Vale: Dr Quintus Silva of Galle, Riyadh & the Humane World
Source:Thuppahis
Naomal Soysa, in Daily Mirror Online, 14 December 2025 .. ….where the title is lengthy
Dr. Quintus Silva-(MRCP (Lon), FRCGP (Lon), DCH (Lon)-was a distin….guished Physician and Paediatrician whose influence transformed the medical landscape of Galle. His dedication, humility, and unwavering commitment to his patients made him a remarkable clinician and an exceptional human being. Every encounter with his patients was grounded in respect, compassion, and genuine partnership. Throughout his long career, the welfare of those under his care remained his highest priority.
I first came to know Quintus in late 1973 when I joined his Medical Practice in Galle, soon after completing my internship in 1972 and serving as a Senior House Officer at the Kegalle Base Hospital. From the very beginning, I was struck by his extraordinary dedication to general practice. Having left the government service, he brought new energy and innovation to the Galle Cooperative Hospital before establishing his own practice in Talbot Town. His pioneering spirit later led to the founding of the People’s Central Hospital at No. 13 Hospital Street, Galle Fort. In 1975, this private hospital moved to Kaluwella, where it flourished from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s as a centre of excellence equipped with state-of-the-art theatre facilities and comprehensive services for the community, including the clergy of all faiths.
Quintus possessed an extraordinary connection with his patients; he knew most of them—and their families—by name. Patients sought his care from neighbouring villages as well as distant cities. His availability was unparalleled—day or night, he stood ready to help, never driven by financial reward but by a profound sense of duty and compassion.
His clinical knowledge was exceptional, and he lived the Hippocratic Oath every day of his life. Quintus embodied the highest ideals of our profession, displaying qualities of integrity, empathy, and humility that are rare and precious.
My life took a meaningful turn when he visited me one weekend with an unexpected request; he asked whether I could look after his practice, where I had been working as his partner for two and a half years, while he travelled to the United Kingdom. His goal was ambitious—he intended to sit for three postgraduate examinations: the DCH, MRCP, and MRCGP. True to his determination, Quintus achieved all three qualifications and returned to Galle enriched with knowledge and experience.
Upon his return, he played a pivotal role in reviving the Galle Medical Association, later serving as its President in the 1980s. His wife, Indira, contributed greatly by organising the Law–Medical cricket matches and Dinner Dances, restoring their former prestige. Together, they became a much-admired couple in the social and professional circles of Galle.
The next chapter of his career unfolded following civil unrest in Sri Lanka, when he joined the Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh in 1989 as a Consultant. I was then serving at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital, and this period allowed our families to share many memorable moments together, reminiscing on our professional journeys. Quintus served in Saudi Arabia for nearly twenty-five years, profoundly shaping the Department of Primary Care and introducing the Family Medicine Curriculum. He developed the department’s curriculum, trained students to sit for the MRCGP (UK), and elevated the status of Primary Care as a respected and sought-after discipline. His former students in Saudi Arabia remain deeply grateful for his mentorship and service. In addition, Quintus pioneered a free clinic for the Sri Lankan community in Riyadh, offering them invaluable access to healthcare
.After retiring from Prince Sultan Armed Forces Hospital, he returned to Galle, where he continued practising for several years before fully retiring shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in retirement, he remained an avid reader, dedicated to staying informed on current research and evidence-based medical practice. He was a proud Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners, London.I consider myself truly fortunate to have shared such a close and enduring bond with Quintus and his family. Our time together in Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, and London remains among the most meaningful chapters of my life. He was a compassionate, humble, and deeply caring human being. His vast clinical wisdom, his love for holistic medicine, and his emphasis on listening to patients have left an indelible mark on me and many others he mentored.
Quintus’s contributions extended far beyond the borders of Sri Lanka—from the United Kingdom to the sands of Saudi Arabia—touching countless lives with his healing hands and generous spirit.
My thoughts and prayers are with his beloved wife Indira, his daughter Ruvini, and the entire family.
Till we meet again one day, Quintus.
Goodbye, dear friend, Dr. Naomal Soysa …… London, UK
