UNLIMITED SAJEEWITHA – Interview
PROF. SANATH LAMABADUSURIYA
| 2021.01.29
Another accolade for our "Lama"!
Please click on the link "Lamabadusuriya interview" in blue
This blog is about new entrants to the Colombo Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon (as it was then known) in June 1962. There were a total of 166 in the batch (included 11 from Peradeniya).Please address all communications to: colmedgrads1962@gmail.com.You may bookmark this page for easier access later. Header image: Courtesy Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo (2011 - 2014). Please use the search bar using a key word to access what interests you
Sanath
ReplyDeleteWell done my friend. I cannot access the youtube clip for technical reasons but I am aware of your unceasing commitment to teaching and your immense contribution to healthcare in general and paediatrics in particular. You have always remained a helpful generous and loyal friend.
Mahen
DeleteThank you for sorting out the problem. I heard the Youtube interview. I understood the Sinhala dialogue very well better than expected.
Just a reminder to all. Please click on the blue Lamabadusuriya interview text and NOt on the photo.
ReplyDeleteIt is always good to read about the achievements and recognition given, to Sanath
Speedy,I listened to the interview from the beginning to the end.I knew some of his past and the present history.We also missed a Professor of his calibre,during our time.No wonder his pupils have done very well.
ReplyDeleteHis nascent talents were first shown in the 3rd MB,when he obtained a Distinction in Public Health.There after it was plain sailing at Finals,onwards.He high lighted the inherent weakness of SriLankans for their jelogy towards,who had done well in life.I wish him good health and long life to contin ue with his valiant efforts to educate the budding doctors.
Nihal and Sumathi, your very generous comments are grealy appreciated by me.
ReplyDeleteYou may not realise it Lama but I am the one who posts things now on the blog and the phrase "Another accolade for our "Lama" is mine, not Lucky's!
DeleteHi Sanath
DeleteOver fifty years of caring for sick children and medical education,what dedication and commitment.Fantastic career,I am running short of superlatives.
I liked the advice to students who burn the midnight oil the night before the exam,nothing like a good nights sleep.
PS
If we get a chance to meet in person,I hope we can relive the the trip to Katharagama and the follow up,it was hilarious.
I endorse Speedy's comment about the accolade above. He is solely in charge. Even I send my own articles to him first.
DeleteMahendra and lucky, I realsed it was Mahendra who osted it.Bora, thank you very much for your very sincere sentiments.
ReplyDeleteDear Sanath, I consider it a great privilege to have had the chance to listen to your interview on 'Unlimited Sangeevitha' (?) I hope I am right. I listened to the whole interview appreciating the parts of it I was aware of, as I had the good luck to work with you for a while at the hospital in Galle. I had the chance to be part of your various programmes where you put the Galle faculty on the map, and after this I have had the chance to observe your career through the medium of our batch Blog. I am sure you are unique in the way you have continuously given your services to your country and also the 68 or so countries you have visited!I am sure that wherever you visited you would have left some mark of credit to Sri Lanka. I am glad you were able to place on record your services through this interview. You have given an example to us all and other doctors who qualify out of the Colombo Medical Faculty and other faculties in Sri Lanka. It shows us all that it is possible to dedicate one's entire life completely to the service of one's fellow men. We are truly proud of you, and may your dear children continue your tradition and meet with success in everything they do. All the best from, Zita
ReplyDeleteZita, thank you very much for your very sincere comments. At Karapitiya, I remember the Dean Darrell Wijeratne informing me that a doctor has just arrived from the UK to work at the Karapitiya Hospital and mentioned to him that the only doctor she knew in Galle was me!Later when I made inquiries, it was you that Darrell was referring to.
ReplyDeleteYou very kindly operated on my father-in-law, Romie Ediriwicreme's eyes at the SJGH.
That's kind of you to remember that time when I had the good fortune to work at the same place. I remember you lovely little family. I used to have long chats with them, in the common room.
DeleteGlad that Darell the Dean at the time, informed you of me, a non entity really, had joined Galle Faculty. I remember many programmes at the faculty where visitors from abroad like the cleft palate team, and our own teachers like Carlo Fonseka presented various educational programmes.
I can go on, but I want to focus on you. I hope that the example you have set us all will be followed now and in the years to come, for Sri Lanka depends on it and we were lucky enough at that time to have received an education that has helped us throughout our lives.
Zita
Then there were 123!
ReplyDelete166 were admitted to the Colombo Medical Faculty in June 1962. Nearly 60 years later. there are presumably 123 left. It may be more. We never know.
Some members of the batch, for reasons known to themselves, don't communicate with others. In such cases, we would never know whether they are dead or alive. For example, we came to know about Sivakumar's death only three years after his demise. This is one more reason why we should try to keep in touch with each other.
I created this blog over a decade ago, for so many reasons. Don't you think that we have sufficient grounds to keep our batch blog alive?
Please be on the lookout for the Batch Directory with the latest revisions in a private e-mail. I cannot expose all your e-mail addresses to all and sundry in a public domain like this!
Sanath
ReplyDeleteYou and Chandrasiri Niriella were appointed Professors from our batch at a time when the post had to be deserving and well earned. It had prestige and privileges and a great deal of respect. Presently, It just my impression that professorships have mushroomed to such an extent there are more professors than students. This a just my exaggeration to highlight a point!! Is this a new trend? Is this of any benefit to the students and to their education? What is the thinking behind this expansion of this prestigious position?
We have too many Professors dealing with Covid19 menace,in UK.We have been getting conflicting opinions.I am sure,they need to go back to Medical Schools.
ReplyDeleteSumathy
DeleteI agree. Too much conflicting professorial advice confusing the public and themselves.
Nihal, initially when we were students, the Colombo Faculty had two Chairs for each department i.e. co -Professors, except in paediatrics. (I gave the names in an earlier post.)The other academic categories were, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader (David Chanmugam was a Reader). In the 1970s, some Senior Lecturers in the Colombo Faculty became impatient, as there was a long wait for them to be designated as Professors. This group was headed by Nandadasa Kodagoda. They prevailed upon the authorities to create a category of Associate Professor, which replaced Reader.It should have been used as a post-fix and not as a pre-fix, but they used it as a pre-fix deleting the word Associate.Later this was abandoned and a scheme was introduced to be promoted as a Professor on merit. A circular was published giving details of this scheme. Points were given for academic performance, publications, contribution to the Nation, University and Faculty etc.Some academics sought positions n the University so as to collect points and becolme"Circular Professors"!
ReplyDeleteThe Chair is the most prestigious post and there is only one;in addition there may be many Professors in addition to the Chair. The Head of the Department is nominated by the academic staff of the department and is for a period of three years. If one goes on leave for a period exceeding one month, the headship is lost.(That is the reason my predecessor, Priyani Soysa never took sabbatical leave in a carrer from 1966-1991, as she did not wish for me to be the Head!)There are other categories such as Emeritus Professor. After retirement, other members of your department, have to nominate you for that and the Faculty Board, Senate and Council has to approve it. There are Visiting Professors as well, who are part-time.I am Emeritus in Colombo, Founder in Ruhuna and Visiting Senior Professor in Rajarata.
In the US,I think there are no lecturers and senior lecturers;either one is a professor or assistant professor.
Sanath
DeleteThank you for that lucid explanation of the evolution and the current status of the hierarchy in academia. Not that it bothers me but everyone who is mentioned in the media has the prefix Professor. Hence the post seems to have lost its lustre and prestige.
Whatever the evolution and revolutions in academia I still think very highly of you Sanath
Yes,Lama;there were some Academics,who deserved Professorship for there hard work and limited research work.As you have stated about Rof Priyani's behavior during those days,demonstrate the jelousy that prevailed among the Academic circles.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am aware of US has the title of Associate Professor to Academic staff below the Head of Dept.Our own Yoga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anaethesiology.That University is certainly world famous.The word Emeritus Professor is a common term used in UK.I am sure,you are well aware of it.By the way,Prof Chanmugam was either Emeritus Professor or visiting Professor,when we sat 2nd MB.He was one of my Examiners in addition to Prof Waas.
ProF Chanmugam hsd retired by the time we joined the block. Probaly he was a Visiting Professor
ReplyDeleteSanath, Congratulations on this interview and all your contributions to Pediatrics in Sri Lanka over the years. Unfortunately, I could not listen to the interview in spite of following Mahen's instructions (clicking on the blue letters etc.) I'll try again sometime. All the best to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Srianee.
ReplyDeleteYou could access it on YouTube by typing my name or on the internet by typing Unlimited Sajeewitha
I am HARITHA JAYATILLEKA
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that I enjoyed the presentation very much. Please accept my sincere admiration for all that you have achieved in your illustrious career. I once met you by chance and I was so surprised when you recognised me and told me how much you knew about my daughter who has done so well in her singing career. Long may you continue.
Haritha, thank you very much for your sentiments. I remember you very well. You were in our junior batch. Please accept my deepest sympathies regarding your sister-in-law Eugene Wickramanayake's demise. Recently I was invited by your relative Ramya and Asoka Gunasekera for lunch. She presented me a copy of your ancestor Sir DB Jayatilleka's biography, which I am currently reading and enjoying.
ReplyDelete