Much of whatever free time he had was also taken up by urgent work at Imperial Institute as one was busy with having a new BSc in Computing validated by the University of Wales.
And other involvements were there too ...
| Above: Charles presents a merit certificate to a winner. Opposite: The winners with some of the judges and officials. |
 |
 |
 |
On the left, the main entrance to
Colombo South Hospital. On the right, the ward where Charles was with
'A' indicating the bed he was in and 'B' the bed closer to the table of
the doctors to which he was shifted when a worsening of the situation
was diagnosed. In the inset, a photo taken when Charles returned to the
ward about 4 months after the events to thank the doctors and the staff
... seen with Prof Jayaratne and a ward sister.
 |
 Opposite: With Nilmini standing by,
Charles at the end of the 2-week stabilization at the Apollo Hospital
in Colombo and just prior to the angiogram. Insert: Photo showing Dr Tripti
Deb, Cardiologist who took care of Charles (and continues to follow him up even now)
and ward sister, taken when Charles went months after the crisis to
thank them.
|
 After the angiogram
Charles was told that the situation was critical with 3 major heart
vessels and 2 minor ones blocked and that immediate surgery was
required. Even though that would have been very much cheaper, one
option - doing it at the state hospital in Colombo was ruled out
because normally one would have to be on the waiting list for several
months. On the advice of several friends the decision was made to have
the surgery at Durdans rather than at Apollo even though the latter too
would have been a very good option. Rukmal had three meetings with Dr
Kesava Dev, Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon at Durdans (seen in the insert in
photo taken 4 months after surgery) and Charles was accepted for
surgery there. Recovery was a little long with Charles being kept in
hospital for double the typical duration ... but finally Charles was
brought home on 10th March 2006 to continue the recovery, treatment and
physiotherapy etc at home. |
By-pass
surgery is common but what was critical was what happened before. It
has been pointed out that with the second attack Charles could simply
have disappeared if not for the fact that he was actually in hospital
at that moment. Charles is firmly convinced that if he survived ... and
survived in a manner to be able to play a productive and useful life
very much as earlier ... it is because of three blessings :
1 - the family (with Rukmal playing the coordinating role and Nilmini and Felicia being totally caring and supportive ... Charles' mother, given her age, being given the impression Charles was having a problem with one of the legs ... even Charles' father, who died in 2001, but who from another life would have been watching over...) and the extended family
2 - in spite of his own weaknesses and faults, whatever good he may have done in life brought its blessings
3 - the solidarity of over a thousand people ... relatives, friends, colleagues, students, past students ...who were with Charles thinking of him, praying for him in the different religions, even helping him where possible financially. (It is noted that with the activity being coordinated by the members of the Catholic Students' Association and the Buddhist Monks of the Buddhist Society, both of the university, the students were offering themselves and rushing to donate the blood that was required and more.)
1 - the family (with Rukmal playing the coordinating role and Nilmini and Felicia being totally caring and supportive ... Charles' mother, given her age, being given the impression Charles was having a problem with one of the legs ... even Charles' father, who died in 2001, but who from another life would have been watching over...) and the extended family
2 - in spite of his own weaknesses and faults, whatever good he may have done in life brought its blessings
3 - the solidarity of over a thousand people ... relatives, friends, colleagues, students, past students ...who were with Charles thinking of him, praying for him in the different religions, even helping him where possible financially. (It is noted that with the activity being coordinated by the members of the Catholic Students' Association and the Buddhist Monks of the Buddhist Society, both of the university, the students were offering themselves and rushing to donate the blood that was required and more.)
 |
 |
On the right: Naveen, a former student of Charles and now working in the UK was visiting Sri Lanka and they arranged to meet near the beach where Rukmal was taking Charles for a walk and where Naveen was taking his parents for the same purpose.
In spite of
objections from the family, Charles was keen on getting back to work to
complete what he had begun at the Careers Centre. Finally the surgeon
approved it on the understanding that it would be gradual.It started with an alumni day-out to which Charles was invited. Charles is seen registering himself at the entrance with the Head of Department too standing closeby. He was even invited to take part in a traditional game blindfolded!
A memento
offered by
the staff
(Management
& Executive)
of
Imperial
Institute.
 |
 |
Rohan Wijeratne
presents
the plaque
to Charles
as well as an autographed group photo of the staff
as souvenir.
 |
 The presentation took place at a farewell dinner. On the left is a photo of the management and administration staff with (seated from left) Mr Munidasa, Registrar ... Dr Weerakoon, Academic Director ... Mr Rohan Wijeratne, CEO. |
 |
Photo opposite already used on the year 2004 page shows the academic staff, the coordinators and examiners from Wales and the Directors. |
A relatively cheap guest house with a bedroom that had two large beds and could take 6 persons was identifed. It was in Watawala, the region that generally records the highest rainfall in the country.
A niece from Felicia's side and a nephew from Charles' side too were invited to join.
| Opposite: Stopping by at a tea kiosk. Lower Left: Visiting Upper Glencairn bungalow where Charles and family had spent a weekend about 12 years earlier. Right: Giving them a chance to get to know a mini hydro power generation centre in that area. |
 |
In the Talawakelle area ...
with Devon Falls and St Clair's Falls in the background.
| The car was
left aside the second day! It was set apart for a long walk with a fair amount of climbing ... but Charles was happy he managed it ... feeling pretty normal 8 months after surgery. |
 |
A week before Christmas .. as we have done now for more than 20 years, the family gets together to prepare the traditional fruit cake which becomes part of the plate of sweetmeats presented to non-christian neighbours and friends. (They do similarly 'in return' at the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April!)
Getting the flour ready ... Nilmini cutting & chopping the dried fruits ....Felicia doing similarly ...
The ingrediants are ready. Charles is busy preparing the egg whites.
And the mixing in a huge plastic can begins.
Mixing goes on ... Charles takes over the final stages ...
The cake is back from the bakery in trays. Cutting pieces and wrapping begins.
Remembering that a former student now in Canada had gifted a bottle of maple syrup .. Charles decides to make them "Belgo - Candian" by pouring (as one sees ... using a syringe) maple syrup on the waffles |
 |
