The 31st Annual Academic Sessions 2026 recognised outstanding research and strengthened dissemination of public health evidence.
The 166 Category 1 research abstracts were published in a special issue of the Journal of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka, while the Category 2 best-practice abstracts were published separately as Best Practices in Public Health – Abstracts of Oral & Poster Presentations.
Research awards were presented in epidemiology, health promotion/health systems/NCDs, maternal and child health, and environmental and occupational health. The special Dr. H.S.R. Perera Award for Health Systems Strengthening Research was awarded to Dr. I.O.K.K. Nanayakkara for development and feasibility assessment of a family-centred care package addressing maternal psychological stress in neonatal units.