Carlo Fonseka
{{Short description|Sri Lankan physician, academic, and political activist (1933–2019)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Carlo Fonseka
| image = Prof Carlo Fonseka.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name = කාලෝ ෆොන්සේකා
| native_name_lang = si
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|03|04}}
| birth_place = Colombo, Ceylon
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|09|02|1933|3|04}}
| death_place = Colombo
| nationality = Sri Lankan
| other_names =
| alma_mater = Maris Stella College, Negombo
St. Joseph's College, Colombo
University of Ceylon
University of Edinburgh
| occupation = Academic
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| title = President, Sri Lanka Medical Council.
| term = January 2012 – June 2017
| predecessor = Lalitha Mendis
| successor =
| party = Lanka Sama Samaja Party
}}
Carlo Fonseka ({{langx|si|කාලෝ ෆොන්සේකා}} Kālō Fonsēkā; 4 March 1933 – 2 September 2019)[https://colombogazette.com/2019/09/02/professor-carlo-fonseka-passed-away/ Professor Carlo Fonseka passed away] was a Sri Lankan physician, academic and political activist. He was a former dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya and a former president of the Sri Lanka Medical Council.
Early life and family
Fonseka was born on 4 March 1933 in Colombo, Ceylon.{{cite news|title=Prof. Carlo Fonseka celebrates his 80th birthday|url=http://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/prof-carlo-fonseka-celebrates-his-80th-birthday/|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Independent Television Network News|date=4 March 2013|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902184019/http://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/prof-carlo-fonseka-celebrates-his-80th-birthday/|archive-date=2 September 2017|url-status=dead}} His family were Roman Catholics.{{cite news|last1=Jayasinghe|first1=Shyamon|title=A lifetime of scientific thinking|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=155671|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Island|date=19 November 2016|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite book|last1=Pinto|first1=Leonard|title=Being a Christian in Sri Lanka: Historical, Political, Social, and Religious Considerations|date=2015|publisher=Balboa Press|isbn=978-1-4525-2863-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifVMCgAAQBAJ}} He was educated at Maris Stella College, Negombo and St. Joseph's College, Colombo.{{cite news|title=Maris Stella College Day|url=http://www.nation.lk/2007/05/27/events.htm|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Nation|date=27 May 2007|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|title=Annual Prize Giving|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070819/FunDay/kidreporters.html|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Sunday Times|date=19 August 2007|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} After school he joined the University of Ceylon's Faculty of Medicine in Colombo in 1955, graduating in 1960 with a first class MBBS degree.{{cite news|last1=Gunatilleke|first1=Nadira|title=Prof. Carlo Fonseka appointed SLMC President|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/01/04/local/103735|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Daily News|date=4 January 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Fonseka|first1=Carlo|title=Memories of the Physiology Department of the Colombo Medical School|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=109845|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Island|date=7 September 2014|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite journal|last1=Hoole|first1=Ratnajeevan|authorlink1=Ratnajeevan Hoole|title=Book Reviews: Essays of a Lifetime|url=http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/111/09/1548.pdf|journal=Current Science|date=10 November 2016|volume=111|issue=9|pages=1548–1550|accessdate=4 September 2017|location=Bangalore, India}}
Career
After graduating Fonseka joined the Colombo General Hospital as an intern under professor K. Rajasuria and senior surgeon Dr. Noel Bartholomeusz. He then joined the base hospital in Mirigama, near his home village of Divulapitiya, as a medical officer. In 1962 Fonseka joined the University of Ceylon's Department of Physiology as a lecturer. He joined the University of Edinburgh's Department of Physiology in 1964 to pursue his doctoral studies, obtaining a Ph.D. in 1966.
Fonseka returned to the University of Ceylon's Department of Physiology in 1967. He was a professor at the department from 1982 and 1989.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.med.cmb.ac.lk/index.php/department-of-anatomy-history|publisher=Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo|accessdate=4 September 2017|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082534/http://www.med.cmb.ac.lk/index.php/department-of-anatomy-history|url-status=dead}} The North Colombo Medical College (NCMC), a private medical school, was nationalised in 1989 and in 1991 became the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya with Fonseka as its first dean.{{cite news|last1=Hewavissenti|first1=Panchamee|title=Private medical education fraught with corruption – Prof. Carlo Fonseka|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=26082|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Ceylon Today|date=23 July 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|archive-date=10 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040746/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20170401CT20170630.php?id=26082|url-status=dead}} He served as dean until 1997.{{cite news|title=Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of Carlo Fonseka, a Medical Educator|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=46610|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=4 March 2012|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} He was chairman of the Board of Management of the University of Colombo's Postgraduate Institute of Medicine from 1996 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2001.{{cite web|title=Chairpersons of Board of Management|url=http://pgim.cmb.ac.lk/?page_id=2620|publisher=Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo|accessdate=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040833/http://pgim.cmb.ac.lk/?page_id=2620|archive-date=10 September 2017|url-status=dead}} The University of Colombo appointed Fonseka as an emeritus professor in July 2000.{{cite web|title=Emeritus Professors|url=http://www.cmb.ac.lk/index.php/emeritus-professors/|publisher=University of Colombo|accessdate=4 September 2017}} He was also appointed emeritus professor by the University of Kelaniya.{{cite news|last1=Fonseka|first1=Carlo|title=Generic drugs and branded drugs|url=http://www.island.lk/2008/01/29/features4.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=29 January 2008|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}
Fonseka was appointed president of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) in January 2012.{{cite web|title=About us|url=http://www.srilankamedicalcouncil.org/aboutus.php|publisher=Sri Lanka Medical Council|accessdate=4 September 2017}}{{cite web|title=Members of the Sri Lanka Medical Council|url=http://www.srilankamedicalcouncil.org/aboutusmembers.php|publisher=Sri Lanka Medical Council|accessdate=4 September 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Yapa|first1=Ayshwarya|title=Prof. Carlo Fonseka's term of office comes to an end|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=41640|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Ada Derana|date=30 June 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} The appointment was opposed by the Sri Lanka Medical Faculty Students' Action Committee alleging that it had been made under political influence.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka medical students to protest against new Medical Council president|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11B/Jan04_1325651270CH.php|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Colomo Page|date=4 January 2012|location=Indianapolis, U.S.A.|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904202335/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_11B/Jan04_1325651270CH.php|url-status=dead}} Fonseka's tenure at the SLMC was to end in December 2016 but the government extended it by six months.{{cite news|last1=Jayawardhane|first1=Kalathma|title=Prof Carlo Fonseka ends tenure as SLMC Chairman|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Prof-Carlo-Fonseka-ends-tenure-as-SLMC-Chairman-131996.html|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|date=30 June 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} Fonseka resigned at the end of June 2017.
Fonseka was a prominent member of the Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP).{{cite news|last1=Fernando|first1=Laksiri|title=A Tribute to Carlo Fonseka|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=142456|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=23 March 2016|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite book|last1=Jasentuliyana|first1=Nandasiri|authorlink1=Nandasiri Jasentuliyana|title=Same Sky, Different Nights|date=2016|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1-5246-0042-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKTTDAAAQBAJ}} He was a member of the party's central committee and politburo and led its branch in Kotte.{{cite news|title=LSSP- Oldest political party never charged with malpractices – Prof. Vitarana|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/111002/News/nws_018.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Sunday Times|date=2 October 2011|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|title=UNP back in Mendis muddle|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990502/pol.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Sunday Times|date=2 May 1999|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite web|last1=Wilton|first1=Greg|authorlink1=Greg Wilton|title=Adjournment: Fonseka, Professor Carlo|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1996-10-14%2F0147;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1996-10-14%2F0000%22|website=House Hansard|publisher=Australian House of Representatives|accessdate=5 September 2017|date=14 October 1996}} Fonseka was a vocal critic of private medical education and campaigned against the NCMC in the early 1980s.{{cite news|last1=Salgado|first1=Miran|title=Should we abolish private medical education in Sri Lanka?|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170212/sunday-times-2/should-we-abolish-private-medical-education-in-sri-lanka-227953.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Sunday Times|date=12 February 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} Whilst president of the SLMC he was highly critical of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), a private medical school.{{cite news|last1=Silva|first1=Manushi|title=Dr. Neville Fernando To Sue Prof. Carlo Fonseka|url=http://dailynews.lk/2015/11/17/local/dr-neville-fernando-sue-prof-carlo-fonseka|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Daily News|date=17 November 2015|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Fernando|first1=Laksiri|title=Apparent Bias And Prejudice Of Prof Carlo Fonseka|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/apparent-bias-and-prejudice-of-prof-carlo-fonseka/|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Colombo Telegraph|date=24 December 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Perera|first1=Kusal|title=SAITM: beware of becoming a bite|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/SAITM-beware-of-becoming-a-bite-123596.html|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|date=10 February 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} After leaving the SLMC Fonseka claimed he would work to "topple the government" on the SAITM issue.{{cite news|last1=Jayawardhane|first1=Kalathma|title=SAITM issue: Carlo vows to topple govt.|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/SAITM-issue-Carlo-vows-to-topple-govt-if-its-the-only-option-left--135855.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|date=2 September 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}
Fonseka received a M.A. degree from the University of Kelaniya in 1999.{{cite news|title=Professor Carlo Fonseka admitted to hospital|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/02/24/local/108659/professor-carlo-fonseka-admitted-hospital|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=Daily News|date=24 February 2017|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} He was a fellow of the Ceylon College of Physicians and the Sri Lanka College of General Practitioners.{{cite news|last1=Fonseka|first1=Carlo|title=Generic drugs and branded drugs|url=http://www.island.lk/2008/01/30/features2.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=30 January 2008|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}} He has served as president of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, chairman of the Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital, chairman of the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol and was a member of the University Grants Commission.{{cite news|title=Musicians honoured at Temple Trees|url=http://archive2.english.news.lk/entertainment/15-musicians-honoured-at-temple-trees|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=news.lk|date=1 September 2011|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082718/http://archive2.english.news.lk/entertainment/15-musicians-honoured-at-temple-trees|archive-date=10 September 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Jayasekera|first1=Sandun A.|title=MR determined to save millions from tobacco menace: Carlo|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/43312/mr-determined-to-save-millions-from-tobacco-menace-carlo|accessdate=4 September 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|date=19 February 2014|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite web|title=CSHR Board of Management|publisher=Centre for the Study of Human Rights, University of Colombo}} Fonseka was one of six South-East Asia Region awardees of the World No Tobacco Day 2012 Awards.{{cite web|title=World No Tobacco Day 2012 Awards - the winners|url=https://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2012/awards/en/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617161646/http://www.who.int/tobacco/wntd/2012/awards/en/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 17, 2013|publisher=World Health Organization|accessdate=4 September 2017}} He was a lyricist and composer and has produced a number of albums including Carlochita Gee (1992), Raththaran Duwe (2006){{cite news|last1=Basnayake|first1=V.|title='Impersonal interests' for happiness|url=http://www.island.lk/2001/10/24/midwee02.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=24 October 2001|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|title=Kala Korner: A rare gem from Professor Carlo|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060702/plus/kala.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Sunday Times|date=2 July 2006|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Karunaratne|first1=R. S.|title=Carlo comes with Raththaran Duwe|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2006/06/21/art06.asp|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=Daily News|date=21 June 2006|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{cite news|last1=Basnayake|first1=V.|title=Artistry and Carlo Fonseka|url=http://www.island.lk/2006/08/13/features3.html|accessdate=5 September 2017|work=The Island|date=13 August 2006|location=Colombo, Sri Lanka}}{{Citation|title=Raththaran Duwe - Nanda Malini & Rohana Weerasinghe, June 15, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSY05sDI_nk|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}} and Koida Kiya (2015).{{Citation|title=Koida kiya manda kiya කොයිද කියා by Prof. Carlo Fonseka|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3gzfRGVlf0|language=en|access-date=2019-09-10}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Academic staff of the University of Ceylon (Colombo)
Category:Academic staff of the University of Colombo
Category:Academic staff of the University of Kelaniya
Category:Academic staff of the University of Sri Lanka (Colombo)
Category:Alumni of Maris Stella College
Category:Alumni of Saint Joseph's College, Colombo
Category:Alumni of the University of Ceylon (Colombo)
Category:Lanka Sama Samaja Party politicians
Category:People from Gampaha District
Category:People from British Ceylon
Category:Sri Lankan medical doctors
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Medical School