THE CONSTITUTION OF THE

COLLEGE OF OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGISTS AND HEAD AND NECK

SURGEONS OF SRI LANKA

2002

(CORLHNS)

1. Name The College shall be named the College of Otorhinolaryngologists and Head and Neck Surgeons of Sri Lanka (CORLHNS).

2. Objectives: The objectives of the CORLHNS shall be,

1. to advance the knowledge of and promote research in otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery.

2. to promote post graduate training and continuing medical education in otrhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery.

3. to promote fellowship among the members of the college.

4. to promote communication and exchange of knowledge among otorhinolaryngologists and head and surgeons at national and international levels.

5. to monitor, suggest and advise on improvements of the standards of ORLHNS services.

3. Members a. The association shall consist of the following categories of members.

I. Ordinary members

2. Associate members

3. Honorary members

b. The founder members shall be all the members of the Association of Otolaryngologists

of Sri Lanka on the date of formation of the College. Founder members privileges will

be according to the type of membership they would otherwise hold as determined by

paragraph no. 5

4. Fellows –

a. Ordinary fellows - Ordinary members can apply to be a fellow of the College after

holding continuous membership for 10 years.

b. Founder members who have held over 10 years continuous membership of good standing in

the Association of Otolaryngologists of Sri Lanka and are eligible to be ordinary members of

the College, are entitled to utilize the number of years in excess of the 10 years for this

purpose. The decision to grant fellowship under this category will be exclusively decided by

the council after scrutinizing the suitability of the member to be given such a privilege.

c. The application shall be made to the President via the Secretary on a stipulated form available

from the College. The applicants name should be proposed and seconded by 2 ordinary members

or fellows of the college.

d. The fellowship will be granted by the Council at a meeting with at least 10 members including

the President being present.

e. A fee stipulated by the Council shall be payable by the applicant prior to being admitted as a

Fellow.

f. A certificate of fellowship will be awarded at the inauguration of the Annual Academic

Sessions after being admitted as a fellow.

g. Honorary fellows - Honorary fellows shall be elected by the Council. They will not be liable

to a fee and will also have no voting rights and shall not hold office.

5. Admission to membership - The following shall be eligible for election to membership.

1. Ordinary members-

1 )Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka medical council who possesses board

certification or is eligible for privileges of board certification as a specialist in

Otorhinolaryngology by the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of Sri Lanka.

2) Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka medical council and holding

postgraduate qualifications in otorhinolaryngology, and who has been duly appointed as a

consultant ENT surgeon by the department of Health of Sri Lanka.

'3) Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka medical council who possess a

diploma of fellowship or an equivalent postgraduate qualification in Otorhinolaryngology

from institutes other than the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine of Sri Lanka. The final

decision to grant membership in these cases will be taken by the council subsequent to

scrutinizing the applicant's suitability.

4) In the event of a change of any of the criteria on which membership was granted to an

individual, the membership may become null and void as maybe determined by the council.

b. Associate members-

I). Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka medical council holding a diploma

in Otolaryngology or the M.S. in Otolaryngology from the Post Graduate Institute of

Medicine of Sri Lanka.

.2) Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka medical council and is enrolled in

the training program leading to the MS in Otolaryngology of the Postgraduate

Institute of Medicine of Sri Lanka.

3) Any medical practitioner registered by the Sri Lanka Medical Council, holding a

postgraduate degree and being acceptable to the council as a suitable applicant for

associate membership.

4) Associate members falling under category I above will be entitled to all rights and

privileges of the college except to hold or act in the offices of President, President

elect, Secretary, Treasurer or Editor,

5) Associate members falling under category 2 and 3 above shall not be entitled to hold

office and shall not have voting rights,

6) In the event of a change of any of the criteria on which membership was granted to an

individual, the membership may become null and void as maybe determined by the

council

c. Honorary members –

The council may elect Honorary members from amongst those who have made a special

contribution to Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery. They will enjoy all rights

and facilities except the right to vote or hold office.

6. Subscriptions –

a. Life membership(ordinary)- Rs. 3000.00

Life membership(associate) Rs.2000.00

Ordinary members annual membership- Rs. 300.00

Associate members annual membership- Rs. 200.00

b. Those who are in default of membership fee for a period of two years shall lose their

privilege of membership.

c. Subscription dues shall be payable on or before the day of the AGM of the current year.

d, The membership fees shall be reviewed and revised whenever needed by the council.

7. The Council –

a. The term of office of the council shall be 2 years

b. The Council shall consist of 15 members as given below

A president

A president elect

A treasurer

A secretary

An assistant secretary

Four council members

Two co - editors

Social secretary

The outgoing President., Treasurer, and Secretary

c. Any member of the council absenting himself / herself for three consecutive meetings without being

excused is liable to be removed from the council.

8. President and President elect –

a. Shall be elected at the first election for the council and shall hold the office for a period of 2 years.

Subsequent elections will elect only the president elect for the next term of 2 years unless the incumbent

president elect is not in a position to take up the post of president. In this case elections will be held again

for both posts.

b. The president, and in the absence of the president the President elect, shall preside at all meetings of the

college and council. In the absence of the President and President elect the council shall nominate one of

their members to preside.

c. The presiding officer of any meeting of the college, the council or any sub-committee shall have a casting

vote at such a meeting.

9. Treasurer –

a. Shall be elected every 2 years and the person elected shall not hold this office for a second consecutive

term.

b. Shall be responsible for the management of the finances of the college, and shall present the statement of

accounts at the Annual General Meeting.

10. Secretary.

a. Shall be elected every 2 years and the person elected shall not hold the office for a second

consecutive term.

b. Shall, I. convene meetings of the college / council.

II. circulate notices of such meetings and agenda at least seven days prior to the date

of such meetings, unless in case of emergency meetings of the council.

111. Keep minutes of the meetings and maintain records of the college.

11. Assistant secretary

–

1. Shall be elected every 2 years and the person elected shall not hold this office for a second

consecutive term.

2. Shall assist the secretary in the performance of his duties.

12.Cheques –

Any two of the following are authorized to sign cheques for the college.

a. The President

b. The Treasurer

c. The Secretary

13. Co-Editors, Social Secretary and Council members –

Shall be elected for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for re- election.

14. Removal and resignation of office bearers

a. Removal of an office bearer will be done only with a 2/3-majority vote taken by secret ballot

at a council meeting with all other council members present

b. Resignation of a member or fellow will only be valid if it is submitted in writing to the President

through the secretary at least one month before the date of intended resignation. All subscription

fees and any other dues will have to be paid and any accounts settled before the resignation is

accepted.

15. Council meetings-

The council shall meet at least once every three months. The quorum for such meeting shall be five (5).

16. Powers and duties of the council.

a. The council shall be responsible for the general administration of the affairs of the collage and its scientific programme.

b. The council shall have the power to

1. Elect all categories of members

2. Elect any member of the college (subject to regulations in paragraph 5) for a

vacancy in the council, except to the office of President and President elect.

a) In the event of the post of President faIling vacant the President elect

shall carry out the relevant duties of the president until the post is

filled by election at a general meeting which shall be held not later than 8 weeks

of the post faIling vacant.

b) In the event of both posts of President and President elect faIling vacant, the

council member who has the confidence of most of the other members of the

council shall carry out the relevant duties of the president until these posts are

filled at a general meeting which shall be held not later than 8 weeks

of the posts faIling vacant.

c) Nominations for the elections in subsection a and b above will be called and

received 4 weeks and 2 weeks before the date of the general meeting respectively

3. Appoint 3 trustees with power to hold property on behalf of the college.

c . The council shall have the power to appoint sub committees: as it deems necessary and co – opt

the services of any member for any such subcommittee.

d. The council shall have the power to nominate for any specific purposes, a member to represent the

Council at any meeting or conference.

e. The Council shall have the power to make any decision or any matter, which is not covered by the

rules of the College. Such decisions shall be ratified at the next general meeting.

f. The Council shall finally approve by 2/3 majority, any resolution passed at the General Meeting

before such resolution comes in to effect. If this is not possible the resolution shall be presented to

the general membership at the next meeting for further discussion. The decision taken at this

meeting by a simple majority will be binding.

17. Academic meetings –

a. CME meetings will be held at least twice a year. These may be held in combination with general

meetings. Notice of such meeting shall be circulated to members at least fourteen days prior to the

date of the meeting.

b. The Council should always promote clinical meetings, workshops, seminars etc. whenever the

resources for such events are available. Eg. external examiners, guest lecturers, eminent persons in

a related field, and also actively engage in organizing such events on a regular basis for the

betterment of the membership.

c. Annual Academic Sessions should be held every year.

d. The College Oration should be held as part of the Annual Academic Sessions as far as possible.

18. Annual General Meeting –

1. The Annual General Meeting shall be held before the end of February of the same year.

b. Nominations for office bearers for posts which have fallen vacant or for the purpose of electing a

new council and resolutions shall be called for, 6 weeks before the date of the

Annual General Meeting and shall be received at least 4 weeks before such meeting.

2. Nominations shall be proposed and seconded by two members, and shall have the written

consent of the nominee. The nominee shall not be in default of the membership fee. A person

could be nominated for one post only.

3. Elections, if any, shall be by secret ballot. If there are no nominees, such office bearers shall be

elected at the Annual General Meeting.

e. Notice of every resolution to be moved at such meeting shall reach the Secretary at least 4

weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

f. Resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority at the Annual General Meeting subject to the

provisions in paragraph 16e.

g. The agenda of the meeting shall always include

1. election of office bearers for vacant posts in the council

2. election of office bearers for the council once every 2 years

3. presentation of annual report and statement of accounts

The agenda shall be circulated to members at least 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.

h. Quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be twenty (20).

i. Members who have not paid their annual subscription fees will not be entitled to attend the AGM.

19. Extra Ordinary General Meeting –

1. Extra Ordinary General Meeting shall be convened by the President, or on receipt of a written

request signed by at least ten members of the College.

20.Grants

a. The council shall have the power to accept as well as disburse grants or donations in the pursuance of

the objectives of the College.

2. All funds of the College shall be deposited in an account approved by the Council in the name of

the College.

3. All assets and endowments of the Association of Otolaryngologists of Sri Lanka shall be vested

in the College.

d. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial commitments of the College.

e. All accounts of the college shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the council.

21. Amendments to the constitution -

a. Amendments to the constitution should be discussed at a General Meeting after 21 days notice

had been given.

b. A two third majority of those voting shall be required to amend the constitution.

22. Members addresses

1. All members should submit to the College a reliable address to which correspondence could be sent. .

b. It is the responsibility of the member to keep the College informed of any change in address.

c. The College shall not be responsible for any breach in communication as a result of not been

informed of the current address of the member.

Sialendoscopy and Lithotripsy (December 2009)