Remembering Anton Fernando by Lalith Fernando

Anton-- One of a kind.
Having the same last name, I had the fortune and pleasure to sit next to Anton and be in the same group all through the five years of medical school thereby come to know this unique person closely. Anton had friends every where and no one too big or small for him to associate .He never lost a moment to talk to anyone who had befriended him, and invariably got late to his destination because of this. I wonder this was the reason he got late on the first day of medical school. Anton was all ready and willing to help anyone no matter what time of the day it was.Anxiety, getting excited, worrying about disasters/ failures were not in his vocabulary; his concern was to take care of it and not worry. They say "time and tide wait for no man". Anton did not wait for the time nor the tide. His lightheartedness was extreme. Anton(he was my best man) was driving me to my wedding ceremony when the fan belt broke somewhere on Flower Road; Anton was cool as a cucumber while my bride to be and relatives were getting worried and anxious that I may have done a bunk. Needless tosay I began to worry in getting late for this important,one-time-in-life occasion; Anton's response -"We have all afternoon, she is not going anywhere"!!. In addition to all these qualities there was a very much lighter side as well. On the way to Peradeniya for our convocation, stopping at Pasyala (as tradition warranted) for Kadju (girls), Anton teasing these girls one by one ,was asking them how much each cashew costs( they were sold in 100 s) while sampling a few at each kiosk. He had no need to buy any by the time he reached the end of the kiosks, as he was already full. He never missed a western cowboy film; even during the exam times he dragged me to watch them. All he could say was "Maximum that could happen is fail"; I know for certainty he prepared for signatures each morning on the train from Jaela to Maradana and impress the likes of Profs. Waas and Lester Jayawardan.,As we all know Prof Rajasuriya and Cooray to smile was an extreme rarity; Anton achieved that too.Anton, the unique person he was, after his internship requested Head office , to be trandferred to Ambilipitiya where nobody wanted to go; this may explain why he went to Botsuwana.One thing that stuck in my memory is that Anton loved the song - 'Lo Ada Ninde'; it was his favourite song and sang it all the time and asked me to sing along too; it was sung at least ten times on the way to Peradeniya and back. I sing this song often in the shower( that's the only place I am allowed to display my singing prowess!) and of course remember Anton.--- I regret I could not see you for a very long time. Hope you are listening when I sing this next time; for you Anton, my friend, "Rantharu babale nil akase, lassana mal waage".

Dear all,
I'd like to arrange a meeting to meet the Dean to make our donations to our Alma Mater officially.Please let me know whether Wednesday 30th June PM or Monday 5th July AM would be more convenient?The donations so far are :
1. Computers for the Library : 4 in July, & if satisfactory 4 in October
2. Network switch & wiring : for the Department of Medicine
3. Buddy’s 1st Eleven : COSMED Micro Quark Spirometer with Laptop for Lung Function Testing for the Physiology Department
4. Nana’s Mostly UK Group : Library books & Fixed Deposit for future use.
5. British National Formularies : 50 books for distribution to 4th & final year students in need.
There are 3 requests which are so far NOT met :
1. Lucy & mum obstetric delivery mannequin (Aus $ 250)
2. Male catheterization teaching model (Rs. 66,000)
3. Sponsorship of medical students (Interest of Rs. 1500/month given to student from a Rs. 250,000 Fixed Deposit kept for 5 years in any name)
Nalini

Programme

Final listing of Programme at Dambulla, for 2nd, 3rd and 4th July 2010, for the 1960 Medical entrants Batch Colombo, get to-gether.
2nd July 2010
6 am – Buses leave from Cinnamon Grand (former Oberoi) – Colombo.
Breakfast on the way at Ambepussa.
10 am – Buses arrive at Dambulla.
9am – 11 am Registration at Dambulla.
Collect – 1. Receive Souvenir & CD of Batch 1960 Bio-data.
2. Pay Rs.1000/- for your copy of group photo.
12 noon – 1 pm – Lunch (Buffet style).
Options – Swim, rest, con-chat etc.
Get ready for the evening session – Dress - ‘Reddhe & Hatte’, ‘Paavaadai & Sattai’, or equivalent for females. ‘Sarong’ and shirt, ‘Verty & shawl’ with upper garment’ or equivalent for males.
A prize will be awarded for the best dressed male and female respectively.
5 pm – Remembering the departed – Power point presentation, with soft music at end, by Buddy.
6pm – Concert – Geri in Charge
7.15 pm – ‘Paduru party’
8.30 pm – Start of Dinner.
8.45 pm – Music Sing-along of ‘oldies’ – Band ‘Lucky’
Song books will be distributed.
BYO soft drinks and beer. Bring your own hard liquor to share with colleagues.

3rd July 2010
7 am – Come for Breakfast dressed for the group photo – Shirt and tie for males and saree for females.
8 am – Photos in groups. Give your names properly spelt, to Asoka Dissanayake.
(Photos will be ready for collection at 8 am next day.)
10 am – 1 pm Clinical sessions. (9 – 15 minute presentations) – Nalini in Charge.
1 pm – Lunch – Buffet style.
Leisure time – Plan your own short trips.
7.30 pm – Join Ceremonial Procession for Gala Dinner site.
8 pm – Gala Dinner and dance.
4th July 2010
8 am – Breakfast.
Settle your extras bill.
Collect your Group photos.
Buses leave for Colombo & Trincomalee.
Leave by 10 am.

Photo gallery - 1960 Batch

Premalatha - Seneviratne in 1960 and in 2010.

Photo gallery - Batch 1960

Appaiah Balasunderam in 1960 and in 2010.

Photo gallery - 1960 Batch

Chandra Dissanayake in 1960 and in 2010.

Transport list as on 01st June 2010
Name CMB-Habarana Habarana-CMB Contact
A H Preena
2
2
60batch@gmail.com
apreena@dodo.com.au

Chitra Subhawickrema - Gallege de Silva
2
2
1960batch@gmail.com

Sidney Hettiaratchy / Pearl
2
2
1960batch@gmail.com

Udula Pathirana
2
2
Via Csn48@aol.com

Priya Ratnayake
2
2


CSNanayakkara
2
2
Csn48@aol.com

WS Fernando (Lalith)
2
2
wsfernan@hotmail.com

Buddy Reid
1
1
http://au.mc595.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=buddygreid@hotmail.com

Rudra Hoole
1
1
rudih@tpg.com.au

Ranjen Fernando
2
2


Denyl Wickremasuriya
1
1
Via Csn48@aol.com

Titus Dissanayake
2
2
Via Csn48@aol.com

S Kapugama
2
2
Via Csn48@aol.com

DV Atapattu
2
2
Via Csn48@aol.com

Kasalingam Saravanamuttu
2
2
2581984 Bambalapitiya
Saravanamuttu@hotmail.com

Gunsie- Jeyandran Gunasegaram
2
0
gunsie@comcast.net

Milroy de Silva
1
1
milroybdes@aol.com

Ragupathy K
2
2
ragu33@gmail.com

Yogeswary Kannangara
2
2
kannangara@att.net
from Cinnamon grand

Kamala Ediriweera
2
2


Carlyle Perera
2
2


Sujeewa Athulathmudali
1
1


Sujee Rathnayake
1
1


Derryck de Silva
2
2


Travis & Hiranthi Perera
2
2
reachtsp@bigpond.net.au

Hema de Silva
2
2


MBS de Silva
1
1


MGS Karunanayake
1
1


Siri Wettasinghe
2
2


Vijitha & Anula
2
2


Swinitha Dissanayake
1
1


Heather Knower
1
1


Daya Jayasinghe
1
1


Nihal Gunaratne
1
1


Sarath ?
1
1


Sivarajah
2
2


Vignaraja
1
1


Francis & Charmaine
2
2


Kamalini Arul
1
1


Palitha Vidanagama
1
1


TOTAL
64