Prof Sanath Lamabadusuriya awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Paediatrics

Great news about a Distinguished Batchmate

Prof Sanath Lamabadusuriya awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Paediatrics

On Sunday, the 8th of June 2025, at the Inauguration of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians Annual Conference, Sanath was honoured by being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction to the Hall of Fame. We are all very proud of his achievements. 

On behalf of our batch, Congratulations, Sanath!

Medicare Health Excellence Award 2025 (From a post by Medicare on Facebook Book)

"We are honoured to present the Lifetime Achievement Award in Paediatrics to Prof. S. P. Lamabadusuriya, a true icon in medical education and child healthcare. His exceptional contributions have shaped Pediatric education and Medical education in Sri Lanka, having trained thousands of doctors and established multiple medical schools.

Prof. S. P. Lamabadusuriya is an Emeritus Professor and an icon in the field of paediatrics, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on medical education and child healthcare in Sri Lanka.

He has received numerous distinctions in paediatrics and has trained thousands of doctors, many of whom now serve with distinction across the globe. His efforts have also led to the establishment of multiple medical schools, further advancing paediatric education in the country.

Notably, he was the first person in Sri Lanka to obtain a PhD in Paediatrics from London and also the first Sri Lankan to be honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1991. Additionally, he holds the unique distinction of being the first Sri Lankan domiciled in the country to receive an MBE from the Queen of England.

His dedication and leadership have extended across four major medical faculties. He is an Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics and a former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Colombo.

He was the Founder Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Ruhuna and later served as a Senior Professor at the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. Additionally, he played a key role as a consultant in the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

He has treated millions of children in Sri Lanka and abroad. From the outset, he was a key pillar of the medicare exhibition and seminar programs. Further solidifying his legacy in the field of medicine and education".

GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR BATCHMATE GEORGE (FABIAN) PERERA

GREAT NEWS ABOUT OUR BATCHMATE GEORGE (FABIAN) PERERA

Rohini Anandarajah sent me this great news about Fabian. I must confess that I have not had any contact with him since we passed out.

Rohini came into contact with him as shown in her email which I quote now:-

“I spoke to him for the first time when he called me when Ana passed away, which was nice of him. I have spoken to him very briefly since then, but have not met him.

On learning about this award from friends, I phoned him to congratulate and also obtain permission to forward it to you as you may wish to post it in the blog”.

I have shown his photo from the Sig Book (M.G.F. Perera), and from a post in the Sri Lanka NZ paper which published an article on being honoured by the Whangarei Distric Council Civic Honours 2024.

Thank you very much, Rohini, for suggesting I post this excellent news on our Blog.

This is an article written by Marian Dissanayake – Whangarei. You can see why all of us should be very proud of him. 

When George and his young wife first arrived in Hikurangi in 1977, it was a thriving community with flourishing businesses.  Bit by bit, the town and the area declined with the closure of a number of businesses. George stayed on to serve the community during difficult times. He has the energy, empathy, commitment, and willingness to put the needs of others first. 

It was a brave step for an immigrant doctor to bring his practice and family to the virtual backwater of Hikurangi in 1977 but apart from the village, he also served a wide rural area. He set up in council-owned premises, renting the surgery and the nearby house, which he now owns. Through his practice, church, and school affiliations, the Perera family quickly became an integral part of the community to the extent that Dr Perera is still in service today. 

When the Hikurangi Business Association was formed in 2007, George was eager to support the work to uplift the community, especially the younger generation. The Hikurangi Business Association has given him the ‘Long Service Award’ in 2022 for the exceptionally long years of services he rendered to the community. 

He has been the only GP in Whangarei and Hikurangi to find the time to make house calls to his patients in his own time, and on many occasions, he sacrificed his personal time and family holidays when he was unable to find a locum to care for his clients. Such is his dedication to the care and needs, particularly of the Maori community in Hikurangi. 

As the doctor-patient service is personal, his dedicated service is not in the public domain. George is a very private person who prefers to avoid the spotlight. As a medical professional, his primary focus is on his patients’ well-being and care. Only the patients and their families can truly appreciate the extent of his dedication, commitment, and devotion to medical service. He effectively demonstrates the true meaning of the doctor-patient relationship that is built on trust, respect, and communication. He has also remained a steadfast pillar of support for those in need of medical attention at any time of the day. 

George is a highly skilled, extremely knowledgeable, and compassionate doctor who consistently displays and promotes the highest ethical standards in his profession. He has a reputation for being extra caring and helpful with children and vulnerable patients, especially the elderly. He selflessly gives his time and is a dedicated medical professional who is committed to the health and social well-being of the Hikurangi community. The pastoral care he provides goes far beyond the expectations of a rural GP. His exceptional work ethic and dedication make him stand out among his peers. 

In the recent past, civil unrest caused many families to leave Sri Lanka to find a peaceful life in New Zealand. Establishing life in a new country and culture with young children is not easy. George helped these families by looking after their economic, health, and social well-being by being a fatherly figure to the young families. 

His support extends far beyond the realms of medical care, encompassing various aspects of social and emotional well-being, thus fostering a sense of belonging and unity in the community, especially among new residents. 

Overall, George has provided 50 years of medical service in New Zealand, of which 47 are in Hikurangi. For this, we honour him.

 By Marian Dissanayake – Whangarei

CHIRASRI JAYAWEERA BANDARA HONOURED

CHIRASRI JAYAWEERA BANDARA HONOURED

by Mahendra Gonsalkorale

It gives me great pleasure to announce the special award made to our Chira at the Wickramarachchi Health College Graduation Ceremony on June 27^th. It was presented by the German ambassador.

The award had the following statement.

“Your unwavering dedication and expertise have transformed the field of Ophthalmology and earned deserved International acclaim.

Your contribution is truly remarkable, and as a Nation, we Thank you.”

Looking back on her career, she went to the UK for postgraduate qualifications and, on returning to Sri Lanka in May 1979, was appointed  Consultant Eye Surgeon Kegalle Hospital. In October 1979,  she got a transfer to Kandy Hospital, where she worked for 5 years. In Oct 1984, she came to the Eye Hospital Colombo as Consultant Eye Surgeon. She retired in Feb 2001.

She has received many awards during her illustrious career.

The first from The  Lions Club in  1995/96  was an appreciation award for services rendered to the “Sight for thousand programme” and the second from The  Sri  Lanka  Eye  Donation  Society in  2004,  an award in recognition of the invaluable services rendered to the society for grafting human corneas for patients in Sri Lanka. 

She received a President’s Research award from Mrs Chandrika Kumaratunge in 2000. And In 2002, she was awarded Honorary Fellowship of the College of Ophthalmologists of Sri Lanka.

She delivered the Prestigious Dr P. Sivasubramaniam Memorial Oration on 3. 9.  2011.

On International Women’s day   8. 3. 2012, she received an Outstanding Health Professional Award  from the Sri  Lanka  Medical  Association.

Well done Chira, ColomboMedgrads1962 Salutes you.

Zita Perera Subasinghe’s book on Poetry

Zita Perera Subasinghe’s book on Poetry

Dear Colleagues,

Our much admired, loved and valued colleague who absolutely needs no introduction, has written many poems, quite a few of which have been posted on our Blog. Her son Rohan has taken the initiative and published a book of her poems. It can be downloaded or a hard copy can be obtained through Rohan.

Zita has selected the Charity “Cancer Research UK” for donations on her behalf and I have sent the link to many of you in our WhatsApp Group and also by Email. I hope that ALL of us will contribute in whatever we can for such a worthy cause, chosen by Zita.

The link is

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rohan-subasinghe?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=rohan-subasinghe&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=131d0694bc1f45188fc49777e43e155d

or

http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rohan-subasinghe 

Zita states in her Foreword, “I started writing poetry when I was in my teens, and after many lapses where nothing got published, I have now managed to make a collection of poetry of different subjects which are in this book.

I would like to thank my son Rohan for his help and encouragement in making this compilation possible by his constant support.”

Zita is one of our most regular and dedicated supporters of the Blog. She is one who recalls our Batch life with nostalgic joy and gratitude. She is unique, and we are so lucky to be in her company.

Here is a verse from a poem she wrote to welcome the New Year, typical of her positive attitude, and posted in our blog on 31/12/2014 called -

“What was it all about”

The New Year sows a brand-new seed    

A glimmer of hope, a peaceful dawn

But it’s down to thought and deed

Of every man, woman and child born

 

Let us not be sullen or sad                         

A new vision! New Hope! New Dawn!

The sun is shining, let’s be glad

As we greet the New Year’s morn

 

Mahendra “Speedy” Gonsalkorale

Whither our Blog- Speedy

 WHITHER OUR BLOG…..gush, trickle.. ?stop. NO!

Our Blog, in my view, is a success story. With a 10 year uninterrupted history, it is bound to have active periods and lean ones. Currently, we are experiencing a quiet period. I have no doubt that after a period of sound sleep and recuperation, it will wake up with fresh vigour (vigor for the Yankees!).

What can we expect from it?

For the select group of enthusiasts who contribute, I say please continue to do so Do not be put off by the paucity of comments. There are many, in fact, a lot of people including those who are not in our Batch, who access and enjoy the contents. I know that for a fact. I was pleasantly surprised today at a zoom when I spoke to a Royalist who was senior to me who said that he enjoys our blog a lot and makes it a point to read it a few times a month. And, there are many more like him, I am sure.

We must also remember that there are groups within us who have maintained contact since qualifying and find the Blog more useful than others who have accumulated a whole lot of new mud on their shoes in this life journey and do not particularly like to dwell on those past glorious days. This is only human.

Yet another factor to consider is the difficulties that some of you may have faced in trying to post comments. This runs the risk of being misconstrued as apathy.

To my friends who read this but do not post comments or have not indicated that they do access the blog, keep going Sir/Madam! Your ideas are important. The feedback loop all of you are familiar with in physiology operates here too. If you have anything to contribute, all you have to do is to email me or Lucky and I can guarantee that you will be lucky and that you will receive a speedy response!

My Final message is simple.  The Blog was, and still is, a great idea. Let us keep it alive. If you are a contributor, do so in the spirit of just giving and not expecting anything in return. Whether you are a regular or an occasional reader, please continue to do so.

“Long live the Blog”!

Speedy (Act Blog Admin)

Year	Posts
2011	33
2012	92
2013	57
2014	108
2015	180
2016	153
2017	138
2019	114
2019	110
2020	95
2021	80 (Nov 12.2021)

 

MediVision 2020 – Medical Exhibition

The Faculty of Medicine Colombo celebrates its 150^th anniversary in the year 2020.  As the pioneer seat of learning the art and science of medicine in Sri Lanka, our faculty has numerous facets to celebrate, spanning three centuries. Many events have been organized to celebrate our 150^th year including a medical exhibition “MediVision 2020” for the general public, prioritizing school children with the hope of inspiring the future generations.  The exhibition will be held within the Faculty premises from 27^th March to 4^th April 2020 under the theme “The Glory of a Medical School”.

A Raffle Draw with an exciting array of prizes has been organized to commemorate our Faculty’s 150^th birthday and raise funds for the anniversary celebrations. The draw will be held on 26^th July 2019 at the faculty premises. Raffle tickets are priced at Rs 100 each and each raffle ticket book contains 10 tickets (Rs. 1000/- per book).  

We invite our alumni to join us in celebrating the 150^th anniversary of our faculty and would be extremely grateful if you could help us in raising funds for this event by extending your support towards the sale of raffle tickets. Ticket books are available in the faculty premises. If you are able to help by the sale raffle tickets or any other means please contact:

Mr. Lakshan Dharshana - +94 112695 300 ext 293, +94 773524235, lakshan@med.cmb.ac.lk

We look forward to your maximum support. 

Thank you

MediVision Organizing Committee

Colombo Medical School Alumni Association

Faculty of Medicine
University of Colombo
Sri Lanka

comsaa2011@gmail.com

www.comsaa.org

Important Announcement

Ever since I started this Blog, there have been times when I was faced with a severe dearth of material to be published. I have used various strategies to draw our colleagues in the batch to come out of their shells and make their presence felt, wherever they are at present. Hats off to my able lieutenant who has been by my side at such times and often suggested new ideas to keep the Blog going. I am referring of course to my dear friend Mahendra (Speedy) Gonsalkorale. Most features that you see in the blog today were conceived by him.

As I have commented often under different blog posts, there has been an improvement lately, particularly with regard to the number of contributions coming in. I hope and pray that this healthy trend would continue. Hardly ever have I seen such a glut and never been compelled to keep them in line to be published. Under such circumstances, I have strictly followed the order in which they were received and never deviated. I have also tried to keep the blog open primarily for members of the batch and for news and achievements of immediate family members. I have thus been reluctantly compelled to make restrictions and not entertain any requests for news and achievements beyond one's family. I have had occasion to explain to some of my friends, however painful it was, about my inability to entertain some of their requests.

Viewers will understand that a blog post once published has to be exposed for comments at least for three to four days for the usual comments to come in. It is understandable that some cannot visit the blog daily. Thus their comments may be delayed. There is also a tendency for viewers to comment only under the most recent posting and completely neglect older posts. This too needs to be changed and I wish to make use of this opportunity to request all viewers to scroll down and look at older posts (and comments). For example, there was the recent comment made by Sanath Lama under his post on his Keynote Address at Sabaragamuwa. It generated such a lively discussion that I recommend it to be read by all viewers. But there is always the danger that some of you might miss it simply because it is not the last post on the blog.

Considering the above mentioned factors, you all must bear with me in case any of your requests have been turned down or has been kept in line for a prolonged period of time. Needless to add, some content may be time sensitive and can get outdated if kept in line for an extended period.

In concluding this announcement, I wish to emphasise that whatever you send in will get published or
you will definitely receive a polite e-mail explaining why it had to be turned down. Nothing whatsoever will be misplaced or lost once they reach my safe hands!

Lucky