Ceylon Medical College

Last updated
Ceylon Medical College
Colombo Medical College UoC.jpg
Type Public
Active1 June 1870 (1870-06-01)–1 July 1942 (1942-07-01)
Location
Colombo
,
Western Province
,
Ceylon

06°55′08.30″N79°52′16.30″E / 6.9189722°N 79.8711944°E / 6.9189722; 79.8711944
CampusUrban campus

Ceylon Medical College was a public medical school in Ceylon. The college was established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School. The college was based in Colombo. The college was merged with Ceylon University College in 1942 to form the University of Ceylon. The medical college became the university's faculty of medicine. The college was also known as Colombo Medical College. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The Bengal Medical College was established in Calcutta in 1835. In 1839 Stewart-Mackenzie, the British Governor of Ceylon, started sending a small number of Ceylonese to study medicine in Calcutta. [3] In 1847 Samuel Fisk Green, an American medical missionary, started a private medical school in Manipay, northern Ceylon. [4] The establishment of a medical school in Ceylon was advocated by Governor George William Anderson in 1852. [5]

The island was hit by the yaws disease in the 1860s, leading to a massive depopulation in the Vanni. [3] [6] In 1867 governor Hercules Robinson appointed James Loos, the colonial surgeon for the Northern Province, to investigate the depopulation. [3] [6] Amongst Loos' recommendations was that there should be a plan for medical education in the country. [3] [6] The Colombo Medical School was opened on 1 June 1870 by Governor Robinson. [5] [7] The school was based in the female surgical ward of the then General Hospital in Colombo. [6] The school was controlled by the government's Principal Civil Medical Officer. [7] The school's courses lasted five years after which students sat examinations and if they passed they received a diploma of Licentiate of Medicine and Surgery (LMS). [5] [7] This allowed them to practice medicine and surgery. [5] The school had lecture rooms, laboratories, dissecting rooms and two libraries. [5] Physics and chemistry was taught at Ceylon Technical College. [5] The first batch consisted of 25 students (all male). [7] [8] James Loos was the school's first principal. [9] [10]

The school benefited from large endowments, including land and buildings, provided by locals. [9] [11] In 1875 Mudaliyar Samson Rajapakse gifted three and a half acres of land on which the school's successor, the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, stands today. [6] The De Soysa Hospital/Lying-in-Home and the biology building was given to the school by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. [6] In the same year his uncle Mudaliyar Susew de Soysa donated the school buildings which housed the colonial medical library, the pathology museum and the biological laboratory. [6] His son Mudaliyar J. W. C. de Soysa provided the funds to build the bacteriological institute in 1899. [6] Other benefactors included Muhandiram A. Simon Fernando Wijegooneratne and Vimala Gunawardane. [6]

The school's course length was extended to four years in 1873. [8] Loos left the school in 1875 after being appointed colonial surgeon for the Central Province. [6] He was replaced by Edwin Lawson Koch. [6] In 1876 the government started providing scholarships which provided free education at the school and post-graduate studies in Britain. [12] Koch died in 1877 and was replaced by Julian Louis Vanderstraatcn. [6] The school was renamed Ceylon Medical College in 1880. [13] The college's course length was extended to five years in 1884. [8]

On 29 December 1887 the school's LMS diploma was recognised by the General Medical Council at a meeting of the Privy Council held at Osborne House. [5] [7] [12] [14] This recognition meant that holders of the Colombo LMS were registered medical practitioners under the Medical Act 1886 and could practice anywhere in the British Empire. [5] [12] They could also pursue post-graduate studies in Britain without needing to re-take any undergraduate courses. [12]

The college started admitting female students in 1892. [6] [14] Allan Perry took over from Vanderstraatcn in 1898. [6] In 1905 two ordinances were passed relating to the college. The Council of the Ceylon Medical College was incorporated by Ordinance No. 3 1905. [5] [12] Ordinance No. 5 1905 (Medical Registration Ordinance) allowed the Council of the Ceylon Medical College to register individuals (including holders of the Colombo LMS) allowed to practice medicine and surgery in Ceylon. [7] [12]

The Ceylon University Ordinance No. 20 of 1942 established the University of Ceylon on 1 July 1942 by amalgamating Ceylon Medical College with Ceylon University College. [15] [16] [17] The medical college became the new university's faculty of medicine. [8]

Principals

PrincipalTook officeLeft office
James Loos18701875
Edwin Lawson Koch18751877
Julian Louis Vanderstraatcn18781898
Allan Perry18981915
O. J. Rutherford
J. F. E. Bridger
J. F. L. Briereliffe
S. T. Gunasekera

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Colombo</span> Public university in Sri Lanka

The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is the oldest institution of modern higher education in Sri Lanka. Specialised in the fields of natural, social, and applied sciences as well as mathematics, computer sciences, and law. It is ranked among the top 10 universities in South Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo</span>

Established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School, the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo, is the second oldest medical school in South Asia. It is considered to be the top most medical faculty in the country which requires the highest entry qualification in GCE Advanced Level examination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Peradeniya</span> Public university in Kandy, Sri Lanka

The University of Peradeniya is a public university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission. It is the largest university in Sri Lanka, which was originally established as the University of Ceylon in 1942. The university was officially opened on 20 April 1954, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Ceylon</span> Former university in Sri Lanka

The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was separated into four independent universities. These are the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, University of Kelaniya and the University of Sri Jayawardanapura.

The University of Sri Lanka was the public university system of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1978. The university system was dissolved in 1978 and its six campuses turned into independent universities: the University of Peradeniya, the University of Colombo, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the University of Kelaniya, the University of Moratuwa, and the University of Jaffna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Henry de Soysa</span> Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Charles Henry de Soysa Dharmagunawardana Vipula Jayasuriya Karunaratna Disanayaka popularly known as Charles Henry de Soysa, JP was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter, industrialist and was the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank, the Moratuwa carpenters guild, the Ceylon Agricultural and National Associations. He is widely regarded as the greatest philanthropist of the island for contributions which includes the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, the Model Farm Experimental Station and many other institutions and acts of charity, establishing infant-maternal healthcare and secular education for girls in the country. He would have been the island's first Knight Bachelor, but having died prior, his widow was given the rare honor of the use of the style and dignity of wife of the Knight Bachelor and was known as Catherine, Lady de Soysa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunapala Malalasekera</span> Sri Lankan scholar and diplomat (1899–1973)

Gunapala Piyasena Malalasekera, OBE, JP, was a Sri Lankan academic, scholar and diplomat best known for his Malalasekara English-Sinhala Dictionary. He was Ceylon's first Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Ceylon's High Commissioner to Canada, the United Kingdom and Ceylon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. He was the Professor Emeritus in Pali and Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicholas Attygalle</span> Ceylonese academic, surgeon and Senator

Sir Nicholas Attygalle was a Ceylonese academic, surgeon and a Senator. He was the President of the Senate of Ceylon from 1953 to 1960 and the first Ceylonese Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, where he was known as the "Iron Vice Chancellor".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Alwis Hewavitharana</span> Ceylonese (Sinhalese) physician

Charles Alwis Hewavitharana, FRCS, LRCP was a Ceylonese (Sinhalese) physician who played a significant role in Sri Lanka's Independence and Buddhist Revival movements. He was the brother of Anagarika Dharmapala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Healthcare in Sri Lanka</span>

Sri Lanka has a free and universal health care system. It scores higher than the regional average in healthcare having a high Life expectancy and a lower maternal and infant death rate than its neighbors. It is known for having one of the world's earliest known healthcare systems and has its own indigenous medicine system.

Vidya Jyothi E. O. Eustace Pereira was a Sri Lankan Engineer and Academic. He was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, where he founded the Faculty of Engineering. He was known as the Father of modern engineering education in Sri Lanka.

The University of Peradeniya, in Sri Lanka, is composed of nine undergraduate faculties of study. These faculties contain 79 departments in total. In addition, the university has two postgraduate institutions and six affiliated centres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceylon University College</span> Public university in Ceylon (1921–1942)

Ceylon University College was a public university college in Ceylon. Established in 1921, it was Ceylon's first attempt at university education. The college didn't award degrees under its own name but prepared students to sit the University of London's external examination. The college was based in Colombo. The college was merged with Ceylon Medical College in 1942 to form the University of Ceylon. The college was also known as University College, Ceylon; University College, Colombo; and Colombo University College. Its buildings and grounds are now occupied by the University of Colombo which is considered its successor.

The University of Colombo currently has seven faculties with 41 academic departments and two interdependent schools with five academic departments. All faculties and schools carries out courses of study and research in both graduate and undergraduate studies. In addition, the university has several institutions that specialize in different areas of research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of Indigenous Medicine</span> Educational institution in Sri Lanka

The Faculty of Indigenous Medicine of the University of Colombo, specialising in Ayurveda and the Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Founded as the College of Indigenous Medicine in 1929, it became part of the University of Colombo adopting its current name in 1977. It is a premier center of undergraduate and postgraduate study and research into Ayurveda and Indigenous Medicine and Healthcare.

V. Sivalingam was a Sri Lankan academic and physician. He was the founder of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Peradeniya and the first Professor of Parasitology of the University of Ceylon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Fernando</span> Ceylonese statesman, physician and banker

Sir Hilarion Marcus Fernando, FRCP was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesman, physician and banker. He was a member of both the executive council and legislative council as well as the chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeronis de Soysa</span> Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa was a pioneering Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneer coffee planter and an industrialist who became the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century by establishing the largest native commercial enterprise of the era. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank and is often referred to as a father of private enterprise in British Ceylon. He was the first Mudaliyar to be elevated in recognition of his philanthropy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Hospital of Sri Lanka</span> Hospital in Colombo , Sri Lanka

The National Hospital of Sri Lanka is a government hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Founded in 1864 as the General Hospital, it is the leading hospital in Sri Lanka and is controlled by the central government. The hospital has 18 intensive care units and 21 operating theaters and 3,404 beds. It employs 7,500 staff of which 1,500 are doctors. The hospital carries out 5,000 major and minor surgeries each month and treats over two million out patients a year. Situated on a 36-acre site, it includes the Dental Institute, Maligawatte Kidney Hospital, Nurse's Training School, Post Basic Nurse's Training School, School of Eco Cardiograph, School of Physiotherapy, School of Radiography and the University of Colombo's Faculty of Medicine.

References

  1. ↑ Mills, Lennox A. (1933). Ceylon Under British Rule (1795 - 1932). Oxford University Press. p. 262.
  2. ↑ Wijesinghe, F. D. C. (12 July 2002). "Women in the medical profession". The Island (Sri Lanka) .
  3. 1 2 3 4 Fonseka, Carlo. "Development of Health in Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 2010-11-17.
  4. ↑ Martyn, John H. (1923). Notes on Jaffna - Chronological, Historical, Biographical. Tellippalai: American Ceylon Mission Press. p. 335. ISBN   81-206-1670-7.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Arnold Wright, ed. (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. pp. 225–226.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "University History: A Glimpse into the History of the Oldest Medical School in Sri Lanka" (PDF). University of Colombo Newsletter. 1 (2). University of Colombo: 2. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-04.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Samarasekera, Ananda (28 July 2003). "Sri Lanka Medical Council: Past, Present and the Future". The Island (Sri Lanka) .
  8. 1 2 3 4 "History of the Faculty of Medicine". Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
  9. 1 2 Arnold Wright, ed. (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. p. 76.
  10. ↑ Arumugam, Thiru (14 March 2010). "The human drama underneath the factual medical, historical material". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) .
  11. ↑ Ferguson, John (1994). Ceylon in the Jubilee Year. Asian Educational Services. p. 29. ISBN   81-206-0963-8.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Margaret Jones; Amala de Silva (2013). "7: Good Health at Low Cost - The Sri Lankan Experience". In Milton James Lewis, Kerrie L. Macpherson (ed.). Health Transitions and the Double Disease Burden in Asia and the Pacific: Histories of Responses to Non-communicable and Communicable Diseases. Routledge. pp. 126–141. ISBN   978-0-415-57543-0.
  13. ↑ "About Us". Sri Lanka Medical Council.
  14. 1 2 "Colombo Medical School Centenary". British Medical Journal . 3 (5724): 659. 19 September 1970. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5724.659 .
  15. ↑ Ratnapala, Noeline S. (1991). "Beginnings of University Education in Sri Lanka; in Retrospect" (PDF). Vidyodaya Journal of Social Science. 5 (1&2): 92.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. ↑ Abeygunawardene, H. (23 December 2002). "University of Peradeniya - more open than usual". Daily News (Sri Lanka) . Archived from the original on 27 May 2005.
  17. ↑ Banduwardena, Rupa (9 October 2011). "University of Ceylon, Peradeniya – its glorious past". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka) . Archived from the original on 8 February 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.