Nicholas Attygalle
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ceylon | |
---|---|
In office 1954–1967 | |
Preceded by | Ivor Jennings |
Succeeded by | S. J. Walpita |
Personal details | |
Born | 14 July 1894 |
Died | 27 March 1970 | (aged 75)
Nationality | Royal College Colombo, Ceylon Medical College |
Occupation | Academic |
Profession | Physician |
Sir Nicholas Attygalle
Early life and education
He was born on 14 July 1894 to the prominent Attygalle family from Madapatha, he was the fifth in a family of eleven which included nine sons and two daughters. His father, Don Louis Attygalle, was a shroff and later served as the Mudaliyar of the Ratnapura Kachcheri. A part time Ayurveda practitioner, Don Louis Attygalle died when Nicholas was seventeen. His mother was Dolicia Jane Haddagoda. Cyril Attygalle was one of his brothers.[1]
Attygalle received his primary education at
Career
Having joined the Ceylon Medical Service after graduating, he served as a field doctor until he left for Britain. On his return he was denied a post of
In 1931 he took up the post of 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. Thereafter he served as Surgical
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. Holding the post until 1953, Departments of Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Paediatrics, Parasitology and Pharmacology were established in the Colombo Medical Faculty and postgraduate examinations in Medicine (MD, MS and MOG) also commenced during this period.[1]
In 1952 he was appointed to the
He was also the president of the Buddhist Theosophical Society, succeeding S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, vice-president of the Royal College Union, chairman of the board of trustees of Ananda College and was president of the Vidyalankara Sabha.[1]
Family
Nicholas Attygalle and Conita Attygalle in 1925 who was the granddaughter of Dr John Attygalle, one of the first doctors qualified in western medicine. They had a son,