Tiraj Mendis – The Paediatrician of God

1965 - 2021

His gentle smile, listening ear and calm advice made Tiraj stand out in our batch. Tiraj and I were the two Christians in our batch who got fully involved with the FOCUS group at Colombo Medical Faculty – the Medical Students Christian Fellowship [MSCF]. He has been as a brother to me for over 35 years.

Tiraj was 100% committed to doing what God wanted him to do. When his sister arranged for him to study at John Hopkins University in USA during the turbulent years of the 2^nd JVP insurrection, he agonized whether to go or not. Would he be letting down his country? What did God want him to do? After much prayer and discussion Tiraj decided to go.

Then universities opened again. Even though it meant he had to join our junior batch, Tiraj came back.

Prasanna Liyanage one of our batch mates and Tiraj’s closest friend said: “My first memory of Tiraj was in the O/L exam. He was next to me and he was praying before each paper. It attracted me to him. I started talking to him. Then we were classmates in A/Ls and entered medical faculty together. Last 41 years he has been my best friend. I’m beyond broken.”

Niranda Senarathne (nee Fernando) remembers how Tiraj sent another MSCF girl to be comfort her when he saw her sadly sitting alone in the student canteen after the tragic death of her brother. He had a sensitive heart which later brought him the love and gratitude of the people of Uva.

Tiraj used the year prior to internship to work as FOCUS staff. The first medical graduate to do this. He got his Intern appointment at Lady Ridgeway Hospital which was close to the Medical Faculty. Shavindra Dias recalls that the heavy workload of a medical intern didn’t stop him from continuing to lead Bible studies for MSCF. Shavindra says ‘Tiraj Aiya was totally genuine. His one desire was to please God.’

We first met Nuala, the beautiful girl next door, at Tiraj’s 21^st Birthday. She joined him in serving God together and bringing up a Godly family. She was a great strength and support to him. Our love and prayers are with you Nuala as you guide your three boys in God’s way.

After qualifying as a Paediatrician, Tiraj had a great job in the UK and he didn’t need to come back. But he knew God’s calling for him was to serve the poor in Sri Lanka. He returned to serve in Badulla, Uva Province. Tiraj’s boys had been studying at Royal College before going to UK. When they returned the Principal went back on his promise to take them back. Tiraj then made the bold decision to take his family with him to Bandarawela. He worked at the Provincial Hospital Badulla, Diyathalawa and Welimada Hospitals while his children attended schools in Bandarawela.

Tiraj started a Bible study group in every hospital he was posted to. Mentoring and discipling young Christian doctors, nurses and other health care workers. Tiraj and family were involved in the church’s mission, in music, preaching and Sunday school. By deciding to move to Bandarawela instead of keeping Nuala and the boys in Colombo where both Tiraj and Nuala had grown up, they were able to get involved in God’s Mission as a family.

Last April, Tiraj preached the entire seven words from the cross at the Good Friday Service in the Anglican Church at Nuwara Eliya. As Central and Uva Province are both in the hill country we had many programs together and Tiraj and I were constantly in touch. My son Nirmitha and Tiraj’s eldest son Geethika are the same age. We prayed together for our children. Tiraj’s one desire was that his three precious boys would live by the principles he lived by. That they like him would make every decision by asking themselves ‘What would Jesus want me to do?’

In September 2021 Tiraj succumbed to a massive stroke. He had ‘fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith…. Now there is in store for me (him) the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award.’ 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Rumala Morel (nee Wijesinghe)

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