Celebrating 50 years of graduation as Medical Doctors

On June 4, 1962, a total of 158 young men and women who had secured admission to the University  of Ceylon entered the portals of the Colombo Medicine Faculty. We had gained entry purely on merit and were from all parts of the island including Chilaw, Batticaloa, Point Pedro, Chunnakam, Tellipalai, Galle, Pannipitiya and Matale. 

We had to face a Viva Voce exam and were allocated to medicine, dental surgery or veterinary science based on performance. I remember being questioned on subjects ranging from space travel to Beri Beri. Of our many distinguished teachers, only Prof. Priyani Soysa and Prof. Carlo Fonseka are still with us. 

Our batch was multi-talented that comprised outstanding sportsmen and artistes. Thomian Lareef Idroos and Benedictine Cyril Ernest represented the national cricket team. Royalists Harsha Samarajiva and Kiththa Wimalaratne were celebrated schoolboy cricketers. They all represented the university cricket team that won the P. Saravanmuttu Trophy in 1962-1963. V. Kunasingham represented Sri Lanka in hockey. Royalist J.C Fernando was a champion athlete, Ranjan Wattegedara a tennis ace and Sidath Jayanetti an outstanding ruggerite. Virginia de Vos was a champion swimmer. 

Others excelled in the fine arts. Sushila Thiyagarajah was an exponent of Bharatanatyam and Sujatha Lena was in the famous ‘Heen Baba Troupe.’ Rohini Anandarajah was a graceful Manipuri dancer and Primrose Wijewardane a Sinhala radio artiste. 

We were also the first batch with a parallel in Peradeniya. By 1964, our numbers had increased to 168 as ten Peradeniya students joined us. This, however, meant that post-intern employment in the Health Department was not guaranteed, and many sought employment overseas. As far as can be traced, they are scattered in the UK (30), the USA (34), Canada (1), Australia (9) and New Zealand (9). The balance served in Sri Lanka. 

Among those who remained some chose academics, the most distinguished being the late Chandrasiri Niriella who was VC of the Ruhuna  University and Professor of Forensic Medicine in its Medical Faculty. 

Sanath Lamabadusuriya was Dean of the Colombo Medical Faculty and Professor of Paediatrics. He was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. Manel Wijesundara was Professor of Parasitology at the Peradeniya Medical Faculty. Lalani Rajapakse was Professor of Community Medicine of the Colombo Medical Faculty and SLAAS President in 2010. 

Kusuma Ruberu headed the Physiology Departments and Medical Education at the Sri Jayewardenepura  University. The writer and Sanath Lamabadusuriya were Presidents of the Sri Lanka Medical Association in 2006 and 2011 respectively. 

Those who specialised in various medical branches shone in their respective fields. Revo Drahaman is an Otolaryngologist. M.H.S Cassim, Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara, Zita Subhasingha and J.G Wijetunga are Ophthalmologists. The first three were Presidents of the College  of Ophthalmologists. 
(The late) Lucian Perera was a General Surgeon. Lalantha Amarasingha specialised in Plastic Surgery and was the pioneer consultant of the Burns Unit, National Hospital. He still volunteers at the Army Hospital. 

Chanaka Wijesekera is an Orthopaedic Surgeon and Nithya Jayawickrama an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. Victor Rajapakse, (the late) W. Rajasooriya and the writer are Anaesthesiologists. 
Senarat Jayatillake is Sri Lanka’s first fully-qualified Oncologist. Chithra Weeratunge was the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Ports Health Authority. Sardha Wijayratne was CMO of the Tyre Corporation. 
Puwan Sivananthan is a Rheumatologist. Harsha Samarajiva and Chandra Udukumbura are General Physicians and Rita Alwis a Paediatrician. Ranjith Bulathsinghala, (the late) Tilak Dayaratne, Swarna de Silva, J.C. Fernando, Suranganie Fernando, (the late) V. Ganesan, Roshanara Gunaratne, Gwendoline Herath, Ananda Hettiarachchi, Ranjit Kuruppu, Shirlene Punchihewa and H.N. Wickramasingha are General Practitioners. 

Some chose public health and administrative positions. L.N.D. Abeygunawardane secured a WHO fellowship in Health Education. Having worked in South  Carolina, he returned to Sri  Lanka and joined UNICEF as Director, Health Education. (The late) Bernard Randeniya was Director of the Maharagama  Cancer Hospital, and (the late) Punsiri Fernando was Director of the Anti-Malaria Campaign. Wimal Jayakuru was the first female Chief Epidemiologist. 

S.A.P Gnanissara served as Deputy Director General, Health Services, at the Health Ministry. Pramilla Senanayaka was the Assistant Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Sriyani Basnayake was Medical Director of the Family Planning Association. (The late) Priyade Silva was also in the family planning field. Wasantha Jayasuriya was Medical Officer, Health, in the CMC. 

Unfortunately, 29 of our batch mates are no more with us. They are sadly missed and fondly remembered. 

This year, to celebrate 50 years of graduation, a batch reunion is planned at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo from March 3-5, with 52 batch mates and their spouses expected to attend. All of us are now more than three score years and ten in age, and some will be meeting after half a century. The programme includes a brief ‘Scientific Session’ and dinner dance. 

This has been made possible due to the hardworking organising committee chaired by Swyrie Balendra with Lakshman Abeygunawardane acting as Secretary and Committee members Sriyani Basnayaka, Pramilla Senanayake, Sriyani Dias and the writer.