REMEMBRANCE DAY 2024- (3). We continue to remember our dear departed friends with contributions from batchmates. This is by Suri.
By Suriyakanthie Amarasekera
“Memories don’t leave like people do; they always stay with you”
Russel Paul. Hailing from an academic background (his father was a professor in the engineering faculty), Paul was simply brilliant. Despite being so clever, he was humble and very good-natured. He would often interrupt his own studies to explain a gritty point to us lesser mortals.
Suren Iyer. A lovable, lively batch mate was always full of fun. I remember his tragic experience of losing his beautiful older sister Seetha (who was in the 1st Pera Batch), who succumbed to Ulcerative Colitis. Suren used to keep a photograph of Seetha and show it saying it's his girlfriend. It was a delight to catch up with him at the Golden Jubilee Reunion in Sri Lanka in 2017, when he was his exuberant self, dancing nonstop.
V.Ganeson. Ganesh was a batchmate you could depend on – always ready to help, decent and good fun to be with. He had a lovely sense of humour, but he never cracked any off-colour jokes to embarrass us girls, a thing that most male students delighted in doing. I remember he lived in a house located virtually on the doorstep of the Majestic Cinema and used to tell us that he often went for a late-night show when he got tired of studying! He decided to pursue a career in general practice and chose Horana as his location. The fact that the people of Horana rebuilt his Surgery when it was burnt down in Black July of 1983 is a testimony to the Caring, Compassionate, Skilled Healer that he was, who won the hearts of his patients. His forgiving nature is evident in that he continued to serve the people of Horana. Ganesh was an enthusiastic member of our Batch Reunions in Sri Lanka from the very beginning. Ironically, Ganesh, who never consumed alcohol, succumbed to non-alcoholic cirrhosis, which claimed his life
Ranjith Kuruppu. Being a ‘K’ myself and having to sit near him at physiology lectures, Ranjith was one of the first batch boys I got to know, and that friendship lasted until his demise in 2019. Ranjith was always full of fun. I am sure many of you would remember his erotic “Dance of the Seven Veils” at our 1997 Batch Reunion. I had so much fun dressing him up. He looked the part with his fair complexion and slim build. He had people trying to guess his identity!
Kamini (Goonewardena) Ferdinando. Hailing from Ladies College, Kamini lived up to the reputation of her Alma Mater – always dignified and smartly dressed. She commanded the respect of even our more unruly batch mates by the sheer force of her personality. I had the privilege of having her as my Co-Ho during our internship with Dr. E.V. Peiris in 1968 and our bonds of friendship forged through SCM activities were further strengthened. She had a beautiful soprano voice, which her daughter had inherited. I was delighted when her daughter and mine performed at the annual SLMA Doctor’s Concert under the pseudonym “Doctor’s Daughters” in 1995.
V. P. H. Rajapakse. He was a batchmate who chose Anaesthesia as his speciality. He was a much respected, loved consultant who practised in Kandy. What I remember most about V.P.H., however, is how our irrepressible JC nicknamed him Dr Victor Proctor Hector Rajapakse!
Irwin Herath was another batchmate who chose Anaesthesia as his speciality. I had the rare privilege of training him in Anaesthesia at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. I remember how we got carried away and started chatting about the good old days. He would call me Suri, to the horror of nurses in the OT. I was privileged to be his referee and help him secure employment abroad.
Sidath Jayanetti, or “Cigar” as he was popularly known, was one of the army of Royalists in our batch. Known for his prowess in Rugby, he was also an elegant ballroom dancer. I remember how he was indirectly responsible for having me thrown out of “Thanabal’s” Ward Class by his antics that made me grin and annoy the Consultant.
Sardha Jayatilake was one of the many Visakians in our batch. A rather serious and quiet personality. I remember she and I being bridesmaids at Kusuma J’s wedding. Sardha was the Chief Medical Officer at the Tyre Cooperation. Her heartbreaking experience of having her teenage son collapse and die in her arms of a brain haemorrhage made her a recluse. We lost touch with her completely and learnt about her passing almost a year later.
J C Fernando: (I have written about JC as a comment in Srianee's post. Here are a few paragraphs in that post).