Raja Tissa Molligoda
Photo of former Warden Rev.Marc Billimoria with Dr.Felix Senanayake taken in Greese in 2022.
L.F.N. Senanayake began schooling at his father’s alma mater; Trinity College, Kandy and later in 1953 joined S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. As a day’s scholar and was in Buck House, but later joined the Boarding and was in Copleston House.
In sports he represented the house in Tennis, cricket, athletics and rugby.
He excelled in Tennis and represented the school at both junior and senior levels.
At just 15 years of age he partnered Rupert Ferdinands (Captain) and won the Public Schools’ Double title.
At 16 he captained the senior team for 4 consecutive years and won the schools tournament thrice. At 17 years he partnered G.N. Perera and won the National Junior Doubles Title.
He went on to captain the Public Schools Tennis team which won the All Island Pentagular Tennis Championship. And was also awarded colours.
Amongst other extracurricular activities he started the Chess Club and served as its first secretary. He was in the school debating society and also held the posts of junior Sacristan and Librarian. He was appointed as a House Prefect and then school prefect. He was Head Prefect of the Boarding Houses and in 1958 Head Prefect of the College under Warden De Saram and Warden Davidson. In both 1958 and 1959 he was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship as being the best all round student.
He recollects that at the 1959 prize giving, and the Vote of thanks to the Rt. Revd. Archbald Rollo Cambell who was the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Chief Guest
“My Lord Bishop, we consider you as the Father of the college. It is said in the Bible ‘What man is there among you who when asked for bread will give him a stone or when asked for a fish will give him a serpent. I am therefore sure as religious man when I ask for a day’s holiday to celebrate the prize giving you will say ‘No my son have two.”
In his reply the Bishop said ‘ I must remind the Head Prefect that the devil also quotes scriptures for his own advantage’
The moral of the story is do not try to be too clever.
Felix Senanayake passed his O.L.s in 1958 with a 1st Division obtaining 3 Distinctions, and passed his University Entrance Examination in 1960 to gain admission to the Medical Faculty of the University of Ceylon and passed his MBBS in 1965. He won his tennis colours and also Captained the University team.
He served his internship in Colombo as a Medical Dr. under Prof. Ranasinghe and Dr. Medonza.
He continued to excel in tennis captaining the Government Services Tennis team winning titles. He was ranked among the Top 8 each year and No. 5 one year.
He was invited to join the National Davis Cup training squad and represented Ceylon in a Pakistan tournament.
Among other activities he was a member of the YMCA Judo team and awarded a Brown Belt and acted as an Instructor. He represented the Ceylon YMCA against a visiting Japanese team.
He was also appointed as Honorary Medical Officer for the YMCA Judo Association.
He along with Ranjit Welgama and Malcolm Attapathu formed the Korenkar Karate Dojo of Ceylon which gained recognition by Master Oyama 0f the Japan Karate Do Kiyokushin Kai Kan as the branch in South East Asia. Subsequently Welgama was awarded a Black Belt , while Senanayake and Attapathu as Brown Belts and subsequently elevated to 1st Dan Black Belt.
To pursue his Medical career in 1970 he proceeded to London for Post Graduate Studies at the Middlesex Hospital and appointed as a Research Registrar at Mount Vernon Hospital working on ‘Hyper bane Oxygen Therapy.
His first Paper was on ‘Treatment of Large Gut Tumours using hyper bane Therapy was published in the ‘Clinical Radiology in 1972. This also formed the basis of his Masters thesis and now in the Library of St. Barts Hospital in London. Subsequently he was appointed as the Registrar of Royal Free Hospital and then Senior Registrar of Middlesex Hospital.
In 1975 Dr. Senanayake was appointed as Consultant Radiotherapist and Oncologist at the Royal Free Hospital & School of Medicine, a part of the University of London where he was also a Senior Lecturer, and further a recognized Consultant in the EU. Dr. Senanayake is probably the first Sri Lankan to have risen to the above high positions.
When he retired in 1996 he had held the following positions:
- Senior Consultant & Director, Department of Radiology & Oncology
- Chairman Division of Oncology
- Director, Department of Medicine
- Member Medical Advisory Committee
- Member Medical Manpower Committee
- Member Medicines Sub Committee
- Member Education Committee
- Member Medical Planning Sub Committee
- Member Consultants Committee
- Consultant Radiotherapist & Oncologist, Royal Northern Hospital and did Joint Clinic work with Sir. Reggie Murly, President of the Royal College of Surgeons
- Vice Chairman of the Consultants Committee
- Chairman Health and Safety Committee
National Appointments:
- Member of the Regional Advisory Committee on Radiotherapy
International Appointment
- By Invitation Only – Member Centre Oncologique et Biologique De Reserche, France
Teaching:
- Medical Students attached to the Royal Free Medical School
- Lecturer to the Royal College of Surgeons Trainees
- Lecturer in the Course for Senior Registrars attached to his unit
- Visiting Post Grad Fellows from Abroad
Research:
- In association with Philips Medical Systems developed the Multileaf Collimator
for Bean Shaping in Radiotherapy. BBC reported It was the first in the world to clinically use in
radiotherapy. The unit was opened by Princess Margaret
- Royal Free was one of only three centres in London using Steno tack Radio surgery and Dr. Senanayake was the first in Europe to introduce X Knife Planning System and acted as reference centre for Europe.
- In association with Photo Electron Corporation conducted reliability studies on the Photon Radiosurgery System on Brain tumours and subsequently extending to intra operative boost radiation in Breast Tumours. Royal Free was only one of two centre in the world to use this system. The other was at Mars General Hospital USA.
- In association with Mr. Green developed the Tacking Cobalt Unit an early form of confirmation therapy and only one of its kind in the world. Published article of using the TCM in treatment of Med to blastomas using single field. The article was jointly with Prof. Sun, Director of Chongquue Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. He was attached to Dr. Senanayake’s Department as a visiting Fellow. Made a documentary on Conformal Therapy for Telemedd and distributed world wide.
- Founder and Chairman of the International Adjuvent Therapy Organisation for early breast cancer and conducted one of the largest breast cancer trials in the world.. The results were published in the Oxford Medical Publication – World wide evidone.
Member of Early Breast Cancer Trialists Group.
- Member of Medical Research Council Brain Tumour Working Party
Member of MRC (England) Sub Committee for Stenotactic Radiosurgery. As a member of the MRC published several articles on Brain Tumours.
- Member of the UK Cancer Coording Committee for Head and Neck Tumours.
- Member of MRC/EORTC Study on Primary Chemotherapy for locally advanced Bladder Cancer.
- Many other research Publications on Gynacologiical Urological and Large Gut tumours
In recognition of his work on advancement of cancer management he had an Entry in Debretts People of Today; A publication for people who made a significant contribution in their particular field. His was under Medicine.
Had Entry in Cambridge Publication People of the 20th Century for people who made a significant Contribution world wide in their particular field.
After retirement Dr. Senanayake moved to Athens in Greece and was invited to set up a Radiotherapy Department in a recently built private hospital and appointed as its Scientific Director.
Private Practice:
- Had rooms in Harley Street, London
- Consultant Radiotherapist and Oncologist at Wellington (Private) Hospital, London and Cromwell (Private) Hospital London
Alma Mater:
Dr. Felix Senanayake is a benefactor of S. Thomas’ College and continues to support the school regularly.
- When in UK along with Dr. Raja Jayaweera formed the OBA Overseas Branch in UK.. The first Meeting was held at the Ceylon Tea Centre in London. Dr. Jayaweera was elected as its first President and Dr. Felix Senanayake the Hon. Secretary.
- They organized the first Dinner/Dance at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and raised funds.
- Funded Late Warden Neville De Alwis’s visit to London and visit several Public Schools to observe their working patterns
- He enhanced the funds required to restore the Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship Fund and also established a Warden Davidson Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- Donated funds for a Prize for Tennis
- As an Overseas Member of the Centenary Group helped fund some of the projects undertaken for the College.
- Donated a substantial amount as a Trust Fund and its annual returns to be used by the Centenary Group to finance its work and projects in hand.
- He is also a Member of the Thomian Society
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