'Sena' and the election booth.

5th August 2020

I went to cast my vote today - the general elections - to elect the members of parliament for the whole Island of Sri Lanka. One had to select the political party and mark 3 candidates  for ones choice.

We are in the middle of a COVID 19 epidemic. The following procedures were adopted to eliminate cross infection of the Corona virus:-

1. Everyone had to wear a mask - The officials and voters.

2. Social distancing in the voters queue using yellow markers on the floor was done.

3. Hand sanitizers were sprayed on to the hands of voters.

4. ID cards were inspected and the names called out

5. Left little finger was marked with indelible ink with  a no-hand touch technique

6. Ballot paper was  handed to the voter.

7. The voter had to bring his/her own pen  to mark the ballot box.

8. On exiting there was a hand  sanitizer spray bottle.

A well  ordered, disciplined voting.

I was reminded of the early 1960s, general election when we were medical students.

My friend DC Senaratne was appointed to look after the interests of a leftist party, in an election booth in the Colombo 7 area. Wearing a red shirt and  red beret of the party he represented 'Sena' was seated inside the electoral booth, when he spotted Prof. Ranasinghe, queuing up to cast his vote. 'Ranaya' was a strict disciplinarian. Sena quickly vacated his  seat and vanished from sight. Party loyalties had their limits.

The emails which made me to become an author and print 4 books

Dear Philip,

I think it would be well worthwhile writing your memoirs from medical college days to your retirement into a book.

It would not only be interesting and enjoyable reading but will be a historical record of the experiences of a doctor from the 60’s, which will be lost to posterity for ever, unless they are recorded. You have the unique flair of a chronicler and writer and also the recollections in detail, from those yester-years. You also have a distinctive style of writing which brings those memories and incidents to life. So please do think of it seriously.

Best regards.

Sena.

Dr. D C Senaratne

DearPhilip,                                                                                                                                                                                           

 Many thanks for your many letters.Shall respond in suitable fashion in due course.Be assured that they  are much appreciated:pride,joy,excitement,nostalgia,gratitude,sadness,grief,reflection,contemplation,pensiveness,        helplessness,frustation,a renewed commitment to the re-examination of that which is taken to be the  inevitable and even natural course of societal events  were among the feelings evoked!    

I forgot to mention amusement - seeing oneself with  fellow yokels from days of yore!

Dr. L D Karalliedde

At 03:01 AM 7/25/2007, you wrote:Dear Philip,Your memory, attention to detail, poetic language, and a keen observation of the changes that have ravaged our country amazes me and it is a joy to read your letters when I come home in the evening. I usually pour myself a glass of wine and the next thing is looking forwards to your letter. Any chance of writing a novel?. After all Ms. Rowling was an ordinary house wife when she wrote the first Harry Potter novel. 
Love and good luck, 

Harischandra Piyasena.

Phillip,

I love receiving your stories.  Sometimes it brings up feelings of sweet nostalgia but very often regrettably, thoughts of lost opportunities.

All the best,

Tissa

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

Hello Tissa,

Thank you for your suggestions.

I have called already for contributions to the memories. I will trouble you for the editing in due course. I still could not contact Kapu but will keep trying.

Philip

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

philip-  very beautiful -the finepix is obviously very fine.

from where do you get these little snippets of information - a book is a must .Can I book an autographed copy.

Regards

daya