A Tribute from PeMSAA-UK: Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association of UK (PeMSAA-UK) Executive Committee and the association’s members are profoundly saddened by the loss of one of our alumnus Dr Anton Sebastianpillai who volunteered to work with COVID19 patients in the frontline at Kingston Hospital, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey UK where he unfortunately contracted the illness.

Dr Sebastianpillai, was a retired Consultant Physician, but decided to go back from retirement following the call for volunteers from UK General Medical Council (GMC) to assist in the current unprecedented COVID19 crisis. It is a testament for his dedication and commitment for caring for people that he put himself

Dr. Joseph affectionately known as ‘Joe’ was educated at St Patrick’s College, Jaffna. He graduated from Colombo Medical College in 1962 with flying colours. His passion for teaching started soon after his graduation. He joined the Faculty of Medicine, Peradeniya a as a lecturer in Forensic Medicine and then changed to Biochemistry and again to Nuclear Medicine.

Although a graduate of the Colombo Faculty, Joe had a great affection and loyalty to Peradeniya medical School. While he was a lecturer in Forensic Medicine, he published a paper about assessing factors controlling post-mortem cooling. This was fore runner of his many research activities.

Mr. Rudra Rasaretnam –an eminent cardio-thoracic surgeon passed away after a brief illness at the age of 86 years in September 2017. He was the last in the long line of famous of surgeons who dominated the surgical scene from the 1940s to the 1960s .

His grandfather Mr.S.C.Paul FRCS who was a senior surgeon in the Colombo General Hospital and the first Sri Lankan to obtain the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England was followed by his maternal uncles Professor Milroy Paul the first Professor of Surgery in the Colombo Medical School and Professor Milroy’s brother Mr ATS Paul who initiated the practice of cardio thoracic surgery in Colombo and later in Jaffna.

Condolences message from PeMSAA-UK: The Management Committee of peMSAA-UK, its members and the UK alumni are saddened by the loss of a most caring and humble person Professor Barr Kumarakulasinghe, our esteemed teacher and an eminent Surgeon with a great deal of expertise in his craft.

The demise of our beloved teacher, colleague and friend is an irreplaceable loss not only to his close loving family and friends but also to the medical professionals and many more around the globe. The PeMSAA-UK extends their sincere condolences to his family and friends

Dr Krish T Radhakrishnan
President - PeMSAA-UK (2018)

Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association-UK (PeMSAA-UK) Management Committee, its members, friends, colleagues and past students around the globe are saddened by the loss of our popular teacher and the former Head of Department of Anatomy, the Faculty of the Medicine, Professor Eugene Wickramanayake.

I am sure many alumni would remember Prof Wickramanayake as a smartly dressed lady walking around the Anatomy block appearing to be fierce. However she was one of those most supportive, caring and empathetic motherly figures in the pre-clinical blocks. She was an active participants and a brilliant debater during conferences and meetings. The demise of our beloved teacher,

A Tribute from PeMSAA-UK: Management Committee, its members and the UK alumni are solemnly saddened by the loss of our respected and popular teacher, an eminent Surgeon and former Dean of the Peradeniya Medical School Professor Gamini Buthpitiya.
The demise of our beloved teacher, colleague and friend is an irreplaceable loss not only to his close loving family and friends but also to the medical professionals and many more around the globe.

The PeMSAA-UK extends their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Dr Krish T Radhakrishnan - President, PeMSAA-UK (2018)

Condolences message to be read on behalf of PeMSAA-UK: Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association-UK (PeMSAA-UK) Executive Committee and its members are solemnly saddened by the loss of our respected and popular teacher, former Dean of the Peradeniya Medical School, Vice Chancellor of University of Peradeniya and the Director of Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. Professor Panabokke was a trusted ally of Medicine whilst in service and following retirement and its Alumni around the globe.

It was an honor and privilege for us to deliver a Felicitation Citation for Professor Panabokke during his lifetime at the PeMSAA-UK International

Appreciation: Professor Thambapillai Varagunam, MD FRCP (UK) M.Ed - A medical academic with a vision

Message of Condolence from PeMSAA-UK

Condolences message read by Prof Mike Sedgwick the elected Trustee of PeMSAA-UK at the late Prof Varagunam's funeral on behalf of the association:

"Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association-UK (PeMSAA-UK) Executive Committee and the association’s members are terribly saddened by the loss of one of our most respected and popular teachers of the golden years of the Peradeniya Medical School, the great supporter of Peradeniya Medical Faculty