Dr. Mahesh Rajasuriya handing over the book to Prof. Chandrika Wijeratne (left) and Prof. Vajira Dissanayake (right)

Love is a magical feeling. They say they feel butterflies in the stomach when they knew that they have met their perfect partner. But after some time, this magic dies down in the face of reality. 
Responsibilities, work pressure, extended families, social pressure and various other external factors stand in the way of this feeling. Lack of understanding and trust paves the way for severed relationships, sometimes throwing two people towards separation or divorce. 

At a time when cases of domestic violence, intimate partner violence are on the rise, Dr Mahesh Rajasuriya, Consultant Psychiatrist at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Senior Lecturer at Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo launched his second book titled Understanding the Intimate Relationship and Therapeutic Approaches to Improve it’. The contents are mostly examples from his own experiences as a psychiatrist and a counsellor.

"Many books have principles of Sigmund Freud and a lot of theory but there are less practical approaches. This book has included those practical approaches. Dr Rajasuriya has put an effort to teach us these approaches. Some couples are on the verge of divorce but we show them the pathway"

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, Vice-Chancellor of University of Colombo Prof. Chandrika Wijeratne appreciated Dr Rajasuriya’s effort in penning the book. 
“This book would open the eyes of many, not only medical practitioners but parents, teachers, policymakers and the greater society as well. The Colombo University’s Medical Faculty at Kynsey Road is one of the oldest faculties in Sri Lanka and South Asia as well. It is not that we want to produce doctors, consultants etc. but its pioneers to current leaders have wanted to produce well-rounded, caring doctors who would come out and help those who are in need with the purpose of caring, comfort and compassion. In that context, this book meets that goal.”
She further recalled how her pioneers were thinking ahead regarding the social and psychological basis of medicine.

“There was a lot of debate because back then many thought that you can become a doctor by being in a laboratory, in a dissecting room or a highly specialized ward. But it is much more than that. But the Medical Faculty and the Sri Lanka Medical Association has had multiple discussions on this matter over the past 30-40 years. 
“Nobody’s going to come and say that they’re having a problem with their partners but we as caring doctors should be able to pick it. There’s much more to do beyond this book. From my experience in the Women’s Help Committee, it is a known fact that intimate partner violence is very common here and many don’t know how to respond to it be it stakeholders such as legal arms, first contacts in various administrative bodies to the police. Therefore, this book should be translated to the vernacular and discussed widely.”

In his comments, the Dean of the Colombo University’s Medical Faculty Prof. Vajira Dissanayake spoke about the Colombo Medical Faculty publishing house and how it has produced many books over the past couple of years. 
“I like to thank Prof. Wasantha Gunatunga and Dr Hermali Silva for facilitating the publication of books by our academics and creating a brand for the faculty and university. As such we can have the research we do in the form of books. We haven’t been doing this in a widespread manner in the past but the facilities provided by the publishers enable us to improve our capacity.”

"This book would open the eyes of many, not only medical practitioners but parents, teachers, policymakers and the greater society as well. The Colombo University’s Medical Faculty is one of the oldest faculties in Sri Lanka and South Asia ...wanted to produce well-rounded, caring doctors who would come out and help those who are in need"

Speaking about the contents of the book, Dr Nisha Fernando of Mithuru Piyasa reiterated the importance of having all practical approaches written in a simplified manner. 
“It has been a pleasure to work with Dr Rajasuriya. Many couples that come to Mithuru Piyasa have a history of domestic violence. It is quite impressive how he has included his experiences in this book. 
“This book is a bridge between psychiatry and counselling but even though he has said that it’s not a handbook it is a guide. I work as a field supervisor for counselling students and I have already recommended this book to them. 

“Many books have principles of Sigmund Freud and a lot of theory but there are less practical approaches. This book has included those practical approaches. Dr Rajasuriya has put an effort to teach us these approaches. Some couples are on the verge of divorce but we show them the pathway. 
“Dr Rajasuriya has taught us how to do a good assessment to see whether a couple has a deeper bond. Assertiveness too has been explained in detail. There is a lot of youth who are addicted to substances, technology etc. This is because there’s less assertiveness and Dr Rajasuriya has explained it in simple terms. Anybody aspiring to become a psychologist or a counsellor should read this book,” she said.