Dr Dharmakirti Bandara Palipane

17 April 1937 – 27 August 2025

Passed away peacefully on 27 August 2025. He is the retired Anaesthetist of Kandy General Hospital, Sri Lanka and Whakatane Hospital, New Zealand. He is the beloved husband of Sunethra, ever loving father of Imani and son-in-law Dilip.

The funeral service for Dr Palipane will be held at the All Saints Chapel, Purewa Cemetery, 100 St Johns Road, Meadowbank, Auckland on 30th August 2025 at 2.00 pm.

Tributes

Our heartfelt condolences to you Imani Akki and Lokuamma for the passing of our beloved Lokuappachi. He was a wise, understanding and loving person who will be dearly missed. Our prayers are with you and may you find comfort in knowing that our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. May he attain the supreme bliss of nibbana and we hope you will find the strength to get through this tragic time. Anura Malli, Erandathie nangi, Rashini, Sasanka and Anushini.

Rashini

We feel deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved Lokuappachchi. His calm nature, quiet strength, and unwavering faith in the Dhamma made him a shining example to all of us. Every conversation with him carried wisdom and kindness, and his ability to listen with patience and guide with compassion is something we will always cherish. He lived simply, humbly, and always in alignment with the teachings of the Buddha, showing us by example what it means to live with mindfulness, peace, and compassion. His presence brought comfort, and his gentle smile will remain in our hearts forever. May his journey be peaceful, and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana. 🙏 Sirima Nangi, Upali Aiya, Deepika Nangi, Sandeepa and Kethshan.

Sandeepa

I was saddened by the news of Palipane’s passing. We both joined the uni on the same day for the same course, and were given places at the same hall of residence. “College House” was our home for the entire duration of study at the uni. He was a good,sincere, soft spoken and reliable friend and was always ready to help and encourage others. He was a devout Buddhist . May the good memories comfort and sustain the family . Freddo

Frederick Benjamin

Hi Nangi , Dil and Aunty , Holding you close in our thoughts and hoping you are doing okay. There are no words that can express the depth of sorrow I feel for your loss. May the love and memories you shared bring you some measure of comfort during this difficult time. Love Aiya, Jeevani and the kids .

Thusitha

Sad to miss a loving and caring brother in law from our family. He was a kind and a caring person . There was strong strength in softness and wisdom in his silence. His knowledge and commitment to the medical profession was unmeasurable His dedication to Buddhism is something I admired with a passion We were fortunate to visit him a few weeks before his sudden departure from this world. He is no longer with us but his spark lives on every heart he touched. He lives in our heart though he is no longer with us. May he attain supreme Nibhana. Sisira and Padmini

Sisira and Padmini

Uncle Rienzie was one of the kindest people I have known and has always been so for as long as I've had the unique pleasure of knowing him, which has been all my life. His humble demeanor and unwavering approach to nurturing is spirituality and caring nature has and always will be a shining example to us all. I'm still amazed thinking back to how he had always been this way and never changed over the years. He will be missed, but we truly feel blessed to have had him in our lives. We truly hope he attains the Nirvana he has been seeking. Love, Sahan, Oshi, Kavel and Kalyana

Sahan

In Loving Memory of Rienzi Aiya It is with heavy hearts that we remember Rienzi Aiya, a truly remarkable soul whose kindness, quiet strength, and deep wisdom left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. He was more than a beloved family member. He was a mentor and a guide. Many of us turned to him for life advice, and his thoughtful words and steady presence brought comfort and clarity. His spiritual strength and generous heart reflected the goodness he carried within, and his legacy of compassion and guidance will live on in all of us. Though we are far away, our love and gratitude for Rienzi Aiya remain close. We are blessed to have known him and will carry his memory in our hearts. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbāna.

Rohana

We were blessed to have known Rienzy Maami, a true gentleman in every sense — kind in mind, graceful in manner, and always calm. He lived as a true follower of Buddhism, never speaking ill of anyone. The little chair-side chats we shared over the years were filled with wisdom, experience, and the thoughtful research he carried out for the wellbeing of others. It was always amazing how he linked all of that to the teachings of Lord Buddha. As the nature of life is such that those who arrive must one day depart, he has left us with a void that cannot be filled. His memory and example will remain with us always. With all that we witnessed, we truly believe he was on the path to Nirvana. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana! 🙏 🙏 🙏

Chathu

We got to know Dr Palipane when we were in Sri Lanka and the remarkable aspect of him was his unassuming nature and always greeted us with a smile. We met him several times again in New Zealand and in Australia. When we visited Sunethra and him in late 2023, we saw a unique habit of him. Before he had his own lunch he took a plate of food outside the house and fed the birds and squirrels first. He loved nature and wanted to live with it in harmony. Great man! May he attain supreme bliss of Nirvana. We express our deepest condolences to his family. May the wonderful memories of your loved one, help ease your pain. It is so hard to say good bye to someone so loved, but hope you find the strength to get through this tragic time.

CHITRAMALA, KITHSIRI, SANJEEVA AND RAJITHA HERATH

We will always treasure in our hearts our brother-in-law Rienzie, He was really always a beloved brother to us, his mild manners, his quiet demeanor, his dedication to his career in medical field, and his strong dedication to Buddhism and its meditation practices, set a great example how to live well with humility and honor. We always run to him for advice, and trust in his understanding, he was a mentor to us. We miss him dearly, always remember him fondly. May he be in peace always, and may he be blessed always in his upward journey to Nirvana.

Mani and John

I met Dr Palipane in 2021 when I started working at Whakatane hospital as psychiatri st. His kindness & humility impressed me the most.He didn't talk much,but I knew he was there for me.I felt I was home again. May his soul rest in peace 🙏 🙏

Dilrukshi

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our beloved Lokuappachi. To us what makes him most memorable and a shinning beacon was his personality. His stoic presence and dedication to his faith was quite commendable and one that a lot of family and friends wished to emulate. He set a good example of what it is to follow and live the dharma. Being the first to wake up and start his days off with meditations. His gentle, calm & quiet nature along with his pleasant smile as he enters a room. His discourses on dharma that started discussions and the ability to listen intently and address questions with patience is something we will miss while sitting at the dining table. Often family friends would drop in to have a discussion or two when in Sri Lanka and leave the conversation a little enlightened each time. He was never quick to anger, patiently listening & observing. His life is a testament to the years of study, meditation and conviction to his faith and practise in Buddhism. There will be a large void in everyone’s lives who he has touched and trips to Sri Lanka will feel bittersweet with lokuappachi gone. His love of polsambol, collecting little insects throughout the house to put outside, trips to the Maligawa and the Buddhist Publication Society and the gentle aroma of jasmine that perforates the air in the morning after lighting an incense stick before meditating will be reminders of who he was and how he touched the lives of those around him. He will be greatly missed but not forgotten. May the triple noble gem bless him and may he attain the supreme bliss of nibbana. From your loving Malli, Manik, Pattie, Koshala & Nimmy. 🙏🏽❤️

Pattie

Rienzie, as he was known to most of his friends, was more a brother to me than a classmate..We we were classmates, hostelmares from 3rd July. 1956. I was almost a member of their family. When he passed away , I lost a part of myself. He walked tall amongst men. Humility was his strong point and kindness was his weak point. As a Devoted Buddhist, he will attain NIBBHANA.

Venki

Prem namaste and greetings from South Africa I was privileged to have met Dr. Palipane when I worked as the anaesthetic locum that our practice BDP offered to Whakatāne hospital in the 2000’s. From the very beginning, what struck me most was this gentle, pious, humble soul who never needed to raise his voice or demand respect—he earned it naturally, through kindness, humility, grace and in his every day dealings with the people around him, Under his guidance, the department ran smoothly, not just because of his leadership, but because he created an environment of calm, respect, and trust. For those of us working as locums, far from our own families, he cared for us as if we were his own. He made us feel at home, part of something larger than just work. I was privileged to meet his daughter, Imani, during those years—another reminder of the love, warmth, and values he carried into every part of his life. What began as a professional connection soon grew into years of true friendship. Even after life carried us in different directions, that bond remained. When we met again many years later in Sri Lanka, it was as if no time had passed at all. We laughed, we shared memories, and it felt just like the good old days in Whakatāne. Dr. Palipane was more than a colleague, more than a friend—he was a steady, guiding presence, someone who touched lives quietly but profoundly. As the Buddha once taught: “As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, so the wise are not moved by praise or blame.” That was him—steady, humble, and grounded in his values. Today, as we mourn his passing, we also celebrate a life so beautifully lived. May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may we carry forward the lessons he taught us—of humility, compassion, and friendship. On behalf of the South African Anaesthetists who worked with him over the years we send our condolences and love to his wife ,Imani , Dilip and family Prem namaste Dr Kamini Singh

Dr kamini Singh
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