University of Moratuwa celebrates its Golden Jubilee

I was lent a copy of the Golden Jubilee publication of the University of Moratuwa (UoM) by a friend with the injunction I write about the coffee table book and the University which by far, as he said, is the best in Sri Lanka. “All graduates passing out are employed and employable.” That is saying much!

50^th Anniversary Publication

The coffee table publication is excellent: gold bordered and lettered stating 1972-2022 50^th ANNIVERSARY University of Moratuwa with the name in the three languages. Below this is the legend ‘Golden Jubillee’ in beautiful slanting script. Within, every feature matches the excellence of the book’s binding and cover. The contents, covering two pages, is uniquely filled in with pictures and titles and pagination in large digits. Next runs three pages of Acknowledging the contributors of the past, listing Chancellors from Sir Arthur C. Clarke to Dr Ray Wijewardena to Dr Roland Silva to Prof KKYW Perera. Next listed are 13 Vice Chancellors followed by Deputy VCs, Deans of Faculties, Registrars, Librarians (3) and Bursars. Each section is also two paged with a broad band of dark golden orange. Section One is: Introduction: The years preceding University status; Section two: The early years and the journey of the University of Moratuwa; three: The pillars of the past; stories of past Vice Chancellors; four: Impact: Stories of Research, Innovation and Service; five: The University of Moratuwa: what we are today.

The entire book carries hand drawn painted pictures – some full paged, interspersed with photographs of persons, sites, buildings and events – some very old, which pictorially traces the history of the UoM.

Three highlighted sections

The entire publication deserves detailed description but that is impossible in a newspaper column, hence I decided to draw the attention of the reader to, and quote from four sections. I add again that going through the entire book would be very informative and will gladden the spirit which is at present downcast. Facing an almost surreal painting of the grounds of the UoM, is the title University of Moratuwa and underneath Wisdom is all Wealth.

I quote from the introductory pages and the last page of summing up; one VC’s ‘story’ and the section on U

oM’s research and innovations.

The message from the present VC – Prof N D Gunawardena runs to two pages. He writes: “The University, which traces its beginning to 1972 as a small institution in Katubedda is now at the forefront of tertiary education providing Engineering, Information Technology, Architecture, Business and Medical Education for over 10,000 students in both undergraduate and post graduate levels.” His final paragraph reads thus: “Sri Lanka has much to offer to the world. In an era of brain drain and fleeting dreams, I am confident that our university can make a difference. We possess the knowledge and skills within our shores to make this island a world hub in Design, Technology, Business and Sciences. All we need is resilience, fortitude and funds to make it happen. I am determined to ensure that on this momentous occasion, we lack nothing.”

One VC’s message

My second comment is from Section Four on Vice Chancellors. I select one VC because I knew him from way back when. On the timeline that runs through this section from 1972 to 2017, 1989 is raised above in large bold digits. The legend carried on the page with a portrait of Prof G T F De Silva, seventh VC from 1989 to 1996, and a photograph of him as a young academic listening to Dr Arthur C Clarke is: “The very first academic to join the then Ceylon College of Technology (CCT) which is today the prestigious University of Moratuwa … Professor Dr Silva faced the worst years of the insurgency when the University suffered much turmoil and closures… He has contributed immensely to the progress of the university.”

During the second JVP insurrection in the 1980s, the vacancy of VC was not filled, hence senior members arranged for seven members of staff to take over VC responsibility for one week each. This temporary arrangement was eliminated by Prof De Silva consenting to be VC at this dangerous juncture in the dire country situation. His philosophy was Bahu jana sithaya, bahu jana sukaya – the wellbeing of the people. He stipulated one condition: that he continue teaching while being VC.

Some of his many ventures to improve the university were to establish a well-stocked library; improve hostel facilities, initiate more student societies and set up a bursary scheme for deserving students. “The Professor was also a visionary in that he took risks with the betterment of the University in mind.” He was a nature lover; an ancient nuga tree that had fallen was made to rise again. He wished and worked towards making UoM akin to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) which Jawaharlal Nehru instituted “Thus it was the Professor’s view that the university needed to produce practical engineers who would be of service to the common man’s requirements … He underlined that people must have access to solar and wind energy, low cost housing etc built by the University.” He authored a book in Sinhala – Memories of a Vice Chancellor of a University that moved from Darkness to Light. A ship that traversed the ocean of Technology.

Moving to the personal, I said earlier I knew GTF long ago as a just passed put undergrad. He came to a Maha Vidyalaya down South to substitute for a teacher on maternity leave. He blazed new trails in science teaching to scholarship holders in Grade 8 by conducting classes in the lab, which the teacher on leave had avoided due to fear of demonstrating preparation of gases et al to eager beaver students. GTF even organized a science exhibition with the kids. I met him off and on after that and found him to be just the same simple soul of almost 60 years previous, concerned about people and with dynamism and enthusiasm undimmed.

Mr S Rubasingam was one of three librarians serving from the inception of the UoM 1971- 1998. He was conscientiousness personified. How do I say this? I attended the SL Library Association course in Librarianship and Info Science and Mr Rubasingam was a lecturer in all three years of the course. He was a tireless lecturer and expected his students, varying in age, intelligence and commitment, mostly female, to be the same. I spent a lot of my time waiting with trepidation to see this almost chain smoker insert the chalk he had in hand between his lips or draw on the blackboard with his lighted cigarette! He helped develop the UoM library so it is an integral and useful part of the university.

The person who lent me the book to comment wanted me to pay special attention to Section Four Impact: Stories of Research, Innovation and Services which carry sub headings among which I highlight two: Innovation and Success Stories, and Service and Recognition. I quote from the introductory page: “The UoM graduates are held in high esteem today in their professional fields as well as by foreign universities, … won coveted awards, competing with the best of the best.. made a monumental and lasting impact on the country and its people.”

Innovations are listed, liaising with prestigious foreign universities, the ADB and others. Students under Faculty guidance invented the first electric car, a Hovercraft, hydraulic ramp pump, solar photovoltaic cells, electrical biogas cooking facility and of course the traffic light system installed all over the island. Machines to be powered solely by carbon neutral sources were installed in the MAS Intimates Thurulie clothing factory; claiming to be the world’s first such factory.

Clever persons from the UoM even restored the stained glass window of St Paul’s Church in Kandy after a terrorist bomb caused severe damage. The Fashion and Textile Design Dept is moving streets ahead in innovation. An unmanned aerial vehicle and robot technologies are also within the UoM’s research and technology section “The lasting impact the university has made on the nation is unparalleled and everlasting. The future is already here. … teams of academics who venture into uncharted waters, into a world presenting new problems to solve every day”

History

The UoM grew from the Government Technical College, Maradana, established in 1893 which, in 1906 changed to Ceylon Technical College. The Ceylon College of Technology established in Katubedda in 1966 offering a Diploma in Technology changed its status to the Katubedda Campus of the University of Ceylon in 1972. The Dept of Architecture was transferred from Colombo to this campus with its first president Dr L H Sumanadasa. In 1978 it acquired the status of an independent university under the name of University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. To the existing Faculties was added that of medicine.

The UoM strives to produce ‘world class graduates’ in technology fields; which it does. Its vision is “To be the Most Globally Recognized Knowledge Enterprise in South Asia” Both these ideals have been met; proof being that while other institutions in Sri Lanka, educational included, have not maintained standards or had even deteriorated, the UoM has progressed and made an international name for itself. Its ‘remarkable journey of providing world class education’ reached 50 years in 2022 – a landmark to be celebrated and a university with an excellent record to be congratulated and praised.