MEDICAL FACULTY CLASS OF 1962 CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE
On June 4, 1962, a total of 158 young men and women entered the Colombo University Faculty of Medicine to pursue their dream of a career in Medicine. They were soon bonded together in friendships, sharing common aspirations and stresses, having to face unending lectures, impossible work schedules and tough exams. That so many of them scattered in different parts of the world eagerly awaited the Batch Reunion this year is proof that these friendships forged 50 years ago have stood the test of time.
The Batch of ‘62 is unique for several reasons. It was the first batch with a parallel batch in Peradeniya. It is also the only batch that increased in numbers as the years progressed reaching 168 by 1964 due to ten students joining from the Peradeniya Faculty.
This batch was also not guaranteed employment in the Health Service after internship, as there were graduates from two faculties that year. This led many young doctors to sit for the ECFMG exam to qualify to practice in the USA.
These medical students were a multi talented group. Among them were two outstanding cricketers; ace spin bowler Thomian Lareef Idroos and Benedictine Cyril Ernest who played in the National Team. V. Kunasingham represented Sri Lanka as hockey goal keeper. Royalist J.C. Fernando was a champion athlete, Ranjan Wattegedera a National Tennis Champion and Sidath Jayanetti an outstanding Rugby player. Virginia Swan was a champion swimmer.
There were also those who shone in the field of fine arts. Sushila Kanagasaby was an exponent of Bharatanatyam, Sujatha Mali-
The Batch of ‘62 is unique for several reasons. It was the first batch with a parallel batch in Peradeniya.
gaspe was a member of the then famous “Heen Baba Troupe” and had to give up her Kandyan dancing to follow medicine, and Primrose Jayasingha was a Sinhala Radio artist.
Since graduation these doctors are practicing as Consultants in General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Nephrology and Cardiology, Neurology, Anesthesia, ENT, Ophthalmic and Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Pathology, Haema- tology ,Oncology, Radiology as well as Public Health, Medical Administration and General Practice in several countries.
They are scattered in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the rest are in Sri Lanka. Of those who chose to be Academics, the most distinguished was the late Chandrasiri Niriella who was the VC of the Ruhuna University and Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Ruhuna Medical Faculty. Sanath Lamabadusuriya held the post of the Dean Faculty of Medicine Colombo and Professor of Paediatrics. He was awarded the MBE by Queen Elizabeth the II in 1991 for his contribution to the ‘Sri Lanka Cleft Lip and Palate’ project. Manel Ratnavibushana was the Professor of Parasitology Faculty of Medicine Peradeniya, Lalani Seebert the Associate Professor of Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine Colombo and Kusuma Jayasuriya Head of Department of Physiology and Head of Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine Sri Jayawardanepura. The writer and Sanath Lamabadusuriya held the post of President Sri Lanka Medical Association in 2006 and 2011 respectively.
Sadly some batch mates have passed away, namely, K. Wimalaratne ( Kittha ) S.R. de Silva (Sunna), Dawn and Russel Paul, K. Sundarampillai, Tudor Wickramarchhi, Bernard Randeiya (Claude Bernard) B. Somasundaram, Chandrasiri Niriella, V. Kunasingham, V. Ganesan (Ganash), Anna Ponnambalam, and Tilak Dayaratne. They are sadly missed and fondly remembered.
A batch reunion was held at Hotel Chaya Trans Hikkaduwa during the weekend to celebrate the Golden Anniversary. Fifty Eight batch mates along with their spouses attended this celebration making it the biggest reunion. The programme included a ‘Walk Down Memory Lane’ along the main corridor of the National Hospital. This was made possible due to the hard work of the organizing committee ably chaired by super efficient Swyrie Balendra assisted by Lakshman Abeygunawardane acting as Secretary with Committee Members Priyade Silva, Sriyani Basnayaka, Kusuma Ruberu, Suranganie Fernando, Pramilla Senanayaka, Suriyakanthie Amarasekera, Sanath Lamabadasuriya, J.C. Fernando, V. Ganissara and Lucian Fernando
Suriyakanthie Amarasekera