Mrs. Obeyesekere

I interrupted reading Dr. D. P. Athukorale’s amusing harangue on page 12 of today’s The Island newspaper (30 January) to dial 2695831 and was relieved to hear Mrs. Siva Obeyesekere’s clear, cheerful voice. I inferred therefrom that she was neither dying nor dead. I told her that in The Island of today a cardiologist with 43 years’ experience had killed her twice over with his instrument which is proverbially mightier than the sword. She laughed and said she was very much alive. For all his clinical experience this cardiologist seems to find it quite difficult to distinguish between people who are alive, dying and dead. He believes that Mrs. SO, who is alive, is dead. He tells the world that he has "saved thousands of dying heart patients". His treatment with expensive branded drugs stops them from dying. He refers to Prof. Senake Bibile as a "late, departed teacher", implying that he died twice over.

For the rest his reply to me emphasises just one fact. At least seven times in his reply to me he pointedly declares that I am older than even he is. As if that made branded drugs better than generic ones! He also says that I am jealous of him. Let me say for all the world to hear that I certainly do not envy his brain!