Activities in brief
CoMSAA Lecture 2019
Climbing your own ‘Everest’
Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala is the first Sri Lankan, and first Sri Lankan woman to summit Mount Everest (8,848m/29,030ft), a double record she achieved at 5:03am on 21st May 2016. She is a mountaineering professional and women’s rights advocate. She currently serves as the first ever Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Rights for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
Abstract of the Lecture
The presentation took the audience through a journey to the top of the world and back down, focusing on key life-changing experiences that she encountered during this challenging and unforgettable journey to the summit of Mount Everest.
The presentation focused on the importance of dreaming big and the equal importance of nurturing a dream. She also spoke on the effectiveness of planning, preparation, and teamwork required to achieving one’s goal. The presentation highlighted the importance of changing and adapting to new environments and the critical role that a positive mind can play, on how and why we need to believe in ourselves in order to achieve our goals.
She emphasized that being passionate about what we do is also critical to achieve the best results in whatever we undertake.
She concluded by drawing out the gendered implications of this journey and spoke about how critical it is to challenge gender stereotypes and eliminate discrimination based on gender so that future generations of women and girls, men and boys, can enjoy the benefits of mutual respect and equality.
Donations
- Donations of books worth 2 million and 11 computers to medical library.
- Donation of piano, television, multimedia projector and furniture to
Student’s Common Room. - Donation of chairs and tables to student study areas.
Infrastructural Support
- Refurbishment of canteen and student study areas at a cost of Rs. 1.9
million - Repairing and cushioning of sofas in student common room.
Financial grants to students to participate in overseas academic activities
- International Student Congress of Biomedical Sciences in Netherlands
2012– 2 students - Inter-Medical Faculty Physiology Quiz in Malaysia 2013 – 5 students
- Inter-Medical Faculty Physiology Quiz in Indonesia 2015– 5 students
- Representing university in International Table Tennis Tournament 2015 – 1 student
Financial support to needy students during period of undergraduate study
- Annual Sumi Moonesinghe Award for best performer at the Basic Sciences
Stream Examination (2nd year) – One time award of Rs 50000/= - Annual Walter Patrick award for excellence in Community Medicine –
Monthly award of Rs 2000 for period of undergraduate study
Monitoring and mediating financial awards from external donations
- Donations of books worth 2 million and 11 computers to medical library.
- Donation of piano, television, multimedia projector and furniture to
Student’s Common Room. - Donation of chairs and tables to student study areas.
First ever Inter-batch Spelling Bee Competition of UCFM in 2014 – Language
Assistance to students in times of crisis
- Replacement of textbooks, clinical equipment of two students affected by
Bloemfontein Hostel Fire– January 2015
Annual Academic Sessions and Reunion
Held in September every year.