Remembering
Professor C. Dahanayake
Professor K.D. Jayasuriya, Department of Physics,
Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya.
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Emeritus Professor Charles Dahanayake, the
Founder Professor of Physics and Founder Dean of Science of the
University of Kelaniya passed away on February 14, 2009 at the age of
81. The following is a note of appreciation.
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Professor Charles Dahanayake |
I first met him 30 years ago, when I joined the Department of Physics
of the Kelaniya University as an Assistant Lecturer (Probationary) in
Physics. Ever since, I have also known him as a special, kind hearted
unassuming person.
He was a gentleman in every sense of the word, always ready to be of
assistance with excellent advice to all who seek it from him. He was
always simple and ready to look at anything in an unbiased way. His
simplicity was shown in his dress, expenditure, lifestyle and basically
in everything that he did. He was a good, silent observer who could fit
into any occasion. Never did he speak of his achievements and if it had
been done, I am sure it was solely for the benefit of the younger
generations. He was liked by both his colleagues and everyone in the
Faculty of Science, Kelaniya University, who all think highly of him.
Early education
Prof. Dahanayake was born on February 8, 1928 at Hiyare in the
hinterland of Galle. He had his early education in the village school.
After completing his first certificate examination, then known as the
Junior School Certificate (JSC) in Swabhasha, he moved to Vidyaloka
Vidyalaya in Galle and sat the JSC in the English medium in 1944. To
study science, he entered to the Senior Form at Ananda College in
Colombo in 1945. During the next two years he surprised everyone by
passing the Senior School Certificate (SSC) with Arts subjects, the SSC
with Science subjects, London Matriculation and the University Entrance
Examinations and being awarded the entrance Mathematics scholarship.
Prof. Dahanayake entered the University of Ceylon in 1947 to follow
the B.Sc. Special Degree course in Mathematics. He won the Muncherji
Framji Khan Prize at the end of his first year at the University and got
permission to complete the B.Sc. Special Degree in three years. By that
time he was fond of Physics and to the disappointment of the Professor
of Mathematics, he moved to the Physics Department to follow the B.Sc.
Special Degree course in Physics. He graduated with a First Class (Honours)
in Physics in 1951.
Prof. Dahanayake started his long and successful career in Physics by
joining the Physics Department of the University of Ceylon, Colombo in
1951 as an Assistant Lecturer. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1953 on
a Ceylon University Government Scholarship to pursue his postgraduate
studies at the University of Bristol. At Bristol, he carried out his
research work on Cosmic Rays under the supervision of Prof. C.F. Powell,
FRS and Noble Laureate, and obtained his Ph.D. degree in the field of
High Energy Particle Physics, in April 1956.
Doctoral degree
Prof. Dahanayake returned to the University of Ceylon, Colombo soon
after obtaining the doctoral degree and continued his teaching and
research work. He was promoted to the Lecturer Grade II in 1956 and to
the Lecturer Grade I in 1961.
During his sabbatical leave period in 1962, he went to the University
of Rochester, USA on a Fulbright Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship to
carry out research on Primary Cosmic Rays.
During July 1963 to September 1967, he worked at the University of
Ceylon, Peradeniya as a Senior Lecturer and continued his research work
on Fundamental Particles.
Prof. Dahanayake came to the Vidyalankara University (presently the
University of Kelaniya) in September 1967 as the first Professor of
Physics and the first Head of Physics in its newly established Faculty
of Science.
He was also the first Dean of Science, a post which he held for seven
years, of the University of Kelaniya. One of his major contributions to
the University of Kelaniya, and in particular to the Faculty of Science
was the effort he put in as the Dean in getting the Faculty on to a
sound footing.
Prof. Dahanayake nursed the faculty from its infancy to maturity and
we all in the Faculty of Science are grateful to him for his
contribution.
Prof. Dahanayake was a pioneer of Science in Swabhasha. He wrote a
book titled Prayogika Bhawthika Vidyawa (Practical Physics) in
Sinhalese. This book has become a widely used Physics book by Sinhala
medium G.C.E. (A/L) students and first year Physics students of the
universities.
He has also translated the book by J.K. Robertson titled “Optics -
Geometrical and Physical” into Sinhalese and was also a member of the
Physics Glossary Committee of the Educational Publications Department.
Physics journal
He was the Chief Editor of Vidura, a Science Magazine in Sinhala and
the Chief Editor of Sri Lanka journal of Physics published by the
Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka (IPSL). He was the Controlling Chief
Examiner in Physics from 1971 to 1974 and the Moderator of the Physics
paper from 1986 to 1990 at the G.C.E. (A/L) Examination. He was a member
of the Committee to review the G.C.E. (A/L) Physics syllabus of the
National Institute of Education from 1898 to 1991.
The Institute of Physics, Sri Lanka (IPSL) was one of the
institutions he helped to establish and he was the Founder President of
it. He was a life member and a Fellow of the IPSL and was a member of
the IPSL Council from its inception to his demise. He was a life member
of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and
was the President of its Section E in 1974 and then the General
President of SLAAS in 1990. He was a Fellow of the National Academy of
Science, Sri Lanka (FNASSL) from its inception. He was a Board member of
the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) and also of the Sri Lanka Standards
Institute (SLSI). He was also a member of the Sri Lanka Association for
Science and Mathematics Education (SLASME).
Kelaniya University
Prof. Dahanayake retired from the University of Kelaniya on July 31,
1993. He then continued as the Professor of Physics on contract basis
till April 1996. He had the distinction of having served 45 years in Sri
Lankan Universities, of which 29 years was at the Kelaniya University.
After considering the contributions he made in the fields of Physics
and Education and also to the development of the Kelaniya University,
Prof. Dahanayake was appointed as an Emeritus Professor in the Physics
Department, Kelaniya University in January 1997.
During his retirement he continued to participate in many academic
activities of the University of Kelaniya, IPSL and SLAAS and gave his
advice and ideas to all who sought them from him. His keen intellect,
wise guidance and gentle humour will be deeply missed. |
