REMEMBRANCE DAY – (5) Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

REMEMBRANCE DAY – (5)

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We continue to remember our dear departed friends with contributions from batchmates. This is from Chirasri

My tribute to four wonderful friends. I have added more recollections in the comments to other remembrance posts. 

by Chirasri Jayaweera Bandara

Zita Perera Subasinghe

Zita was a dear friend of mine, and I miss her terribly. I associate her demise with great sadness. She was a lovable person who always had a smile on her face. She thought highly about people, and I have never heard her talk ill of anyone. 

I have associated with Zita very closely. We did our internship together with Dr. Misso at the General Hospital, Colombo. When I was in the UK for my Postgraduate studies between 1996 and 1999, I visited Zita and her family and had meals at her place. I also worked in the UK for six months in 1986, 1992, and 1998 and spent weekends at Zita’s place. Being of the same speciality, we used to meet each other also at college meetings and congresses. 

I admired her self-determination and courage to sit for our local MS Ophthalmology exam conducted by the Postgraduate Institution of Medicine Colombo. Cassim and I were her examiners. She passed and worked at the Karapitiya Hospital and Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital, Kotte. 

We used to visit each other and have meals together. One day, when they visited my home, Zita and Joe brought a large (40” x 28”) framed beautiful picture. This still adorns the wall of one room. I will never forget Zita, and I will always remember her. This picture gives me pleasant memories. 

Our family, Ranjit and our two children, visited Zita in 2004 and had lunch at her South End on Sea home. She and Joe took us to the Seafront, and we had a lovely time. Happy Memories! 

One day, I got an E-mail from Zita saying she was stranded in Spain without money and asking whether I could send her £2000. Since I could not contact her, I sent this money. When I realised it was a fraud, I contacted Barclays Bank London to stop payment. Luckily, the money was not sent, but I lost £100. Subsequently, she gave me a cheque for £100 when she met me in Sri Lanka at our batch reunion, which I did not accept. I asked her what friends are for if we cannot help each other in a time of need. 

I was constantly in touch with Zita on WhatsApp. The last time she heard that Ranjit was ill, she said that she would pray for him and that he would definitely get better. 

Zita is an artist who made beautiful greeting cards, which I admired. She is an extraordinary person who bravely and with unbelievable courage faced challenges to her health. I admire her attitude. She is a shining example for us to follow if we face a similar situation. 

I was fascinated by her book of poems. What talent to write these 41 poems! She expressed her views and ideas in verse with rhyme and reason. I must congratulate Rohan for taking the initiative to get this book printed. I am sure Zita would have been so happy to see her own innovations. Well done Zita and Rohan. When I read her last two poems, ‘Dialogue with Death’ and ‘The End’, it simply filled my eyes with tears which overflowed.

Zita had a very supportive family. Joe, Rohan, and Nisha made her tasks easier. Let me congratulate Rohan for removing pleuritic fluid from her chest once a week for about one year. You are great, Rohan, looking after your mum with such enthusiasm. We appreciate your deed greatly.

Zita has had a lovely life, leaving behind fond memories. She is missed by her family, friends, and batch mates. May she rest in peace.                                

Priya (Gunaratna) de Silva

Priya was a very good friend of mine, and I miss her very much.  She was friendly and helpful and saw the brighter side of everything.

I used to travel to Medical College in a private car and pick up late Priya and Kamini from Dickmans Road and Padmini from Isipathana Mawatha. During College days, we were in and out of our houses.

When I went to Kandy as a Consultant Eye Surgeon, she and her family lived there. We used to visit each other and have meals together. When their younger daughter Anjali (6 - 7 years old) had an Eye injury, I treated her.

One day in Kandy, when I was driving home in the hot sun, suddenly, the whole windscreen cracked up like a jigsaw. I just couldn't see to drive. With difficulty, I moved the car to the side and stopped. From nowhere, Priya came to my rescue. She helped me contact Walkers, got the car towed, and dropped me off at home.

Later, when we came to Colombo, we visited each other and had meals together.

Priya, Chula, her husband, and her daughters used to consult me about their eyes at my residence. My husband Ranjit knew Chula as they worked together in the past.

We attended their daughters’ weddings. The meal was Vegetarian. Sharini, the elder one, married our batch mate Swarna Vithana's nephew. They live in the USA. Anjali, the younger one, married DB Nihalsinghe's son, and they live in Australia.

I am in touch with Chula as he and his domestic consult me about their eyes. My son, who is a Doctor, helped Chula and his domestic's son at Kalubowila Hospital.

Priya was a lovely person, and I miss her very much. May she rest in Peace.

Kamini (Goonawardena) Ferdinando

I received news of Kamini's death in 2021 with a great deal of sadness.

She was a quiet, friendly and ’Prim and proper’ lady.

I used to travel to Medical College in a private car, pick up late Kamini and late Priya off Dickmans Road, and Padmini from Isipathana Mawatha.

I did an Internship at The Castle Street Hospital for Women, and I think she, too, did an Internship there. Kamini went to New Zealand first, and others followed much later. They came to my residence to get their eyes checked on several occasions before they left. 

Sadly,I lost contact with them.

JG Wijetunge.

I remember him as a quiet, rather shy, well-mannered batchmate who is to talk to us on and off during College days.

He was an Eye Surgeon who was on my council when I was President of the College of Ophthalmologists in 1999 and 2000. I used to meet him at our College meetings and at the annual Congresses.

He used to see patients at the Nawaloka Hospital, Colombo and the nurses used to tell me that he took great care of the patients spending a lot of time writing down everything. He was a conscientious worker.

When he was ill, I saw him at his residence. His wife took great care of him