81st Birth Anniversary of Dr. (Mrs.) Dulcie de Silva – A tribute

“In the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years.” — a quote from Abraham Lincoln that offers me a unique perspective to reflect on the life and work of Dr Mrs.

Dulcie de Silva, whose 81st birthday falls on May 12, 2025. She is fondly addressed as Dulcie. Her life so far has been full of loving relationships, intellectual curiosity, a strong commitment to helping others, and an interesting career in public health with a focus on training primary healthcare workers.



These qualities have made her one of Sri Lanka’s most memorable public health figures in recent times. Dr de Silva’s move to the Institute of Hygiene Kalutara (now the National Institute of Health Sciences – NIHS) in 1976 as a Medical Officer was a defining moment in her life. That was when she truly embraced public health as her lifelong path.

Later, she became part of the faculty, training primary healthcare workers, and stood out as one of its pioneers. She had the good fortune to be mentored by the late Dr Godwin Fernando, who took on the role of Chief Medical Officer of Health Kalutara in 1972. She also worked alongside a passionate group of co-workers from various health fields.

In the early 1970s, public health started going through a major transformation, especially in how front-line health workers were trained. This shift really kicked off when Dr Godwin Fernando became Chief Medical Officer of Health. The transformation was not easy.

It was a tough journey driven by Dr Fernando’s strategies, in partnership with his team — with Dr de Silva playing a key role. There was careful planning and structured roll-outs aimed at addressing the country’s health training needs more effectively. Getting approval from the ministry and cabinet was a major hurdle.

Dr Fernando and his team had to navigate uncertainty and challenges to get NIHS recognized as a decentralized unit of the Ministry of Health. He had the willpower and skills to face whatever came his way. “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (If you want peace, prepare for war).

Dr Fernando had a rare ability to anticipate the future. He was incredibly resilient — able to adapt, recover, and continue. With these strengths, he led an effort to persuade, negotiate, defend, and compromise in the interest of what became a nationally recognized achievement.

This entire journey gave Dr de Silva the experience to equip herself with future-ready skills and long-term success. She believed that “a vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; one must also step upstairs.

” She believed bringing new life to your life requires focus, dedication, and emotional energy. She was driven by purpose and eventually became the fifth Director of NIHS in 1997 serving until her retirement in 2004. The golden years of NIHS began with its full autonomy as a decentralized body under the Ministry of Health.

This stage involved major developments in human resources, infrastructure and curriculum redesign, to mention but a few. From the early 1980s, NIHS took new steps in its training programs. A notable example was the community development project in Adikarigoda, a small village near Kalutara, which became a “community school” offering direct training and research opportunities.

Dr Halfdan T. Mahler, then Director-General of the World Health Organization, visited both NIHS and this village in the mid-1980s. He was deeply moved by the sense of unity and spirit there.

In appreciation, Dr Mahler made a personal donation to restart a preschool project that had stalled for years. Dr Mahler is known for launching the “Health for All by the Year 2000” strategy. Dr de Silva had a talent for managing problems.

She was a moral compass who made steady, thoughtful decisions. Her leadership style was marked by calm strength, confidence, and consistency. She was known for doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways and following the principle: “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.

” She was an erudite person with immense potential and experience in teaching and learning — providing a dynamic environment that nurtured intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical leadership. She believed in lifelong learning. “Ancora imparo” (Still, I am learning) — the Italian quote fits her perfectly.

Dr de Silva’s family and social life were filled with joyful moments and admirable qualities. She was always kind-hearted, cheerful, and modest — someone who lived with grace and grit. I remember the birthday parties of our sons and daughters back in the 1970s when we lived in the NIHS quarters.

Today, you have your elder sons, daughter, grandchildren, and Mr. Andrew de Silva — once Secretary of Education close to you in your senior years. You now lead a virtuous family life deeply rooted in religious and spiritual pursuits.

“A virtuous wife was one who led the good life. A good laywoman endowed with religious devotion, moral virtues, and openness as well as wisdom and learning and gifting to charity makes success of her life in this very existence.” (Samyutta Nikaya) Dr de Silva returned to public life though in a limited way after ten years of retirement, as a co-founder of the NIHS Pensioners’ Association, formed in December 2014.

She served as its president for nine consecutive years. The association’s mission is to support the health, social, and spiritual needs of its members, while also showing continued loyalty to NIHS. One of its major achievements was naming the NIHS Auditorium as “Dr Godwin Fernando Memorial Auditorium” — a lasting tribute to a public health pioneer.

The association celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2024, marking a significant milestone. On aging, Dr de Silva believes that with the right attitude and healthy spirit, aging can bring joy and new rewards. She feels positive aging is about being confident, staying active, and living fully.

She has answered some of life’s deepest questions: How should I live my life? For what should I aim? What values should I live by? These are what some call “Socrates questions.” Dr de Silva has lived a psychologically rich life — never boring, always full of new experiences. She is a rare blend of qualities in one person.

She lived authentically and gracefully and is undoubtedly a true legend of our time. Her contributions to public health are clear and lasting. As she continues her retirement journey, I wish her good health and much joy in the years ahead.

The wonderful memories we share are priceless. A.K.

Seneviratne A Former Senior Tutor, Public Health NIHS Kalutara.