A glance at one of Lucky’s very early posts. This was in Sept 2012.
https://colombomedgrads1962.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-college-of-community-physicians-of.html#comment-form
I publish this as it discusses the origin of the Blog and also, it will be good to update notable achievements by colleagues.
The
College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka honours Lakshman Abeyagunawardene
When I started this blog in March 2011, it was primarily meant to be a part of the build-up towards the 50th Anniversary Reunion that we successfully concluded earlier this month. Whenever possible, I have also highlighted noteworthy achievements of our batch colleagues since then. This is what I have recorded so far.
1. Sanath Lamabadusuriya – SLMA President 2011.
2. Chirasri
Mallawaratchi Jayaweera Bandara - Dr. P. Sivasubramaniam Memorial
Oration 2011.
4. Mahendra Gonsalkorale – Prof. S.R. Kottegoda Memorial Oration 2011.
5. Suriyakanthi Karunaratne Amarasekara and Chirasri Mallawarchchi Jayaweera Bandara – among recipients of SLMA ‘Outstanding Health Professional’ Awards to mark International Women’s Day 2012.
6. N. D. Amerasekara – Recipient of a special plaque awarded by his old school Wesley College in September 2012 for his services as Editor of the school website ˜Double Blue Internationalâ”.
7. Lareef Idroos – Re-elected President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association of North America, West Coast in March 2012. He was first elected to the post in February 2010.
I am now pleased to share the news that I was admitted as a Fellow of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka at the Inauguration of its Annual Scientific Sessions on Thursday 20th September 2012. This is in recognition of services rendered to Public Health/Community Medicine.
The following Citation was read by Dr. Santhushya
Fernando.
Dr.
Lakshman Abeyagunawardene was born in Hikkaduwa on October 22nd, 1941 at the
height of the Second World War. He was educated at Ananda College, Colombo, and
passed the University Entrance examination held in December 1960. Having
entered the Science Faculty of the University of Ceylon to follow the 1st MB
course in June 1961 when such course was conducted for the last time, he was
then admitted to the Colombo Medical Faculty the following year in June 1962.
Dr. Abeyagunawardene graduated with the MBBS degree in March 1967. Following
his Internship at the General Hospital, Colombo South, he worked in the
clinical field for two years before opting voluntarily for a career in public
health long before being called up for mandatory service as a Medical Officer
of Health. Starting as an MOH at Matara in 1970, he later joined the Health
Education Bureau (HEB) of the Ministry of Health before leaving for the United
States on a World Health Organization (WHO) Fellowship in March 1974.
He
specialised in public health and health education and obtained the degree of
Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Berkeley, USA
in 1975. On his return, Dr. Abeyagunawardene continued his service in the HEB
as a Health Education Specialist. In 1986, he was certified as a consultant in
community medicine by the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) following
conferment of the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) in community medicine (by
research) by the University of Colombo.
While
serving the Health Education Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Dr.
Abeyagunawardene was in charge of the Community Health Education sub unit and
in later years, the Training sub unit as well. In that capacity, he directed
the highly successful Family Health Education Action Programme mobilising
village level volunteers for health action throughout the length and breadth of
the country. Apart from his involvement in his own research studies, Dr.
Abeyagunawardene has supervised research projects and dissertations of MD and M
SC candidates of the PGIM. Dr. Abeyagunawardene has the distinction of
coordinating the M SC course in Health Education when the PGIM doors were
thrown open to non- medical and non-dental health professionals. He has also
served as a member of the Board of Study in Community Medicine of the PGIM over
an extensive period until he left government service in 1990.
Having
served the Government of Sri Lanka for 23 years, he opted for early retirement
to join the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1990. As a National
Professional Officer in UNICEF, Colombo, he continued to work closely with his
national counterparts, notably the Health Education Bureau. Apart from other
duties, Dr. Abeyagunawardene was responsible for the planning, implementation
and evaluation of UNICEF-funded mass media programmes to promote oral
rehydration therapy, iodised salt, child immunisation, and breastfeeding under
the Baby Friendly Hospitals Initiative.
Dr.
Abeyagunawardene has also served the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the
Commonwealth Secretariat of London as a short term consultant with assignments
in Indonesia and Malaysia. In 1998, he retired prematurely from the UN to
emigrate to the United States where he served the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control as a Health Education Specialist for a further
period of ten years before final retirement in January 2009. The South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control recognised Dr.
Abeyagunawardene’s services when he was presented with the Award for Excellence
in 2006 for his contribution in the state’s highly successful Childhood Lead
Poisoning Prevention Programme.
Mahendra, I am the current President of the Colombo Medical Students Alumni Association (CoMSAA).
ReplyDeleteI like to add Cyril Ernest and Lareef Idroos who played for the USA cricket team in the 80s. Also Cyril Ernest was once again selected for the Associate Member World Cup tournament in 1982, representing the United States in Birmingham. He was the captain and chairman of selectors There a few more I shall add to the list Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteI like to pay homage to Lucky Abey for his thoughtful creation of the 1962 batch Blog. He maintained and managed it with friendly authority when there was a constant flow of articles and a myriad of comments. Going back over the years Lucky managed it without fear or favour and kept us all together.
ReplyDeleteI first met Lucky when we were both living in Nugegoda. He had the benefit of a Honda 50 Motor Cycle and often gave me a ride. I recall with much nostalgia our enjoyment at the booze-ups in the Men’s Common Room and watching the ever successful University Cricket Team play to win the Sara Trophy.
I have not been a regular visitor to Sri Lanka the last being in July/August 2012. It was such a pleasure to host Lucky for lunch at the Cinnamon Grand when we discussed the ups and down of our lives since those halcyon days in the faculty.
Lucky visited London when I lived in Hertfordshire. I do realise the pressures while on a short visit but I wish we were able to meet up. You did have a busy itinerary at the time.
Thank you for the wonderful memories we hold of our time together. Best wishes.
Hi Lucky
ReplyDeleteVery grateful to you for creating and managing the Blog for many years.It gave me the opportunity to get to know batch mates with whom I had hardly spoken when we were students and also relive pleasant and interesting incidents.. Mahen is continuing the excellent work.
Best wishes to Mangala and you.
I want to add Douglas Mulgirigama for his great service in publishing two books, His book titled ‘මානසික පීඩනය සහ කාංසාව” (“Mental Stress and Anxiety”) was published in 2019 and his second ,MANASIKA SAUKYAYA 2 - MANOBHAWAYE ABADHA published this year (2023).
ReplyDeleteThe second book
Mahen, Thank you for 're-posting' this. It was lovely to read about Lucky's accomplishments in the field of Public Health. Sri Lanka was far ahead of other countries in the way Public Health was practiced with PHIs, PH nurses, and village midwives running prenatal clinics etc. etc. People like Lucky kept things rolling and improved the programs.
ReplyDeleteAside from Lucky's professional contributions, as Nihal commented earlier, getting this blog going was a major achievement which kept us all connected. Because of his health problems he has passed the baton to Mahen, who ably carries on.
'Batch 62' has contributed a lot to the medical care of patients in many different countries. Some of our colleagues and their achievements are listed above, but there are many others who are not listed. They may be 'unlisted' but are probably appreciated greatly in the communities in which they served. We applaud all of them.
Congratulations Lucky, you are receiving accolades for a lifetime of steady work not only in public health but in keeping the batch together- one that has through its individuals accomplished a lot both in Sri Lanka & abroad.
ReplyDeleteIndra Anandasabapathy