Monday, July 19, 2010

Scientific sessions ctd.



Nihal Thenabadu on 'The cardiovascular disease epidemic' .

Scientific sessions ctd.

Pearl Hettiaratchi on 'Ethical clinical practice and clinician as advocate'.

The Scientific sessions - 3rd July 2010

'Lessons learnt' - a lecture by Charith Nanayakkara in progress.

email from Shanthi


Phillip,
I am sending a picture of Therese Kariyawasam taken at her house recently, and a pictures of the "p" group taken at habarana,
Shanthi


Sunday, July 18, 2010

Scenes at the 'Cinnamon Lodge', Habarana - 3/7/2010

A 'wattle and daub' - 'Varichchi' - hut in the premises.
Grand-children at play in the 'baby-pool'.

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

email from 'Kalu Nana'

A Big Thank You to the Organisers and all others. 2010 batch get together is successfully concluded. Most of us from overseas are likely to have returned ‘ home’ and are recovering from varying degree of jet lag.Those who were fortunate enough to be present at the Event were truly impressed by the excellent organisation all round and the tremendous amount of effort, time and energy that would have been put in over many months.The program covered all the essentials to satisfy most of the participants even though it appeared very full.Amongst the highlights:
1. The transport facility in luxury coaches from Colombo to Habarana & return (for some of us)
2. Welcome cordeal on arrival at the hotel reception
3. Hotel accommodation with a fantastic array of meals, friendly and obliging staff and superb facilities
4. Innovative plans for participants to wear local apparel which added so much of colour
5. The most somber but dignified commemoration to show our gratitude to all our departed colleagues
6. The block concert and all its actors
7. The modified evening ‘paduru partiya’/sing song
8. The photographic session
9. The academic session with varied topics of interest
10. Opportunity for optional visits to places of interest
11. Gala dinner dance with the preceding ‘procession’ inclusive of colourful and talented Kandyan dancers
12. Superb buffet dinner of such great choice and variety
13. Plenty of opportunity for all of us to meet & greet or to get drunk
14. The production & supply of souvenir + paduru partiya song book- ‘golden oldies’+ CD+ souvenir
11 ( Friends,Dreams and memories) and few more items of interest etc.I was extremely moved but very pleased by the determined presence of Kamala in spite of all her disabilities ( proving the reality of frailty, uncertainty and the impermanence of human beings. Who deserve our sincere thanks and appreciation?
Our sincere thanks must go to:
1. All the members of the organising committee(Piyaseeli & Wedi,Rohantha,Jayalath,Ranjen,Geri,Durumila,Buddhadasa,Philip,Sivarasa,Nalini and Ranjini) led by energetic and ever smiling Sarath Kapu
2. Philip & Buddy for the commemoration presentation
3. All the actors( Buddy, Gerry, Heather,Lucian, Travis..) who took part in the ‘block concert’ & who made it so hilarious
4. Tissa K, Philip V and Ranjen F and Piyaseeli W for editing and compiling the souvenir,CD, 'souvenir ii' and the golden oldies.
5. Durumila K for getting the hotel bookings/accommodation at concessional rates
6. Ranjen F for arranging the transport coaches
7. Indu Chandrawansa & and all the hotel staff for their friendly service
8. Nalini for organising & chairing the academic session
9. The official photographers and Asoka D for organising the group photos
10.Philip Veerasingham for maintaining the web site and regular updates which kept all of us (attendees & non attendees) connected with the Event ‘live’Please forgive me if I missed out other deserving colleagues.May we have the strength, determination and the fortune to meet again in the near future as a very happy and as an extended family.

PS: Philip I have just managed to read your book. What a superb recollection of events with such philosophical outlook and humility. You have obviously missed your vocation. Good Luck and keep writing.
Best wishes
NanaC.S.Nanayakkara