Chelliah Thurairaja
Encyclopedia
Major General
Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja, USP
, SLMC
was a Sri Lanka Medical Doctor, Sri Lankan Army
officer and sportsmen, who was former Director of Army Medical Services and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
. A triple international in basketball, badminton and golf, he is the only Sri Lankan to represented the country in two sports disciplines at the Asian Games-in 1966 in basketball and in 1982 in golf, later winning the gold medal in golf at the World Masters Games 2002.
Educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, where he was an all-round student taking part in cricket, rugby, basketball, badminton, athletics and boxing winning colours in four sports. He played in the Bradby Shield Encounter
. Moving on to the University of Ceylon
to study medicine and was one of the top ranked in his batch. He was the University sportsman of the year 1961-62.
A keep rugby player, he played for Havelocks Sports Club in 1961, which year they won the Clifford Cup. His international rugby career included games against the Combined Universities and Barbarians as a member of the Defence Services rugby team. Dr Thurairaja captained the Ceylon basketball team. Dr Thurairaja won the gold medal in golf at the World Masters Games 2002 and captained the Asian Games contingent from Sri Lanka.
After completing his medical training and qualifying as a doctor, he joined the Ceylon Army in 1961 as a Capitan in the Medical Corp. His career in the army lasted 37 years, when he retired in 1998 as a Major General, the Head of the Medical Corp and Director of Army Medical Services as well as the Medical Advisor to the Sri Lankan Army. General Thurairaj has received the Uttama Seva Padakkama
(USP) and the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
.
Dr. Thurairaja is a qualified consultant radiologist and in sports medicine
. He was the President of the Sri Lanka Sports Medicine Association, Vice-President of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine and an Executive Committee Member of the International Federation of Sports Medicine. He had also authored four manuals on sports medicine.
He is married to Loret Thurairaja and they have two daughters are Leisha and Michelle.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja, USP
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, SLMC
Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
The Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the Sri Lanka Army which provides medical services to all army personnel and their families in war and in peace. It is made up of 4 regular units and one volunteer unit. Headquartered in Colombo, formally at army headquarters...
was a Sri Lanka Medical Doctor, Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
officer and sportsmen, who was former Director of Army Medical Services and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps
The Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the Sri Lanka Army which provides medical services to all army personnel and their families in war and in peace. It is made up of 4 regular units and one volunteer unit. Headquartered in Colombo, formally at army headquarters...
. A triple international in basketball, badminton and golf, he is the only Sri Lankan to represented the country in two sports disciplines at the Asian Games-in 1966 in basketball and in 1982 in golf, later winning the gold medal in golf at the World Masters Games 2002.
Educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, where he was an all-round student taking part in cricket, rugby, basketball, badminton, athletics and boxing winning colours in four sports. He played in the Bradby Shield Encounter
Bradby Shield Encounter
The Bradby Shield Encounter - commonly known as "The Bradby" - is the blue ribbon of Sri Lanka's school rugby union season. It is played annually between traditional rivals Royal College, Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy. The encounter consists of two legs, one being played in the Royal College...
. Moving on to the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
to study medicine and was one of the top ranked in his batch. He was the University sportsman of the year 1961-62.
A keep rugby player, he played for Havelocks Sports Club in 1961, which year they won the Clifford Cup. His international rugby career included games against the Combined Universities and Barbarians as a member of the Defence Services rugby team. Dr Thurairaja captained the Ceylon basketball team. Dr Thurairaja won the gold medal in golf at the World Masters Games 2002 and captained the Asian Games contingent from Sri Lanka.
After completing his medical training and qualifying as a doctor, he joined the Ceylon Army in 1961 as a Capitan in the Medical Corp. His career in the army lasted 37 years, when he retired in 1998 as a Major General, the Head of the Medical Corp and Director of Army Medical Services as well as the Medical Advisor to the Sri Lankan Army. General Thurairaj has received the Uttama Seva Padakkama
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
(USP) and the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
The Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal shall be granted to All regular officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force, who complete 12 years continuous service and whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who are recommended by their...
.
Dr. Thurairaja is a qualified consultant radiologist and in sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
. He was the President of the Sri Lanka Sports Medicine Association, Vice-President of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine and an Executive Committee Member of the International Federation of Sports Medicine. He had also authored four manuals on sports medicine.
He is married to Loret Thurairaja and they have two daughters are Leisha and Michelle.