Geri Jayesekara, retirement, Bernie

The retirement of Prof. Geri Jayasekara

                We had just entered the Medical Faculty in 1960 ?March. Our anatomy dissections were done in three dissecting rooms. ‘A’ was the big hall, ‘B’ was in the back of the main building and ‘C’ was a small clean room,0 well ventilated and with six bodies on white tiled platforms. The majority of the freshers were scared of the block seniors and demonstrators. Mutual visits from batch-mates, occurred between dissecting rooms. A group of three of our female batch mates, once entered the door of our dissecting room ‘C’. A young Geri was immediately at the entrance, bowing and curtsying to the visitors saying "A very good morning to you all. Welcome to our humble abode”. Needless to say, this brought on unrestrained laughter from all of us dissecting in hall C, for at that particular time the seniors had gone for a lecture and there were no demonstrators in sight. The visitors had a deep blush on their faces. This was our first introduction to Geri Jayasekara. By then Geri and his elder brother Perrin were famous in the musical circuit, in Colombo, as they had recorded their composition ‘The cherry Blossom Tree’, which they sang in beautiful harmony. Perrin also was in our batch but was more reserved unlike Geri, who would do anything for a laugh.

                Geri and Perrin would come to the Faculty, on their Lambretta scooter. They behaved more like cousins than brothers. Many were the pranks and many the jokes, which kept the area around Geri in stitches.

                Geri had an excellent academic record and passed out with honors. We were doing internship at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in 1966. We had a party at the termination of our internship. ‘Pulling strings’ commonly called exerting a ‘pull’, was frequently resorted to by my colleagues, to get soft post-intern appointments. Butthala in the Uva Province was reputedly, the worst station to get as an appointment. I got my appointment two stations, about 23 miles towards Colombo, from Butthala - at Koslanda as DMO. I casually told Geri, that he would probably use his influence and ‘pull’, to get a station closer to Colombo. Promptly he replied “What pull machan. The only ‘pull’ I can do, is to pull my fore-skin”. That was typical of Geri.

                Jerry later joined the Colombo Medical Faculty as lecturer under Prof.Navaratne. He inherited Nava’s corner ward and expanded it. On retirement Of Prof.Sherifdeen, he moved to the main Professorial unit surgical ward. In the meantime Perrin had died. Geri’s lectures were ever popular with the students.

                Geri had once, invited his house officers, to a dinner to his house. When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by an old lady, who identified herself as Geri’s mother. She invited them to come inside and be seated. Every-one of the house officers noted, how remarkably similar to Geri, his mother was. Later, to their surprise, they discovered, that it was Geri himself, who masqueraded as his mother.

                All of you who came for the Dambulla reunion, must be recalling Geri’s lecture on a the design of a ‘Bar Code’ to identify individuals. He also did an unforgettable imitation, of a one armed violinist, at the same show.           

Geri is retiring as Professor of Surgery, at the end of next month. It would be a nice gesture, if we can collect stories of his antics. I personally will present, a printed copy of same to him, at his farewell, if you send me enough stories.

Philip   

Jerry

Thank you for all the memories

Sorry to see  you leave, but we all begin to do less one day

I tried retiring even partly, twice and came back

Now even feel that the work I do will end only when I am totally unable to function.

You are still very useful continue the contribution

Hoping to see you soon, and in good health

With very warm regards

Bernie

Cincinnati

Email from Fredo Benjamin our senior
 
 I came to know Geri Jayasekera  when I was at Eye Hospital and 
used to go to Regent House for my meals. Geri was Prison MO. He used 
to let our yarns to newly appointed interns- that he  had stressful 
times at Welikade. He had to be present at the executions, and when 
that was over,   his duty was to perform CPR and try to revive the 
victim!
He was my bestman when I married Ranji. About 20 years ago he came to 
Sydney and Newcastle along with about 10 other professors to observe 
our teaching methods. He visited us  along with the other 10 profs, 
and they were surprised to see my wedding photo with Geri as the 
bestman.
Fredo