Apart from being a general Physician, I had an interest in Cardiology, MBBS (Cey)1958l.MRCPE (Cardiology) 1960. In the 1950s, when I was a medical student, the only treatment available for heart failure was digitalis (foxglove extract), initially in grains. Later it was purified as Digoxin, tablets in mgs.there was a formula for digitalisation. A few years later, Frusemide (diuretic) was added to the treatment. A very effective I.V. in acute left ventricular failure. In 1978, I attended the World Congress of Cardiology in Tokyo. A new concept of preload (nitrates) and after-load, vasodilators hydrallazine was now developed.

My patient, H.J. had an infarct in the late 70s/80s, he had moderately severe heart failure. Needless to say, he was treated with Digoxin, diuretic, pre and after load treatment. Shortly after, Ace inhibitors were developed in the treatment of heart failure. H.J. was put on these. In the mid to late 80s, he developed further ischaemia and went on to have coronary artery by-pass graft surgery at RPAH. Still had a degree of heart failure. Now came the era of beta -blockers. He was put on carvedilol.

I retired in 2000, H.J. was transferred to one of my Cardiology colleagues at RPAH who was amazed at how long he had lasted with heart failure. There was an important reason, every year at Christmas; H.J turned up with a bottle of Chivas Regal. I had to keep him going.

I qualified in 1958 MBBS (cey). In 1962, after obtaining degrees of M RCPE and MRCP I returned to Colombo and was appointed Resident (Consultant) Physician to the General Hospital Colombo and in 1964, Physician, out patients Department to the hospital, permanent until 1970.

As a General Physician, I also love teaching and I took tutorials and ward classes with senior students from 1962 - 1970. In 1975 in Sydney, I was appointed to Concord Hospital, Prof. Anne Woolcock who was in charge of students told me, if I taught students they would give me a medical ward, which they did. I taught all the final year students until Prof. Lawrence was appointed.

At RPAH around the 1980s, I was asked by a colleague to give a tutorial in Diabetes to the final year students (as she was not available). My son, who was a junior medical student was petrified. There were these very clever boys M.B and D.C who tore strips out of their tutors. On the contrary, it was my subject and I taught differently, not the standard boring stereotyped lectures, students were all happy with my talk.

A short while later, when I was General Physician, sharing a ward at RPAH with Dr.John Greenaway. we had a group of final year students with us M.B ( later to be director of a cancer institute) D.C (a Prof. in cardiology) J.H (later a rheumatologist) G.L (later a prof in Oncology, Melbourne) and a few others. When M.B. graduated he requested his 1st appointment as an intern, with me and John Greenaway, I was quite touched by this. He married a nurse who was at our ward and she too later has been full of praise for my competence, kindness to and understanding of patients M.B,D.C and J,H were all my registrars at Canterbury Hospital. I was J.H.'s supervisor at Canterbury for FRACP Part 2 M.B and D.C and we have remained very good friends for over forty years.

I came to Australia in February 1975, appointed as part-time staff specialist to RPAH Sydney.  I had the degrees of MRCPE (1960), MRCP (1962) MD (Cey)1963 and a founding member of the Ceylon College of Physicians (1967). As I had come to work and live in Australia, I applied to sit the RACP exam in 1975. I was delighted to find that the College had decided to recognise my position in the profession and conferred the degree of RACP which was given to me at the College meeting in Auckland in 1976.
Stan Goulston on whose ward I was attached to at RPAH conferred the degree. Stan was PRACP. The next thing the College did was make me FRACP in 1978, Well before, I was made FRCPE (in 1979) FRCP (in 1983) and FCCP (Cey in 1990). In 2017, I have been made a life member of the RACP. All these very touching from the College and Country that I have chosen to work and live in as a citizen.

Award

Ranji and his wife Amara donated $1M as a research grant to the Australian Diabetes Society. An award of $40,000 is awarded as the 'Ranji and Amara Wikramanayake' award for Diabetes Research. He also donated Rs.5M to the Ceylon College of Physicians for three annual award stipend and Rs. 50,000 twice a year award to senior registrars, to help with their research training.