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.

- A.K. Seneviratne

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.