It was a privilege to have known such a man
Dr. Chris Uragoda was a medical luminary, erudite scholar and above all, an unassuming gentleman par excellence. He was blessed with an unparalled richness of precious human qualities.
My close association with Dr. Uragoda was in early 1990, when the General Committee of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS) asked him to compile the history of the Society, as its centenary year was close at hand. This comprehensive book titled, ‘Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka’ was presented to then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was Chief Guest at the Society’s wildlife photographic exhibition at the National Art Gallery Colombo during the centenary celebrations of the Society in 1994. The book was also presented to President J. R. Jayewardene, at the formal dinner held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
In the centenary year, Dr. Uragoda and family joined the many tours I organized as the General Secretary of the Society to the world heritage sites such as the Sinharaja Rainforest and Horton Plains. We also saw the destruction done to the environment by the prawn farms in Puttalam, did a study of sea birds in Chilaw, visited the turtle hatchery project in Rekawa and watched the migrant flamingos in Hambantota.
Dr. Uragoda was also editor of the Society’s scientific journal LORIS in 2012. The Society’s 125th anniversary issue of LORIS of May 2019 carried his article “Some doctors who helped the Society”.
Dr. Uragoda and I shared many common interests such as wildlife, books and travel to places of interest. We made many visits together to the National Parks of Wilpattu, Uda Walawe and Yala. Dr. Uragoda was so knowledgeable not only about the fauna and flora of the country, but about the people and places we visited. His many journeys to the wilds with his family are narrated in his books, ‘“Jungle journeys in Sri Lanka’ and ‘Camping and jungle trips’.
On our visit to Jaffna at the height of the civil war with the LTTE we were guests of the Sri Lanka Army. The highlights of that trip were our visits to the Dambakola Patuna beach, where the sacred Bo-tree was bought to Sri Lanka; a trip to Kadurugoda where there are Buddhist stupas of different sizes; and a boat trip in the open seas to the Nagadeepa Temple visited by Lord Buddha. We were in Jaffn, on September 22 - Dr. Uragoda’s birthday, and we celebrated with the commanding officer of the Jaffna Army camp Brigadier Roshan de Silva and his assistant Colonel Indika Karunanayake joining us. We went to Delft Island with its numerous wild ponies on a subsequent visit.
Our visit to Thoppigala was during the height of the separatist war. Thoppigala was devastated by LTTE artillery and funds were collected to replace the shattered roofs with asbestos sheets. It was suggested to have a medical camp and Dr. Uragoda and Dr. Walter Gooneratne volunteered. The nearby Army camp in Thoppigala appreciated our efforts, by taking all of us to Maduru Oya National Park. We visited the ancient anicut built by the kings of yore, preserved and not destroyed with development, where water flows out from the Maduru Oya with a two inch gradient. After our return the villagers and the Army personnel, when in Colombo would visit Dr. Uragoda for their medical needs. The kind and gracious doctor attended to them taking no fees.
Dr. Uragoda’s book, “Wildlife Conservation in Sri Lanka” has on its cover, a picture of Baker’s Falls drawn by Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando. Dr Uragoda wanted to visit the falls again. The Conservator of Forests and I, as the President of the WNPS were members of the government’s Fauna and Flora Advisory Committee and he permitted me the use of the Forest Department circuit bungalow at Pattipola. We hiked to Horton Place at dawn and after seeing World’s End and Baker’s Falls which were magnificent, stopped at Farr Inn for refreshments. Farr Inn was famous as a hunting lodge of Sir Thomas Baker and Governor Horton. It was a moonlit night and on our return we could see the sambhur. It was a memorable visit.
Dr. Uragoda had a unique collection of Sri Lankan books in his private library. He also submitted many articles to prestigious journals. His reprint of the ‘History of Medicine in Sri Lanka’ was presented in 2014 to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony held at the BMICH. The book is now translated into Sinhala. Dr. Uragoda’s presidential address to the council of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1990 prompted the book, ‘Traditions of Sri Lanka’ printed in 2000 and reprinted in 2008. His memoirs ‘Sri Lanka Then and Now’ was published in 2008 followed by his book on ‘Traditional Appliances and Practices’ in 2009. His three books ‘Authors of Books in Sri Lanka’ - Book one from 1796 to 1948, Book two from 1949 to 1975 and Book three from 1976 to 1990 contain short biographies of authors.
Dr. Uragoda co-edited with G.P.S.H. de Silva, the sesquicentennial commemorative volume of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka published in 1995. With Kamalika Peiris he co-edited, ‘Biblography of medical publications relating to Sri Lanka 1811 – 1976’ and ‘A bibliography on health in Sri Lanka 1977 – 1980’ published in 1983. In 2017, he published a personal tribute to his intimate friend of over 50 years ‘Dr. Malinga Fernando’ and distributed the hard cover book free. In 2017 Dr. Uragoda also wrote the book ‘Little known wonders of Sri Lanka’. His last book published in 2018 was ‘A history of Sri Lankan Elephants’.
Two more books ‘Medical Professionals in Sri Lanka’ and ‘Elephant Kraals’ are with the printers.
Dr. Uragoda won many awards in his lifetime. He had the distinction of being elected President of the Royal Asiatic Society for two separate terms. He was presented with the Sir S.C. Obeyesekere award donated by Lady Hilda Obesekere, wife of Sir Paul E. Pieris Deraniyagala, in recognition of five decades of distinguished service as a Life Member of the Society. His medical research was recognised by the conferment of the Guinness Award of the Commonwealth Science Council. He was the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and joint-editor of the Ceylon Medical Journal for 20 years. In 1985 he joined the Faculty of Occupational Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London - so far the only Sri Lankan to serve this prestigious faculty. In 1994, he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) of the University of Colombo. Dr. Uragoda received the Rev. Peter Pillai Award, the Sarvodaya Award and the President’s Award of the Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority of Sri Lanka.
Born on September 22, 1928 at his ancestral home “Sandfield” in Hikkaduwa, his father was a reputed surveyor. Of his two elder brothers, one was a medical professional and the other a lawyer. Dr. Uragoda studied at Richmond College, Galle and later at Mahinda College, Galle and Ananda College, Colombo. Entering the medical profession in 1953, he first served at the Galle Hospital.
In 1959, Dr. Uragoda was selected to specialize in respiratory diseases in the U.K. On his return from London in 1962, he was transferred, as physician to the Chest Clinic in Kandy and worked in Kandy for eleven years. He was elected as President of the Kandy Society of Medicine 1971 / 1972. Dr. Uragoda was transferred in 1973 as physician-in-charge of the Central Chest Clinic in Colombo.
He married Padma Rambukpotha from Badulla and they had four children, living a loving and harmonious family life. The children are Dianthie, Lalith (who is a doctor married to a doctor and practising in USA), Neluka, (married to a doctor and practising in the USA) and youngest son Dishana who is employed in Australia.
Dr. Uragoda’s healing touch was legendary. He was a repository of knowledge and wisdom and a gentleman par excellence in his manners and speech. He carved a niche in society not only by what he achieved, but also by the noble and righteous way he lived. He spurned ostentation, vanity and showmanship and lived and led by precept and example.
His integrity and graceful life, and his many publications have been a beacon light to many. He was 91 years old when on March 28, 2020, he finished his earthly pilgrimage. His name and services will be remembered by us. The fragrance of his memory remains fresh, to those who had the privilege of knowing him.