presidents of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association and the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, which included Professor Sanath P. Lamabadusuriya, Professor Emeritus of the University of Colombo, Professor Emeritus Manouri Senanayake of the University of Colombo, , Professor Emeritus Narada Warnasuriya of the Sri Jayawardenepura University, Professor Deepthi Samarage, Professor Dulani Gunasekera, Professor Vajira Dissanayake – The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, were present in the audience. Some of these medical luminaries were invited to give away certificates and awards to the teams. Senior and Junior academics from the respective universities were also to provide moral support to their university teams. The hall was filled with enthusiastic students from all nine medical faculties cheering their groups.

The brilliant just-qualified young doctors, as members of the teams, endeavoured to show their knowledge and skills in a committed bid to secure honours for their respective universities. The talent and the speed displayed by the members of the teams were truly unmatched. It was as clear as day that the future medical care of the populace in our resplendent Motherland is in excellent hands, as the competence displayed by all teams was truly C’est Magnifique.