Carrying on the pet project of a dear and caring friend

We were colleagues at a professional level for many years being in the Teaching staff of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya and the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya. Later on she became my daughter’s mother-in-law (Ammi). After we both retired, I was closely associated with her from recent times as one of the Vice Presidents of the Peradeniya Kidney Protection Society (PKIPS), she being the founder of this society and the founder President. It is in this capacity that I really began to know the other side of Chandra.

Much has been written about Chandra’s attributes. What has struck me is what she was not. Never loud or abrasive, never overdressed, never domineering, never a hurtful or thoughtless remark, never controlling or imposing her will on others, never in a hurry, never disorganised – and the list can go on.

The establishment of the PKPS was Chandra’s brainchild. Her pet project. Her life.

After she fell ill, it was my duty to look into the affairs of the society. It is only then that I realized how carefully she had handpicked her committee members. Many of them were non-medical people. But their commitment to the tasks at hand was amazing, undoubtedly inspired by Chandra’s dedication to this cause.

We now have a moral obligation to Chandra to continue this phenomenal project that she initiated. This society, amongst assisting the Kidney units at

Peradeniya, has a sponsorship programme to assist needy children and also adults with kidney disease. During the COVID crisis, the PKPS was in the forefront making sure the patients had all necessary drugs and medications, not only helping Peradeniya, but units in other parts of the country too.

Assistance poured in from all parts of the world, mainly due to the credibility of Chandra and her husband Tilak. We are proud to say that no kidney patients died due to lack of medications. Please visit our website, and assist us in this endeavour. This is the least we can do in memory of Chandra Kumari Abeysekera, a dear friend, so charming, clever, committed and caring.