It is with profound sadness that I pen these lines in memory of Dr. Asoka Weerasekera who passed away at the age of 72, after being struck down by a terminal illness. He was married to my cousin.
Asoka was the chief ENT specialist at Asiri Hospitals. He had worked in Kurunegala earlier. He was not money-minded, and very often waived fees for the poor and his kith and kin. A mild-mannered person, he had a good sense of humour and a vast store of knowledge.
He had devised a gadget for people who could not talk normally after undergoing neck surgery. Using this gadget, their voices would become clear. Unfortunately, this device has not been adopted in this country.
A few years ago, the doctor and his family joined us on a pilgrimage to Dambadiva. His luggage was full of medicines, which came in handy for all of us who were on that tour, including the travel agents. He was like a brother to us.
He leaves his wife Prema, son Asantha, daughter-in-law Melissa, daughter Himali and two grandsons.
Ranjini Chandraratne |
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