Batchmate doctors meet after 40 years

by Dr. Pushpa Mallikarachchi nee Ranasinghe

February 16 was a red letter day for the medical, dental and veterinary batch which entered the University of Peradeniya in 1970 - its first re-union after 40 years. It was held at the Peradeniya Medical Faculty and the organisers, Malkanthi, Sujatha, Collin and Damayanthi worked tirelessly to make it a success.

Seated from left: Dr. Ajith Ranasinghe, Dr. Ranjith Jasinghe, Dr. Collin Fernandopulle, Dr. Damayanthi Abeyratne, Dr. Sujatha Wattegama, Prof. Jayantha Jayawardene, Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senarathe, Dr. Swarna Herath, Dr. Nimal Pathiraja, Dr. M.H. Perera, Dr. A. Bala Canagasabey, Dr. Vinodini Wijeratne and Dr. Senarath Colombage. (Middle row): Dr. Pushpa Mallikaarachchi, Prof. Pushpa Jayawardena, Dr. Pubudu Mediwaka, Dr. Chandrani Piyasena, Dr. Nimala Gunarathna, Dr. Kalyani Dikwella, Dr. Srimathie Jayarathna, Dr. Tamara Kariyawasam, Dr. Ranjanie Wijekoon, Dr. Jinaranjanie Wijesiri, Dr. Susima Kodituwakku, Dr. Rohini Kularatne, Dr. Indira Attanayake and Dr. Shantha Ranaweera. (Last row): Prof. K. Sivapalan, Dr. K.H.G. Premasiri, Dr.D.P.C. Subasinghe, Dr. Rohana Adikari, Dr. Tissa Wijeratne, Dr. M.Z. Badurdeen, Dr. Wasantha Kumar Fernando, Dr. Ranjith Abeysiriwardene, Dr. A.R. Mohamed, Dr. R. Sundararajah and Dr. P.N. Paliakkara.

Having left home in Colombo around 6.00 a.m. with my husband Lalith, I wondered whether he would be bored with a batch two years junior to him and from a different university. However, he enjoyed the company of his schoolmates who had accompanied their spouses for the get-together.

As we entered the Peradeniya University about 8.30 a.m., there were several police personnel at the entrance to the Medical Faculty and I wondered whether the university students were up to any mischief again. It was not so as the security personnel were awaiting our batchmate, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. Rajitha was my "Bodymate" as we dissected the same cadaver in the anatomy dissecting room.

At the new pre clinical block we were given souvenirs and caps with the "1970 Batch Reunion" printed on it. Breakfast was served and we enjoyed kiribath and kevum.

There were batchmates from all over the country and some from abroad - batchmates - married, divorced, remarried and widowed were present.

They were from all walks of life - Deans and ex-deans of medical and dental faculties, professors and lecturers, consultants in radiology, obstetrics, forensic medicine and psychiatry, nutritionists, university medical officers, company medical officers, directors and a Cabinet Minister with his secretary. Saraswathy Thamodarampillai, one of our lively batchmates who is no more was sadly missed.

After exchanging pleasantries we gathered in the old Physiology lecture theatre. Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekera, the chief organiser who organised a slide show recounted our student days. There were photographs of important places in the campus such as Lovers Lane, Kiss Bend, Open Air Theatre, Arts Theatre, Senate Building and the Alwis Pond which revived happy memories of university life.

e-mails sent by a few batchmates living abroad who could not participate were read out.

Our teachers, Professors Jayatillake, Bandaranayake, Tommy and Timmy Wickramanayake, Valentine Basnayake, Jansz and P.A.J. Perera were remembered with respect and gratitude.

Prof. Jayantha Jayawardene, another batchmate said that we met at our friends' weddings and thereafter at our children's weddings. Bala Canagasabey was to take a bagful of caps and souvenirs to England to be distributed among our batchmates living there.

A batch photograph was taken followed by lunch. Later, a tour in the faculty bus was arranged to see the campus. The dinner dance and barbecue went on till late and the following day was a trip to Nuwara Eliya.

It was a memorable get-together.

The Peradeniya Medical, Dental and Veterinary Faculty will celebrate its 50th anniversary on a grand scale next year.

The writer is the Company Medical Officer attached to the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (Lake House).