email from Pearl

Dear Phillip
We have just returned to the UK and want to thank you, Tissa, Sarath, Nalini and the organising committee for your work over many months culminating in a most successful reunion. Gerri and Buddy's contribution made the occasion both hilarious and solemn. Sidney and I were clearly of the view that this reunion was even better than the one held 5 years previously. Every aspect of it was properly planned and well organised. The feeling of family was overwhelming. For us the reunion started on the day we arrived, that is Thursday 1st, as my brother and family invited Buddy and us for dinner. Over dinner Buddy shared with us many an interesting story. For Sidney and I this was most interesting as Peace is my beloved cousin. The reunion ended with Sidney and I having breakfast with Anula and Niki in the lounge at Katunayake Airport on Wednesday 14th July. Throughout the 14 days we were surrounded in different venues and different settings by batch mates. The 3 days in Habarana were followed by several of us visiting Therese Kariyawasam (Pereira) at her home on Wednesday 7th. Francis arranged a minibus and refreshments were provided by Hiranthi and Megan. The 'P's were well represented in that Travis, Carlyle, Piyasena, Preena, Niki and I made the journey with Hiranthi and Megan. We had an interesting time in the minibus discussing everything from the fairness of society, ethical practice, world peace and catching up on batch mates who hadn't attended. Therese was touched and overwhelmed by our visit and we were able to meet with her daughter and grandson. It really was a most moving time as Therese recollected for us some of her interesting cases as AJMO. We spent over an hour with her and having taken lots of photographs and been fed and refreshed, returned to Colombo. You may not know that Sidney and I returned to Kandy with Rohantha. Again, we hadn't met him for over 3 decades and it was so good to spend time hearing about his work and his philosophy of life. The work Tissa and you have done on publication is a source of joy to many. My family in Colombo have insisted that I leave a copy as they want to read it.
Thank you to all for everything that has been done. Let's hope the next reunion God willing will see us all back in Sri Lanka.
Very best wishes.
PearlDr Pearl Hettiaratchy OBE DL FRCPsych Consultant Psychiatrist
Robin's Hill2 Oliver's Battery Road
NorthWinchesterSO22 4JA