Nihal (ND) Amerasekara's Contribution

Let me apologise to ND in this open Forum (and not privately) for a lapse on my part. I had mentioned in an earlier posting that Kusuma, Speedy and Zita were those who contributed regularly to this blog. I had inadvertently left out Nihal (ND) Amerasekara who in fact was one of the first contributors with his article titled "Reflections on My Retirement". This particular article was most timely and as always, very well written. It is also a reminder to all of us who have either retired or are about to hang up our surgical gloves, stethoscopes or whatever, that more and more of us should now take up the pen instead.

Kusuma has her say...

Dawala Ruberu dawalar@yahoo.com
10:08 PM (14 hours ago)
to me

dear lucky,
the girl seated next to me is primrose
the 3 standing with yoga, manel and nisha picture is myself sardha jayatilaka and manel a dental student who was with us.
regards,
kusuma

Speedy in the Pharmo Dept. in 1973

I was looking for any photographs from my medical student days but unlike Lucky, I haven’t kept any, apart from the cartoon that appears in the “Signature Book”, and even if I did have at one time, they would have got lost during the course of the many relocations I had in the past 50 years. However, I did come across these photographs taken in the Department of Pharmacology in 1973 when I was a Demonstrator (as the position was called those days), which might be of interest to batchmates. It shows many people I recognise and some I do not. It was taken during some sort of celebration judging from the contents on the table. The photos have suffered the wages of time but are still good enough to rekindle memories.

From L to R. Speedy G, Prof Bull Seneviratne (standing), Prof Lionel, I think the next person is Fernando who worked in the Pharmo dept, Gunapala ( I think), Rogus, The glamorous Miss Rajakariyar, child(?), Prof Sinnathamby’s wife, Nelun (secretary) and another I can’t place.

You can observe the customary respect shown to the Doctors who are all sat down - but “they also serve those who stand and wait”.

I am sure all of you remember Rogus who was the kind of chap who is difficult to find these days, loyal, deferential and always willing to help. I remember Miss Rajakariyar not only for her beauty but the lovely fragrance which accompanied her everywhere. I think Gunapala and Fernando took part in the assassination of those unfortunate cats who were sacrificed so that we could learn about drugs affecting the cardiovascular system. I don’t think it would be allowed these days.

The next picture is the same but the diminutive Prof Kottegoda now makes an appearance at the left extreme and Bull Seneviratne has decided to sit down and you can see his “Brylcreem” combed hair at the right extreme. For some reason, they are all looking more sombre now!

Rajan (Patas) Ratnesar writes.....

rratnesar@aol.com

11:20 AM (18 minutes ago)
to me

Hi Lucky,
I tried writing into the blog but was not successful. I can recall the final year block concert, and the guy in a sarong bared hairy upper body is his excellency " King Farrrrr---------t  of Thailand and the actor is yours truly. Behind with a moustache is my dear cousin Mahesan. I was half drunk I think( you can see I have a beer mug in my hands) and on Monday following the concert I was chastised by our beloved Dean Pachaya who unfortunately for me sat next to my father at the concert. I thought after that I would be banned from ever talking to one of my good friend in Mediacl school Rohini, but we I have lost contact in recent years with miles having seperated many of us. Hopefully the reunion will bring many of us back to recall all our happy days. As for the other Pictures, I recall our block trip to Negombo and for the late Dr. Douglas Seneviratne who entertained us. Like many I too was not at the graduation so cannot recognise faces.
I enjoyed Speedy's poem on retirement I too will be calling it a day on May first

Hopefully we will have more contributing but loking forward to August
Patas. 

2nd MB Trip

Some time in 1962, we had our first outing as a batch. It was the 2nd MB trip to the Gampaha Botanical Gradens. The following pictures tell the rest of the story.

 Yoga, Ganesh, Anton Ambrose, Bandula and Chanaka are easily identified.

 Dr. L.A.G. Jayasekara (Demonstrator) in action.

I can spot JG and Indrani Subramaniam (extreme right). Not sure about the others. But in the foreground facing the other way is the late B.L. Perera.

 All eyes and ears are focused on Rajan (Patas) Ratnesar who seems to be making a speech. Behind "Patas" with arms crossed is Sarva. Standing close to the tree from left to right are Pupa Sivananda, "unidentified" (in dark shirt), Wickramasekaran, Lakshman Jayasinghe, Yankee Bala, Speedy, Lameer, LPJM Wickramasinghe and Vedavanam. Among those seated on the ground, I see Gandhi Navaratnasingham and the late L.G.D.K. Herath. I am not sure whether Dr. Sobitha Paditharatne accompanied us. But the gentleman seated on the bench (just in front of Yankee Bala) looks very much like "Pandi". The little guy in shorts on the extreme right has to be an intruder!

 Nalin Nana, Bandula and Speedy. Yankee Bala could be the central figure with Chitta partly hidden behind him. Who are the other two?

 Vasantha Owitigala, Kusuma, Piyaseeli Dolawatte and Sardha Jayatilake. Who is on extereme right?

 At extreme left is Swyrie. Standing in the centre is Vasantha. Looks like Rita Silva is among those seated.

 Ganesh and Swyrie. In the background in full white is Indra Anandasabapathy.

 Among those seated are Yoga, Manel Mathew and Nisha Mallawarachchi.

 KDPR (Ranjith Dambawinne) is in the centre.

I can spot L.W. (Wimal) Perera (about the fourth from left) in this picture.

Convocation - 1967

I must confess that this is the first and only picture that I have seen of the 1967 Convocation in Peradeniya. I was not there to receive my degree certificate in person due to unavoidable circumstances. I still remember how I was almost forced to be "on call" not only for the medical wards, but to some other units as well, that particular day at Colombo South Hospital where I did my Internship. We had many Peradeniya graduates who wanted to make use of the rare opportunity to go back to Peradeniya where they had spent five years as medical students. Among them were Adiel Anghie, Chandana Bopitiya, Philomena Perera, Dayanithi Tharmakulasingham, Shanthi Karalasingham, Rita Saverimuttu. So, I reluctantly agreed not only to stay back, but to cover up for others. However, a week or so later, I went to Plate Studios and got a picture of myself dressed in full academic garb! As some of you have seen, it has a special place on the walls of my study at home.

Anyway, getting back to this picture, I think I can recognise the late Christie Karunakaran and Clement de Silva (who too graduated with us although they were in the senior batch), Yankee Bala, the late Dawne de Silva, Sura, Rajasooriyar, VPH Rajapaksa, Kusuma, Chandra Silva, Chirasri, Pram and JC. I may be wrong. Most of them are mere guesses.

Block Seniors vs Staff Cricket Match

Yet another much looked forward to traditional fun event was the Block Seniors vs Staff cricket match. In 1963, the match was played at the Wesley College grounds at Campbell Park. In the group picture below, you will see us as young girls and boys (almost half a century younger). I leave it to you to try and identify yourself, your teachers and colleagues.

This picture and a few others of the Convocation and the 2nd MB trip were sent in by Kusuma Ruberu. We should all be grateful to her for sending these pictures that are nearly half a century old. They will be published as separate postings. Here's the first one.