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| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
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The Alumni Association of University of Peradeniya Colombo Chapter (AAUPCC) which has been active throughout, has organized a Memorial Oration for Dr. Gamini Gunasekera - the founder President of the AAUPCC, states an Association press release. Dr. Gamini Gunasekera Memorial Oration will be delivered by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Finance who himself is an illustrious product from University of Ceylon (now University of Peradeniya). The Minister will speak on Impact of Globalization on University Education" an appropriate topic in the present context of globalization. Late Dr. Gunasekera born in 1938, the only child of Mudliyar D.M. Gunasekera of Nawala, Rajagiriya, though born with a silver spoon, was later to shine in his own and become an intellectual, a successful businessman, and a gentleman with humane qualities. At the zenith of his life as well as his carrier, he had a tragic death while on a tour of official business in Australia in 1995. Dr. Gunasekera had his entire primary and secondary education at Royal College, Colombo and entered the University of Ceylon at Peradeniya in 1956. After obtaining a B.A. General degree in 1958, he ventured on his own to his chosen field of marketing industrial safety equipment for use in factories and related places - entirely a new field at that time. Thereafter he pioneered the manufacture of these equipment locally and went a step further by manufacturing equipment for use in hospitals. It was his policy to offer job opportunities to the needy people from surrounding areas where his factory was located. While managing his small but successful empire he was able to work diligently, yet silently, to present a thesis on "Prevention of accidents" to the University of Swansea in the UK, as a fulfilment to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This was made possible through a British Council Scholarship and he was awarded the Doctorate in 1986. In the University campus he was resident at Marrs Hall and was involved in all activities of the Hall as well the University. Even after leaving the campus, he continued his interest in affairs of the University and did all the spade work for the formation of the parent Association based in Peradeniya - the University of Peradeniya Alumni Association. The formation of Marrs Hall Alumni Association in 1984 was also mainly due to his efforts. This Association is the first formal Association of any alumni group of Peradeniya University, outside the campus. He was duly elected as its first President and continued to be so until his death in 1995. He also pioneered the formation of the Colombo Chapter of the Alumni Association of University of Peradeniya in 1989, and again duly elected as the founder President. Dr. Gunasekera was an active dayake of the Siridhammaramaya temple at Nawala and was a liberal philanthropist. After his death, his family consisting of his wife Mrs. Mallika Gunasekera, daughters (Mrs. Deepika Edirisuriya & Mrs. Pubudu Nalika Liyanage) and sons (Panduka & Saliya) manage their Group of Companies consisting of Industrial Safety Equipment (Pvt) Ltd. and Hospital Equipment (Pvt) Ltd., based in Nawala, Rajagiriya. The Oration is scheduled to be held at the Committee Room A of Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) on Tuesday August 24, 2004 from 5.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. Entry to the Committee Room A for the Oration is by invitation but those interested in attending same, may please contact Jinith de Silva (0777-609599) or Christy Perera (0777-572381) of the AAUPCC. |
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