Cancer Society's 16th AGM

Sarath Malalasekera

The Sri Lanka Cancer Society will hold its 16th Annual General Meeting on February 28 at the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, Bullers Lane, Colombo 7. The Chief Guest will be Supreme Court Judge Justice Shirani Tilakawardena.

The Sri Lanka Cancer Society President A.L.M. Fernando outlining the hitory of the Society said the Sri Lanka Cancer Society is now 60 years old. It was in 1948 that the Friends of the General Hospital Cancer Clinic was established under the auspices of the Church of Ceylon Board of Women's Work with G.L. Cooray as President.

She was assisted by a number of charitable persons among whom were J.W.H. Casinader, Phyllis Dissanayake, Amirthan Devarajan, Phyllis Jayawardena. L.B.M. Hollic, V. Welikala, C.P. Jayawardene, G.B. Jackson, Lady Aluvihare, Lady de Soysa, Dr., Quintus Peiris, Sir John and Lady Parsons, Dr. A.H.N. Welikala and Dr. J.H.F. Jayasuriya.

Among the earliest benefactors was A.L. Dassanaike who founded the Merlyn Dassanaike Home in Regent Street to accommodate women cancer patients to be looked after by the Salvation Army and Harry L. Wendt who donated 24 beds for cancer patients.

The President said The Ceylon Cancer Society was born from the Friends of the General Hospital Cancer Clinic in 1951 with Dr. K.J. Rustomjee as President and Chairman assisted by Annie Gomez, C.V.C. Munasinha, T.C.A. de Soysa and E. A. Nugawela. The first office of the Society was in a backroom in the premises of De Soysa and Company, Kew Road.

This was shifted to the new Radiology Block of the General Hospital when it was opened. In 1957 the Cancer Society constructed, with donations from the Joseph Hawke Charity Fund the Hawke Memorial Ward and "In Memoriam Ward" with donations from Dr. C.W.S. Fernando for the Cancer Institute.

In the same year Mr. & Ms. Karl Beven funded the purchase of land and the erection of a hostel for cancer patients called Karl Beven Home in 1958 adjacent to the Cancer Institute of Maharagama.

That was the beginning of the Cancer Society's Home in Maharagama, the President emphasised.