19 December 2023 12:00 am Views - 369
Dr.Haniffa also served Sri Lanka as Ambassador in Bangladesh and Oman
Dr. Ahamed NaszHannifa, who had a peaceful death recently, was my friend from 1956, when we entered the Faculty of Science, Colombo, of the University Ceylon for the first MB. We entered the Faculty of Medicine (the only Medical Faculty in Ceylon then) in 1957. We were seated next to each other throughout the six years of medical training. He was a soft-spoken helpful gentleman. He travelled by scooter. Whenever we had to go out of Colombo for our medical training, he would readily take me.
We were assigned the General Hospital Galle (then at Mahamodera) for our internship in 1962. We lived in the house officer’s quarters. We were both assigned to Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He was under the late Dr. A. Ratnaike while I was under the late Dr. W.H.Fernando. At that time there was only one intern per consultant. There were no Senior House Officers. Dr.M.Jayawardena, who was a senior doctor, was the only resident obstetrician. Both units shared the same labour room and the same wards. Both units got along well helping each other. It was not difficult with amiable Dr. Haniffa. One intern had to cover up both units during the week-end. Often we had transfers of obstetric emergencies from the south. This was because Matara (the only hospital south of Galle with consultants) had only one consultant obstetrician and one consultant anaesthesiologist.
We separated after internship. He joined the Labour Department, where the Cabinet Minister was the late M H Mohammed, his father-in-law, while I continued in the Health Department.
We met again in London in 1972, at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, University of London. He was studyingfor the Diploma in Occupational Health while I was studying for the Diploma in Tropical Public Health. There, our wives met each other and became friends.
While we had the option of staying back in England, we both decided to return to Sri Lanka and serve our country. This was at a time of severe shortages in Sri Lanka. Ultimately, we were in the minority of our batch who stayed back and worked in Sri Lanka.
Dr.Haniffa also served Sri Lanka as Ambassador in Bangladesh and Oman.
After retirement he worked as a family physician
His son Dr. Ruvaiz Hannifa, is also my friend. He is Senior Lecturer in Family Medicine. Colombo and Past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
Haniffa was a gentleman who served his motherland diligently.
Ruvaiz could be proud of him.
May he Rest in Peace.
Dr. Lucian Jayasuriya