Coach Ride from Colombo to Hikkaduwa

Hi,

Some of you have already informed me that you will be using your own transport to get to Chaaya Tranz in Hikkaduwa on August 31st.
However, I am sending this out to all confirmed attendees to get a head count to ascertain how many of you plan to travel as a group in a coach from Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo to Chaaya Tranz in Hikkaduwa.

Please reply to confirm whether you will be joining the group in a coach ride, which too will be fun.

Lucky

Remembering N. Sivakumar

By Nihal D Amerasekera 

It was with great sadness I received the news of the demise of yet another friend from our great batch of 1962. I recall Siva from the 1^st to the last day we met after the final results as an inveterate smiler who took the enormous vicissitudes of life in his stride. Like yours truly, he was one of the few who were in the other half of the truck that was outside the hallowed grounds of that school in Castle Street. All through the hard questioning during the revisals and the signatures in the Block his smile and demeanour never wavered. He was a shy lad who preferred to stay at the back of the group when cases were presented but came up trumps when it really mattered at examinations. Sadly I never met him since our last goodbye on that eventful day in 1967. It is my fervent hope that he had a good and rewarding life in Auckland, New Zealand. Through his kind and caring ways he attracted many friends. He was much loved in the batch and remained a valued friend both at Medical College and the world at large. His cheeky grin and infectious laugh are precious memories for us all.

No doubt like the rest of the batch who have now departed this world, Siva must wander ethereally in the long corridors of the General Hospital, Colombo and in the common room and lecture theatres of that magnificent building in Kynsey Road. 

May he find Eternal Peace.

Reunion Update - Visa Formalities

Dear All,

As stated before, I will now restrict these e-mails to confirmed Reunion attendees only. However, updates will also be posted on the blog so that even someone who is interested but is unable to attend too will be kept informed. This particular e-mail is for those of you who are no longer Sri Lanka citizens.

I have been rather quiet these last couple of weeks as I myself was out of the country. On my return last Monday, I saw the long winding line and the huge crowd near the Immigration Section. It was for those passngers who did not have a visa. The lines at the immigration counters were short and fast moving and that is where returning Sri Lanka residents, dual citizens and those armed with an ETA were. This is just to draw your attention to the importance on obtaining a visa before you arrive. Please read the following information and be prepared for your travel to Sri Lanka in August.

See you all soon!

Lucky

Please click on the link below for detailed information.

http://www.eta.gov.lk

Updated List of Deceased Members

1. S.R. de Silva (Sunna)
2. A.R.K. Paul (Russel)
3. Ms. M.D.F. de Silva Paul (Dawne)
4. R.A.D.W. Bernard (Bernard Randeniya)
5. N. Chandrasiri (Chandre)
6. V. Ganeson (Ganesh)
7. L.G.D.K. Herath (Irwin)
8. V.Kunasingham (Kunam)
9. B.L. Perera (BL)
10. B. Somasunderam (Bobby)
11. K. Sunderampillai (Pillai)
12. D.E.T. Wickramarachchi (Tudor)
13. K.N. Wimalaratne (Kiththa)

14. Anna Ponnambalam Sathiagnanan
15. A. Satchithananda
16. N. Sivakumar

N. Sivakumar

I received the sad news that Sivakumar had passed away over 10 years ago. Please see e-mail from Rohini Senaratne Anandaraja.

Hi Lucky

Sivakumar of our batch included in your unreachable list sadly passed away in Auckland NewZealand even 10 or more years ago of multiple medical problems
Just informing you

Rohini Anandaraja (Senaratne)

Reunion News

I am happy to announce that we will have the largest ever gathering (in one place) of 1962 entrants to the Colombo Medical Faculty at the upcoming 50th Anniversary Batch Reunion to be held at Chaaya Tranz Hotel in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka from August 31st to September 2nd this year.

The following have already confirmed attendance and most of them will be accompanied by their spouses. With a few more waiting to make a last minute decision, we expect to see a gathering of 90 to 100 at this occasion. At least another 10 have sent me e-mails saying how much they wanted to join, but explaining why they are unable to make it. Some are faced with serious health issues and we wish them well at this time to regain normal health.

Considering that ours is a relatively small batch and that 15 of our dear colleagues have passed away during the last 50 years, we should be more than happy with the attendance. 

Confirmed Attendees 

1. Lalantha Amarasinghe
2. Anton Ambrose
3. Harischandra Boralessa (Bora)
4. Cyril Ernest
5. Srianee Fernando Dias (Bunter)
6. Mahendra Gonsalkorala (Speedy)
7. Devyani Gunasekara Salgado
8. Kumar Gunawardene
9. Lareef Idroos
10. Lakshman Jayasinghe (LS)
11. M.Z. Lameer
12. Douglas Mulgirigama
13. Nalin Nanayakkara (Nana)
14. Bertram Nanayakkara (Bertie)
15. Manel Ratnavibhushana Wijesundera
16. Rajan Ratnesar (Patas)
17. Mahesan Richards
18. Vasanthy Thuraisingham Perera
19. Lakshman Weerasuriya (Lucky)
20. Malkanthi Wijesuriya McCormick
21. T. Yoganathan (Yoga)
22. Lucian Perera
23. Suriyakanthi Karunaratne Amarasekera
24. Pramilla Kannangara Senanayake (Pram)
25. Kusuma Jayasuriya Ruberu
26. Swyrie Jayasekera Balendra
27. Priya Gunaratna de Silva
28. S.A.P. Gnanissara (Gnaniss)
29. J.C. Fernando (JC)
30. Sriani Dissanayake Basnayake
31. Surangani Abeysuriya Fernando (Sura)
32. Lakshman Abeyagunawardene (Lucky).
33. Sujatha Maligaspe Lena
34. Farouk Mahmoud
35. Shanthy Nalliah Edwards
36. Kamala Nimalasuriya de Silva
37. Victor (VPH) Rajapaksa
38. Ranjith Kuruppu
39. Chandra Silva Udukumbure
40. Chirasri Mallawarachchi Jayaweera Bandara
41. Bandula Jayasekara
42. R. Nadarajah
43. Jimmy Wickramasinghe
44. Senerath Jayatilake
45. Sunil Abeysuriya
46. S. Sarvananda
47. K. Balachandra
48. Vasantha Owitigala Jayasuriya
49. Revo Drahaman
50. Ranjan Wattegedera
51. Ranjan Hulugalle
52. Asoka Wijeyekoon (Lubber)
53. H.N. Wickramasinghe (HN) 
54. Sanath Lamabadusuriya (Lama)
55. Roshnara de Zoysa Gunaratne (Rosh)

2012 Reunion Academic Session

                       Academic Session

10.00 am – Welcome

                       Lakshman Abeyagunawardene 

                    

10.05 am – Remembering departed colleagues 

10.15 am – Academic Session

                   Chair – Sanath Lamabadusuriya

10.20 am – “Challenges and Opportunities of an Ageing Society”                                  

          Mahendra Gonsalkorala 

10.35 am – “What prevents the urge to merge?” - The problem of Non Consummation.                          

         Sriani Basnayake 

10.50 am – Discussion

11.15 am – End of Academic Session

50th Anniversary Batch Reunion - Tentative Program

                                                                               

  Tentative Program

Friday, August  31st

   8.00 am – All attendees assemble in the lobby of Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo

    8.30 am – Coaches leave for Chaaya Tranz Hotel, Hikkaduwa

   10.30 am – 11.00 am Hotel check-in

     1.00 pm – Lunch

     2.30 pm – 8.00 pm Free (On your own)

     8.00 pm – Fellowship/ Cocktails

     9.00 pm – Dinner

Saturday,  September 1^st

    8.00 am – 9.30 am Breakfast

   10.00 am – 11.30 am Academic Session (details posted separately)

     1.00 pm – Lunch

     2.30 pm – 8.00 pm Free (On your own)

     8.00 pm onwards - Dinner /Dance

Sunday, September 2^nd

8.00 am – 9.00 am Breakfast

9.30 am – Check-out

10.00 am – Leave for Colombo