Sinking of the 'Titanic' - 'Nava gillath ban chune'

The 'Titanic' was proclaimed as 'unsinkable' and was the pride of British ship-building when it was launched, in the beginning of the 20th Century. On its first trans-Atlantic voyage it struck an iceberg and sank. When it was going down with passengers falling overboard, the ships band is supposed to have assembled and were playing the popular Christian Hymn, often sung at funerals, bearing the following words :-

"Though like a wanderer, the sun goes down,

Darkness lies over me, My rest a stone,

Through all my life I'll be,

Nearer my God to thee, nearer to Thee".

This was headline news throughout the world. This was the origin of the Sinhala idiom - "Nava gillath, ban chune" - "Even if the ship is sinking the band plays the tune"

email from Dawood

Dear Phillip,
There's no greater honour than to be acknowledged and valued by your own peers in your own land. I am not talking about Deshamanya's and Deshabandu's either. Your presentation was the distilled wisdom of ages. Something that our generation inherited from our elders and teachers. Yet not many of us who are still around today could have offered, such lofty ideals and values,with honesty and sincerity , to a starry eyed bunch of freshers. These could only have been the utterances of one who has lived such a life of courageous integrity with sincere dedication to one's motherland, people and vocation.Your words are most appropriate, especially, at a timewhen the winds of hope are blowing through our land. I believe that you would have touched the young hearts and minds that heard you and many of the older ones too.!! The presentation was really the essence of a life well lived as related in your books. Great Inspirational stuff!! I hope many more invitations would come your way providing further opportunities to present your example and spread your message!! I close, with deep respect and admiration for achievements honestly gathered !
Dawood

emails re lecture

Email from Nalini & Daya – 13/8/2010
Dear Phillip,
CONGRATS! Great lecture - very philosophical & inspiring!Who was in the audience? - Faculty & new entrants? Maybe you should give it to the final years too.D&N
Email from Imelda – 13/8/2010
Dear Philip, Congratulations . No doubt, I am sure our batchmates will be very proud to know that you were invited to address the incoming batch. It is an honour you really deserve and could not have come at a better time than 2010 the 50th year of our entry to med school. Regards Imelda
Email from Sujaee Tinto – 13/8/2010
Dear Philip,Brilliant. The call of duty is what the younger generation need 'to know about'. I was also impressed with someone called Piyusha who spoke to Nalini about giving back(to the Motherland). It is great to see so much 'awakening' among the youngsters. This country is bound to grow in strength and unity with folk like you and Nalini leading the way. I am SOOO happy.Love and many blessings Sujaee

emails re 'the lecture'

Email from Nana - 13/8/2010
Dear Philip
We are very pleased indeed with the honour they bestowed on you by inviting you to to deliver the Commencement Lecture.
The academics seem to have enjoyed very much but it is most likely that the medical students would have been even more impressed and fortunate to have someone with such high esteem and humility giving them the guidance they really can emulate.
We are very proud indeed to share this honour as batch mates.
Best wishes
Nana

Email from Karu – 13/8/2010
My dear Philip,
Congratulations on delivering this year’s commencement lecture. As a batchmate and a close friend I feel proud that you were selected for this.I have no doubt knowing you as well as I do [your dedication to hard work and meticulous nature] and reading all those books etc that you would have delivered a fantastic speech.
I wish I could have been there to listen to it in person, I am less fortunate from that point of view, however I feel that who were there were more than fortunate to have listened to a memorable lecture.I certainly hope it would enable them to train themselves to become good doctors and above all good citizens of Sri lanka.
Congratulations once again,
Karu.

Email from Milroy – 12/8/2010
Dear Phillip,
I was very impressed with your presentation and felt privileged to have known you and having been a batch mate. I forwarded the presentation to my two children
congratulations
Kind regards
milroy

Dear Milroy,
Thanks for the comments re the lecture. It was really the formative years in the Faculty of Medicine in our times, which shaped our outlooks later. The interaction with my batch-mates went a long way towards shaping these attitudes.
Thank you once again.
Philip

Email from Daya Jayasinghe 13/8/2010
Dear Phil,
Yout lecture is fascinating.Our batch is honoured by what you spoke.I wish we had a similar introduction at our admission.Its what you do that matters. In 1956 melbourne olympics in a long distance race an Aussie athlete witnessed a close rival fall. He stopped helped him and continued the run and won it. Later he was appointed Governer of Vivctoria.
Best wishes,
Daya J.

Hello Daya,
Thanks for your comments re the lecture.
It was the caramaderie and interaction with our ‘Batch of 1960’, that shaped our out looks in life. I am indeed indebted to the batch for this.
Philip

emails from Karals and Tissa re 'the lecture'.

email from Karals
7th August 2010
To both,
I am beginning to see dreams in day light- where credit is given when it is due and some professionals at least - most importantly teachers are realizing that there is more to impart to students than the path of the sciatic nerve. We are very proud of you and I consider it one of the most philosophically pragmatic presentations I have read. Philosophising is all what they do sipping whiskies-you have blended philosophy and the teaching of the MASTERS to the practice of medicine, learning etc. I am delighted that Tissa's painting would remain a symbol ad infinitum - of dedication and loyalty to an institution that nutured us- Well done to both, proud to be with you on many a venture.
Karals

Email from Tissa
8th August 2010
Dear Philip,
> I had the opportunity to view your entire presentation only today.
> It brought together all your philosophical musing that you tried
> to convey in the two books and it would have been a great talk for
> the students to hear upon graduation. Careers are measured in
> terms of what you have done for others in contrast to wealth
> acquired. Congratulations!
> I wish you had mentioned that you were planning to use the picture
> when I met you at the reunion. I would have been more than happy
> to give you the original for the purpose. If the Dean agrees I
> suggest you exchange the original for the copy you gave him - I
> can mail it to you by Fedex. I could also send you a CD
> containing the picture and I am happy for them to use it for
> whatever promotional venture they wish.
> All the best,
> Tissa

Commencement lecture for the Batch of 2010 - Faculty of Medicine, Colombo - 6th August 2010 by Philip G Veerasingam.

I was requested by the Faculty of Medicine Teachers Association, Colombo, to give 'The Commencement lecture' for the 2010 Batch entrants, to the Medical Faculty. This was 50 years after our batch of 1960, entered the same Medical Faculty. It was a 'Cap and Gown' affair, with the associated ceremonial parade. I chose as my topic 'The call of duty' and gave a presentation with Power-point support. It was commented on by the academic staff, as a 'fantastic presentation'. I am including a few photographs of the event.

Philip

email from Piyusha Atapattu to Nalini

Dear Madam,
How are you? I hope your mother is better now. Are you back in Australia?
Your donation of Rs 50,000.00 has been added to the Medical Stduents Finacial Asisstance Scheme 'pool' and will be used for student asisistance with immediate effect.I have annexed herewith an official acknowledgment letter and a scanned picture of the receipt from the University. If you let me know your address I can post the receipt to you (I will keep it filed till then.)The PH meter is in use and the toilet repair was completed today! We have not yet used the spirometer though, as accurate values cannot be obtained without calibration, and we are trying to raise funds from our own batchmates to purchase the calibration syringe. However we can use it for student ptacticals. Ruwanmalis's BNFs have arrived and some have already been donated. Dr Preena's donation of a stethescope was reqested by a first year student from Thanamalwila, the first student to enter the faculty from his school. I have e mailed Dr Preena, and I hope he received the e mail. Two used books have been taken by two students in the new batch. I will put up a notice for students regarding the availability of these books and the BNFs. No one as yet asked for Dr Preena's knee hammer set, though a notcie was placed a few weeks before.
Thank you so much madam -your batch I think has pioneered a large sacle donor activity. The faculty is now very interested in forming the alumni foundation and inviting further donors!
Dr Veerasingam was here last week, and delivered the commencement lecture on 'Call of duty', which was wonderful and thought provoking, in this day of trying to acquire more and more. Today he has sent a little book of essays of your batchmates, compiled by Dr Kappagoda and its so lovely.
Thank you again madam, for coming back to the faculty and showing us that giving back is important. There is a subtle change in the faculty, with more people talking about duty and paying back and all that since your visit! I hope a lot of good will come of it. best regards
Piyusha