Remembering Dr. Milroy De Silva

 

Fwd: MILROY NANAYAKKARA A KALYANA MITHRA A NOBLE FRIEND.docx

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Malavi Karunanayake		Wed, Apr 28, 3:52 PM (2 days ago)
Philip, I believe this may have been already forwarded to you by Siri. Kumar has also sent it to Daily Mirror. Regards, Karu Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded m
Mana Wedisinghe	1:04 PM (2 hours ago)
A mini batch get-together  SIRI (MBS)  and KUMAR Gunawardane “There are friends,   There is family,   And  then there are friends   That become family”   Such a friend was Milroy whose passing away a few days ago,we learnt with heavy hearts and deep sorrow. To those who didn’t know him ,he was the husband of Punya Heendeniya,the actress who captivated  the hearts and minds of a nation by her portrayal of Nanda in the film classic “Gamperaliya”; Nanda was the quintessential Sinhala upper class village maiden who valued tradition over love. To MBS(Siri) he was a lifelong friend “who stayed forever,beyond word,beyond distance,beyond time”. To me (Kumar) who came to know him through Siri ,and also through his brothers he was a pleasant companion, and a good friend. SIRI We met on the very first day in the “Block”; alphabetically we were next to each other,Milroy de Silva and MBS de Silva.That day wearing our white jackets and ties back to front we had to march to the Anatomy laboratory ,jeered by serried ranks of  haughty seniors.The naked bodies lying on marble slabs was nauseating.I was directed to the appropriate cadaver by a tutor and paired with a brilliant student JBC De Silva,to dissect the upper limb.Confused and bewildered I could only gaze at the colleague carving the other arm.He looked equally nonplussed wielding a scalpel nonchalantly,while another student recited  the instructions from Cunningham’s manual of Anatomy.Our eyes met and that was the start of a beautiful friendship; a coming together of the Titans,like minded ,high spirited and full of joie de vivre.We immediately downed tools and scampered to the canteen to revive ourselves with a cup of tea laced with condensed milk, and the cheapest available cigarette ‘Peacock’.Our interests were similar;studies took a back seat , larking around taking precedence.The friendship was sealed further when we joined Bloemfontein the formidable male medical student hostel,alternatively feared ,and lauded.   I remember our first Block dance at the King George’s hall.He was smartly dressed in black tuxedo pants and a cream jacket; only missing element was a lady companion.I who wore a black shirt and a white tie had a beautiful girl ,on my arm.I asked Milroy where he came by his tuxedo and he disdainfully replied ,I have two brothers who are doctors and one tuxedo for the whole family and now it is my turn to have it!!   Our bonds strengthened during our intern year.Milroy returned to his roots in Galle and I joined him a few months later at Mahamodara,the hospital by the sea.It was a year of back breaking work ,but also a year of fun and frolic. Milroy was then  posted as chief (District Medical Officer) of the Moneragala hospital.But I was left high and dry ;Milroy , thoughtful as ever arranged for me to work with his brother Dr A.S.H De Silva who had a thriving general practice just down the road from the hospital.Three months later I got a posting to Buttala which was then mostly elephant and serpent infested jungle.It was classed as a ‘punishment’ station by the Health department The attractions however were the proximity to Milroy,and also the predecessors who  included medical giants such as Professor Rajasooriya and the distinguished surgeons Dr Bartholomeuz,and the the Surgeon of the Wilderness R.L.Spittel. It was in this  rustic outpost   that Milroy was bowled over by Punya.He was at a loss to reach her.I advised him to write ,and he did so with panache.She invited him to  visit them at Mirigama ,her hometown to meet her folk.They teamed up ,in Punya’s own words for fifty two years ,seven months and twenty two days;a match made in heaven.   As a dutiful father ,he wanted to give his son and daughter the best education available ,and he and Punya migrated to Zambia.It was here that they demonstrated  hidden strengths of character which helped them overcome adversities and even threats to their lives and move over to England.Milroy re-invented himself and rose to top of the ladder to become a consultant psychiatrist.His two children also became consultants in the NHS,the son a gastroenterologist and daughter an endocrinologist.He acknowledged freely Punya’s role not only in all his triumphs,but also in the hazards and misfortunes in their paths. Yet more than all this was his humanity and humility.;generosity to those less well endowed ,especially relatives and also to those medical graduates at the threshold of their careers.They were gracious hosts; Punya was an accomplished cook and less well known,an euphonious singer.I and my good friend Karu  had the good fortune to enjoy their hospitality on many occasions in London. Milroy my friend ,” to live in the hearts of those we love is never to die” May your journey in Samsara be short and my you attain the Supreme bliss of Nibbana.   KUMAR I first got to know Milroy at Bloemfontein, the medical student’s hostel adjoining Carey Collge.He was  a dapper figure ,stylishly dressed with a gentle smile on his face.His chums ,Siri.Gerry,Wicky and others were always friendly with us juniors and never intimidating.Their banter and capers in the dining room and the spacious portico were invariably hilarious. My friendship with Siri was cemented in the hurly ,burly of the Galle hospital ,where I too did my internship.When I was unemployed after its completion it was Siri who arranged me to work with Dr ASH ,Milroy’s brother.ASH and Kingsley, another brother became my friends and mentors. Punya was a heartthrob of many young bucks of our era.But only one,Milroy could win her hand and her heart.What a splendid partnership it was.   The Buddha Dhamma teaches that death is natural and inevitable.Yet it is sorrowful and we pray for you and your family’s peace and comfort.Their sadness is soothed by the beauty of your life ,a life well lived.As the Buddha said death has no fear to those who fashioned life as a garland of beautiful deeds. May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

Remembering Milroy - Geri Jayasekera

  REMEMBERING MILROY de SILVA

Sad as it is, we have reached the age when it’s not unexpected to hear that one of us has left friends, loved ones and family. It’s at times like this, however, that we recall facts and events that have left our memory over the years and have been long forgotten. 

When I think of Milroy I picture a fellow in our ‘Batch of Three Hundred,’ dressed for College in starched white shirt and longs, hardly without a smile, and always ready for some clean fun. 

As a Bloemite, he occupied a room on the uppermost third floor. From here one had a bird’s eye view of a section of the Carey College principal’s house. This provided for exciting entertainment, the nature of which will be confidential, and limited to just a discreet few of us! At Bloem, Milroy was a good mixer and a regular spectator at the daily post-dinner events of fun and frolic prior to returning to the books. 

He was a kind man, and no one had anything even remotely negative to say of him. If at all he lacked in inches, he made up for it abundantly in heart. His room mate at the Bloem was ‘Loku Makuls,’ who’s view was that Rugby should be considered of preeminent importance in the life of a medical student! Returning after practice one day he had been so exhausted he had shed his clothes and gone to sleep. The next morning he found that Milroy had washed and hung them up for drying. I never had the pleasure of meeting his wife, Punya. In one email I had told him that they have to be commended for producing two children who are both Consultants, Anupama, in  Gastroenterology  and Purnima, in Neurology. His response was that all the credit should be given to his wife.  Such acts defined this unassuming and modest man, and I value the privilege I had of being called his friend. 

In Milroy we have lost a Doctor and a Gentleman. Likewise, in death someday, all of us will part company with friends and family. But for those who live on, remembering never dies.

Geri Jayasekara. 

Recalling the Late Dr.Milroy De Silva

 

 

Ever smiling Milroy

Ever smiling Punya

Milroy de Silva -  DMO Moneragala

https://medicalbatchcolombo1960.blogspot.com/2019/08/punya-heendeniya-milroy-de-silva.html

Obituary - Milroy De Silva

email from Lakshman Karalliedde 

 

 It is with deep sadness I write this to you all, Milroy passed away peacefully at 1.00 a.m this morning, 22nd April, after having post operative complications. 

Will appreciate communications by emails rather than telephone calls

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana. 

Punya, Anupama,Purnami and their families.

punyaheendeniya@aol.com

anupsdesilva@btinternet.com

purnamidesilva@yahoo.co.uk

Celebrating the Sinhala Thamil New year 2021.

Happy Sinhala and Thamil New year April 2021

 

 Please click on the web-link below :-

https://www.facebook.com/philip.veerasingam/posts/4242048865807368

Happy& a prosperous New Year 2021

 

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CHARITH NANAYAKKARA

12:10 PM (2 hours ago)

to me, Mana, M.G.S

Dear Philip & Mana 

Wishing all our batch mates & their families a very happy, healthy, peaceful  and a prosperous Sinhala & a Tamil New Year 2021.

Nana

C. S. Nanayakkara 

Charith Sena  Nanayakkara

Sujeewa's Birthday, celebrated on Zoom.

 

Ayesha Ratnayake <ayesha.s.ratnayake@gmail.com>

2:06 PM (4 hours ago)

to Sirobhan, Perera, Ramani, dgjaya, cwgun46, rudihooledoc, frevics, Rajakariar, Arumugam, M, lswije, apreena, Sujiva, Aru, Asoka, G, kamalini, luckyhb14, Soma, lawrence, Piyaseeli, Piyaseeli, Udula, Arjuna, apreena, farouk.sikkander, Pearl, sugi, Chandra, sa3546, me, daya

Dear all,

Thanks so much for attending the celebrations! 

Please find attached the beautiful slideshow of pictures by Nalini and the fun and witty musical composition by Sujeeva enjoyed today!

Warmly,

Ayesha