The dynamic Dr. Beligaswatta, to anybody who does not know him, is an unassuming, soft spoken, gentleman who is so humble in his manner and his approach to the day to day problems of life. I am sure lots of strangers who meet this human dynamo would think that he is anything but a surgical specialist of very high repute. He is actually a double FRCS who has specialised in Genito-Urinary Surgery. I am personally aware of his prowess as a Genito-Urinary Surgeon attached to the Kandy hospital. Patients come to him from all parts of Sri Lanka and many from the capital city of Colombo. (No insult meant to the excellent Genito-Urinary Surgeons of Colombo).

I have known Dr. Beligaswatta from the time he was a student. He had his undergraduate training in Anaesthesiology with me and he had special training with me when he was appointed 'Anaesthetist in Training' to the Colombo Group. He would surely have become a great Anaesthetist had he decided to be one of us. However our loss is Urology's gain.

I have very pleasant memories of three years I spent in Kandy attached to the Kandy hospital in the late 1940s. The Kandy hospital was like any other base hospital perhaps a little better being the second best hospital in the island even then. The development of the Kandy hospital was slow and depended entirely on the government in power and the medical ministry to allocate money for planning and development. Actually there was no such plan, as far as I know, to improve this hospital to one of world standard.

It was in 1989 that Dr. Beligaswatta was appointed as Director and this was the beginning of a new era. With his leadership this sincerely devoted and conscientious worker got the support of his entire staff and drew up his 'Master Plan' for the development of the hospital. The people of the Kandy district as well as the outsiders rallied round this wonderful man. He had the vision of making the Kandy hospital a model. Donations are pouring in and he has only to ask and the people respond readily!

This medical specialist is today an architect, engineer, accountant, administrator, designer, plumber, landscaper, labourer etc. all rolled into one 'Human Dynamo'. His team has all the top professional architects and engineers working with him purely on a voluntary basis. How wonderful! How he finds the time to do all the things he does amazes anyone who cares to visit the Kandy hospital today. It is a beehive of activity.

The government too has realised his potential and has decided to give him all the support financial and otherwise to help him fulfil his dream. The government has approved all plans submitted by the good doctor.

The government has poured in many millions to support this cause. He has collected many millions from public donations. He has local as well as foreign organisations supporting his cause. Top professionals in the Kandy district are working, giving of their services free and for nothing! In more ways than one this is unique in Sri Lanka. This plan to build and enlarge a government hospital with private donations without much help from the government is entirely a new idea.

The improvements made so far are too numerous to mention. He has visions of making this hospital a 5000 bed hospital to serve such specialities like:

General Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Prediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neuro Surgery, Plastic Surgery, E. N. T. Surgery, Eye Surgery, Urology, Onco-logy, Rheumatology, Radiology, Premature Baby Unit and establishment of a Birth and Defects Research Unit.

He has constructed a fully equipped air conditioned auditorium with seating capacity for 100 and a medical library.

Currently he has embarked on a very ambitious project to construct a four storeyed (93000 sq.feet) building at an estimated cost of Rs. 125 million to house the armed services and police medical unit, Nephrology Unit and Paediatric Surgical Unit. This building will have 350 beds, four operating theatres, ICU and a Dialysis Unit. This project is being funded entirely by Public donations and contributions from the National Defence Fund. It is a wonderful sight to see top professional engineers and architects helping the good doctor to complete this project on a purely Voluntary basis.

This man is indeed quite remarkable and I would strongly suggest to the business magnates, bosses of big commercial firms, and wealthy people of this country to make a weekend trip to Kandy and see the work that this human dynamo is doing with his team of willing voluntary workers. I am confident that these people will not leave without making a sizeable contribution towards this very worthy cause.

Surely we need more Beligaswattas in this country.

Dr. B. S. Perera
Rajagiriya

Appreciation
Dr. K. Mahadeva

Acquainted we were only a few years
Yet I feel I've known him my whole life through
Looking back, I feel a thankfulness
To have known him and shared so much

The silver hair, the debonair eyes
And the cheer that he spread wide
Ready to help when in despair
Compassion that's beyond compare

On his twinkle toes he trod
Agile and keen all the while
To fulfil his duties on the dot
for the sake of human life
The master that he was with the pen
Greatness flowing through a fountain of ink
'Abuse nature not' he said
True to life, he lived by that
Community medicine was his line
For the community he did strive
Selfless and dedicated

In deed, an amazing man
Living up to his name 'Big God'
Now that the curtain has fallen;
The sun set in the distant horizon
Dr. Maha becoming one with nature
One short sleep past, to awake eternally
A glorious life, lived to the hilt
Etcing out the epitaph;
'he came; he saw; he made a difference'

TC