THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COLLEGE OF OPHTHALMOLOGISTS OF SRI LANKA
1. Name :
The College shall be designated The College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka" hereinafter referred to as "the College"
2. Registered Office :
The registered office of the College shall be at the Eye Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka unil a permanent office site for the College is found. Its meetings shall be held at the Registered Office or any other venue that may be decided upon by the Council from time to time.
3. Aims & Objects :
(i) To achieve and maintain the highest standards of Clinical practice of Ophthalmology.
(ii) To farther Ophthalmic education, training and research.
(iii) To undertake problems pertinent to the prevention of blindness and visual impairment in the Country.
(iv) To promote co-operation, co-ordination and fellowship among those in the disciplines associated with this speciality.
4. To achieve the above objectives the College shall
(i) Hold clinical meetings, seminars, symposia and workshops,
(ii) Stage an Annual Congress.
(iii) Arrange for training in various field of ophthalmology in other centres of excellence.
(iv) Sponsor or arrange study tours.
(v) Bring about close collaboration and co-ordination between the College and other Ophthalmic Colleges or Ophthalmic Organizations of international standing.
(vi) Encourage development of sub-specialities in Ophthalmology.
(vii) Publish journals and publications.
(viii) Invite experts in ophthalmology and the related fields.
(ix) Advise the Government of Sri Lanka or any other organizations on establishment of new eye units or on improvement or on modernization of existing eye centres.
(x) Advise and assist the Government of Sri Lanka or any organization in preparing eye care programmes, formulate national plan for the prevention of blindness and visual impairment and provide other ancillary services.
5. Members:
(I) Ordinary members
(II) Associate members
(III) Honorary Fellows
(IV) Affiliates
6 .
(i) Ordinary Members :
Shall be those medical practitioners who apply for membership and are accepted by the Council and who shall have passed any examinations conducted by the College in the future or who apply for membership an dare accepted by the Council and hold
(a)The MS in Ophthalmology (S.L.)
(b) or the FRCS, FRACS, FCOph., or other equivalent degree in Ophthalmology acceptable to the Council of the College.
(c) or have held the post of Consultant Ophthalmologist for fifteen years or more, but do not possess any of the qualifications stated above in (a) & (b) and who are in the opinion of the Council are of appropriate professional standing to qualify for membership of the College.
(ii) Associate Members :
Shall be those medical practitioners who apply for membership and are approved by the Council and who hold the D.O. of any recognised College or University.
(iii) Honorary Fellows
The College may from time to time admit on the recommendation of the Council distinguished persons in other disciplines and in ophthalmology as Honorary Fellows of the College in recognition of their exceptional service to the speciality of ophthalmology. Such Honorary Fellows shall not be eligible to hold any office and shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the College.
(iv) Affiliates
Shall be:
(a) Those who are members of the College by reasons of having been members of the Ophthalmologica! Society of Ceylon at the time of inauguration of the College but not eligible to be ordinary Members or Associates.
or
(b) Those medical practitioners in the field of Ophthalmology who hold qualifications or have experience prescribed by the Council from time to time.
or
(c) Those medical practitioners who are not eligible to be Members or Associates but who are undergoing training in Ophthalmology of a type and at a place approved by the Council.
or
(d) Those persons approved and admitted by the Council who hold a postgraduate qualification and are engaged in ophthalmic research but who are not medically qualified - such qualifications been prescribed for the time being by the Council.
7. Subscriptions
(i) The fees payable by ordinary members/Associate Members/ Affiliates, on account of registration, annual life membership shall be an amount decided by the Council from time to time.
(ii) Any ordinary Member whose subscription is in arrears for twelve months loses his/her right to vote at any meeting. Any ordinary member/Associate Member/Affiliate who is in arrears of annual subscription for two years ceases to be a member.
(iii) Any ordinary member/Associate Member/Affiliate who is thus
disqualified may be re-adrnitted on the payment of penalty
diced by the Council provided also that all arrears are
settled.
8. Funds/Finance
(I) The financial year for the purpose of balancing accounts shall be March 31st of each year.
(ii) The Hinds may be applied for any lawful purpose for the furtherance of objects vide clause (iii) and (iv).
(iii) The funds of the College shall be deposited to the credit of the college in a Bank of Banks approved by the Council.
(iv) The Council shall approve any expenditure of funds at a Council Meeting.
(v) The Council shall approve any investment of funds of the College at a Council meeting.
(vi) The accounts of the College shall be audited annually by an Auditor nominated by the Council.
(vii) Cheques drawn on behalf of the College shall be signed by two signatories. Two signatories shall be the Treasurer and the President or a Joint Secretary.
(viii)The College shall accept donations on behalf of the eye departments of government hospitals, and the Eye Hospital Colombo for the purchase of equipment and materials for the eye units of those hospitals. Each hospital is entitled to draw funds only up to the amount deposited.
9. Council
The Council shall consist of:
(i) A President
(ii) A Vice President
(iii) Two Joint Secretaries
(iv) A Treasurer
(v) Two Joint Editors
(vi) Four Council Members who shall be elected at an annual general meeting of membership. The term of office of the Council shall be for a period of one year.
10. President
(i) There will be on election to the post of President from the second year onwards after inauguration. The Vice President shall succeed to the post of President on expiry of the term
of office of the President each year. f-
(ii) If the President in unable to assume office with in two months of the election the Vice President wilt succeed to the post of President.
(iii) The President shall preside at all meetings of the College and the Council.
(iv) The President shall be an ex - officio member of all subcommittees of the College.
(v) In the event of absence of the President and the Vice President the members shall elect a President pro-term of the College.
(vi) The President or the person presiding at any meeting of the College or the meeting of the Council or a meeting of a subcommittee shall have a casting vote at such meetings.
(vii) The President shall cast an additional vote in the event of equality of votes.
11. Vice President
(i) The Vice President shall be elected by the members of the College annually.
(ii) The Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the College
and the Council in the absence of the President
12. Joint Secretaries
(i) Two Joint Secretaries shall be elected annually by the members of the College.
(ii) No member shall hold office as Joint Secretary for more than three (3) consecutive years.
(iii) The duties of the Joint Secretary shall be
(a) The general administration of the affairs of the College.
(b) To convene meetings of the College and the Council as specified in
(c) To keep minutes of such meetings.
(d) To maintain a list of members and their addresses and publish annual directory.
(e)To maintain the records of the College.
(f) To maintain an inventory of all College Property and be responsible for its safety.
13. Treasurer
(i) The Treasurer shall be elected by the members of the College annually. No member shall hold office as Treasurer for more-than five (5) consecutive years.
(ii) The duty of the Treasurer shall be the management of the Finance of the College with the approval of the council.
(iii) The Treasurer shall present a duly audited statement of accounts of the College at the Annual General Meeting.
14. Joint Editors
(i) The Joint Editors shall be elected by the members of the College annually.
(ii) The Joint Editors shall be responsible for Journals and other publications of the College.
15. Council Members
(i) The members of the Council elected under Rule (ix) shall be elected for a term of one (01) year and shall be eligible for re-election.
(ii) The members of the Council will have to function as Chair persons of sub-committees appointed by the Council.
(iii) Any member who absents himself for three (03) consecutive
meetings of the Council without a valid reason shall cease , to be a member of the Council but shall be eligible for re-election at the discretion of the Council.
16. Powers & Duties of the Council
(i) The Council shall be responsible for the general administration of the affairs and the finances of the College.
(ii) The Council shall be responsible for the scientific programmes of the Colleges.
(iii) The Council shall have the power to appoint such sub-committee as it deems necessary and to co-opt the services of any person to serve on or assist any such committee.
(iv) The Council shall have the power to elect all categories of memberships.
(v) The Council may advise on the format of examinations, duration and contents of course of study conducted by the College or any external body.
(vi) It shall be the duty of the Council to evaluate and advice on any defects or shortcomings both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of training in Ophthalmology.
(vii) The Council may recommend as and when necessary
nominees to the Board of study in Ophthalmology of- the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine Council may invite nomination or application from among the members of the College. Selection of such nominees shall be by secret ballot.
(viii)The Council shall have the power to accept as well as disburse grants In furtherance of the objectives of the College.
(ix) The Council shall have the power to nominate members to represent the College on any Board/Committee or at any conference to promote the objective of the College.
(x) The Council shall have the power after holding such inquiry as it deems necessary to take disciplinary action as it thinks fit including suspension/expulsion of a member whose conduct is prejudicial to the good reputation of the College.
(xi) The Council may recommend as and when necessary nominees for
Scholarships available to the college after inviting applica--tions from among Ordinary Member/Associate Members/ Affiliates of the College.
(xii) The Council shall have the power to institute and make suitable awards to any Ordinary Members/ Associate Member I Honorary Fellows in recognition of outstanding services rendered in the field of Ophthalmology.
(xiii) Council may employ personnel required for the function College.
17. Meetings and Annual Congress:
(i) Council Meeting
(ii) General Meeting
(iii)Clinical Meeting
(iv) Annual Congress
(i) Council Meetings
(a) The Council shall meet for at least five times In a yea
(b) Notice of a Council Meeting together with the agenda be circulated to the members of the Council at least se working days before the date of the proposed meetings.
(c) The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be six.
(ii) General Meetings
(a) General Meeting shall be of three types
(i) Ordinary
(ii) Extra
(iii)Annual
(b) The agenda of all General Meetings shall be sent to or* -nary Members/Associate Members/Affiliates within fourteen days before such meeting.
(c) The quorum for any category of General Meeting shall be twelve.
Extra Ordinary General Meeting
(a) An Extra Ordinary Meeting shall be convened by the joint Secretary at the request of the President of the Council on receipt of a written request signed by at least 10 members of the College. Notice of such meeting together with the agenda shall be circulated to the members at least seven days before the date of the proposed meeting.
Annual General Meeting
(a) The Annual General Meeting of the College shall be held in
the last quarter of the year. -
(b) Notice of every resolution to be moved at such meeting should reach the Joint Secretary at least twenty one days before the date of such meeting.
(c) The agendas of the meeting shall include the election of.
President Of required) Vice President
Joint Secretaries
Joint Editors
Treasurer and
Council members
and the presentation of the annual report and statements of accounts and resolutions if any.
Agenda of such meeting shall be circulated to the members at least 14 days before the date of the meeting, together with the nominations for the different posts of the Council duly proposed and seconded by the members of the College.
(iii) Clinical Meeting
Clinical Meeting of the College will be held monthly and agenda of such meeting shall be sent to the members 07 days before such meeting is held.
(iv) The Annual Congress
i) The purpose of the congress is to:
(a) Contribute to the progress of Ophthalmology.
(b) Highlight and update the scientific knowledge of Ophthalmology and related disciplines.
(c) Share experience in the pattern of the diseases in the
region.
(d) Acquire information pertinent to surgical techniques and instruments.
(ii) The congress shall be held annually. (iii)The contents of the congress shall be:
(a) Inauguration
(b) College Lecture
(c) Clinical Session
(d) Annual Dinner and other social activities
(iv) The amount of registration fee for members, Associate Members and Affiliates shall be determined by the Council.
18. Nomination
(i) Nomination for the election of the Council shall be called for in the month of October and should reach the Joint Secretary at least 28 days before the Annual General Meeting.
(ii) Nomination for a vacancy to any post shall be called for one month of such vacancy occurring and should reach the Joint Secretary within 02 weeks. Nomination shall be in writing and proposed and seconded by two members of the College and should include the written consent given by the candidate.
(iii) The candidate and the two members signing the nomination should not be in default of their membership fee.
(iv) No member shall be nominated for more than one post.
(v) Where no nomination has been received for any vacancy, such vacancy will be filled at the Annual General Meeting.
19. Voting
(i) The right to vote at all meetings shall be restricted to those members of the College who are not in default of their membership fee.
(ii) Voting at any election or resolution before will be by ballot.
(iii) A member who is unable to attend the Annual General Meeting may request a ballot paper at least 02 weeks before the
Meeting. A ballot paper will be issued to such a member if he/she no default of membership fee and the ballot paper should be who has returned to reach the Joint Secretary be the commencement of the Annual General Meeting.
20. Amendments
(a) Rules shall not be made, amended, varied or rescinded except at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.
(b) Ten days notice of such proposals shall be given to member the College.
(c) Any such proposal to be effective shall require a majority vote at the meeting.
Amendments to the Constitution
The subcommittee appointed in 2006 recommended the following amendments to the constitution and they were adopted at the Annual General Meeting in 2007.
1. Funds / Finances
The financial year for the purpose of balancing of accounts of the College shall be 30th November each year. This would facilitate the audited statement of accounts to be ready for presentation at the AGM.
2. Council
The immediate past president shall be accredited an office bearer of the committee after the president and the vice president in protocol. He / She shall not be nominated or elected to any other post during the year.
3. The President
The vice president shall ipso facto be nominated to the post of president on the expiry of the term of office of the president each year. If the vice president declines the nomination it shall be announced at the AGM and nominations called. The post of vice president shall be designated as president elect.
4. Council Members
To elect one council member to replace the vacancy created by the immediate past president.
5. General Meetings
The quorum for any category of general meetings shall be twelve (12).
6. Eligibilities
1. For a member to become the president, he / she should have served the council for four (4) years with at least one (1) year as Jt. Secretary / Treasurer or Jt. Editor.
2. For a member to become the vice president, he / she should have served the council for three (3) years, with at least one (1) year as Jt. Secretary / Treasurer or Jt. Editor.
3. For a member to become a Jt. Secretary / Treasurer / or Jt. Editor, he / she should have served the council for at least two (2) years.
4. Only the category of ordinary members are eligible to exercise a vote or accept the post as office bearers.
