He left us with a rich legacy of positive experiences

It is with gratitude that I write these few lines in remembrance of Dr Neville Fernando who passed away on February 4 this year, one month short of his 90th birthday, leaving a rich legacy of positive experiences with all those who came to know him.

My association with Dr Fernando goes back to 2003 when he invited me to join Asha Central Hospital at Horton Place, Colombo 7. It was he who turned Asha Central into a most sought after private hospital in Colombo. He devoted his entire time and effort to develop it into a fully-fledged multi-specialty private hospital. He was not a mere manager or team leader to the hundreds of medical and non-medical staff but a father figure, loved by everyone from the housekeeping assistant to the operating surgeon.

He struggled against unacceptable transgressions of some of the values that his principled mind accepted as inimical: trust and honouring one’s word. Greed and duplicity were anathema to him. His humanity extended not only to all the employees of the hospital but to all patients who sought medical attention. People liked him for his sincerity and enthusiasm. He was generous to the core. His charismatic smile and the ability to attract people around him made him a truly inspirational leader.

Managing a large scale multi-specialty hospital was a huge burden on his shoulders but with his unique management style, he overcame all the obstacles.

In 2008 Dr Neville Fernando designed and built the Central Hospital at Norris Canal Road, Colombo 10, creating a benchmark in the private health care industry in the country. Due to his passion for education and to provide higher educational opportunities for younger generations, he embarked on his vision creating SAITM (South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine) in 2009 and NFTH (Dr Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital) in 2011 in Malabe, while selling the Central Hospital to the Asiri Group of Hospitals to become the present Asiri Central Hospital.

Designing and building SAITM gave him immense pride. He pumped all his wealth, time, sweat, and effort into this massive institution that has produced hundreds of doctors, engineers and IT professionals. The theme of SAITM, ‘Education with Character’ clearly reminds us of his vision.

Embarking on a hospital project and setting it up at the age of 80 was unbelievable to many. He never calculated any returns on investment. This extraordinary and stubbornly principled man had only one vision which was to create a space for private medical education in Sri Lanka. I am eternally grateful to him for selecting me and giving me the opportunity to lead the hospital from its very inception. His advice helped me immensely to improve my knowledge and develop my skills in managing a hospital. He was a stern disciplinarian who taught me the correct way of doing anything.

Dr Fernando wanted his hospital to be a model and benchmark in health care. He never believed in shortcuts, instead guided me and my team to do the correct thing at all times. The medical equipment bought was the best of the range and the most technologically advanced from world renowned manufacturers. I still remember the pride he had when he inspected the operating theatre complex and intensive care units, attending to every detail.

He would generously waive the hospital charges of many patients who had financial difficulties, sometimes making the situation difficult for the finance team. Hundreds of surgeries and hemodialysis sessions were offered free of charge to deserving patients. He felt the pulse of the people, be it the patients or the hospital staff.

It is indeed very sad that he is no more with us and the only consolation we have is that due to some good karma, we had the good fortune to associate closely with him. I will always remember the good times I had with him. Most of all I appreciate his good qualities and the high principles he stood for at all times.

Throughout his journey his loving and devoted wife Swarnamalee was a pillar of strength. His loving children Naomal, Sharmalee, Devaka and Krishantha supported him at all times.

Dear Sir, I wish you the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana in the shortest possible time.

“In the end it’s not the years in your life that counts, it’s the life in your years” Abraham Lincoln