Obituary – Emeritus Professor Dayasiri Fernando
Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences (2002 January – 2004 June)
Emeritus Professor Dayasiri Fernando passed away on 28th November 2015 after a brief illness.
Late Emeritus Professor Dayasiri Fernando was the founder Professor of Surgery at Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He was the key person responsible in setting up the University Surgery Professorial Unit at Colombo South Teaching Hospital in 1995 prior to which he was serving the Colombo Medical Faculty for more than 25 years. This unit has developed into one of the best surgery units in the country within a very short period mainly due to Prof. Fernando’s tremendous efforts and wise decisions with regard to the infrastructure and human resource development.
His contribution as Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in uplifting the standards of the Faculty of Medical Sciences to one of the most prestigious Medical Faculties in the country is immense. He had functioned as acting Vice-chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura at several occasions and at crisis situations.
His service was not limited to the university system, he was a great surgeon, the most soughed Gastro-enterologist in the country with very humane qualities. He was an internationally reputed academic in his field. He served as the President of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka. Prof. Fernando’s demise is a huge loss to the country as he introduced the subspecialty of Gastroenterology and trained so many efficient surgeons to serve the people of Sri Lanka. After his retirement from the university he was made Emeritus Professor of Surgery considering his university and national contribution. He served in the capacity of Chairman, Public Service Commission the highest position in the public service.
He was a much loved teacher, a skilled surgeon and most of all a great human being.
May he rest in eternal peace.
