Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Ranjith's original e-mail re Professor Dayasiri Fernando

This post had disappeared from the blog. Hence re-posting. It was ND who brought it to my notice. Thanks ND.

Ranjith Dambawinna

28 Nov (4 days ago)
to Nihal
Fellow STC mates! - friends and colleagues.  (For your information)

      Just heard from Merrill Aluvihare  that Dayasiri (Prof . DPA Fernando) has died. He was the Prof. of Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine in Colombo, and was a co-examiner at the Royal College of Surgeon examinations, held annually in Sri Lanka. 

I knew him throughout his career at STC.  Absolutely a very decent bloke ,who remained a devout Christian.  He was also a kind and compassionate guy who set a good example for all of us to follow. His superior knowledge  in Latin astounded even his teachers!

 He was also quite well known for his Drama at the College Literary Society concerts!
   His brilliant performance as 'Portia'  in the "Merchant of Venice", brought him great fame in the 'world of  Drama and Theatre'.  Those 'Episodes' staged at the (STC) college Hall, attracted crowds from near and far!
   He fooled the entire audience to convince them that, he was actually a 'she'!
  
His beauty and performance was so convincing and credible, so much so ,that the college Office at Thalassa received bags and bags of letters of serious compliments , most of which were "amourous" one's, declaring their "endless love" to him!!!

     It will be a sad day for STC, and indeed for all of us !    Goodbye my friend, I shall miss you!


                "faber est quisque fortunae suae"
                                    et
               "bene orasse est bene studuisse"

from Dr. Ranjith Dambawinna

3 comments:

  1. Dayasiri wore his accolades with much panache but with great modesty. He imparted his knowledge and wisdom most generously for his students to carry his baton into the future.
    May you find Eternal Peace
    ND

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  3. I met Dayasiri in 1966, when I was admitted to the ward of ATS Paul, for whom Dayasiri was a Registrar. When he learnt that I was intending to study medicine he adopted me as a brother and mentored me throughout my career, until I left SL, in '77.
    I learnt about compassion and respect for patients from him, as his bedside manner was exemplary, at a time when this was not de-rigueur.
    "His life was gentle, and the elements
    So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
    And say to all the world, “This was a man.”
    Suramya Kumararatne (Batch of 1967-72)

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