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Dr. Gamini Gunatillake’s Extra Mile launched in Colombo
The Extra Mile: A surgeon’s experience
s, an autobiographical book by Dr Gamini Goonetilleke FRCS, was launched recently at the Auditorium of The College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Colombo 7 in the presence of a large and distinguished gathering. The book reflects four decades of experience of Dr Goonetilleke, a Senior Consultant Surgeon, narrating his life and work, during the armed conflict as the only surgeon at the Base Hospital in Polonnaruwa and later in hospitals in the combat zone especially the Palaly Hospital in the High Security Zone in Jaffna. A few of Gamini’s patients now recovered were also present as special guests. The speakers at the launch were Somasundaram Skandakumar, eminent diplomat and philanthropist, Dr Anula Wijesundere, a celebrated physician in Sri Lanka and the President of The College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Dr Satish Goonesinghe and the author of course.
Following is the full text of speech by chief guest S. Skandakumar: When my Sandhurst trained brother-in-law, Maj Gen Balaratnarajah, one time Commander of the Volunteers, and Chief of Staff, of the Army said to me that there was a Sri Lankan doctor doing some amazing work with their injured soldiers, I could not have imagined that 30 years later, I would be speaking at the launch of that surgeon’s second book, the “Extra Mile.”
I am both humbled and honoured Gamini, that you invited me to speak today, and thank you for the opportunity.
In an extraordinary journey of a never ending mile, surrounded by chilling experiences, Gamini, to quote from his own words, learnt lessons, overcame obstacles, crossed bridges, took risks, embarked on adventures to achieve his goals.
Today having accomplished all he set out to do, he stands tall, bearing true testimony to that ever famous song by Frank Sinatra, ” I did it My Way “
His professionalism was enhanced by his compassion, and consequently his treatment of his patients revolved exclusively round the nature of their injuries and not their identity.
A truly outstanding product of St Joseph’s College , he entered medical College with humility and excelled in the sporting field there too.
He appreciated the opportunity his country gave him to become a doctor, and so when he qualified as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in the U.K., and had an attractive horizon ahead of him overseas, he chose to return to Sri Lanka to serve the people and repay his debt to the country he loved.
When he completed his challenging and exhausting journey as a professional, he retired with the same humility , a true hallmark of greatness.
A devout Christian, Gamini believed that his hands were blessed by the Heavenly Father to heal the sick and he remained unfailingly faithful to the Oath of Hippocrates that he took on graduating. He was inspired in his noble work by his faith in God and the support of his dear wife Shelendra and gifted children who must have endured many a sleepless night as Gamini battled relentlessly in serious conflict zones to save lives and limb.
The sorrow, pain, anxiety, anger and outrage that he witnessed first hand led him to lament, how a whole generation had to suffer for the follies and misdeeds of power hungry racial politicians. Yes marginalization had led to radicalization and discrimination to extremism, at phenomenal cost and loss of lives to the nation.
Today we stand united as a Nation after having been brought down to our knees in our personal circumstances, by these destructive racial divides, among other insidious conduct , and the ensuing strength is there for the world to see.
The horrific injuries he encountered that he on occasion innovated and improvised to heal, pained him as much when he knew that those injuries were inflicted by one Lankan on another.
He was always blessed in his noble intentions because they were matched by sincere action. The proof of this was seen in the second lease of life he provided for many given up for dead, and some who benefited from those gifted hands have shown their gratitude by being here today.
Among them is Charith , who having lost an arm decapitated from his shoulder, and rendered totally blind in a mine explosion, recovered to marry and father three children.
I was photographed with him on arrival and the picture is one I will frame and hang in my home till God calls time on my life.
Thank you Gamini for demonstrating the true meaning of being a Patriot of Our country, and the Extra Mile is indeed a truly absorbing journey of immense courage, innovation, commitment and compassion, that should be experienced by every Lankan.
So to you my friend, a medical icon and a gift from God, whose thoughts when in a place of worship, have always matched his deeds when outside it, I join a multitude of those less fortunate than us, and friends, to say thank you and may God’s blessings continue to be with you and your lovely family.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
