Prof. Chandana Jayalath University of Vocational Technology

It is with profound grief that the University of Vocational Technology announces the passing away of Vidyajothi Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera, the first Chancellor of the university. The Vidya Jyothi is considered to be the highest national honor for science in Sri Lanka for outstanding contribution to the development of the country through dedicated work in the field of science. Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera has held several key academic, professional and administrative portfolios in the field of engineering, both local and international. He was the first Vice Chancellor of Open University of Sri Lanka in 1983. He was also the Vice Chancellor of University of Moratuwa from 1999 to 2005. He later served as Chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC).

In many public occasions, Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera has been sharing his insights on why the mind and hand” philosophy must be integral in Sri Lankan educational approach. When translated from Latin to mind and hand, the World renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s motto, men’s et manus, does reflect the educational ideals of Vidyajothi Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera who has been promoting, above all, education for practical application. Like MIT, he strongly believed that a motto should be so much more than prosaicism. It should be something that must be meticulously seen to be done in action in every part of education. Unlike many educationalists who think that the pursuit of knowledge is the sole purpose of education, Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera believed that students need to develop skills that are going to help them sustainable in a changing world where new problems continually arise. In other words, we all should try to imbue in our students, mind and hand, through which the students are able to inculcate resilience, creativity, innovation, flexibility and collaboration. It is these two complementary actions, ultimately form part of a well-rounded education, Emeritus Professor Dayantha Wijesekera believed. His main interest is in developing alternate routes for career development through tertiary education for gainful employment. He firmly believed that the Sri Lankan Universities have to be administratively and financially autonomous.

Let me quote few ending remarks he made at the UoVT convocation held in 2019. Vocational technology in short is the practical application of science and engineering to a wide range of real world problems and in no way should the term technology be underestimated to engineering. The differences between engineering and engineering technology are not always obvious. There is a great deal of overlap between the two fields of studies. In most universities and institutions of technology as listed internationally, engineering programs have a strong emphasis on mathematics and calculus and especially physics while engineering technology programs focus on development of tools and processes. This has enabled the technology graduates of the UoVT where pursued the programs of studies as per the conditions laid down by the Sydney accord. If you deviate from the original intentions and try to go to conventional system, you are invariably inviting conventional problems. I declare the university convocation to be closed”

Being an orator, his sense of humor kept the audience wide awake. He stood for what was right, even if it meant standing alone. O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Prof. Chandana Jayalath

University of Vocational Technology