Getting together to rekindle fellowship and remember the departed
View(s):50 years as Medical Doctors
By Dr. Lakshman Abeyagunawardene
It was on May 30, 1962 that 166 young men and women walked into the main Administration Block of the Colombo Medical Faculty on Kynsey Road to register themselves as medical students. To celebrate 50 years as doctors, it is coincidental that exactly 50 of them will be gathering together at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo on March 3 this year, to meet old friends and spend an enjoyable weekend.
Although we have lost forever, four of our colleagues who were with us at our last Reunion at Chaaya Tranz in Hikkaduwa held in 2012, this is likely to be the largest ever gathering of 1962 entrants in one single place since our graduation. Had they been alive, they too would surely have been there. We will sorely Priya Gunaratne de Silva, Kamali Nimalasuriya de Silva, Farouk Mahamoud and Lucien Perera on this occasion. At least 15 others had indicated to me their desire to participate, but had to keep away due to compelling reasons such as health issues. Considering the fact that all of us have now passed the “Three score and ten” mark and mortality is now at its peak, it is quite remarkable that we could muster such a gathering for a Batch Reunion.
These 50 doctors will be converging to Negombo from the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and different parts of Sri Lanka itself. Those domiciled here have all travelled far and wide, but have chosen to spend the evening of their lives in the land where they were born.
An Organising Committee comprising Swyrie Balendra (Chairperson), Sriani Basnayake, Pramilla Senanayake, Suriyakanthi Amarasekera, Srianee Dias with the writer himself serving as the Honorary Secretary, has been working hard to ensure that the 50th Anniversary celebrations would be a success.
The event is bound to be a fun-filled weekend for those attending. Some of them will be meeting each other for the first time since graduation with the MBBS degree. However, the highlights of the programme will be the Academic Sessions on Saturday morning and the Reunion Banquet and Dance to be held the same evening. The main speakers at the Academic Sessions will be Sanath Lamabadusuriya (“The Creation of Karapitiya: the Sweat and Toil”), Mahendra Gonsalkorale (“Health Benefits of Being Active in Retirement – Musically Speaking”) and Malkanthi Wijesuriya McCormick (“Use and Misuse of Antibiotics in Sri Lanka”).
Outstanding achievers
Like every batch that boasts that they have produced the most outstanding medical professionals, ours too has contributed by producing a set of outstanding achievers. Limited space does not permit me to mention all of them. I must add that those who have distinguished themselves abroad may be quite unknown to local newspaper readers. On the other hand, some who have chosen to live in Sri Lanka have become household names here in this country.
A few need special mention here. To start with, it was Professor Sanath Lamabadusuriya who topped the batch at the final examinations held in March 1967. Apart from the string of qualifications after his name, this Paediatrician is about the only medical professional based in Sri Lanka, who has been honoured by no less a person than Queen Elizabeth. He was made an MBE in 1991 in recognition of his work in Sri Lanka’s Cleft Palate Project. A past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, “Lama” as he is fondly called by friends, has made an immense contribution to teaching, research and the practice of medicine both in Sri Lanka and overseas.He continues to practise even today and continues his teaching duties at the Rajarata Medical Faculty. He has been the Professor of Paediatrics at the Medical Faculties in Ruhuna and Colombo, ending up as the Dean of the Colombo Medical Faculty. On his retirement from the University, his portrait was unveiled at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children.
Among other clinicians who have distinguished themselves locally are: Ophthalmologists M.H.S Cassim and Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara, ENT surgeon Revo Drahaman, Cosmetic Surgeon Lalantha Amarasinghe (who headed the Burns Unit at the National Hospital some years ago) and Sri Lanka’s first fully qualified Oncologist Senerat (R.S.) Jayatilake.
Practically every other member of the batch has excelled in his or her chosen specialty in Sri Lanka and abroad.
Sportsmen
Lareef Idroos, Cyril Ernest, Harsha Samarajiwa and the late Kiththa Wimalaratne who were well known schoolboy cricketers were members of the University of Ceylon cricket team that won the P. Saravanamuttu Trophy in 1962-63.
J.C. Fernando who captained the Royal College athletics team was an outstanding Public Schools athlete.
Departed colleagues
In concluding this article on a much sadder note, I have to refer to those colleagues who have passed away during the last 50 years. Twenty nine of the original 166 are no more with us. I dedicate this article to those 29 colleagues.