Dr Nisal T. Kurukulasuriya (Bunty):

An icon in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

I was dumbfounded when I saw the obituary notice on the internet of my friend and acclaimed Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Nisal T. Kurukulasuriya (Bunty) on January 13, 2016. According to the obituary, Bunty had passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren on December 21, 2015 and had been cremated on the following day according to his wishes.

My association with the renowned Bunty commenced in the early 1960s, over 56 years ago, having grown up in the same neighbourhood in Mount Lavinia and been of similar age. Until the time of his untimely demise we remained close friends. We were instilled with the noble Buddhist precepts from an early age at the Daham Pasala of Mallikaramaya Temple under the tutelage of the Ven Weligama Gnaratna Anunayake Thera.

He was a product of Royal College where he had an illustrious academic career coupled with a passion for cricket, having represented the College Cricket Eleven in 1964 with distinction and awarded Colours. He was an all-rounder, a left arm ‘chinaman’ exponent and a left hand batsman who pulverized the Trinity College attack in Asgiriya prior to the traditional Royal -Thomian encounter, scoring a record swashbuckling double century.

He was a gifted cricketer who had an equal flair for any other sport like swimming, tennis, badminton and table tennis. Playing cricket for Royal College First Eleven did not deter his academic career as he was one of the best students at Royal. Having excelled in the GCE A/L in the Bio stream, he entered Medical College on his first attempt.

Bunty was the son of Charles and Alice Kurukulasuriya. He was the youngest in a family of five.His father was an Assistant Superintendent of Mails at the Postal Department. In 1971, he married Dayaneetha, the younger daughter of former Chief Justice G.P.A. Silva and Mrs. Soma Silva.

In his inimitable approach, he breezed through Medical College and was recognised as one of the best students in his batch. A few years after completing Medical College, he proceeded to the UK.

Apart from his work with patients in the wards, there was a huge demand for him in the private sector. He cared for patients in his private practice largely at St. Michael’s and McCarthy hospitals. He treated his patients equally irrespective of their status, creed or religion. The attention and time each patient received during his ward rounds depended exclusively on the severity of the illness or how puzzling the clinical dilemma was. He had a remarkable aptitude of just looking at a patient and making a spot-on diagnosis.

Bunty refused consultation fees from friends and told us not to waste time outside his consultation room but just show our faces so that he could call us in. Similarly, he did so many operations sans his fees for many of his friends. I experienced this in 1994, when he performed a hysterectomy on my wife and did not charge me although I was covered by an insurance scheme. We are indebted to him.

Perhaps of greater significance than all his professional achievements was his unwavering devotion and dedication to his wife, children and grandchildren. His daughter continued to live with him after marriage and named her son Nisal as a tribute to her father.

A unique quality in Bunty from his formative years was his low profile, simplicity, unassuming mannerism, his commitment and compassion and the immense love for humanity.

He never accepted invitations to be Chief Guests or as attesting witnesses for weddings. I invited him to be an attesting witness to my daughter’s marriage but he refused the offer and told me that he preferred to maintain a low profile at these functions.

Bunty retired from medical practice in 2010 to enjoy even more time with his family. He continued to read widely across many disciplines, including the Dhamma where his knowledge was extensive.

His family members, friends and patients will always remember with love and profound gratitude his deep commitment to his chosen calling, unparalled skill and above all his generous and compassionate nature.

All those who hear about his untimely passing away would no doubt be grieved as there might never be another individual of the calibre of Bunty.

“The flower blossoms and fades. The sun rises and descends,.

But the memories, dignified and gracious deeds and accomplishments of Bunty would linger on, never to die away.”

Bunty’s passing away has left his ever loving wife Dayaneetha, sons Nuwan and Channa daughter Shalini and their spouses Ayesha, Erandi and Nikita and the grand- children devastated.

It is my hope that his journey through Sansara would be short until he attains the supreme bliss of Nirvana.

Sunil Thenabadu,
Queensland

via e-mail