Stories of our batch-mates

Dayasiri

Prof Dayasiri Fernando, our ex-batchmate ended up as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Jayawardenapura University after being Professor of Surgery. The following two tales relate to him.

The first one he told me personally. He said that he took part in the production of the famous Shakespearean play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ put out by the St. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia in the 1950s. He played the part of Portia. One of the prompters working behind the screen as a student at that time was the present Minister Prof.G.L.Pieris, he informed me.

The second story was related by him to his surgical students at the Jayawardenapura Medical Faculty. Henry Jayasena the famous actor had come to him for the surgical treatment of a malignancy of the colon in the late 1990s. Dayasiri had operated on the cancer. Henry Jayasena on recovery from the surgery, had asked Dayasiri what he wanted as a present. Dayasiri had requested a part in his famous play ‘Hunuvateye kathaava’ (An adaptation from the East German author Bertold Brechts ‘The Caucasian chalk circle’. This was staged in its English translation by Karen Breckenridge at the Lionel Wendt Theatre in Colombo, when we were doing our internship in 1965. I went to see it and it was a superb presentation). Henry Jayasena had given him the part of the deposed king to act, on the next stage performance of this play.

Our batch-mate Dr. Weerasinghe acted in the production ‘Janelaya’ produced by Henry Jayasena while we were students at the Medical Faculty in the early 1960s.

Henry Jayasena we heard with sorrow, died on the 11^th of November 2009.

1962 - Kalatuwewa

Photo - Sivaraja's collection

Correspondance

In our opinion, at this time we do not need clinical lectures -although we requested in the past. Some kind of entertainment would be more in line. Thanks to every one who is working hard to make our gettogether a success.
Lalith and Shanthi Fernando

A joyful part of any trip is the preparation and more suggestions and comments is fun Daya jayasinghe.

Email :- philavi@sltnet.lk

My comments re "attempting to please everybody" were made tongue-in-cheek! I found the suggestion for a lecture to follow clinical sessions and other such grave indoor activities rather amusing. Especially after a lifetime of giving and receiving lectures!! Also, One must keep in mind Bill Cosby's great quote "The attempt to please all is the surest road to disaster". Anyone thinking of having fun on your 50th.Anniversary weekend ? On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 4:53 PM, <Csn48@aol.com> wrote: Philip, I would like to second the idea. Since many of us may have retired one or two speakers from outside the rofession may liven things up. Asoka Dissanayake Wonderful to hear the various comments at least to note some of our batch mates are still able to think sane, awake and not in a confessional state. It must be humanly impossible to please everyone but would be worthwhile if we can please the majority as indicated. To me, the important thing is the opportunity for most of to 'meet & greet' How we spend our time once we are together would be entirely left to the individuals. The organisers have to put up a 'programme' of sorts which would be appealing to those who are planning to attend. I am so grateful to all those who have shown an interest and a commitment to attend the Get Together. I am also grateful to the Organisers for their efforts to make this event a success. We need more comments- good, bad ugly or indifferent. best wishes Nana Suggestion for the re-union from Dr.Daya JayasingheDear all,You all might want to consider having a guest speaker, or keynote address etc on topics like Veddhas in ceylon,History of medicine in srilanka,Srilankan stockmarket and investmants or Ayurveda medicineand similar topics of interest. In our Gynae meetings we have had Stock market, Bart Cummings on race horses, Lifestyle and retirement etc Best wishes, Daya j./ * Shouldn't we at least *attempt* to please all!! After all keeping a large number of people engrossed, entertained or amused for all of 48 hours minus sleep time is going to be a major problem for the organisers. As for me I would try to catch up on lost time meeting old buddies and generally chilling out.. I have had my fill of old farts spewing hot air. Enough to last a life time and more! However, I once met a retired archaeology dept. person who joined me for a drink at the Polonnaruwa rest House. To cut a long story short, early the very next morning this gentleman took me on a walkabout through the ruins of Polonnaruwa. I have rarely spent a more exhilarating day. He brought old polonnaruwa to life for me. Pointing out and interpreting the evidence easily missed by the casual tourist. It was a fantastic experience. Best Regards Dawood

Trip to Kalatuwewa - 1962

Hello,

Can you identify the boisterous youngsters of 1962? Photo supplied by Sivaraja.

Minutes of committee for get-together - 7/11/2009

lMunuites of the meeting held on 07.11.2009 at the residence of Dr Wedisinghe

Present Dr S.Kapuwatte Chair

Dr K.E.J.de Silva

Dr R.L.Jayakuru

Dr M.P.Wedisinghe

Dr Piyaseeli Wedisinghe

Minutes of the previous meeting was read by Piyaseeli and was adopted.

Dr Kapuwatte said that he will negotiate with the hotel to extend the day of individual booking for rooms to January 2010. Also to make the non refundable deposit to Rs 5000/= per room.

He will also check with Dr Veerasingam whether he has updated his list of contacts , specially the ones living in SL. He will also tell him to handle the job of communications and replies to queries if needed.

Dr Jayakuru said that he has contacted Drug Firms : Aventis , Baurs, IndoScan,Mega Pharma and Ranbaxy for donations. Dr Wedisinghe to prepare a letter requesting sponsorship from the drug companies and to be sent to Dr Kapuwatte during the course of next week.

It was decided to make a special offer for those who wish to attend for only one day ( on Saturday-3^rd July) of the Reunion.

Details of the offer : Join after breakfast , appear for the Group Photograph, attend Clinical Sessions, and have lunch and leave thereafter. They have the option to join the Gala Dinner if they so desire.

Cost will be Lunch : Rs 1400.00 per person

Gala Dinner Rs 2000.00 -do-

Piyaseeli said that she has forwarded the e mail addresses of Kusuma Amaratunga ,Sunanda Gunaratne and Ariyalatha Pieris to Philip .

The querry from Dr Mervyn Joseph’s widow was discussed . Mervin Joseph has joined our batch at a later date. It was decided to allow his widow and family to be invited as guests of Dr Daya orDr Gamini Jayasinghe as requested.

Suggestion re Reunion from Dr.Daya Jayasinghe.

Dear all,You all might want to consider having a guest speaker, or keynote address etc on topics like Veddhas in ceylon,History of medicine in srilanka,Srilankan stockmarket and investmants or Ayurveda medicineand similar topics of interest.
In our Gynae meetings we have had Stock market, Bart Cummings on race horses, Lifestyle and retirement etc Best wishes, Daya j.

1960 Medicoes ReUnion, Ad Hoc Group in UK for networking

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Csn48@aol.com to me

show details 5:22 PM (30 minutes ago)

Dear Philip

Few of our batch mates in UK got together to partly to meet & greet and more importantly to discuss ways of spreading the message to encourage more of our batchmates to attend the ReUnion in July 2010.

Few of us were able to enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan hot buffet meal at a popular Sri Lankan restaurant- Prince of Ceylon in London and share our thoughts about the task in hand.

Once we get an update from the individual members in the group, I would be able to send you a collated list of the batch mates who are planning to attend the Re Union.

We managed to get a photo of the group to share with you guys, just to show what the age does to some of us. What is obvious is that all appeared to be delighted with the ' mini get together'.

Just to avoid any embarrassment I will name them ( from L to R)

Udula, myself, Charmaine, Narada, Pearl,Titus Dissa, Karunapala, Sidney H, and Karals.

Present indications are that we may get about 30 batch mates( + their partners where applicable)

Nana