Then and now: Waiting for a doctor who never came

I was in Sri Lanka recently for a brief visit and decided to consult a surgeon at the Asiri Surgical Hospital.
I was most impressed at the e-channelling process where my friend’s phone bill was debited in advance at the speed of light for the consultation fees.

With this smooth process in motion, I also expected the type of prompt attentiveness that I was used to as a young man from the likes of the late Dr. Thanbalasundram of Horton Place.

With great expectations I went to hospital on October 29. My appointment was at 4 p.m. and the appointment number was 2. I waited till 5.50 p.m. and the doctor hadn’t even made an appearance. When I checked with the reception, I was told the “doctor” was not picking up his mobile phone.

I didn’t receive an explanation, an apology or a refund. Next to me was an old lady whose three wheeler was clicking up charges at an alarming rate. Having given her some money for the three wheeler, I left muttering language I had learned from the gram seller outside my school in my youth, for which I apologised to the staff at Asiri.

I am now contemplating legal avenues to claim my loss and expense and when I go to court on this matter I presume I will find the “Colvins” and “Buntys” are there no more.

Arumadura Harith Kulasinghe, Via e-mail