It was with great sadness I received the
news of the demise of my former teacher, a fine physician and a true gentleman.
Kirthi S De Silva had his education at Royal College Colombo. He went on to the
Medical School of the University of Ceylon in 1949 and graduated in 1954
obtaining his MBBS degree.After junior appointments he set off to the UK in
1958 for further training. There he began his work in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. In 1963 Dr De Silva passed the MRCP examination
both in London and Edinburgh and made plans to return home to Ceylon. His
enthusiasm for everything he did inside and outside of medicine seemed
boundless. With his love for travel and adventure he planned an epic journey
with two of his closest friends,SivasambuAnandaraja and Prof. K.N(Bull) Seneviratne,
to travel overland from Paris to Ceylon.The terrain was hostile all the way
through Turkey, Middle East and Pakistan. It wasn’t a journey for the
faint-hearted as we realised when we were shown the slides while in medical
school.
On his return to Ceylon he passed the
difficult MD examination, joining the elite band of specialist physicians,
having both the MRCP and MD. Heremained simple and modest, wearing his learning
and authority lightly. In 1963 Dr De Silva worked as a Consultant Physician in
Colombo for a short period of time. During this time I was a medical student
and had just started clinical work. A
few of us were assigned to work with him.Dr De Silva was a brilliant teacher. He
was then universally known as “Kira”. I still remember the aetiology, clinical
signs, complications and the treatment of Rheumatic Fever that he taught us. He
treated us with courtesy and respect, such a rare commodity in those days. He
was a fine clinician and a dignified gentleman. Always polite and softly spoken
he showed tremendous kindness to his patients and to the staff. In turn he
received great loyalty and enormous respect. He showed us how to conduct
ourselves calmly and with dignity in the ward. His patients adored him. His
work ethic and bedside manner had a tremendous impact on me. Dr De Silva
brought a certain style, polish and elegance to his ward rounds and we were all
uplifted by it. Many of us felt we should have had a longer spell with him.
As a Consultant Physician Dr De Silva
worked in Anuradhapura and Badulla. The 1970’s were uncertain times in Sri
Lanka. There was serious political turmoil with an insurrection in 1971.The
rising ethnic tension gave rise to unrest. This resulted in a mass exodus of
the intelligentsia from the country. Dr De Silva and family emigrated to
Masterton in New Zealand in 1972. They settled in well in their new country. He
was awarded the FRACP in 1976 andthen the FRCP (London) soon after. He was an
outstanding physician and continued to work in Masterton as a consultant.Being
a true generalist, kept assiduously up to date with new trends and techniques. Dr
De Silva was however much more than a distinguished physician. He was one of the most likable, genuine
persons you could ever wish to meet. He was always available to chat with his
friends and colleagues, not only about medicine but about many other things,
including the other great loves in his life, the arts, music and travel. Many
however, will perhaps remember Dr De Silva for his wit and humour and his extraordinary
energy and enthusiasm for life. He was truly international, a bon viveur and
raconteur, an expert on wine and whisky, and a most generous host.
I am greatly indebted to life-long friends
of Dr. K.S.de Silva’s family for providing me with the information and
inspiration to write this tribute. I am so pleased I have had this opportunity
to pay my respects to a fine teacher and a wonderful human being.
Dr De Silva faced his final illness with
courage and fortitude and had a peaceful end to his life. He took enormous
pride in his three children and found profound comfort over more than fifty
years in his marriage with Anna.He is survived by his wife and by their daughters
Lilamani and Sonali and son Raja.He wanted the funeral to be as simple as
possible playing some of his favourite music. The family will drive him to the
cemetery in his beloved classic vintage Holden for cremation.They will have a
drink of his favourite whisky to send him on his way.
May he find eternal peace.
