A very timid visit, to the Ladies hoste,l at De Saram Place, Colombo 10.

 

This incident was related to me by my friend the late Dr. Daya Rodrigo.  

One of our illustrious seniors at the Medical College, was what was called ‘capping’ (courting) a female medical student named ‘Anoma’ who was boarded at the De Saram Ladies Medical Hostel. He had dressed up more of his smart self and walked to the entrance of the Hostel. He saw a middle-aged lady, seated in the porch, whom he presumed was the ‘Warden’ of the hostel. When he went in, he greeted the lady who in turn had asked him whether he had come visiting anyone in the hostel. He had replied ‘Anoma’ was name of the medical student that he had come calling. The ‘Warden’ then asked him how the female student was related to him. He had felt very shy and putting up a bold front, told the ‘Matron’ that ‘Anoma’ was his sister. The lady had expressed surprise and said ‘As far as I know ‘Anoma’ has no brothers and I ought to know that well, because I AM HER MOTHER’. At this moment the smart young man, related later to his friends, that he felt like running away, but he stood his ground. The arrival of ‘Anoma’ on the scene at this moment smoothed matters over, in a very feminine way. The romance proceeded and they got married after getting their MBBS degree with colors. Both later became very popular Specialist Medical Officers in the Health Department of Ceylon.