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.
There is something about Kira that catches one's thoughts and memory. Razaque in his diary on the blog recounts the story that when he went to Masterton met Kira (perhaps by chance) and had a long chat. Kira had invited Razaque and Farina to stay with them which they did for a few days. How generous and helpful indeed. I do remember discussing this with Razaque when he said what great company he and his wife were. This show the stature of the man and his helpful kindness to a relative stranger but a fellow Sri Lankan.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that lovely tribute. I only have a very faint recollection of him from attending one of his ward classes. I remember him as a gentle and soft spoken person and as a good teacher. I keep saying this but I shall say it again, we had some excellent clinical teachers in our day and KS was one of them.
ReplyDeleteI remember KS's lectures very well. Apart from that, an old class mate of mine at Ananda (Kingsley Kurukulasuriya) has been corresponding with me about his first cousin Dr. KS. Dr KS is also a brother of former Archaeological Commissioner Roland Silva (according to my old friend).
ReplyDeleteI,too was impressed by his teaching skills and good bed-side manners.He was friendly sort of Consultant and I had the privilege of following his word rounds,while he was Physician at Anuradhapura general. He taught how to assess the degree of stenosis of heart valves,which I never learn during Medical School,days.I wanted to have a six months HO post with him,during my OPD work.He and the MS were willing,but the Administrative bureaucracy prevented it.I,also remember how he was critical about various diagnoses by his Professors.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lucky, Sumathi and Mahen for your memories.
ReplyDeleteA picture paints a thousand words. How very true as the photo brings him back to life and takes me to the dark and humid wards behind the old OPD Block where he managed his patients. Sri Lanka lost a gem when he left our shores. So pleased to hear he had a successful professional career and a happy life.
I could recall what he looked like from the photo of him and his lovely Dutch wife Anna. The features are all their, just the lack of “caput konde”!
ReplyDeleteA fine tribute to a fine gentleman - who lived by high ethical principles which were not compromised for any reason. His knowledge, compassion and dedicated professionalism stayed under wraps only owing to his extreme modesty - appreciated only by his patients, junior staff and closest associates.
ReplyDeleteMasterton became a haven for every Sri Lankan who passed that way - Kira and Anna
hosted them most generously in the true SriLankan style. Iam not surprised at Razaque’s experience with him.
There is much I can write about his genuine goodness and entertaining ways, but shall close for now with a ‘Thank you’ to Nihal for this fine tribute which captures him well.
I have made an error in my comment above. Dr KS de Silva's brother was Dr. Raja de Silva who himself was a former Commissioner of Archaeology
ReplyDeleteLucky,Do not worry about simple mistakes,as we do get confused with names and dates at times in this era of aging.Sri Lanka had lost lots of talents during those bygone days of ethnic and political conflicts.,now is the time to put things right,by non interference by politicians,in the day to day running of institutions.
ReplyDeleteWe need a Singapore type of administration,if we were to progress to that developed world-Utopia.
Well said Sumathi!
DeleteSpeedy,Am I a Philosopher or a rational thinker?.I have no grandiose ideas of a Schizophrenic.Channa Wijesinghe's name come to my mind,every time I think about Psychiatry.He was one of those who changed the Speciality from General Medicine to Psychiatry.He had his prestigious MD(Cey),MRCP.I do not think they had MRCPsy,during his time.I am sure he sat DPM and the combination of MD,MRCP and DPM was ideal to be a Prof.Unfortunately,there was no Chair in Psychiatry.He must have got fed up with the system and migrated to Australia.Another brain drain.I remember Dr.M A S Rajakaruna who had MRCPsy and he did not sit for DPM,as there was no necessity and Diploma is a lower Degree to Membership.You too have enough qualifications to be either a Neurologist or Prof.in Gerontology.
ReplyDeleteSumathipala
ReplyDeleteYou are a walking encyclopaedia of the great and the good in the health dept knowing their professional qualifications and jobs including the frictions and foibles of the health service. At times it behaved as the department of ill health.
At last,someone is appreciating the little knowledge that I possess in the vast ocean of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI am sure,you have known me for several months,now.We were separated by the alphabetical order of allocation,in the Medical school.I knew you well,even though we were not closely linked as a clinical group.through out the gruelling,five years.By the way,Dr Wijesinghe lived closer to Nalanda and I travelled to Medical,cycling,passing his house.That was before I entered Bloem hostel.Dr.Rajakaruna was a past pupil of Sivali and Ananda College.His home town was Ratnapura.
Message by Lilamani, Dr. K.S. de Silva’s daughter on behalf of the family:
ReplyDelete“This is a beautifully written tribute. My father would have received
this with his usual modesty but taken great comfort in knowing he'd
left a little bit of himself with his students. Please thank Dr
Amerasekera from us. He captured my father so well.
With gratitude and appreciation.
Lilamani de Silva and family”
Thank you Rohini for posting the thank you from the family.
DeleteLovely to read that appreciation of KS written by ND by a family member
ReplyDeleteI was taught by him as well. He is related to my mother
ReplyDeleteSanath