Guidelines for Submissions to The Dr Stella G. De Silva Memorial Oration

General Considerations

The orations are awarded to manuscripts that primarily focus on research conducted by the prospective orator. Please note that manuscripts consisting predominantly of extensive literature reviews with minimal or no original research data will not even be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

The manuscript must be submitted before the closing date to qualify for evaluation. The submission must be presented as a cohesive narrative of research conducted by the prospective orator, highlighting its significance and impact.

Manuscript Content

• Submissions should integrate scientific data into a coherent narrative in EXACTLY the same way that it would be presented if it is selected, rather than adhering to the structure of a standard peer-reviewed journal article.
• It should be structured as an engaging narrative, emphasizing research conducted by the orator, either independently or collaboratively.
• The narrative should be designed to deliver a 35–40-minute presentation.
• While published research papers may be included as annexures, the manuscript itself should not be a mere collection of research publications
• Manuscripts must adhere strictly to these guidelines, as non-compliance may result in disqualification. Revisions or re-submissions will not be accepted after the submission deadline
• Recommended structure:
  – Introduction/Background
  – Main Body (details of the study or studies)
  – Discussion (implications of findings)
  – Conclusions, Recommendations, and Acknowledgements
• Tables, figures, and photographs are encouraged to be included in order to enhance the manuscript’s appeal.
• References should follow the Vancouver style. Relevant citations must be appropriately placed within the text in superscript parentheses.
• The narrative should be designed to deliver a 35–40-minute presentation.
• All research work included in the oration must originate from the prospective orator’s own research initiatives. If it is a collaborative effort and the submitter is not the principal investigator, consent from the other investigators or collaborators must be duly obtained and submitted with the submitted manuscript.
• Additionally, every research study incorporated into the oration MUST have received ethical clearance from a recognized ethics review committee. Evidence of Ethical Clearance and relevant reference numbers must be provided in the manuscript.
• Any Clinical Trials, interventional and experimental studies MUST have prior registration with a recognised Clinical Trial Registration portal. Evidence of this and reference number/s must be provided in the manuscript.
• Ethical considerations for photography and videography- Safeguarding the anonymity and privacy of all patients. Take all necessary steps to protect their identity unless specific consent for identification has been explicitly obtained. Avoid including identifiable features unless absolutely necessary and fully consented to in advance.
• Formatting Requirements
  Manuscripts must be prepared in Microsoft Word, using:
      Font: Times New Roman or Arial, size 12
      Line spacing: 1.5
      Margins: 0.8 inches (2.0 cm) on all sides
  Bold and italic text may be used for emphasis, but underlining should be avoided.
  Pages must be numbered consecutively at the bottom right corner.

Submission Guidelines

• Electronic Submission
  Manuscripts must be submitted electronically via the oration submission portal. Hard copy printed submissions will not be accepted.

• Covering Letter
  Covering letters providing the name of the submitter, affiliations, addresses, title of the manuscript, email of the corresponding author and contact telephone number should be submitted separately with the manuscript. The submission should start with this cover letter.

• File Formats to submit
  Each manuscript must be uploaded in two file formats
  – PDF Version:
  Ensure this version does not include the author’s name or affiliations to facilitate anonymous review.
  – MS Word Document Version:
  This version must include the author’s name, affiliations and contact details.

Process of Selection

A Sub-Committee appointed by the Council of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians will evaluate submissions. Each member will review the manuscripts individually. Final decisions will be made at a consensus meeting of the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee’s recommendations will then be submitted to the Council for approval.

Submission Deadline

• Manuscripts must reach the Secretary, Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, by 4:00 PM on 7^th May 2026.
• PLEASE NOTER THAT THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE EXTENDED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.