Remembering a remarkable personality on his 119th Birth Anniversary

18 February 2023 12:56 am Views - 302

Prof. C. C. de Silva was born on February 25, 1904. He was a member of an aristocratic family; his father was Dr W.H de Silva, who was the first Ceylonese Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, in the field of Ophthalmology. His mother was a daughter of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. 

He studied initially at Bishop’s College and later at S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia. After studying medicine for one year in Ceylon, he continued his medical studies at the University College London. Initially he practised as a General Practitioner in Dehiwela and was appointed as a first Professor of Paediatrics, University of Ceylon, in 1949. He was the second Paediatrician to be appointed to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, the first being Dr L. O. Abeyratne. He was also the first Professor of Paediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.  

He was the founder Chairman of Durdans Hospital, Colombo. In 1961, he became the President General of the Ceylon Association for the Advancement of Science. He was also closely associated with the activities of the Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka from its inception. He chaired the National Committee of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign and the Meals for Millions Campaign Foundation of Ceylon. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Christian Missionary Schools which included Ladies College, Trinity and Mowbray in Kandy and Chundikuli Girls School and St John’s College in Jaffna. He used to visit these schools regularly. In 1951, he was associated with the establishment of the Children’s Convalescent Home in Thalagolla and later functioned as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The writer happens to be its current Chairman. 

 The first book he published was titled “Mother, Your Baby” in collaboration with Mrs. Visvanathan, which catered for young parents. When we clerked under him at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in the mid-1960s, all of us were compelled to purchase a copy of his book, priced at Rs. 4.50. He travelled extensively during his academic career and published a book titled “Out Steppes A Don”, after a visit to Russia. His autobiography, “Life as I Lived It”, was published in 1987 and its first copy was presented to him by his daughter Mrs. Ilika Karunaratne, the night before he died on the 20th of May 1987. Few weeks before he died, he inquired from me whether I could give him a lift for the annual dinner of the Sri Lanka Paediatric Association. I visited his residence Ellora, in Green Path, Colombo 7, together with my late wife Buddhika; he shared a drink of brandy with me prior to leaving his residence to travel for the dinner. Sadly, he passed away few weeks later. That happens to be the lasting memory I have of this remarkable personality! May he Rest in Peace! 
(The writer is an Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics
University of Colombo )