Dental Awards 2018 to improve local dentistry

General Dental Practitioners Association (GDPA) President Dr. Miraz Mukthar addressing the Media. others from left: Deputy Director General (Dental Services) Dr. Chandana Gajanayake, General Dental Practitioners Association Past President Dr. Hilary Cooray, Oram Private Limited MD Mushtaq Jabir, Link Natural Products Sales Director Nishantha Paranagama and Link Natural Products Marketing Manager Harsha Rathnayake – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Divya Thotawatte

An initiative to promote dental tourism in Sri Lanka and improve the local industry, Dental Awards 2018, organised for the first time, is to honour and recognise the very best in the dental profession in the country. 

Jointly organised by the General Dental Practitioners Association (GDPA) and Oram Ltd., the award ceremony will take stage at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre on 23 November from 6 p.m. onwards. 

At a press briefing held recently, the organisers said that dental doctors from around the country who demonstrate especial skills would be evaluated under 13 categories and rewarded accordingly. In addition, three selected dental professionals who rendered a great service to the dental profession will be bestowed Lifetime Achievement Awards. 

“It is for the first time that exceptional individuals from the dental profession in both private and Government sectors will be selected, recognised and awarded in Sri Lanka. It is correct to say that this will be the largest stage that recognises and rewards dental doctors in Sri Lanka. On one hand, exceptional dental professionals will not only be honoured at the ceremony but also their expertise will be brought to global attention,” said Oram Managing Director Mustaq Jabir, highlighting that the awards ceremony would also encourage dentists to become their best while promoting dental tourism in the country. 

In a bid to further spur the excellence of the dental medical practice in Sri Lanka and take the Lankan dental practice competency to the global arena, the awards ceremony will be held under the theme ‘Going Global’. Link Sudantha will be the main sponsor of Dental Awards 2018. 

GDPA President Miraz Mukthar stated, “Through this award ceremony, we plan to take dentistry to the next level. We want to encourage the dental profession to go forward while recognising their achievements. This is going to be an annual event and a new chapter in the dentistry of Sri Lanka. The dental doctors will be evaluated under categories like The Best Clinic, Upcoming Dentist of the Year, The Best Team, The Best Team Member, The Best Website, The Best Patient Care, The Best Practice, The Most Improved Practice and The Best High Technology Practice. By doing this, we’re also encouraging dental surgeons to equip their clinics because today 90% of Sri Lanka’s clinics do not even have air conditioning.”

The grand award ceremony which will be held with the participation of distinguished local and foreign guests will also consist of lectures delivered by two British experts with knowledge in the field of dental medicine. 

Oram, one of the major players in Sri Lanka’s medical and dental tourism, has indulged in several activities to uplift the dental medical field which include inviting experts from overseas and conducting workshops to enhance the knowledge and expertise of Sri Lankan dental practitioners.