Goodbye to you, our trusted friend

It is hard to say goodbye to a childhood friend and classmate – someone of your age, who knew what you meant when you talk about the old school days, school mates, teachers and all the old stories. It is very hard when a death is unexpected – a cruel blow of the global pandemic and a death which took place when no-one no one expected it.

We knew Tharanganie Weerasena when we were all students at Ladies College, starting from the age of 5 years old. “Tharanganie was known to many people, and she helped many – selflessly, often without anyone knowing any thing about it. And she had done so all her life – her kindness and empathy were part of her personality from school days,” remembers Shalini.

Another friend remembers her kindness when she was ill, foretelling Tharanganie’s eventual calling. “When I was in the hostel, I was terribly anaemic and fainting all the time. I would meet Tharanganie at the tuck shop when I was just hanging around, eyeing the eclairs and sausage rolls; certainly, truckloads more edible than the gourmet hostel delights that were dished out to us. Every time I bumped into her, she would insist on buying me something – not just one thing but many things: ‘You need to eat properly,’ she would say. She never let me feel awkward or embarrassed about any of this. She only asked one thing of me – that I would not talk about it. The smile on her face when she did this is something I will never forget. I haven’t met her for many years, but she kept in touch with me on Facebook and never failed to wish me on my birthday- or comment on my posts. I will miss her.’

Anupa remembers that both Tharanganie and she were foodies and almost all her memories of Tharanganie are intertwined with food. “She loved my grandmother’s cooking. After we left school, she would reminisce about how she waited for me to share my lunch with her. I am deeply saddened and shocked by your untimely departure, dear friend. Your caring, cheerful spirit was an inspiration and will continue to live with us.”

Friends remember Tharanganie being very unpretentious – she did not care about status or wealth or class. She was also very comfortable in her skin – from her childhood she was a strong, confident person and never seemed to doubt anything about herself. She had a great sense of humour and while she could be blunt, she would also take a joke really well or sometimes put some of the rowdier among us, in our place. She never seemed to hold a grudge or angry thought – her heart was pure and true, and it was reflected in her friendships and relationships.

She was a high achiever – something we never really had time to acknowledge or celebrate fully. What we didn’t know (and what she didn’t really publicise) is that when she graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Colombo as a qualified pharmacist in 1995 – she came first in the island and her pass mark has still not been surpassed since. She also lectured at the Medical Faculty Colombo as a visiting lecturer but did not continue because of her desire to concentrate on the pharmacy and help people.

Tharanganie had a 25-year career as a pharmacist, a career that started when she established Colpetty Pharmacy, making Tharanganie the youngest person to own a pharmacy in Sri Lanka. She had said how hard in the beginning, with 12-hour days being the norm. “Being a young female in this business, it was difficult when I started out. I had to deal with men all the time – if they could, they would have tried to push me around, but I had to learn early to stand firm,” she said.

From the start, her ambition had always been to help people in this country lead a healthy and a happy life,” she told me. “I always put patients’ health before money and seeing a smile on my customer is more than what money can buy.”

Sharmila remembers her as being the best pharmacist for her. “Someone who cared for my well-being, supplying me with only the genuine medicine, to whom I would call for any guidance and following her instructions meticulously. Taking an antihistamine and Panadein after my covid vaccine, just because Tharanganie said to do so. Trust in someone doesn’t just come, it has to be earned and she earned that from me, because I knew she cared for me, and I just trusted her. Even in the crazy oversupplied world of multi vitamins, I could just ask her what’s the best, and trusted her answer. Before traveling on long trips, I used to ask her to pack all the medicines I might need. And she did, with instructions on what medicine, how much and for what illness. With a prescription written if I am ever stopped abroad and questioned. Who will look after me now?”

Tharanganie’s passion for helping others is seen in the work that she, her late father and her husband, Dr Asela Anthony, did – running over 545 health camps throughout the country in the last 25 years. Medical camps have been held from Point Pedro to Dondra Head, from Colombo to Batticoloa. Tharanganie was the chief pharmacist at these free camps helped by her staff of the Colpetty Pharmacy and others. The first camp for 2016 was held in Pudukuduirippu, which at one time was the main battle area, and more than 1,250 patients were helped.

Tharanganie’s life in medicine started with her father, Dr. Lakshman Weerasena – she grew up around his practice in Colpetty and started work in his dispensary before branching out on her own. Sadly, Tharanganie lost her father 10 days before she passed away, a double blow to their small and close family. She leaves behind her beloved husband Asela – they had been married for 24 years and she referred to him as a blessing and a strength in her life.

Tharanganie’s motto in life was to provide a healthier and a happy future for all people who seek help. She did that and she also gave of her time and her expertise to all those who needed it. As her friends, we benefitted and so did countless others who needed help.

We learned so much of what she had done after she is no more – it is sad we couldn’t let her know how much her kind words and deeds meant to us and how she was remembered by these acts.

Gone too soon and remembered with love and gratitude. “A friend in spirit, indeed. Let us remember you as you were in life.”

Batchmates of C.M.S Ladies College