Appreciations

Dr. Upali Weerasena was a popular medical practitioner who served the Cooperative Hospital at China Garden, Galle for more than two decades. Prior to this assignment, he served in many medical department institutions in various parts of the island till he reached the statutory age of retirement. Upali had a cheerful disposition and was fortunate to have a wiry athletic figure which ensured him continuous good health. Unlike his colleagues and even his juniors who gave up their respective jobs and sought a retired life, he batted on. He died on October 15 just two weeks prior to his 86th birthday.

Upali was an ‘out and out’ Galle man who virtually knew everybody there. He was educated at Mahinda College during the Golden Era of the much revered E. A. Wijesooriya. Anada Samarakoon who composed our National Anthem joined the Mahinda College staff after leaving ‘Ratnasara’ Baddegama and lodged in the college hostel. During this period there were many other reputed teachers who contributed to our welfare at Mahinda. I spent seven years of my early formative life under the roof of Upali’s parents’ home.

Their house was located opposite Mahinda’s north gate. The strong bonds I had with Upali’s family lasted many decades. Upali’s father was a strict disciplinarian and his mother who was from Akuretiya, Baddegama was a courteous and religious lady.

Upali was an athlete and senior cadet who had a flair for art. He won the College art prize when a talented art teacher W. S. de Mel from Moratuwa was on the Mahinda staff. In the course of time Upali passed the SSC and qualified to enter the Medical College, Colombo .

He followed the two-year course for Registered Medical Practitioners as it is known today. Upali’s younger brother Mahinda also completed his pre-medical and joined the Medical College to do his MBBS. I was junior to them by a few years. I also passed the SSC but had no particular goal except to do higher studies. Upali was already in Colombo and encouraged my parents to send me to Colombo. Upali and his brother Mahinda found lodgings for me at Kollupitiya.

During Upali’s first appointment at ‘KKS’, I got the opportunity to travel all over the Jaffna Peninsula. His next posting was to a major irrigation works at Dewahuwa, off the Galewela Kekirawa Road. During this time he married Sumana, a quiet dignified lady with means from a respectable family at Hirimbura, Galle.

By a coincidence, I was attached to the Nuwara Eliya Forest Office immediately on my return from Oxford and Upali was posted to Udupussellawa Hospital with his new bride Sumana.

I used to be a frequent visitor to Udupussellawa during long weekends. Upali had three daughters and two sons. In September this year while Upali was holidaying with Ramani at Moratuwa he was unfortunate to slip down the stairs and injure his hip. While he was recuperating at his youngest daughter Nelum’s house in Galle, I received a telephone call informing me of the unfortunate incident. He had told the daughters that he would like to see me.

My son Samantha, knew about our close friendship. He readily agreed to take me down to Galle which we did on September 16. We recalled many happy memories and Upali agreed to see me in Colombo once his plaster was removed.

However, this final meeting was not to be. Ramani informed me that Upali had recovered from the hip injury fully and he was planning to start work at the Cooperative Hospital on October 16. However, on the 15th night he passed away in his sleep.