An appreciation: Dr. Ravi Perumalpillai

Dr. Ravi Perumalpillai MD FRCS was a brilliant Cardiothoracic Surgeon who started his career in Sri Lanka and then moved to the UK where he served with distinction and dedication at the Oxford University Hospital during a long stint eventually to trail blaze in the field of heart surgery during its initial establishment.

Ravi Perumalpillai

He has authored many books and contributed immensely to the field of heart surgery and the scores who were to understudy him in the latter years were very fortunate indeed.

I met Ravi as a young man a long time ago in the UK and was fortunate to have continued our relationship till he left us in a sudden manner. He was a very simple and friendly guy who enjoyed humour very much and was always with a smile.

Ravi was perhaps wealthy enough to live the life of a king in London but chose to spend his retirement in his motherland and serve the downtrodden and needy especially in the north from where he hailed and had his roots by establishing the Oxonian Foundation for heart surgery in Jaffna. He dedicated much of his time and wealth for the needy which will be appreciated and remembered for years to come. 

A few weeks ago I happened to have a long telephone conversation with him where he seemed very happy with the progress of his Foundation and also his farm in the north where he apparently spent his leisure hours. He didn’t sound well and upon my request that I come over and see him he mentioned that he was to shortly leave to London for medical treatment and promised to call me upon his return. That call was not to be.

Ravi will be greatly missed by Shanthi, his son and daughter but they should be proud that he has left a legacy during his lifetime that many men would have strived for but not achieved.

Ravi left us at a comparatively young age in today’s context but his memory and good deeds will linger in us forever.

Kiyaz Deen

Colombo