Darling we aren't too old, though we pass the Jubilee Gold

Marrying a professional is an asset and a challenge

by Lakmal Welabada

'Marrying a professional is an asset
But to live with a man like that is quite challenging'.

So says Lakshmi about her 45 years of married life. "I was 18 years when I got married. Just out of school. When my father told me that we were getting some visitors that evening I was bewildered; why so especial? And then later got to know that a young doctor too was accompanying them. I was shocked.

Two of my friends also had already entered wedded life by that time. My father who felt my shaky situation, calmed me down saying that I do not have to say 'yes' at once, but to give 'him' a chance to see me. He said, 'Duwa, take your time and decide'. But 'his' charm did not let me go from him," laughs Lakshmi.

Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe pauses a bit and gazes at his wife with a slight mischievous yet a loving smile. "She was a pretty young girl, a Bridgetian, so whose the mutt that would deny to take her hand?

Lakshman, the guy who had been among the patients, medicines, corpses, high intellectuals and notes and books had started to think about his future partner. When his mother told him that it was his time to settle down, at first he smiled.

It was his mother who urged it more than him. But once he saw Lakshmi everything seemed to have changed. He knew how his friends were enjoying by going to see the brides' proposed for them, one after the other, stuffing them with good food and beverages. But for Lakshman it was the first and last. Although he lost the chance of going to many places, he made the correct choice, which helped him right a long in his life. "And still does," he beams.

Lakshman Ranasinghe was born on a Sinhala and Hindu New Year Day - April 14 in 1934 to Mudlieyar Piyadasa Ranasinghe, a civil administrator of Kachcheri system and Nellina Peiris. Lakshman was the youngest of three brothers and a sister in his family.

"Since with our father's job we all had to move from place to place. So I studied in seven schools including Uva College, Badulla, Dharmaraja College, Kandy, Seevali and St. Aloysius Colleges, Ratnapura, St. Thomas College, Guruthalawa and finally at St.Joseph's College, Colombo," he says.

Although his mother was a caring and a loving character, Lakshman's father was a strict disciplinarian from whom today's administrators could get many examples. "We also used to visit his office often. I was a school going teen then.

Once when I went to his office his clerk gave me an eraser which was meant for the use of the office. When my father noticed this that night he immediately commanded me to return it back the very next morning. So before I went to school that day I returned it to the Clarke's desk the following morning. He was a great man," he says.

Lakshman entered the Medical School of Colombo in 1955 and passed out in 1960. After working in the country for sometime he went to England to further his studies. He got through the Diploma in Child Health in London in 1965, and worked at the Mind Head and West Summer Hospital where Sir Arther C. Clerk was born. After obtaining the qualification of Member of Royal College of Physicians he returned back to Sri Lanka with his family.

Lakshmi Wijegunewardana was born on a May 4. Dr. A. D. P. A. Wijegunewardana, general practitioner specialised Paediatrician and Grace Somawathie Wickremasinghe were here parents. Lakshmi was the eldest to a younger brother and sister.

"I studied at St. Bridgets. Art and music were my forte. I sat for the A/Ls. And wanted to continue my studies. But everything changed along with his arrival. My father asked me not to hesitate. I could have told my parents I wanted to further my studies. Oh! but, he used his charm so that I had no way of telling him 'no'," she laughs.

The married life of Lakshmi and Lakshman was mainly filled with social life. "He has been holding many titles in the medical field. So it became the matter of entertaining both locals and foreign delegates. Along with all that I had to run to and fro with our three children," she recalls.

Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe was the founder of the Paediatric skin clinic at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) in early 1970s. "I was at LRH, and in the meantime I was sent outstation for a short spell. In 1968 I was at Chilaw Hospital. That year there was a major cyclone and the hospital went 10 feet under water. All the patients were evacuated to Chilaw Convent, and experienced great hardships in several ways. We, the doctors worked round the clock to keep patients alive," reminisces the doctor.

"At college I was a rolling stone as I was in seven schools," he repeats. "And I always was among the first three in the class. I was the only candidate to obtain a first division from St. Thomas, Guruthalawa. During my school days I was the President of the school Science Association, and for the first time launched a school science magazine 'Young Scientist'.

I was the Editor of this journal and got information from the United State Information Service (USIS), it was the first ever science journal in English for more than 100 schools with science stream in the country. When I Went to the university entrance interview in 1952 the professors on the board recognised me as the Editor of the 'Young Scientist'," recalls Dr. Lakshman.

He was the President of a number of associations. To name a few, the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association, Sri Lanka Medical Association, Ceylon College of Physicians and Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). He was the Editor of the journals of all these colleges and journals and have contributed to the chapters of Paediatrics and Neurology, National Atlas of Sri Lanka and Arjuna's Atlas of Sri Lanka.

He was the founder President of Sri Lanka Association of Dermatologists (at present it is known as the College of Dermatologists). Apart from that Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe had lectured at the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka on the evolution of 'Makara Thorana' during the period of past 1000 years.

He had added eight Sinhala words to the English Oxford Dictionary including 'Sri Maha Bodhiya' and 'Ola'... "Already there are 41 Sinhala words in the Oxford Dictionary. I have pointed out that the spelling of sear fish is printed wrong as 'sier' in the dictionary. Hope they would change it," he smiles.

Dr. Lakshman Ranasinghe was presented Dr. Marquis Award for the best guest lecturer at the annual congress of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Chennai. He was honoured with a Gold Medal by the Lions' District 306A for his excellence in healthcare at a ceremony held at the BMICH in 1996.

Zooming back to his mischievous childhood Lakshman laughs recalling a few incidents. "When I was about six years, we were staying at Badulla. I was known as 'Chandi Baba' as I was such a imp. One day my father had a visitor who came home in a brand new car.

When he was leaving my brothers and I pretended to push the car. My brothers let go at the right time, but I clung on and got dragged for about 100 feet, and got injured," he laughs. "I did a bit of sports at college, but after I broke my collar bone in an accident I had to give up all sports," he says.

Lakshman hails from a family of doctors. His mother's brother Prof. M. V. P. Peiris was one of the professors of surgery in the Colombo Medical College in 1950. "He was particularly talented ambidextrous (can work with both hands equally) both in illustrations and in surgery.

So when I was about 3 years I had told my mother that I would someday become somebody like my 'Mama' (uncle), not even knowing much about his professionals skills. I did become a doctor at the end," he recalls.

Lakshmi listens in silence. "She plays a major role in everything," he says. Lakshmi beams. She reminisces the hard times, the ups and downs she encountered along with the schooling of the three children, entertaining visitors, attending non-ending social functions and so on.

However her talents for floral arrangements won many hearts of those who were known to her. And Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was one of them. Lakshmi was the official decorator of floral arrangements for Mrs. Kumaratunga for the whole ten years of her stay in power. "I never followed any particular course in flower arranging. It naturally came to me after attending a few demonstrations and referring books," she smiles. Lakshmi is also a good cook. She even taught cookery at the women's ward in the Welikada prison.

Today the three offsprings of Lakshman and Lakshmi are doing very well in their lives. Their eldest daughter, Dr. Irandani is practising in Sydney. Her husband Dr. Ramesh Markus is the Head of the Department of Strokes in St. Vincent Hospital, Sydney.

Their second daughter Shandani is a Computer Analyst and Programmer at Ford Finance in Melbourne. Their son, Mathisha is an architect married to an Indonesian girl and living in Singapore. The Ranasinghe couple are proud grand parents of three grand children.

After retiring from the whole load of responsibilities of bringing up the three kids, Lakshmi today is fully involved in charity and social service work. She is Secretary to the Family Planning Association.

"Patience," she went on "...is the weapon and remedy for every problem. And also other than that there's no other secret for a successful life," points out Lakshmi.

"I didn't get the chance to do a job or attend to anything else other than attending to the children and family, as I was given in marriage early.

But I think a girl should get matured to face a wedded life. But, also I have no regrets that much about my sacrifice as all my three children are doing well in life. Telling the truth I was so gulible as I was very young when I got married, I grew up with my children," she laughs.

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