Nicholas Attygalle
Encyclopedia
Sir Nicholas Attygalle, FRCS (July 14, 1894 – March 27, 1970) was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) academic, surgeon
and a Senator. He was the President of the Senate of Ceylon
from 1953 to 1960 and the first Ceylonese Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon
, where he was known as the "Iron Vice Chancellor".
and Ceylon Medical College where he passed LMS in 1919, being first in the batch and obtaining a first class in the Final Examination. After graduating he joined the Ceylon Medical Service. In 1925 Sir Nicholas left for Britain for further studies and returned in 1929 with his MRCS
, LRCP (London), DLO
(London) and FRCS
(England).
where there were no facilities for any surgery. He was later appointed demonstrator in anatomy in spite having his FRCS (England). Again this may have been the only occasion where a qualified Surgeon with an FRCS was appointed demonstrator in anatomy.
In 1944 he was appointed Professor and Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department and was the first to practice both Obstetrics and Gynaecology and in 1945 he became Dean of the Medical faculty of the University of Ceylon.
In 1952 he was appointed to the Senate, the Upper House of Parliament and was made its president in 1953 and knighted for his services to the country. In 1954 he became the first Ceylonese Vice Chancellor of University of Ceylon, succeeding Sir
Ivor Jennings, a post he head till his retirement in 1967. From 1964 to 1969 he was the president of the Ceylon Medical Council.
He was also the President of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, Chairman Board of Trustees of Ananda College
and was President of the Vidyalankara Sabha.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and a Senator. He was the President of the Senate of Ceylon
Senate of Ceylon
The Senate of Ceylon was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed/indirectly elected rather than directly elected. The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time...
from 1953 to 1960 and the first Ceylonese Vice Chancellor of 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...
, where he was known as the "Iron Vice Chancellor".
Early life and education
He was born on July 14, 1894, the fifth in a family of eleven (nine sons and two daughters). His father died when he was seventeen. Sir Nicholas was educated at Royal College ColomboRoyal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
and Ceylon Medical College where he passed LMS in 1919, being first in the batch and obtaining a first class in the Final Examination. After graduating he joined the Ceylon Medical Service. In 1925 Sir Nicholas left for Britain for further studies and returned in 1929 with his MRCS
Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons
MRCS is a professional qualification for surgeons in the UK and IrelandIt means Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. In the United Kingdom, doctors who gain this qualification traditionally no longer use the title 'Dr' but start to use the title 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or 'Ms'.There are 4 surgical...
, LRCP (London), DLO
DLO
DLO can refer to:*D'Lo Brown, ring name of American professional wrestler Ace Conner*Defence Logistics Organisation, a department of the Ministry of Defence that supplies the British Armed Forces...
(London) and FRCS
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons is a professional qualification to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland...
(England).
Career
He was sent as DMO NawalapitiyaNawalapitiya
Nawalapitiya is a town in the country of Sri Lanka. It is in the Kandy administrative district, 38 kilometers away from Kandy. The town is near Mahaweli Ganga. Nawalapitiya is a one of the well planned towns of SriLanka.It is well connected to all nearby important places by Bus...
where there were no facilities for any surgery. He was later appointed demonstrator in anatomy in spite having his FRCS (England). Again this may have been the only occasion where a qualified Surgeon with an FRCS was appointed demonstrator in anatomy.
In 1944 he was appointed Professor and Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department and was the first to practice both Obstetrics and Gynaecology and in 1945 he became Dean of the Medical faculty of the University of Ceylon.
In 1952 he was appointed to the Senate, the Upper House of Parliament and was made its president in 1953 and knighted for his services to the country. In 1954 he became the first Ceylonese Vice Chancellor of University of Ceylon, succeeding Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Ivor Jennings, a post he head till his retirement in 1967. From 1964 to 1969 he was the president of the Ceylon Medical Council.
He was also the President of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, Chairman Board of Trustees of Ananda College
Ananda College
Ananda College , Colombo which is considered as the leading National school in Sri Lanka, was established on November 1, 1886, by the Buddhist Theosophical Society led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott...
and was President of the Vidyalankara Sabha.