Videos of reunion at the Jetwing Blue

Re-live old happy times.

1. Dancing,Jetwing Blue Hotel, Negombo, Sri Lanka. 

https://youtu.be/6Oq80R0qU8M

2. Dancing to Sam the Man's band, Jetwing Blue, Negombo, Sri Lanka 

https://youtu.be/YQ6vzcrp3lY

Elephant encounters

Photos and Videos by Philip G Veerasingam
Please click on each of the web-links below :-


1. https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/2754357837909819

Buththala – A demanding elephant - Sella Katharagama road

2. https://youtu.be/Gd28r79aeuw

Elephantine scratch, Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka –

3. https://youtu.be/SvIped9MK9M

4. Feeding an orphan elephant in the elephant orphanage, Udawalawe, Sri Lanka

https://studio.youtube.com/video/SuS8X9Ao29w/edit?utm_campaign=upgrade&utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=%2Fmy_videos

  

5. Feeding an adult elephant across an electric fence

https://youtu.be/MpL02daWlJ0

 

email from Sarojini Manikarajah

Philip G Veerasingam The Alupola Waterfall in the back ground and the roof of the bungalow where I was born, in the fore-ground. From Facebook link - https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/2745890785423191

Sarojini Manikarajah Dear Philip I didn't know of your past when I went to take over the hospital in Alupola. It's surroundings are really beautiful.

Sarojini Manikarajah Hi Philip, Its part of my achievements. I was appointed as the first Director of Estate & Urban Health in 1997. The task was to take over the health services and make the services on par with that of the Govt. Services. They had already planned to take over the hospitals which were identified by the plantation sector. Alupola was one. Subsequently I planned the entire health services for the plantation which included not only the hospitals but also the Public Health and Dental services. It was a difficult task as many Ministries were involved but I had support from the Ministries of Planning and the newly formed Estate infrastructure. But had to make difficult discussions with Ministry of Plantations be a use the minister was a difficult person & also I had opposition from the people who were coordinating the health services. It made me have discussions with Provincial Chief Secretaries most of them were working as GAs and Commissioners in Vavuniya and I had good working relationship with them. The process made the provinces to take over the health services willingly in most places except in one RDHS division. Ratnapura was very accomodative. I planned a public health system created new staff cadre, carved out new MOH areas but u fortunately after my retirement the cabinet approved cadre of PHIs selected from the relevant districts had to be posted to Mullaitivu after train because the provincial cadre was full. Still most of them are in Mullaitivu and Mannar though they are from up country but now married and settled down in the north. But I am happy that the Estate population is now looked after by qualified health persons and not by quacks. Alupola was one of the first 17. Marattanne was another. In all at the end 50 hospitals were taken over and the dying cadre of AMPs who were selected to serve in these hospitals too were absorbed into the Govt.sector. All the qualified staff who opted for govt services too were taken over. I think that the system is in place. The DMO system was started in the plantation sector during British era but after 1948 the plantation sector was not considered as part of mainstream population. I think I have given a synopsis of my role as the first Director of Estate Health Services 👍

Email from Nihal Gooneratne - Wonders of the world

Please click on the web-link below :-

https://www.youtube.com/embed/FiZqn6fV-4Y

Reading old emails

A popular song in the 1960s

I am in love with a wonderful guy - From the musical South Pacific
Please click on the web link below  with your speakers on:-
 

https://youtu.be/CQBQsKJcPrU


Hello Thava,

Welcome to the club of Grand-fathers. My daughter Queenie, completed her MD Anaesthesis  & Intensive care in SL. She had to do a one year overseas to become fully registered as a specialist. She got 2 years study leave and is working in Romford. She has already finished one year and is doing well in UK. Her husband and son joined her 3 months later. Wife & myself went and spent a 4 month holiday with our grand son. It was getting cold hence we got back to SL. I met quite a few of our crowd and quite a few of my students from Kandy and Colombo in the UK. It was a round of dinner parties and trips.

Wish your better half and children all the best. Enjoy life with your grand-child.

Philip

Dear All

 Vijita and I are hoping to move forward in the grandchildren stakes but don't know when as our younger son Ashok (Clinical Oncology SpR) marrried Leonie (SpR Paediatrics)last year!. Our daighter Sharmila and husband  James  have two lovely daughters who we spend quite a lot of time with -41/2 and 3 yrs. Sohana and jacinda. Oldest son Damita film producer - I have trouble keeping track with girl friends so no grandchildren!

 Congratulations to all the grandparents in our group.

 Anula Nikapota (nee Aluwihare)

Dear Phillip,

Daya had chickungunya ( did you know it meant a crouched old man in tanzanian where it originated) & is still a bit lethargic (I've lost my young husband for the moment!) so I'm sending you a few of the million pics!!

 Your stories are certainly interesting & I'm sure lots of folk are reading them - but have no time to reply!

Are you going to print a book? Should be interesting.

Good luck with it!

Nalini

Phillip:

 I have been reading you stories with great interest and in fact look forward to receiving them.

 I have a suggestion based on a book I got from my friend Neil Halpe.  This was a history of the Peradeniya university through the eyes of about 15-20 people who spanned the years from 1943 to 1993.  The essays were wonderful,  especially because I had no idea what life was like in the 1970-1990 period in Peradeniya with rise of the JVP and the like.  I wonder whether you would consider a similar venture on our experiences in the sixties in the Colombo Faculty.  Perhaps you could ask for volunteers to write a chapter to be included in a book - I suspect you may receive about 15-20 volunteers. I could help you to edit it and get it ready for publication as I have some experience in this area (if you need my help!).  There are so many interesting stories we can recall which would be worth preserving - before our memories fade altogether!

All the best,

Tissa

Kamalika Weeratne (nee Abeyagunawardene).

Incidentally, did you know that Sr Reginald Watson-Jones had a Rolls-Royce, with a number plate, RWJ 1. He was brought to Ceylon in the late’50’s to attempt some spinal surgery, on my sister in law’s brother through Lord Francis himself.

My husband and I, have been auto enthusiasts, from even before we got married, we used to do rallyes in Ceylon, with the Ceylon Motor Sports Club. We still do Rallyes here in the US, and my husband does some auto cross events, and he was second in his class at a national event, a few years ago in a Mercedes SL.

Prof Milroy Paul also had a red three wheel car, that students called the Red Peril.

Kamalika

Dear Philip,

Thanks for sharing your Batticaloa Cyclone experience with us.

I was at the Southeast Asia Anaesthesiologist Conference organaised by our anaesthetist colleagues 2 years ago when a video showing the devastation of tsunami and its effects on the hospitals left many in the audience crying. Again Batticaloa was badly affected.

I have now fully recovered from the CABG. As an anaesthetist, it was a great experience being on the other side of the surgeon's knife and full of fun! Thanks for your kind wishes at that time.

Regards,

Victor.