Appreciation, Sirima Subasinghe nee Jayasinghe, by Nihal Amerasekera

Nihal Amerasekera <douglasamera@gmail.com>

Apr 4, 2019, 9:57 PM (6 hours ago)

to me

Hi Philip

I would be most grateful if you could publish the following tribute to Srima Jayasinghe.

A Tribute to Srima Subesinghe nee Jayasinghe by Nihal D Amerasekera

I remember as if it were yesterday my first day as an intern at the General Hospital Kurunegala. I walked in to the Common Room with a group of interns with excitement and apprehension etched on our faces. The room had a few chairs and a multitude of notices pinned to a Notice Board that had seen better days. Srima greeted us with a broad smile. She was in-charge of the rota and spoke to us with authority. She was forthright and spoke firmly but fairly of the do’s and don’ts. Srima was greatly respected by the hospital community and was held in high esteem as the SHO to Dr Ananda Soysa, the ENT Surgeon.

When Srima married Disampathy Subesinghe they moved to a house next door to mine near the Cooperative Hospital in Kurunegala. They both were wonderful company and I couldn’t have asked for better neighbours. I remember the many evenings I spent in their verandah enjoying a drink and putting the world to right. I found Srima and Disampathy exceptionally kind, generous and helpful all through the few years we were in Kurunegala. Srima was a remarkable lady and treated everyone with respect. She was never a person for frivolous talk and had no interest in gossip that was ever present in the hospital community.

They emigrated to the UK in the early 1970’s and settled in Leeds where she continued her career in ENT Surgery. When I first arrived in the UK in 1974 I was rather homesick. I spoke  with Disampathy in Leeds and they invited me for a weekend.  I remember well Srima’s genuine concern for my welfare and the many words of wisdom passed on to help weather the initial storms in my new environment. Sadly, that was the last time I saw Srima and I write this note with much regret for not being in touch more closely.

As the years passed carving up a career and bringing up children consumed my time. I never got the chance to call or visit the Subesinghes for several years. It was with great sadness I heard that Srima passed away following heart surgery on the 18^th of April 2001. This was an incalculable loss for the family and brought much sadness to her many friends.

Srima and Disampathy were blessed with a son and daughter. The daughter continued in the foot-steps of her parents proceeding to a career in medicine.

And like a single drop of rain
That on still waters fall,
Her life did ripples make 
And touched the lives of all.

May she find the Ultimate Bliss of Nirvana