Appreciations
View(s):Academic who thought out of the box
The demise of this most gracious lady left most of us in Kandy, more specifically, the Faculty of Medicine at Peradeniya, with a singular sense of loss. She not only was an academic par excellence, but imbibed as she was of eastern culture, gave the medical school values that many generations of doctors, from this institute fondly remember and treasure.
Our paths crossed in 1963 -me, a medical student and she, a junior lecturer in Anatomy of a fledgling faculty, seeking a brand name. Her husband, Professor Tommy Wikramanayake had come earlier in 1962 as a founder member of the Department of Medical Biochemistry. The two, in time, were to commit of their time and energy to uplift the basic science departments of the faculty they had come to love to heights they have now come to hold, being some of the best in the country.
A distinguished product of Girls’ High School, Kandy, a Miss Jayasekera from close to Peradeniya, she was a scion of a professional family, with a brother who also taught us and several reputed doctors among her immediate family members.
In 1968 she trained in Edinburgh in genetics for her PhD and on her return she was helped by Prof. Senake Bibile, the Dean at the time to research into the genetics of our Veddha population. The trips into the interior, with medical students must have been both educative and enjoyable.
Under the strong tutelage of Professors Lester Jayawardene and ‘Jacko’ Jayatilleke, both giants in the field of human anatomy, she blossomed to become both an anatomist and an administrator. The Anatomy Department where a motley set of schoolboys and schoolgirls, entered with each annual intake, was always trusted by the clinical teachers, to convert them to be a disciplined group, worthy of being taught as nascent doctors.
Accustomed to think outside the box, she arranged a morning meditation class on mindfulness to all who wished to join. These were very popular and perhaps gave a boost to the cognitive standards of the students. She would insist the girl medicos be properly dressed. Saree or dress, not trousers and t’shirts, was what ‘word of mouth’ had it, and was duly fulfilled by one and all out of sheer respect.
With the inauguration of the Faculty of Medicine in Galle in 1978, Prof Tommy Wikramanayake who was a member of an illustrious Southern clan, left to become its Founder Dean. As our luck would have it, Eugene stayed on, bearing the trials and tribulations of that period.
Accorded many an honour, she was the President of the Kandy Society of Medicine (KSM), and was bestowed the Honorary Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka for her comprehensive help as an examiner with the Primary Fellowship exam of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the local Master of Surgery exam.
Even in retirement, she would trek, sometimes by public transport, for most Faculty events and those of the KSM. During Scientific Sessions, she would slip into the audience and ask penetrative questions on whatever the subject that was being discussed, often needing a global understanding by the presenter, to give an intelligible answer. Such was her prowess, many a presenter would literally ‘quake in his/her boots’ when they spied her coming.
On a personal note, she came to regularly to cheer me up when my paralysed limbs were being coaxed by physios in Colombo General, after a major stroke some years ago. Apparently, this was in her nature. Deeply aware of the Buddha’s preachings, her life personified the essence of the philosophy.
Her husband predeceased her. She leaves behind children all doing well. May her Sansara be light and short.
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga
You were unique
PROF. EUGENE WIKRAMANAYAKE
It is 10 a.m. The telephone rings. It has to be my friend Eugene, who has told me to expect a call from her at 10. Her voice is enthusiastic as she tells me that I must watch the 9-10 a.m. programme on Rupavahini; she keeps me informed of the lectures online.
She is looking forward to attending the SLAAS sessions in January. I tell her that it is safer to follow the lecture online, if possible. “But I have to ask questions,” she responds…..This conversation took place a day before her sudden demise.
Eugene carried away all the prizes at Girls’ High School Kandy. She was the first female student to enter the Medical Faculty from the Central Province. We both entered the Colombo University in 1952. A pre-med year was compulsory then. She had a phenomenal memory and was consistently a high achiever.
She married Tommy Wikramanayake immediately after qualifying. Eugene was a hosteller, together with about 75% of our batch. Tommy was the warden of her hostel in de Saram Place. Her companions were unaware of the blossoming romance until just before the wedding! They were well suited to each other as both shared a wide range of interests.
The greater part of their professional lives was spent in the Peradeniya Campus. Tommy as Professor of Biochemistry, and Eugene as Professor of Anatomy. They were affectionately referred to as Tommy and Timmy by the student community. Eugene specialized in genetics and was one of the vanishing breeds of true academics, with many published papers to her credit both internationally and locally. Her last research was on the Dambana Veddhas.
Eugene had a voracious appetite for knowledge. This led her to many lecture halls. The topics were not necessarily medical. Around four years ago, she fractured her neck of femur while attending the SLMA sessions in Anuradhapura. This limited her locomotion to some extent, and prevented her from using her favourite mode of transport, the public bus! She would tell my daughters, that one should travel by bus as you get a much better view than when in a car.
Overriding her qualities of ‘head’ were her qualities of the ‘heart’. She would always greet us with a bear hug, which included my maid as well, and invariably bring something interesting- a book of Russian poetry, one of her published papers, a slab of chocolate (especially when my husband Mark was alive as she knew he loved chocolates), and on one occasion a brightly patterned chintz which she had purchased long ago at Carwallios (the shop is no longer in existence). This now adorns our sofa – a permanent reminder of Eugene.
After my husband’s death over five years back, she took me and my daughters under her wing, and would frequently call us – almost every other day- to check on our wellbeing. On hearing of my great granddaughter’s birth she resolved to present the baby’s mother Tommy’s comprehensive volume on nutrition, so that the baby would be fed the correct diet.
Eugene, you were unique. I shall miss you.
Dr. Premini Amerasinghe
The epitome of simplicity, she had a heart of gold
Devapriya Somaratne
It is hard to believe that three years have passed since my dear sister Peace Emilda Devapriya Somaratne nee Karunaratne left us to be with her Saviour Jesus. Akka was born in April 1943—the second in a family of five—to Edwin and Emily Karunaratne, both teachers.
Akka’s first name ‘Peace’ truly described her, as she was a peacemaker. She had the God-given ability to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings with compassion, patience and empathy. ‘Devapriya’, the name she was better known by, was also appropriate as she passionately loved her God. Her family name ‘Karunaratne’ too described the essence of her being, as she was a gem of kindness.
Akka made an indelible impact on her students at Methodist College where she taught History, Sinhala and Economics in the O/Level and A/Level classes from 1969 to 1982. Her students from many walks of life testify to the influence she had on their lives, teaching them not just academics, but moulding their character and inculcating high moral and Christian values in them.
Akka had many talents. She was a gifted speaker who could express herself with clarity without ponderous words—a gift she used in the classroom and as a lay preacher.
Her dramatic skills were evident in the two successful stylized Sinhala dramas ‘Chora Pabbathaya’ and ‘Sakkaya Ditthi’ produced and directed by her—a unique achievement for Methodist College.
Akka left her promising career at Methodist College in 1982 when she joined a team to edit a new Sinhala translation of the Bible initiated by the Ceylon Bible Society. She felt this was God’s calling for her, and that a fulltime commitment was necessary to meet the challenge. She was also responsible for editing a Sinhala Study Bible which had hitherto not existed.
She used her skills in researching, editing, and proofreading the many books that have enriched Christian literature in the past two decades, authored by her husband G.P.V. Somaratne, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Ceylon, Colombo. She was indeed the ‘wind beneath his wings’.
Akka was the epitome of simplicity and avoided wearing jewellery other than a simple pair of ear studs. Yet she did not impose her will on others. I remember how she gifted me a pair of beautiful silver filigree drop earrings, using her pocket money, when she was an undergraduate at Peradeniya.
She had the ability to sense the sadness or need of people—be they family, friends or acquaintances, seeing beyond the brave smiles they presented to the outside world. She would spontaneously reach out to console, comfort and provide. All this she did silently, without any fanfare. There were several less affluent students at Methodist College who she helped by paying their school fees over the years. She regularly provided dry rations to families struggling to meet their day-to-day needs. Nobody who visited her home at Anderson Road, Dehiwala, went away empty handed. They were given produce from her spacious garden – avocadoes, guava, bread fruit, thambili or vegetables.
Akka also had the unique ability to comfort those in grieving. I have seen her sit on the floor beside a person torn apart with grief, listen to her story, hold her and cry with her, giving the wordless and tender gift of her presence rather than uttering empty, inadequate platitudes. Though gentle and soft spoken, Akka was no pushover. She would confront and speak against injustice with the ferociousness of a lioness defending her young. I have personally had the experience of my sister taking swift and effective action against a person who had exploited me financially and emotionally, and achieving justice.
Akka has a son Dasharatha—a chaplain in the US Army—and daughter Prarthana Devi—a primary school teacher, both residing in the US. These two well-balanced, outstanding young people are a witness to her good parenting. She has eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Akka’s call to glory just four days before Christmas affected our family celebrations for all time. We feel her absence more keenly at family gatherings—missing her smiling face, her childlike delight and enthusiastic participation in everything. We find comfort in the treasured memories of past Christmases when her presence made our joy complete.
Your departure has left an aching void in our lives dearest Akka. We will hold you in our hearts till we meet again one glorious day, beyond the sunset.
Dr. Suriyakanthie Amarasekera
Fond memories of this bosom pal and gentleman
Bandula Weeraman
It has been a month since Bandula Weeraman, fellow Richmondite and inspirational figure to all who were fortunate enough to be his friends and associates ‘crossed the Great Divide.’
Fondly known as “Weere” amongst his vast circle of friends, Bandula was also an exemplary father and husband, who was devoted to his two loving children and wife Nirmali.
He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word, reserved in manner and speech, modest but cultured in his style of living (as all great men are), and above all, possessed with a heart of gold!
Polwatte Kithsiri Bandula Earl Weeraman, born in 1947 in Galle to Titus and Prema Weeraman of Weliwatta was the fourth of a family of five children. He had his primary education at St. Aloysius College, Galle and entered Richmond in 1963. After leaving Richmond, he joined the Trincomalee Branch of the Paddy Marketing Board and served at various locations in the country.
He met the love of his life Nirmali in 1982 and married a few years later. The loving couple was blessed with a son and a daughter and later, two adorable grandchildren who were chips off the grand old block. Even now, my memory goes back to his grand wedding at Galle Face Hotel. Being an ardent music lover, he had seen to it that the proceedings were livened up with good music by Sam the Man, Annesley Malewana and a calypso group.
Many many, were the excursions and parties he organized, being a real entertainer, singing catchy group songs of the 60’s and 70s. Even though his elder brother was a pioneer organizer of musical shows in Galle bringing popular artistes like the Spitfires and Jetliners with Mignonne, Moonstones, Indrani and Clarence, our friend the younger brother happened to be the live wire of the organizing committee.
Weere’s father, Titus Weeraman was the Post Master of Galle Bazaar for decades and a prominent citizen of the locality. He was a motor car enthusiast who maintained a succession of Morris-Minors. Being keen on automobiles himself in his young days, Weere had helped his father in keeping the cars in immaculate condition. He continued in his passion when he also started owning motorbikes and cars himself. I particularly remember the brand new, left hand driven DX Wagon he used, in the good old days when owning a Japanese car happened to be a dream in Sri Lanka. I believe that was the only car I have observed without any scratch or dent at the front passenger seat side which proves what a skilful driver he was!
The last time I had the pleasure and good fortune to chat with this wonderful man was three weeks before he passed away when he came to pay his last respects to my mother-in-law at the funeral.
Fond memories of this bosom pal and gentleman par-excellence will always remain in the hearts of many.
Adios Weere, this is not goodbye my friend. We will see you on the other side.
Bandula Wickramathilake