News Letter June 2011 - University of Peradeniya

Volume 2 Issue - 2 June 2011
PeMSAA
NEWS LETTER
Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association
The Official Publication of PeMSAA
P.O BOX 12, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Tel : +94-81-2396564. E-mail : pemsaa.temp@gmail.com Website: www.pemsaa.org
th
11 PeMSAA International Medical Congress
Organized by the Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association
“Celebrating 50 years of Medical Education”
5th - 6th January 2012
Inauguration Ceremony
5th January 2012
Evening
Physiology Lecture Theatre
Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to
welcome all PeMSAA members to be part of this
important event. This year's congress promises to be
grand as it coincides with the Golden Jubilee
Celebrations of the Peradeniya Medical Faculty.
While the academic programme will help to update
knowledge, the congress will be an opportunity for all
PeMSAA members to gather and reminisce about the past and savour
happy memories. It would be a reunion of friends and a walk down
memory lane.
Thus please keep the dates free and be sure you are there.
The details of the programme will be notified in due course.
Prof. Chandra Abeysekera
Scientific Programme
6th January 2012
Oak Ray Regency, Getambe
followed by
Gala Dinner
at
Mahaweli Reach Hotel, Katugastota
Message from the Chairperson
th
11 PeMSAA International Medical Congress
Congress Chairperson
Prof. Chandra Abeysekera
Tel: 0777 842474
e-mail: chandrakum@hotmail.com
Congress Secretary
Dr. Heshan Jayaweera
Tel: 0777 258728
e-mail: heshanjay@gmail.com
PeMSAA President
Prof. Neelakanthi Ratnatunga
PeMSAA Vice Presidents
Dr. Dushantha Medagedara
Dr. S.M.M. Niyas
PeMSAA Secretaries
Dr. Vasanthi Pinto
Dr. Palitha Rathnayake
Dr. Sisira Dharmaratne
PeMSAA Treasurers
Dr. Sujatha Wattegama
Dr. Jayampathi Dissanayake
Social Secretaries
Dr. Sandya Bandara
Dr. Saumya Jayabahu
Dr. Saubhagya Gunathilake
Dr. Vindyani Ekanayake
Dr. Champa Ratnatunga
Academic Committee and
Editorial Board
Prof. Neelakanthi Ratnatunga
Prof. Asiri Abeyagunawardena
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga
Dr. Asela Ratnayake
Dr. Indika Gawarammana
Dr. Kapila Gunawardene
Committee Members
Dr. R.M. Mudiyanse
Dr. Nilanthi Ekanayake
Dr. Thilak Jayalath
Dr. Nilanthi Athauda
Dr. Devani Dissanayake
Dr. Dhammika Yatigammana
Dr. Sisira Bandara Etulgama
Dr. Saminda Dharmaratne
Dr. Pabasari Ginige
Dr. Gamini Buthpitiya
PeMSAA
NEWS LETTER

Batch mate doctors meet
after 40 years
Seated from left: Dr. Ajith Ranasinghe, Dr. Ranjith Jasinghe, Dr. Collin Fernandopulle, Dr. Damayanthi
Abeyratne, Dr. Sujatha Wattegama, Prof. Jayantha Jayawardene, Prof. Malkanthi Chandrasekera, Minister of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senarathe, Dr. Swarna Herath, Dr. Nimal Pathiraja,
Dr. M.H. Perera, Dr. A. Bala Canagasabey, Dr. Vinodini Wijeratne and Dr. Senarath Colombage. (Middle row):
Dr. Pushpa Mallikaarachchi, Prof. Pushpa Jayawardena, Dr. Pubudu Mediwaka, Dr. Chandrani Piyasena, Dr.
Nimala Gunarathna, Dr. Kalyani Dikwella, Dr. Srimathie Jayarathna, Dr. Tamara Kariyawasam, Dr. Ranjanie
Wijekoon, Dr. Jinaranjanie Wijesiri, Dr. Susima Kodituwakku, Dr. Rohini Kularatne, Dr. Indira Attanayake and
Dr. Shantha Ranaweera. (Last row): Prof. K. Sivapalan, Dr. K.H.G. Premasiri, Dr.D.P.C. Subasinghe, Dr.
Rohana Adikari, Dr. Tissa Wijeratne, Dr. M.Z. Badurdeen, Dr. Wasantha Kumar Fernando, Dr. Ranjith
Abeysiriwardene, Dr. A.R. Mohamed, Dr. R. Sundararajah and Dr. P.N. Paliakkara.
The first reunion for the Medical, Dental and Veterinary Batch that entered the University of
Peradeniya Medical Faculty in 1970 was held on 16th February 2011 at the Faculty of Medicine,
Peradeniya after 40 years. Malkanthi, Sujatha, Collin and Damayanthi worked tirelessly to make this
event a success.
All batch mates were given souvenirs and caps with the 1970 Batch Reunion printed on it on entering
the Faculty premises. We exchanged pleasantries and socialized with batch mates that comprised an
eminent and widely representative gathering from all over the country and some from abroad including
Deans, Ex Deans, Professors, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, and Consultants from different fields of
expertise, University Medical Officers, Company Medical Officers and a Cabinet Minister. Breakfast
was followed by a slide presentation on the popular places in campus by Prof. Malkanthi
Chandrasekera. We were happy to see these sites of interest that still appealed to us after many
years. The teachers who had taught us in the past were remembered with great respect for the service
they had rendered. A batch photograph was taken and the faculty bus was arranged for a sight seeing
tour of campus. We had a grand dinner and a barbeque in the evening with a fun filled trip to Nuwara
Eliya the next day.
This was indeed a memorable get together.
Pushpa Mallikarachchi
PeMSAA
NEWS LETTER
PAGE
2

Revision Course for
Final Year Medical Students Organized by PeMSAA
PeMSAA
NEWS LETTER
PAGE
3
The eminent panel of Consultants listed below contributed much of their time to make the above
programme successful and beneficial to medical students. The lectures delivered were greatly
appreciated by the students and the PeMSAA Council.
Prof. C. Ratnatunga, Consultant Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Kalinga Nanayakkara, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. S.M.M. Niyaz, Consultant Surgeon, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. D. Medagedara, Consultant Chest Physician, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. K. Galketiya, Senior Lecturer, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya
Dr. Vasanthi Pinto, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Peardeniya
Dr. Thanuja Herath, Consultant Paediatrician & Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Dental Sciences
Dr. Thilak Jayalath, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya
Dr. R.J.K. Seneviratna, Consultant Surgeon, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. S. Ethulgama, Consultant ENT Surgeon, SBSCH, Peardeniya
Dr. S. Hemapriya, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. Sunanada Udagedara, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Teaching Hospital, Kandy
Dr. Heshan Jayaweera, Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Kamal Nazar, Consultant Physician, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya
The setting: Introductory appointment in Medicine – History taking. The history of a 54 year old man with
abdominal pain was related by the student. We the fellow students thought our colleague had done a very
good job. The consultant however was not happy with the history taken by the student. So he
demonstrates.
Memorable Lessons
Unforgettable Teaching Techniques (69-74 Batch)
Cons : Where do you live?
Patient : Hambantotin eha hamuduruwane. (From beyond Hambantota my revered Sir.)
Cons : Ethakota Matara ispiritale pahukarala? (Then bypassing Matara Hospital?)
Patient : Ehey hamuduruwane. (Yes, my revered Sir.)
Cons : Ethakota Galla ispiritaleth pahukarala? (Then bypassing Galle Hospital?)
Patient : Ehey hamuduruwane. (Yes, my revered Sir.)
Cons : Ethakota Colomba ispiritaleth pahukarala? (Then bypassing Colombo Hospital?)
Patient : Ehey hamuduruwane. (Yes, my revered Sir.)
Cons : Ho ho ho … Mechchara dura awe makkatada? (Why all this distance then?)
Patient : Mage deyyagen beheth bothalayak ganna kiyala ne hamuduruwane..
(Why revered Sir to get a bottle of medicine from my worship.)
He looks at the students triumphantly. “There you are” he says and moves over to the next patient.
Prof : Ananda SB Wijekoon.

PeMSAA Studentship
The Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya
admits a little over 200 students annually. The
majority are from middle income families. Although
education is free, the students have many expenses
regarding books, stationery, healthy food, boarding
fees and clothing.
As the chairperson of the faculty scholarships
committee, I interview students who apply for
studentship and I am deeply aware of the immense
financial need of these students. In most cases, the
parents are unemployed, disabled, dead or do not
generate adequate income. Their financial situations
are unbelievably pathetic.
We in the PeMSAA have decided to start a sustainable
studentship scheme to the faculty in its Jubilee year in
January 2012.
This would be a great achievement and tremendous
boost for the prestige of the faculty.
In this way we would be honouring the constitution of
PeMSAA.
Please do contribute to this endeavour. If you are
planning batch get-togethers or other functions in
your alumni associations, please do combine it with a
fund raiser and contribute to our effort.
Cheques and bank drafts should be made out to:
PEMSAA STUDENTSHIP.
Account 71258806
((The Bank details are as follows.)
PeMSAA
NEWS LETTER
Name of account : PEMSAA STUDENTSHIP
Bank : Bank of Ceylon – Peradeniya Branch
( Peradeniya 588)
SWIFT CODE: BCEY LK LK 588
Savings Account No : 71258806
Address of the Bank :
P O Box 12, Peradeniya 20400
The recipients of the studentship will be selected on a
merit and need basis, via a predetermined marking
scheme.
The fund has been started with Rs. 200,000/=. We
need to generate funds up to about Rs. three million,
to accrue sufficient interest after investing, to be able
to offer a decent studentship.
We plan to hand over the studentship formally to the
Dean Medicine, at the inauguration of our
International Medical Congress, on 5th January 2012.
Please join us in this endeavour.
For more details please visit our website,
www.pemsaa.org or the alumni faculty website via the
University Peradeniya website.
I will be happy to e mail the detailed document on
request.
Neelakanthi Ratnatunga. President PeMSAA
(neela72002@yahoo.com)
PAGE
4
PeMSAA Website
www.pemsaa.org
Editor in Chief
Prof. Chandra Abeysekera
Co-editor
Dr. Asela J. B. Ratnayake
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