QSMDr Upali Manukulasuriya, affectionately known as Dr Manu to his patients, passed away on the 12 July 2009 after a brief battle with cancer. Dr Manu immigrated to New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 1970. After working as a junior doctor in various New Zealand hospitals, he settled in Taumaranui as a Rural General Practitioner in 1973. Dr Manu said he had initially moved to Taumaranui because it was close to the ski fields and the fishing around Lake Taupo; but had fallen for the small King Country town, which he served for 31 years. During this time he served 20 years as a Senior Police Doctor and Prison Doctor to the Justice Department. Dr Manu was also passionate about Rural General Practice undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. He was a member of the Educational Committee of the Royal New Zealand College of the General Practitioners from 1996-98. From early in his career Dr Manu actively lobbied the District Health Boards and politicians about the plight of the overworked rural General Practitioner, long before it became an election issue. He was an Executive Committee Member and Foundation Member of the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network. In 1999 Doctor Manu was awarded a Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to Rural General Practice and the Sri Lankan community. He made a significant contribution to the Sri Lankan and wider community in New Zealand over a number of years, serving as spokesman for the United Sri Lanka Association of New Zealand since 1983. In 2004, Dr Manu moved to Auckland to be closer to his family, eventually working, as a General Practitioner in the ethnically diverse and high needs area of Otahuhu, South Auckland. At the time of his passing, Dr Manu was a member of the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, a position he had held for 7 years. Despite being active in medical and community service, Dr Manu always remained a dedicated, full time General Practitioner working at the coal face. On the lighter side, Dr Manu had a fondness for cooking Italian cuisine. When entertaining friends and family, he would regularly serve a tasty pasta dish with a glass of red wine. Dr Manu is survived by his wife Shantha, two daughters Shereen and Hiranthi, and two grandchildren Isla and Nico. Dr Kevin Gabriel (FRNZCGP) wrote this obituary.

QSMDr Upali Manukulasuriya, affectionately known as Dr Manu to his patients, passed away on the 12 July 2009 after a brief battle with cancer. Dr Manu immigrated to New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 1970. After working as a junior doctor in various New Zealand hospitals, he settled in Taumaranui as a Rural General Practitioner in 1973. Dr Manu said he had initially moved to Taumaranui because it was close to the ski fields and the fishing around Lake Taupo; but had fallen for the small King Country town, which he served for 31 years. During this time he served 20 years as a Senior Police Doctor and Prison Doctor to the Justice Department. Dr Manu was also passionate about Rural General Practice undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. He was a member of the Educational Committee of the Royal New Zealand College of the General Practitioners from 1996-98. From early in his career Dr Manu actively lobbied the District Health Boards and politicians about the plight of the overworked rural General Practitioner, long before it became an election issue. He was an Executive Committee Member and Foundation Member of the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network. In 1999 Doctor Manu was awarded a Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to Rural General Practice and the Sri Lankan community. He made a significant contribution to the Sri Lankan and wider community in New Zealand over a number of years, serving as spokesman for the United Sri Lanka Association of New Zealand since 1983. In 2004, Dr Manu moved to Auckland to be closer to his family, eventually working, as a General Practitioner in the ethnically diverse and high needs area of Otahuhu, South Auckland. At the time of his passing, Dr Manu was a member of the Medical Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, a position he had held for 7 years. Despite being active in medical and community service, Dr Manu always remained a dedicated, full time General Practitioner working at the coal face. On the lighter side, Dr Manu had a fondness for cooking Italian cuisine. When entertaining friends and family, he would regularly serve a tasty pasta dish with a glass of red wine. Dr Manu is survived by his wife Shantha, two daughters Shereen and Hiranthi, and two grandchildren Isla and Nico. Dr Kevin Gabriel (FRNZCGP) wrote this obituary.