Short video clips taken by me - Philip

My imgur page –

Please click on the web link below. 

Click on each picture to see a 20 second GIF video :-

https://imgur.com/user/philipv203

- Gallery

Sarojini Maniccaraja nee Selvaratnam with her Grand-daughter.

Sarojini retired from the WHO and is now in the UK.

Remembering Duru - Soma Herath.

Dear Philip

I would be very grateful if you could put this note in memory of our
batchmate Durmila on the Blog.

Many thanks

Soma

It is with deep sadness that I write these words in memory of our dear friend and batchmate Duru (Durmila as she was widely known) who passed away on Friday 3 August 2018.

I was fortunate to spend some quality time with her when I visited Sri Lanka earlier this year, sadly our last time spent together.

I was privileged to be her friend for over 68 years.  Those were fun times we spent first as Bridgeteans. Our group of close school friends included Shandhinie, Bales, Cissy, Srima J, Ranjinie, and Srima K.

Later at Medical College, Priya, Ranjinie, Srima J and I became a part of Duru’s family.  We enjoyed many days and nights at Duru’s family home at 77 Barnes Place, with “Mummy”, Uncle Jack, Kum, Lucky, Dougie and Chuti.  That house holds so many happy memories.

Duru’s thoughtfulness, care and support to family, friends and
acquaintances was unwavering.  She was always there with a solution to every obstacle in the path of life, and her courage in the face of adversity was amazing.  Always by her side was Kum with his unwavering love, a tower of strength, since our school days.  Their romance memorably began when as a young tennis player himself, he coached Duru as one of St Bridget’s star tennis players.

Duru was an inspiration to those around her. She was indeed someone special and I am the richer for having known her for many years.

Dear Duru, as I bid you farewell from a distant land, I feel for Kum, Lucky, Chuti, Dougie, your beloved children Jehan, Rehana, Senaka, their families, and the many loved ones you leave behind.

Dear departed friend may you attain Nibbana.

Soma

Looking for Mum

Please click on the web-link below:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6070765/Searching-Mum-Scottish-gardener-reunited-birth-mother-5-000-miles-away-Sri-Lanka-on.html

Are you running?

email from Karals.

A medical student’s surprise encounter

 Courting a fellow female medical student was termed ‘capping’ in the 1960s .This story relates to one of our seniors at the Colombo Medical Faculty. He was a rather shy handsome person with a good academic record. We will call him ‘N’ He went on his first  visit to the De Saram Ladies Medical Hostel to meet the female medico whom he was ‘capping’ He walked into the lounge of the hostel, to be met by an elderly lady whom he presumed to be the warden of the hostel. He told the lady that he wanted to meet the medical student Miss ‘M’. The elderly lady had smiled on hearing the mentioned name and asked who was calling on her. ‘N’ feeling a bit shy had replied that he was ‘M’s brother. At this the lady had replied that she did not know of a brother whom Miss. ‘N’ had. She added that she ought to know that with certainty because she was the mother of Miss. ‘N’ and she had no sons up to that time.

          The romance proceeded smoothly and ended in a successful marriage later.

An incident related by the late Dr. Somadasa Kongaavita

It was in the year 1966/67. Milroy was District Medical Officer, Monaragala with his new bride Punya. I was DMO at Koslanda 33 miles towards Colombo. Dr. Somadasa was DMO at Maha Oya on the road to Batticaloa from Mahiyangana. “Soma” had got some luscious live crabs meant for cooking a delicious meal. He went all the way to see Milroy at Monaragala with the crabs ready for cooking. The crabs were alive and kicking. Soma had left the place after donating the crabs to Milroy wishing him a Bon appetite. Two weeks later when he paid another visit the crabs were running all over the quarters with Punya and her mother feeding the crabs. They were following the Buddhist oath ‘ Paanaathi paana veramuni, sikkha padam samaadhiyami’ –‘ I promise to refrain from taking life’. Soma had a big laugh relating this story to me, long years later.