Sri Lanka, March 20 -- My mind went back to Monday, 20th April 1964, on reading the two tributes to Professor C. C. De Silva by Prof Thushara Kudagammana (The solicitous and virtuous life of Professor C. C. de Silva: Daily Mirror, 25 February) and Dr B J C Perera (Professor C. C. De Silva: A man like no other: Daily Mirror, 28 February). It is a day indelible in my memory as it was the day I started my very long medical career, spanning 47 years equally divided between my Motherland and my adopted 'Fatherland', and I had the great fortune of starting it with a 'Man like no other', Professor C. C. De Siva, a gentle giant.

Dressed in a white shirt, trousers, and overcoat, sporting a light green tie embossed with the face of a little child ...