APPRECIATIONS
View(s):We carry with us the imprint of her methods, standards and insistence on excellence
DR. PREMINI AMERASINGHE
I write with deep sorrow and profound gratitude to honour the life of Dr. Premini Amerasinghe, a distinguished Consultant Radiologist and former Head of the Radiology Department at Kandy General Hospital.
Dr. Premini belonged to a generation of clinicians who built their specialties through sheer clinical acumen, dedication, and intellectual discipline. At a time – nearly four to five decades ago – when advanced imaging modalities such as CT and MRI were not available in our setting, she practised radiology with remarkable precision and insight.
Her diagnostic interpretations were guided not merely by films and shadows, but by a deep understanding of clinical medicine. She taught us that radiology was not an isolated specialty, but a vital extension of bedside clinical assessment.
As final-year medical students privileged to learn under her guidance, we witnessed her exceptional teaching skills.
Her lectures were clear, structured, and intellectually stimulating. She did not simply show us images; she taught us how to think. She emphasized correlating radiological findings with clinical signs and symptoms, cultivating in us a disciplined approach that has influenced our professional lives ever since. Many of us who later qualified as consultants carry within us the imprint of her methods, her standards, and her insistence on excellence.
Beyond her professional stature, Dr. Premini was gracious, approachable and maternal in her interactions.
She combined firmness with kindness. To her students, she was not only a teacher but a mentor and a guiding presence.
Her encouragement built confidence; her corrections built competence.
She shared her life with her husband, Late Dr. Mark Amerasinghe a respected Orthopaedic Surgeon in Kandy General Hospital and together they represented a remarkable era of medical leadership and scholarship. Their contributions to medicine and to the training of generations of doctors remain deeply valued.
After their retirement, many of us lost regular contact as we moved forward in our own careers. It was therefore both a privilege and a poignant full circle of life when, years later, Dr. Premini came under my care as a patient. I had the honour of treating her over a considerable period. Even in illness, she remained dignified, composed, and intellectually engaged. The transition from student to physician caring for one’s own teacher is a humbling experience – one that reflects the continuity of medical tradition she herself helped to sustain.
Her passing at the age of 92 following an unexpected diagnosis marks the end of a remarkable chapter in our professional community. Yet her legacy endures – in the countless patients she served, in the departments she strengthened, and in the many doctors she trained and inspired.
We remember her not only as a Consultant Radiologist of exceptional calibre, but as a mentor, a motherly figure, and a true professional whose life exemplified dedication, knowledge, humility, and service.
May her memory remain a blessing and an enduring inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her.
- Dr. Stanley Amarasekera (Consultant Cardiologist)
A visionary scientist and leader
PROF. TISSA VITHARANA
(Eulogy delivered at the funeral on February 16)
It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you, representing the Medical Research Institute of Sri Lanka, to pay tribute to Professor Tissa Vitharana – a visionary leader, pioneering scientist, and true patriot whose legacy will forever illuminate the paths of medicine, research, and public service in our nation.
As we bid farewell to this extraordinary man, who left us on February 13, 2026, at the age of 91, let us not dwell solely in sorrow, but celebrate the profound impact he made, inspiring us all to reach for new frontiers in pursuit of knowledge and humanity.
Born on August 30, 1934, in the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, Upali Tissa Vitharana was destined for greatness from his early days. The son of an engineer father, Peiris Vitharana, and Maggie Perera, niece of a renowned doctor, he grew up in an environment that nurtured curiosity and intellect.
Educated at Trinity College Kandy, he pursued medicine with unwavering passion, earning his MBBS from the University of Ceylon in 1959. His thirst for knowledge took him abroad, where he obtained a Diploma in Bacteriology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1968, and a PhD in Virology from the University of London in 1971. These foundations in bacteriology and virology would become the bedrock of his illustrious career.
Professor Vitharana’s journey in medicine was nothing short of transformative, particularly for the Medical Research Institute, our beloved MRI. Joining us in 1972 as Head of the Virology Department, a role he held until 1994, he brought a global perspective honed from his time as a consultant virologist at Edinburgh City Hospital and as Deputy Director of the Victoria Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory in Melbourne. But it was as Director of the MRI from 1983 to 1994 that he truly revolutionized our institution. Under his leadership, guided by the visionary theme ‘Towards New Frontiers in Medical Research’, he spearheaded the establishment of an ultra- modern laboratory complex, equipping us with cutting-edge tools to combat infectious diseases.
His foresight was instrumental in creating specialized virological services that have saved countless lives, from diagnosing viral outbreaks to advancing vaccine research. Colleagues remember him as an honest administrator, a professional virologist of the highest calibre, and a great human being who led with integrity and empathy.
The Molecular Biology section at the Medical Research Institute stands today as a lasting testament to his foresight and determination. It was truly his brainchild. At a time when molecular diagnostics was still emerging in our country, Professor Vitarana had the vision to recognize its critical importance for the future of healthcare in Sri Lanka.
During his tenure as Director of the MRI, he seized the opportunity presented by the JICA-MRI collaborative project. Under his leadership, leading international experts were brought to Sri Lanka to conduct workshops on dengue molecular diagnostics, strengthening local expertise and empowering our scientific community. He did not merely wish to maintain an institution – he sought to transform it.
Professor Vitharana believed deeply that research must be the foundation of better diagnostics. He envisioned moving the MRI beyond routine laboratory services into a centre of excellence in medical research. The seeds he planted with such dedication and conviction have since grown, reshaping the role of the MRI both locally and globally.
During critical national challenges, including the Bird Flu outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic, the molecular diagnostics capacity he nurtured played a pivotal role in disease detection and epidemic control. Today, with advanced sequencing technologies in use, the MRI stands on par with global standards – a powerful reflection of his enduring vision.
At MRI, he didn’t just build infrastructure; he built a culture of innovation, mentoring young researchers and fostering collaborations that elevated Sri Lanka’s standing in global medical science. Even after retiring in 1994, he continued as Professor of Microbiology at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura until 2000, and as an adviser to the Minister of Science and Technology, ensuring his expertise shaped national policy.
His contributions were not limited to science alone. Through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to national health, he inspired generations of professionals to aim higher and serve with integrity.
What made Professor Vitharana truly inspirational was his humanity. Married to Kamini Meedeniya, with whom he shared a son, Ranil, he balanced a demanding career with family life, embodying the values of compassion and resilience. Those who worked with him at MRI recall his approachable demeanour, his ability to inspire teams during challenging times, like viral epidemics, and his unwavering belief that science should serve the people. He was a statesman- scientist who changed Sri Lanka’s innovation journey, proving that one person can ignite a nation’s potential.
In an era of uncertainty, Professor Vitharana teaches us to pursue knowledge relentlessly, to bridge divides with dialogue, and to lead with integrity. To the young researchers at MRI and beyond: Carry forward his torch- innovate boldly, serve selflessly, and remember that true progress comes from compassion as much as intellect. His passing leaves a void, but his spirit endures in every breakthrough we achieve, every life we save.
Professor, thank you for your guidance, your wisdom, and your unwavering commitment to Sri Lanka. May you rest in eternal peace.
As we bid farewell, we remember not only his achievements but also the legacy he leaves behind – a legacy of vision, courage, and service to the nation.
- Dr. Sujath C. Wijesinghe
(Senior Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and founder, Quality Management Unit, MRI)
He guided many students to greater heights
C.E.P. KUMARASINGHE
It is with a deep sense of grief and gratitude that I write these few lines on behalf of my sisters and brothers, on my father Charles Edmund Primus Kumarasinghe. He was born on February 23, 1896 to a very respectable family in Boosa, Galle. My grandfather was Henry Julius Kumarasinghe, a well known landed proprietor and owner of the Boosa racecourse. My grandmother was Cicilia. My father had four brothers and two sisters who studied at Richmond, Galle and at Ladies’ College, Colombo.
My father was an excellent student at Richmond and Richmond Principal W.J.T. Small appointed him Head Prefect. Some of his schoolmates at Richmond were C.W.W. Kannanganra, P. de. S. Kularatne, L.H. Mettananda, T.U. De Silva, the Dahanayake brothers among others, who became national leaders and heads of schools.
After successfully passing his London Matriculation exam, my father was compelled to give up his studies as his father passed away and he had to shoulder his responsibilities towards the family.
At the age of 18, he entered the teaching profession at Trinity College Kandy and taught Latin, French, English and Mathematics. After a year at Trinity he joined Ananda College in May 1914. Fritz Kunz was Principal at the time and assigned him to the middle school.
At the time Ananda had several distinguished teachers. In 1918, P. de S. Kularatne became Principal and my father was appointed Ananda’s first ever Prefect of Games and served in this post till 1925.
When Nalanda College was started, six teachers including my father were released from Ananda to the new school. G.P. Malalasekera was appointed Principal and my father served there till 1945 and retired in 1945 due to ill health. He was then Vice Principal.
Thereafter he started a new chapter as a private tutor at Dematagoda. Thousands of students passed through his hands, many going on to hold high posts, including several bhikkhus.
K.D. De Lanerolle in an article titled ‘Tribute to a revered guru’ for my father’s 90th birthday wrote: “Kumarasinghe was only a beardless youth of 18 when he was obliged to enter a profession and teaching was his choice.” Sextus de Alwis, another pupil of my father’s wrote “When Mr. Kumarasinghe retired from Nalanda, he came to Dematagoda and started private classes. I stayed very close to Mr. Kumarasinghe’s house. Even at that time, he was dressed in the same style as when he was a young teacher at Nalanda. His figure in spite of his age, was still erect. His speech was precise. He spoke every word with the correct English accent.”
My faher had a happy married life with my mother Emaline who cared devotedly for him. He passed away peacefully on June 11, 1988 at the age of 93.
Meghavarna Kumarasinghe
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