From Asha Central to Dr Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital

Dr Neville Fernando – third month remembrance

“In the end it’s not the years in your life that counts, it’s the life in your years”

Abraham Lincoln.

It is with gratitude and affection that I write these few lines in remembrance of our loving leader, Dr Neville Fernando. He passed away on February 4, one month short of his 90th birthday, but left a rich legacy of positive experience with all those who came to know him.

My association with Dr Fernando goes back to 2003 when he invited me to join Asha Central Hospital at Horton Place, Colombo 7. It is he who turned it into a most sought after private hospital in Colombo devoting his entire time and effort to develop it to a fully-fledged multi-specialty private hospital. He was not a mere manager or a team leader to its hundreds of medical and non-medical staff. He was a father figure to all, loved by everyone from the house keeping assistant to the operating surgeon.

The staff were followers of Dr Fernando rather than his employees. People mostly referred to him as a “Living God “. He struggled against unacceptable transgressions of some of the values that his principled mind accepted as basic: trust and honor of one’s word. Greed and duplicity were anathema to him. His humanity extended not only to all the employees of the hospital but to all patients who sought medical attention. People liked him for his sincerity and enthusiasm. He was generous to the core. His charismatic smile and the ability to attract people around him made him a truly inspirational leader. Managing a large multi-specialty hospital was a huge burden, but with his unique management style he overcame all obstacles, silently carrying a heavy cross at every stage of his life.

In 2008, Dr Fernando designed and built The Central Hospital in Norris Canal Road Colombo 10, creating a benchmark in the private healthcare industry of Sri Lanka. Due to his passion for education and desire to create higher educational opportunities for younger generations, he embarked on his vision creating SAITM (South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine) in 2009 and NFTH (Dr Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital) in 2011 at Malabe, selling The Central Hospital to Asiri Group of Hospitals to become the present Asiri Central Hospital.

Designing and building SAITM gave Dr Neville Fernando immense pride. He pumped all his wealth, time, sweat, and effort into this massive institution. Thousands of students were privileged to study there. It has produced hundreds of doctors, engineers and IT professionals who serve not only in Sri Lanka but the world over. The theme of SAITM, “Education with Character” clearly reminds us of Dr Fernando’s vision.

Designing, building, equipping, staffing and operating a 1,000-bed hospital was no easy task. Dr Fernando embarking on these projects at age 80 was unbelievable to many. He never calculated any returns on investment. This extraordinary and stubbornly principled man had only one vision: to create space for private medical education in Sri Lanka. I am eternally grateful to him for selecting me and giving me the opportunity to lead the hospital from its very inception. His advice helped me immensely to improve my knowledge and develop my skills in managing a hospital. He was a stern disciplinarian who taught me the correct way of doing anything.

Dr Fernando wanted his hospital to be a model and a benchmark in health care. The designed layout of the hospital was second to none. The materials used for construction and furnishing were the best in the industry. He never believed in shortcuts and guided me and my team to do the correct thing at all times. The medical equipment puchased was the best of the range and the most technologically advanced from world renowned manufacturers. I still remember his pride inspecting the operating theatre complex and intensive care units, attending to every detail, resulting in the most modern units in Sri Lanka matching international standards.

This “Living God” generously waived the hospital charges of many patients in financial difficulty, sometimes making things hard for the finance team. Hundreds of surgeries and hemodialysis sessions were offered free of charge to deserving patients. This exceptionally honorable man always felt the pulse of the people, be it the patients or the hospital staff. Dozens of his ex-employees from other private hospitals joined him at this new hospital simply because of his unblemished character and integrity.

He was extremely happy and proud to see thousands of patients being treated and discharged at his hospital. During the current pandemic, NFTH has treated thousands of patients with Covid-19 and will continue to serve the people of this nation for many decades to come. Medical students of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University undergo their professorial clinical training at this hospital. NFTH has created over 500 direct and many more indirect employment opportunities while inspiring development of the entire local community.

It is indeed very sad that he is no more with us and the only consolation we have is that due to some good karma, we had the good fortune to associate closely with him. I will always remember the good times I had with him. Most of all I appreciate his good qualities and the high principles he stood for at all times.

Throughout his journey his loving and devoted wife Swarnamalee was a pillar of strength. His loving children Naomal, Sharmalee, Devaka and Krishantha supported him at all times.

Dear Sir, Dr Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital will continue to serve the people of our country for many more decades. I wish you the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana in the shortest possible time.

Dr Lakshan Fernando