On July 11, 2023, around 5.30 p.m. a very colourful personality passed away. Dr. Winston Wadugodapitiya, a medical administrator, Rugby player, environmentalist and a brilliant all-round product of Trinity College, Kandy, and a humane person, is no more.

He had a brilliant academic and sports and an all-round record at Trinity winning prizes like the Sinhala Elocution prize, while still in the lower forms and the C.N. Lemuel Shakespeare prize in the upper forms.

Though he was a science student he loved anything that was esthetic and was a good ballroom dancer. He had a liking for poetry and literature, then capped it with a first-class pass in Senior School Certificate Examination being the only one from Trinity College to have that distinction in that year.

There were twelve students in that Science class but he is the only one to become a doctor while others opted to become planters. Having passed out of Medical College, he opted for medical administration posts. He was first a DMO of Bogawantalawa He had the distinction of being the first Medical Superintendent of the newly constructed Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.

He loved and managed the hospital as if it belonged to him. He was later Director of Kandy General Hospital as well as the hospital at Kurunegala.

He took no pains to help anyone in need. To this day the employees respect him for being a very humane yet very strict disciplinarian. On his retirement with his dedication and expertise, WHO grabbed him for their projects.

His daughter Manoji put it that he had a “fearless strength”, for he served mostly in the Eastern Province during the time it was under the LTTE. He always had the nation at heart and had enlisted as a volunteer Superintendent of the Police.

He was a great environmentalist and had been a consultant to the Ministry of Environment and Parliamentary Affairs for many years. He was brilliant not only in the classroom but also on the sports field. He was a senior member of Rugby of Trinity College, which won the Bradby Shield in 1952 giving the start for the six years of wins in a row in that decade.

At the time of his demise, he was the most senior Rugby Coloursman of Trinity College. I recall playing against him when he was in Medial College.

His exterior was deceptive for he had a melting heart. His hand was long enough to help anyone in need and on one occasion he constructed a house at his expense for a family in need. This was a family one could depend on as their motto was to help others at any time and give and not count the costs.

They took my son under their wing just before he sat for the GCE (O/L) and the good results he obtained were mainly due to his coaching and supervision. Many were the time when we visited his home even without notice and were always welcomed; we were well treated to a meal sometimes prepared by him for he was a very good cook. Many times I just took his car when the need arose.

The family used to come to my bungalow on the estate and recall wonderful evenings relating many episodes and anecdotes.

We were always able to depend on him and the family for assistance whenever there was a need. I still remember him doing the household chores with delight, with a towel around his waste.

I remember him as a prefect in school but I had known his charming wife, Kamala even before he cast his eyes on her. His wife Kamala, and children Dharshka, Manoji and Ralinda have lost a dutiful husband and father. Our family that was so close to them has lost a pillar.

May he attain Nibbana!

Gamini Weerasinghe