Chira: I shall start with
my Father, Mallawaratchige Don Henry Perera He was a Staff Officer in the
government service, and was from Kandy and studied at Dharmaraja College,
Kandy.
My Mother - Juliet Clara
Wijesinghe was from Panadura and studied at St. John’s College, Panadura. Incidentally,
our batchmate Wimal Soysa’s father
and his sister studied there as well. Prof.MVP Peiris too studied here.
In fact, he was residing in my
mother’s Mahagedera and going to school
from there.( My mother used to say this) This school was very popular at that time
a large number of very important people studied there.
Speedy: That was an interesting aside. I am
sure you will touch on many colleagues with whom you had connections prior to
entering the Faculty.
Chira: Yes, you are right. There
were many and I shall recall them as we proceed. Coming to my Mother’s Family, my mother’s
father was a Muhandiram, His name was Mapitiyage Adrian Peiris Wijesinghe
My mother’s eldest brother was
a Mudaliyar His name was Mapitiyage Walter Edward Peiris Wijesinghe.
Speedy: Muhandiram and
Mudaliyar were titles of honour in the colonial days, till 1956 I believe. Of
course among them there were ranks such as Maha Mudaliyar, Gate Mudaliyar,
Atapattu Mudaliyar, Court Mudaliyar and so on.
Chira: I believe so.
My
mothers parents and eldest brother.
His son, my First cousin, is Dr
Nandi Wijesinghe (Mapitiyage
Nandimittra Wijesinghe) He went to the US and is a V.O.G. in
Los Angeles. He is
married to Dr Neelakshi
Gunawardene from our
parallel Peradeniya batch,
friend of our batch
Manel Wijesundera ( Owlie).]
Speedy: Owlie, please note! Of course, you knew
that Owlie!
Chira: I am sure she
does. In my mother’s family, there were 4 Males and 4 Females.
My mother’s 2nd cousins were Prof M.V.P. Peiris
and Prof S.R. Kottegoda, who was our Lecturer and later
the Dean of the
Faculty of Medicine, Colombo.
Prof. M.V.P. Peiris’s father and my mother’s
father were 1st cousins with the same “Ge” name.
Prof. S.R. Kottegoda’s mother
(a Wijesinghe) and my mother’s father were 1st cousins.
Speedy: How interesting! I am sure you know
that Prof Kotte’s daughter Indira is married to my younger brother Raj. They
live in Sydney but are frequent visitors to Sri Lanka.
Chira: Yes Speedy, I was aware of that. Prof M.V.P. Peiris was an
Ambidextrous Orthopaedic Surgeon
who operated on
Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake. He was
President of the
Ceylon Medical Association
(SLMA) and a past
Minister of Health. His wife Doreen used
to consult me at
my consultation room at my residence, which has been functioning since 1985.
One of Prof Kottegoda’s
hobbies was Photography and he had given me a beautiful photograph of
squirrels.
Speedy: Yes, he was well recognised for that.
His book on Flowers of Sri Lanka is a
classic.
Chira: I have seen that
book. The photos are beautiful. Coming now to my first Cousins on my Mother’s
side :-
1. Late Dr Gamini Wijesinghe, Consultant Psychiatrist
known to Dr
Vinitha Perera, Consultant Psychiatrist (our Peradeniya batch) was married
to Late Dr W.D.H.
Perera, Consultant Dermatologist.
2. Dr Nandi Wijesinghe,
Consultant V.O.G. Living
in Los Angeles
married to Dr Neelakshi
Gunawardene ( our Peradeniya Batch )
a friend of
Manel Wijesundera.
3. Dr Anura Samaraweera
was living in
California and now
back in Sri Lanka. He
is known to Lalantha Amerasinghe as they
had worked together at Palali
Army Camp during
the war
Speedy: Thank you, so many interesting
connections. What about your Father’s family?
Chira:
My father’s father died
when he was
14 years old.
It was his uncle G.D.A. Abeyratne, mentioned below, who looked after
him.
My father’s mother was Lucy
Perera (housewife). She was a lady who always wore long skirts down to the
ankles, at home. When we were very young
my brother, sister and
I used to
play cards with her, and always win, with hints off the
reflection of her
cards on her
spectacles!
Speedy: Isn’t that cheating!
Chira: Well, I suppose so
but don’t you think we were clever too!
Speedy: Ok, I shall grant that.
Chira: Thank you. This photo shows my father and family; my father’s mother, wearing a
long skirt and my father is standing next to his sister.
Speedy: I am glad you are showing these photos
as it reminds us of the type of attire in those days; a good lesson in history.
Chira: I am glad you
think so. You would have noticed my mother’s mother too wearing a long skirt in
the earlier photo.
My father’s sister’s son
is Dr Nihal Munesinghe mentioned
below.
Mentioned below also,
Dr Mahima Mallawaratchi’s father (youngest in the family who changed his name from Perera to Mallawaratchi their “Ge”name ) is standing on the extreme left. He wanted my father
and other members to change the name. My mother had said that people will call
her by both names and didn’t like it. Then all the family members decided to name
their offspring Mallawaratchi. That is how my family members and all my first
cousins are Mallawaratchis!
Speedy: This has been the
experience of so many families. Ranjit
Dambawinna for example was a Perera and
he took his “ge” name,
Damabawinna.
Chira: My father’s mother’s
younger brother was
Ganewattage Don Alexander
Abeyratne, who got his
M.A. from England, (after getting
there by sea). He was the
1st Principal of
Vidyartha College, Kandy
and later Dharmaraja College, Kandy.
Speedy: That is another
thing which people forget. Travel by sea to England was the norm in those days.
Chira: That is true.
These days of course, Air travel is the norm.
His daughters
(My father’s first cousins) were:-
1. Hema Jayasinghe (nee Abeyratne) was Principal of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. Later Deputy
Director, Ministry of Education.
I mention
this as quite
a number of our
batch mates (both Colombo
and Peradeniya) studied at
Visakha Vidyalaya.They are Manel Wijesundera, Late Priya Gunaratne, Manil Hettiaratchi, Surangani, Sujatha Maligaspe, Kusuma, Late Kamali, Neelakshi, Chula, Chitra, Late Srimathi.
2. Chitra
Abeyratne was Principal
of Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda
and later Principal of Musaeus College, Colombo.
Lalani, Nisha and Padmini had studied at Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda.
3. Late Rani
Kitulegoda (nee Abeyratne)
was headmistress of Anula
Nursery. My son and my sister’s daughter attended Anula Nursery when she
was there.
4. Nalini Kappagoda (nee Abeyratne) Consultant Pathologist,
was married to
Late Dr M.B. Kappagoda,
Consultant Eye Surgeon, living in
Sydney, Australia. I met them when they
came for the S.A.A.R.C. Eye Surgeons’s
Congress in 2000 in Sri Lanka. I met her again when I went to Australia
in 2006.
His son (My
father’s first cousin), the Late Chandrabanu
Abeyratne, who was a Major General
in the army
was married to
late Shiromani Seneviratne,
Dental Surgeon. Shiromani studied at Methodist College and was one year senior
to me.
Our batchmates from Methodist
College will remember
her.
My first Cousins
on my Father’s side are:-
1. Dr Nihal Munasinghe
who is from the 1st
batch of Medical Faculty,
Peradeniya, built Medicare
Hospital, Campbell Place,
Borella. He is known to our batchmates
from Peradeniya. I channelled and
did surgery there. Our batchmate, Dr Drahaman had practised there as well.
2. Dr Mahima Mallawaratchi, is a Physician living
in England. Her brother Mahesh ( from
STC ) owns Malkey Rent
a Car at Pamankada, Colombo.
Speedy: That was most
interesting. Let me ask you now to talk about you and your own family.
Chira; Thanks, Speedy. I started
my education at
The Girl’s High
School, Kandy and
I was there till the 2nd standard. I won the Class Prize that
year. I also obtained a Certificate stating Very Good for Painting from The
Royal Drawing Society, UK, when I was 8 years old.
Speedy: Well done Chira! I can see how early in life you showed your
artistic talents!
Chira: Thanks Speedy. But
I started painting only a couple of years ago. My father came to Colombo on
transfer. I attended St. John’s Girl’s
School Nugegoda for one year.
Speedy: I remember that
as we lived in Nugegoda in Melder Place at that time too. (On the left, a photo of the entrance to Melder Place now)
Chira: Yes, I remember
you and your sister Nelum and brothers Daya and Nihal. We used to play a lot
together and had a lot of fun.
Speedy: We certainly did.
We touched on this in a previous episode.
Chira: Yes we did. After
that I moved over to Methodist College, Colombo. I have gone up to the stage to
receive ‘A’ reports from the Principal Miss Robins on many occasions. I won
many prizes at Methodist College including Rosemary de Alwis Memorial Prize. Rosemary was a cousin of Bora’s.
My Parents and the three of us
lived at No. 6
Melder Place Nugegoda after we came from Kandy.
(This Family Photo was taken in 1968)
Speedy: How many brothers
and sisters have you got?
Chira: I am the eldest of
three. My brother D.P.Mallawaratchi Studied at St. Thomas Prep and St. Thomas
College Mt. Lavinia. My sister Dhammika
studied at the same schools as myself. She
is married to Ranjith Ekanayake, retired
Brigadier in the Army.
Speedy: I remember both well. We called your
brother Matchchi.
Chira : Yes, that’s him. That was because I couldn’t pronounce Malli properly when I was very small and the name got registered! Dayalal obtained his BSc.
from the Engineering Faculty, Peradeniya, MASc. (Master of Applied Science) from
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
A Civil Engineer. He was a President of the Institution of Engineers. He married Prof.
Channa Ratnatunge’s sister Malini
MSc, Graduate worked at the C. I. S. I. R.
My sister and
I studied at Methodist
College Colombo and travelled to school in a private car owned by Mrs.
Wijewardena. The Vanguard
picked us up from Melder Place
and on the
way picked up Swyrie and
her 3 sisters Gemini, Ramani and
Preethi from Kirillapone. Later my Father arranged a
school bus which started from the top of Melder Place, Nugegoda.
Swyrie and her 3 sisters also
travelled in it to Methodist College. A
small girl called Noeline living at the top of Melder Place too joined us.
She was teased by tying her Schoolbag to her plat, and guess who the culprit
was? Swyrie !
Speedy: And now let us talk about University
and medical education
Chira; I entered
The University of Colombo
from Methodist College, for a 6 Months
course in Zoology . Ours was the last
batch to follow this course.
Sura, Sunil, Bora, Sanath, J.C.. Patas, Senerath,
Bertram Nana, Lucky, and Cassim also followed this course.
For the Zoology
course, we had
only two lectures
and a practical
class every week.
I used to
play Bridge with my
friends Vinodhini Chanmugam
and Jemima Jesuant, (both from Methodist College) from the
Science Faculty.
I met them in
England later on
when I went for my Postgraduate
studies. I visited Jemima’s place
in Hong Kong
in 2008. Sadly, they are both no more now. Those from Methodist
College will remember
them. I used to
play Badminton and
represented the Colombo
University. We played against the Peradeniya University
and won the Tournament in 1961. I played mixed doubles with my brother (from
the Engineering Faculty) as well, during that period.
Speedy: This is news to
me. I had no idea that you were good at Sports!
Chira: Well, now you
know! Only Badminton and Table tennis. ( not in school)
The other memory I have of
that time is how after I entered Medical
College I used to travel in a Private car with Late Priya Gunaratne, Late Kamini Gunawardene and Padmini Gunawardene .
(Photo
in Signature Book Medical Faculty 1962)
I studied with
Manil Hettiaratchi, Primrose and Nisha. Lalani and Padmini used to join us.
My studying was made difficult
because I used to get severe
Migraine headaches But my
wonderful mother helped me by reading
my Text Books
and notes to me. I used to lie
down on bed, close my eyes
and listen to
her. She was a Tower of strength
to me.
Speedy: I am sure she was. We must never ever
forget the love and guidance we received from our parents.
Chira: I quite agree
Speedy. In my final year, I stayed at the Women’s Hostel down De Saram Road,
Colombo. Pram and Dole (Piyaseeli
Dolawatte) were in the next room and
Manel (Owli) was in the opposite room on the 2nd floor.
Speedy: For reasons unclear, the hostel was known to
us as the Hopper House!
You then graduated with the MBBS and started
your internship, right?
Chira; Yes, that is correct, and no comment about the name!
My first appointment was with
Dr Misso, Surgeon at the General Hospital, Colombo. Swyrie and
Zita also worked with me.
Speedy: I was HO to Dr Misso too but he
retired during that time and I completed with Dr Burhan or Dr DFDS Gunawardena,
I can’t be sure.
Chira: Dr Misso was a
thorough gentleman but I remember that time for another reason; because of a
gruesome incident. I received a call from ward 1 G.H.C. saying that a man was hanging from
the roof. It was a terrible sight to see this man who had undergone a prostatectomy a few days before.
I was “on-call” and had to face a number of inquiries into this
incident.
Speedy: What a scenario
for a young doctor to face!
Chira: It was awful. I
had good friends who supported me. During this appointment, I shared a room with Pram in the quarters above the Radiology Department GHC.
My second Appointment was with
Dr Rajanayagam V.O.G. at the Castle Street Hospital for Women. Colombo. Bernadette used
to share my
room in the quarters when
she was on call.
Speedy: Any other notable
events you would like to share with us?
Chira: I was Bridesmaid
many times. The first time was to Anoja
Wijesekera, my oldest
friend from Methodist College since standard
4. She married Dr Nanda
Atukorale Dermatologist, who is sadly no
more The second time was to Primrose and the third time was to
Piyaseeli Dolawatte (Dole). There was a saying, “third time
a bride’s maid, never a bride”, but I broke
it, and became a
Bride in 1979
after I returned
from Overseas Postgraduate leave!
Speedy: Good for you Chira! Old wives tales I
call them.
Ok so you did your internship
and then, what followed?
Chira: After Internship, my first appointment was at The Homagama Hospital. Late Sardha
too worked with me.
This was a milestone for me as
I bought my first car and used to drive to Homagama Hospital.
Speedy: Your first car is
something you never forget. Mine was a Triumph Herald which I bought from my
brother when he went to England. I was so chuffed and proud of it.
Chira: Yes, I was so
thrilled when I got it. Let me related an interesting story about my car. One
day when driving to the hospital there was a traffic block, there was no movement
of vehicles towards Homagama at all. Suddenly a man opened the rear left door
and got into the car. I got the shock of my life! I didn’t know how to get rid of this man. He
offered to show the way to the Hospital via a side road. He got me to turn the
car to the left and as we proceeded a fair distance, I saw a hospital attendant
standing at a bus halt. I stopped the car, thanked him for his help and told
him that there is a person from the hospital that I could go with him. I heaved a
sigh of relief! Ever since that day I
used to lock the car from inside.
Speedy: What a story! You
must have been scared out of your wits!
Chira: I was and still shudder when I recall it.
Speedy: And what was
next?
Chira: Next was my Eye
Hospital appointment, from May 1971.
I worked with Late Dr
Velauthan. Kusuma had worked at the Eye Hospital just before I went
there.
Vasantha Ovitigala worked with me at Eye Hospital. I went to see Vasantha’s first
baby with Benita Stephen (Thoracic surgeon’s wife), when they were living down
Kynsey Road, Colombo. Vasantha is married to Karu Jayasuiriya. (former Speaker) That daughter married Naveen Dissanayake, Gamini Dissanayake’s son.
Speedy: The next stage is
your postgraduate career and how you became such a well-known and respected eye
surgeon in Sri Lanka. Please take us through that period
Chira: Thanks for your kind words Speedy. I left for the U.K. at the end
of February 1976 on No Pay Study Leave granted by the Government to do the
Diploma in Ophthalmology and the FRCS in Ophthalmology.
I was allowed only 3 Sterling
Pounds and 10 Shillings exchange on my Passport. I was not given any allowance
from the Government. I had to earn my own living and study on my own all by
myself. There was absolutely no teaching or any guidance and nor any advice
given to me as to how to set about studying for these exams. I had to ask
others and study, A Herculean task!
I told my daughter Anjali who
just passed her local Final M.D.Ophthalmology exam. that she is very lucky that
her training was excellent for a period of 4 years with 4 exams. They were
given Lectures; Clinical Lecture Demonstrations and periodic assessments and
Workshops conducted by our College of Ophthalmologists which helped them. They did
group studies as well. In contrast, for me it was a case of self-study without
any group studies and no training at all. I also had to earn my living in UK.
Speedy: That was the norm
for no pay study leave which I too went through. You were set afloat in a
foreign country with hardly any resources, clutching references received form
your bosses and had to use all your
ingenuity and skill to navigate and finally reach the shore with that much-wanted qualification. It was a case of triumph for optimism over fear.
Do carry on Chira. I couldn’t
help reflecting on that time period.
Chira: I couldn’t agree
with your more Speedy. Talking of what happened after I went to U.K., I first
worked as a Clinical Assistant at Moorfields
Eye Hospital London and Western Ophthalmic Hospital London. I passed the
Primary FRCS in 1976.
Next, I worked as SHO
Ophthalmology, at The London Hospital,
Whitechapel England. I obtained
The Diploma in Ophthalmology in 1977.
(D. O. Lond)
I was SHO Ophthalmology in Sutton General Hospital when I obtained
the F.R.C.S. (Eng ) in 1978 and worked as Registrar at the Royal Surrey County
Hospital Guilford, England and came back to Sri Lanka in May 1979.
I was in the
U.K. for 3 years and 3 months. I used to visit Pram in Wembley and later in St. Johns
Wood, Manil Hettiaratchi in
Blackpool and later in Dulwich, Wimala Sothinadan (de Silva) in
Colchester. I visited Bernadette in
Wakefield, Primrose in Kent and
later Granthum and Zita in Southend-on-Sea.
Speedy: After gaining all
your qualifications, you came back to Sri Lanka. Take us through your next
phase.
Chira: Yes, I came back
to Sri Lanka in May 1979 and was appointed
Consultant Eye Surgeon Kegalle
Hospital. When Cassim
got a transfer to Eye Hospital from Kandy Hospital, I got a transfer to Kandy
Hospital in Oct 1979.
Speedy: We just missed
each other as I came back to England in April 1979. I was the first Consultant
Neurologist in Kandy from December 1977 and set up the Unit from scratch.
Chira: That was great! It is a pity that you had to go back to England
but I know you had good personal reasons to do so.
Speedy: Thanks for your understanding Chira. I
gather you married in that time?
Chira: Yes, I got married to Ranjit Jayaweera
Bandara in Oct 1979. He did Geography Honours at the Peradeniya Campus. He went
to UK and obtained the Charter in Personnel Management. He worked at the C.I.S.I.R. and later at the
State Mortgage Bank Colombo, as A.G.M. He did the LLB at the Open University and worked as a Legal Adviser to the S.L.I.I.T. Colombo.
Speedy: And your next jobs in Sri Lanka?
Chira: I worked in Kandy
Hospital for 5 years. Dr Reggie Seimon was the other surgeon there. I came to
Eye Hospital Colombo as Consultant Eye Surgeon in Oct 84 and retired in Feb.
2001.
Speedy: Any special memories of that time?
Chira: Not a pleasant one
Speedy. I was in the Operating Theatre, Eye
Hospital when the Central Bank Bomb blast occurred in Jan. 1996. Many
casualties were brought. Prof Sheriffdeen wheeled in Mr Lalith Kotelawala with cut injuries all over his body mainly the upper part including his eyes. I started
suturing him and Dr Saliya Pathirana (Retinal surgeon) took over as his retina was involved.
Later Mr Lalith
Kotelawala built The
Golden Key Eye
and E.N.T. Hospital,
Colombo. Dr Saliya Pathirana is in charge
of the eye department.
Speedy; You developed
special expertise within Ophthalmology. Tell us about that.
Chira: I went with other
Consultants to Hyderabad and Madras to follow workshops on Cataract Phaco
emulsification Surgery in 1999.
Cassim also joined. This is
the latest technique to remove a
cataract by emulsifying the cataract and
sucking it out with the Phaco
machine.
Speedy: You had several
spells in the UK after you became a Consultant. Where and when did you
work?
Chira: While working in Govt. Service
we were entitled
to take 6
months overseas leave every
5 years. I made use of this and
worked in the U.K in the latter
halves of 1986,
1992 and 1998.
Speedy: You have some special memories of
Wales Chira. Tell us about it
Chira: It happened like
this. In 1992, I worked as Locum
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Isbity hospital, Gwenedd, Bangor North Wales. While I was there, Ranjit and the two Children
came to
Bangor, North Wales and spent 3 months with me.
My children went to school in Bangor and they even learnt the Welsh language! The other memory of that time is
that Primrose, Upul and
children came to
Bangor North Wales and spent a weekend with us. We visited
Anglesey with them.
Speedy: I see. Must have
been great to have them. I gather also that you gained some more special
experience in the UK?
Chira: Yes Speedy, it was so nice to be with them About my special
experience, when I went to U.K.in 1986,
I learnt the use of the Laser and obtained
experience in Laser treatment..
At that time Sri Lanka did not
have a single Laser machine. When I was the President of the Ophthalmological
Society of Ceylon in 1987I started a Laser fund. I organised several Programmes to raise funds.
Speedy: That was great! What sort of fundraising
programmes were they?
Chira: Different sorts,
some of them were T.V. and Lion’s
club programmes.
And also working in UK in 1992 and 1998 as a
Locum Consultant, I gained experience with more modern and advanced instruments and techniques which helped me to purchase certain items and improve my techniques in Sri Lanka.
Speedy: I think that system of granting
postgraduate leave was mutually beneficial. It motivated the doctors to enhance
their knowledge and expertise, and at no real cost to the Government. It also
gave them and their families an opportunity to visit other countries.
What an incredible journey
Chira! Now I would like you to sit back and relax and talk about your own
family.
Chira But of course! Is it Ok if I have my cup of tea now? Do please
help yourself too. Hope it has not gone cold.
Speedy: Of course Chira,
please do and thanks for my cuppa too.
Chira: You are most
welcome.
Coming to my children, I have two and they are both doctors. My son
Anju studied initially at St. Thomas Prep. Kollupitiya and later at Royal
College, Colombo.
Speedy: I didn’t know
that! How interesting because I too went from St Thomas Prep Kollupitiya to
Royal College.
Chira: There you are! He then studied
Medicine, like you too! But at The Kursk State Medical University, Russia (in
English). He is currently working as M.O. at the National Hospital, Colombo in
the Orthopedics Unit. He is interested
in Photography and is now a Professional photographer doing weddings etc. as
well.
My Daughter Anjali initially studied at Methodist College, Colombo and later at
Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. She studied Medicine at the Kasturba Medical
College, Manipal, India. She passed her Finals M.D. in Ophthalmology in January
2021. At the moment she is working as Senior Registrar at the Eye Hospital, Colombo.
Speedy: You must be so proud of them, and
rightly so. It is even more interesting after reading Sanath Lama’s recent post
on Medical Education. Your experience is a good example of how private medical
education (cost borne by the parents), have benefitted Sri Lanka.
Speedy: Chira, How about grandkids?
Chira: My son has a 9-year-old son and a 4 year
old daughter. (photo of them as kids)
Speedy: They must be a hand full.
Chira: Yes, they are very
naughty. They are living down the lane and I am very busy babysitting them very
often especially these days because of Corona outbreak and no schooling.
Thank you for sharing your
journey with us Chira. Before we finish, I hope you won’t mind doing a follow
up where I like to discuss not only your achievements in the field of
Ophthalmology but your achievements at the Eye Hospital, and perhaps some more
drawings too?
Chira: Yes, I am quite
proud of my achievements and as for drawings. I am very happy to oblige.
Speedy: That’s great! I shall give you a little
break and invite you again soon.
Chira: Thanks very much
Mahendra- I have slipped back to Mahendra! Hope you don’t mind.
Speedy: Not at all Chira,
after all, you knew me as Mahendra first! Who would have guessed that the two of us who were kids in Nugegida would end up as Batchmates. As Nhial would say, it is the "awesome force of destiny"!
That was fun! I enjoyed this session a lot. It will
also, be a kind of flashback of their own lives for many who will surely read and enjoy this with some degree of nostalgia.
Chira: Thanks Mahendra, I
really enjoyed it too. You have taken a lot of trouble and I appreciate very
much your effort. Thank you for giving
me this opportunity and I hope that the Blog will continue to flourish. All the
best!
Speedy: It has been my
pleasure and thanks again for sharing.
