You will be in our thoughts forever!

Prof: Carlo Fonseka

By Dr. SAMADHI RAJAPAKSA

MD., MA., Ph.D.

Chairman National Authority on

Tobacco & Alcohol

Founder Cancer Care Association of

Sri Lanka Chairman Palliative Care Trust

It is generally true that each person on earth has only one skill. But there are exceptions to this rule seen with Emeritus Professor Carlo Fonseka who passed away a year ago. He had multifarious talents, hence he could shine in a variety of fields equally well.

He was  Sri Lanka’s most respected medical personality, the contribution of  Professor Carlo Fonseka to medicine in Sri Lanka will be remembered for decades to come.

A doctor by profession and a former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of  Kelaniya and President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council; but he excelled in a plethora of other fields and activities such as music, art, film, literature, education, academia, oratory and political activism.

He was the founding Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA). Much of his work revolved around campaigning against the use of tobacco and alcohol. Once addressing the media on how to deliver  an effective health message  he said; “To deliver a health message effectively and in confidence it should consist of 3 significant factors, viz. be authoritative, comprehensive, and clear. Nature has gifted the human brain with science to be authoritative, religion to be ethical, and art to address wisdom with our feelings. If we use all these factors we may deliver a strong message to society”  Professor Fonseka said, addressing a workshop organized for media personnel held in Colombo, to evaluate their contribution for tobacco control during the past many years.

Professor Fonseka was indeed an ardent anti-tobacco campaigner. He made use of the media by appearing as a true campaigner and for years, trying his best to  empower youth to be away from tobacco and alcohol. The World Health Organization recognized his anti-tobacco work. As a result he was one of the six South-East Asia Region awardees of the World No Tobacco Day 2012 awards. As its founding Chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco & Alcohol since 2006 was the Golden Period for development of tobacco control policies in Sri Lanka. He was honest to his tasks. His favourite slogan was “Your cigarette kills me!”

He was a man of great principles who did not chase after wealth, never earned through private practice. Professor Carlo Fonseka is revered and held in such high esteem by those in the sphere of medicine, his colleagues and especially his students. The demise of Professor Carlo Fonseka was a great loss not only to the medical fraternity, but also to those who are grateful to what he did to mankind.