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News Image 15677 - Professor V.K. Samaranayake passes away
Friday, 8 June 2007 - 5:49 AM SL Time - Some news pictures are worth a million words
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The ICT industry in Sri Lanka lost its most valued member after Professor V.K. Samaranayake passed away on Wednesday, 06th June, 2007 aged 68, in Stockholm whilst attending a review of the Swedish government`s ICT development assistance programme.
Prof. Samaranayake was the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka from 2004. He was also the Emeritus Professor of Computer Science of the University of Colombo. He was the founder Director, University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) of the University of Colombo. He served the University of Colombo for a continuous period of 43 years since his first appointment in 1961 immediately following his graduation from the same University. He was the founder of the Department of Statistics and Computer Science (DSCS) and of the Institute of Computer Technology (ICT) of the University of Colombo. These two institutions were merged as the UCSC in 2002. He was a Fellow of the Harvard Information Infrastructure Project and the National Centre for Digital Government of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. In 2005 he was a Visiting Fellow of the Digital Vision Program of Stanford University, USA.
Prof. Samaranayake served the Council for Information Technology (CINTEC), the apex National agency for IT in Sri Lanka as its Chairman for a period of 12 years. In the field of IT he has pioneered work on IT Policy, Legal Infrastructure, EDI/E-Commerce, Security, Internet Technology, Computer Awareness and IT Education. He was actively involved in the formulation of the ISO 10646 standard for Sinhalese Characters and in the development of multilingual web sites. He was also instrumental in helping to apply computers in many areas of governance, including in national elections. He was also actively involved in introducing ICT to rural communities and is engaged in developing Multipurpose Community Telecentres. He was a member of the advisory panel of the Asia IT&C program of the European Commission. He chaired the National Y2K Task force that coordinated the very successful crossover to year 2000. More recently he initiated the External Degree of Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) of the University of Colombo which in its very first year of operation has attracted 5000 registrations. He is the Chairman of the Project Management Committee of the SIDA funded project to enhance internet connectivity of Sri Lankan Universities. He was the President of the National Academy of Sciences during 1998-1999 and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science during its golden jubilee in 1994. He is also current President of Infotel Lanka Society.
The Government of Sri Lanka has honoured Prof. Samaranayake for his contribution towards IT by the award of Vidya Prasadini in 1997 and the national honour Vidya Jyothi in 1998. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has presented its President`s Award for International Cooperation to Prof. Samaranayake in 1996 in recognition of his contribution. At its convocation held in January 2005, the University of Colombo conferred on Prof. Samaranayake the Degree of Doctor of Science ( Honouris Causa ) for his outstanding contribution to the University.
Reshan Dewapura, COO, ICTA said: `Everyone in the ICT industry in Sri Lanka has either met or worked with Professor Samaranayake. It was his sense of commitment towards ICT development in the country coupled with his boundless energy that set him apart and allowed him to make lasting alliances and friendships both personally and professionally around the world. There is no doubt that Prof`s tireless commitment to the ICT industry has made his contribution over the years remarkable. He will be greatly missed.`
Funeral arrangements will be notified later.
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MrBrown
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Joined: Oct 2004
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 7 Jun 2007 22:52:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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| My tribute. |
TrueFactor
Joined: Apr 2007
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7 Jun 2007 23:17:06 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Well he tried and got some far in a country where we have an old, useless education system. We have to change everything relate to education in this country and should bring the country back in track. Need more people like him to change the system. |
EEELamaya
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 7 Jun 2007 23:30:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I have only met him once...He is a good man; He is one who realy did his job without political and other personal agendas... such people are rare in present Sri Lanka! |
ananda95
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 7 Jun 2007 23:35:45 GMT Report for Abuse
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| My tribute, from what I know he has contributed so much to the ICT in SL. |
Maitreya
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 8 Jun 2007 00:03:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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I am surprised that i never heard about this Intelligent Professor with a vision.
It looks to me after reading this post, he really made an impact in the human society.
My Tribute............... |
saliya
Joined: Mar 2005
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8 Jun 2007 00:20:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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This is a disaster to the ICT industry in Sri Lanka. He was the only professor in computer Science of colombo university. Though thre are senior lecturers who have been working for over 25 years in the computer science department they have not earned professorship. So Prof VK's sudden death will create a big vacuum to the department.
Most of Japanese used to call Prof. VK (Sam) 'Sri Lankan IT man'. He has a such reputation in Japan and UK and US. I remeber when I was doing my masters in University of wales college of cardiff in 1991 he was on sabbatical leave and he used to come to our sri lankan house and helped us to cook our meals. He is such a simple man.
Many academicians of Comp Sc in Sri lanka are doing business but Prof Sam dedicated his life for development of ICT in Sri Lanka. He introduced '.lk' top level domain with Dr. Gihan Dias to Sri Lanka.
I first met him in 1984 when I started my postgraduate studies in Statistics in Colombo university. Later I had a chance to work with him at CINTEC for two years in 2000. During that period he helped us to develop many programs including NOICT exams, IOI, SLIOI, JAICA scholarship program etc.
He has done enough to the ICT industry in SL. He did not have any hidden agenda other than development of ICT in SL. Many lectures of University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) earned their doctorates because of Prof Sam.
His death is a great shock to me and to the country. My tribute to this great man.
Edited By - saliya - 8 Jun 2007 00:33:03 GMT |
PachchaSira
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8 Jun 2007 00:22:51 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Irreplaceable loss to IT industry in Sri Lanka. A great man. |
Imperator
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 8 Jun 2007 01:53:59 GMT Report for Abuse
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How unfortunate! A great loss for us. I was probably indirectly inspired to study ICT engineering because of his efforts. :-(
Thank you, Professor. May you rest in peace.
Edited By - Imperator - 8 Jun 2007 01:55:24 GMT |
smile4u
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8 Jun 2007 02:08:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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Professor Samaranayake, you will be greatly missed...
A true innovator and progressive mind! |
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7 Jun 2007 23:10:40 GMT