A tribute to Dr Sivapiragasam Sriharan

10 September 2013 04:55 am

The first anniversary of Dr Sriharan’s death has come and gone. Tributes from a range of medical colleagues, friends and others whose lives he has touched have been collected in a book that stands testimony to his unique contribution in Sri Lanka and the US. I want to share my own story to record my gratitude to him as one of the finest men I have had the honour to know.

I was one of the hundreds he helped during his vocation as a healer and role model. Introduced to him by a friend Dr Sriharan systematically addressed each of my health concerns, spending his time and money and his brilliant diagnostic skills, to offer me a better quality of life. He was more concerned about my health and well-being than I was, which was his way with all his patients. His family was equally generous - Kala, Yaso and Aravindan were obviously used to such impositions.
He may have lived abroad, but his heart was here, as evidenced by the countless numbers of people he continued to help in numerous ways, which was his style.
Each patient to him was special, each was a friend.

This is a debt that can only be inadequately addressed through expressions of admiration and gratitude. Dr Sriharan avoided the limelight and was unassuming to a fault, so I’ve no doubt that he’d be embarrassed by tributes.

I wish his life and work will be a role model for doctors in Sri Lanka.

Arjuna Parakrama