People and events
View(s):Ray Wijewardene Memorial Lecture 2012
Prof. Gehan Amaratunga will deliver the IESL Ray Wijewardene Memorial Lecture 2012 on Thursday, November 15 at 5.15 p.m. at the IESL Auditorium, 120/15 Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The lecture is presented by the Ray Wijewardene Charitable Trust together with the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka.
Entrance is free.
Prof. Gehan Amaratunga
Prof. Amaratunga, obtained his B.Sc from Cardiff University and Ph.D from Cambridge, both in electrical/electronic engineering. He has held the 1966 Professorship in Engineering at the University of Cambridge since 1998.
He currently heads the Electronics, Power and Energy Conversion Group, one of four major research groups within the Electrical Engineering Division of the Cambridge Engineering Faculty.
His group was amongst the first to demonstrate integration of logic level electronics for signal processing and high voltage power transistors in a single IC (chip). His current research is focussed on integrated power conversion circuits.
Prof. Amaratunga is a co-founder of CamSemi – which is commercialising a new generation of power and mixed-signal ICs for power management with venture capital investment. He is also a founder of Enecsys, a company formed with his research students to develop and market integrated electronics (microinverters) for grid connection of solar PV systems.
Nanoinstruments, a company he founded with his colleagues to commercialise CNT synthesis equipment was acquired by Aixtron AG in 2007.
He has previously held faculty positions at the Universities of Liverpool (Chair in Electrical Engineering), Cambridge, and Southampton. He has held the UK Royal Academy of Engineering Overseas Research Award at Stanford University and been a Royal Society visitor at the School of Physics, University of Sydney. He has published over 450 journal and conference papers. Professor Amaratunga was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2004. In 2007 he was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Silver Medal ‘for outstanding personal contributions to British engineering’.
Alumni of University of Ceylon, Peradeniya to mark Golden Jubilee of ‘63 entrants
With 2013 being the Golden Jubilee of the 1963 batch’s entry to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, the Alumni of University of Ceylon 1960-1969 are already calling for participation of ’63 entrants at next year’s jubilee celebrations, which will be a luncheon on July 14, 2013 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.
It will be an eventful occasion for a batch that enjoyed a rich legacy of a campus life, where education of the highest order ran parallel with arts, drama, debates, socials and sports activities. Fifty years on, having played significant roles in diverse fields, the ’63 entrants feel they deserve a celebration, not only to meet and chat but also to relive their rich past.
Highlights of the programme include the awarding of 63 scholarships to needy but academically outstanding undergraduates of the University of Peradeniya, including 24 differently-abled undergraduates. They have been identified as worthy of financial assistance by the Peradeniya University and each will receive a scholarship award of a minimum of Rs 12,000. However any funds that are raised will determine the numbers and the value of the scholarships. These scholarships will be awarded at a function to be held at the Peradeniya campus in the presence of University authorities.
The ’63 entrants of all faculties spread out within and outside Sri Lanka as well as their beloved University teachers are warmly invited to attend the event. As the Alumni rely on contributions for its Scholarship Fund, generous contributions are sought. The awarding of scholarships to needy undergraduates of Peradeniya University has been part of the agenda of the Alumni since its inception in 2004.
For further information please contact President of the Alumni Nimal Nanayakkara on 0112810927
St. Anthony’s Church to host charity ‘sing-along’
St. Anthony’s Church, Kollupitiya will be celebrating its 75th Jubilee in 2013. One of the activities planned during the Jubilee Year is a Sing Along concert– ‘Memories are made of this’ to collect funds for several charity and poor relief projects, which will be implemented during the Jubilee Year 2012-2013.
The sing-along will be held on November 17 at the BMICH. Star of the ‘70s, versatile Annesley Malawana and his band will perform with Manilal Perera as a guest artiste. Free air tickets and other valuable prizes will be offered for the entrance ticket draw in addition to several table draw prizes.
Tickets are priced at Rs.1,250 inclusive of a complimentary drink and a well compiled song book and can be purchased at the entrance and from the church office, No.100, St. Anthony’s Mawatha, Kollupitiya, Tel. No. 2372474 or contact Peter on 0777890297, Nimal on 0716846660, or Merril on 0772919750.
National Council for Road Safety appoints Rajah Sinnathuray
A well-known name in the motoring world Rajah Sinnathuray has been appointed to the National Council for Road Safety (NCRS) by Transport Minister Kumara Welgama. He will represent the Ceylon Society for Prevention of Accidents (CESPA).
Mr. Sinnathuray is a past president of the Automobile Association of Ceylon and the Ceylon Motorcycle Club and many other social clubs and organisations. He was also an All-Ceylon and All India motor racing champion.
Australian High Commission raises funds for Breast Cancer awareness
Australian High Commissioner,Robyn Mudie, and the staff and friends of the Australian High Commission marked International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) with a fundraising morning tea.
The event was designed to increase awareness of the disease, which is the most common cancer amongst women worldwide and the second leading cause of death in women according to the World Health Organisation.
The event raised funds for the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, and was attended by the Society’s President, Tony Anghie, and Public Education Board Chair, Mrs Merle Weerasinghe. The funds raised by the High Commission will support breast cancer awareness and education in rural Sri Lanka.
 Australian High Commissioner, Robyn Mudie, and members of the Australian High Commission team handing over the cheque to President of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, Tony Anghie, watched by Mrs Merle Weerasinghe, Chair of the Public Education Board |
Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind charity sale
A Charity Sale in aid of the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind will be held today, Sunday, November 11 at the Dutch Burger Union Hall, Bambalapitiya from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind, established in 1912, has around 750 students in three residential schools. Tuition, accommodation, food and all other facilities are provided free of charge to the students.
There will be 40 stalls selling a variety of wares and food items. The income from the sale will be used by the schools towards the education and welfare of the children.
Well-wishers and the public are invited to purchase items at very reasonable prices and simultaneously help the children of the Ceylon School for the Deaf & Blind.
American College of Physicians elects Dr. Asela Wickremasinghe
Dr. Asela Wickremasinghe has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians at the recent convocation held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
An old boy of Dharmaraja College, Kandy, he obtained his first degree from Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnitsa, Ukraine. Later he completed his residency programme in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco Fresno Medical Education Programme.
He is currently practising as a Consultant Physician at King’s Medical Group in Harford, California and is the president of the Group.
Colombo Cycling Club launches ‘Rent-a-Bike’ initiative
By Shaveen Jeewandara
The heavy deluge and gusty winds that evening could not dampen spirits at the launch of the Colombo Cycling Club, as the healthy initiative kick started at the Independence Square premises – cycling its way through the rain. Spearheading the project were the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Authority along with Flora, the health brand of Unilever. The newly constructed bicycle renting booth along with 25 bicycles and equipment was officially launched by the Chief Guest, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Fitness enthusiasts are now given the opportunity to rent bicycles for Rs. 100 per hour from the ‘Rent-a-Bike’ booth run by the Colombo Cycling Club. Set in tranquillity, the newly laid track encircles the park premises opposite the Sri Lanka Olympic House. In addition to promoting health and wellbeing among the public, the funds collected will be channelled to the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ fund.
“We are living in exciting times where Colombo is rapidly developing into a buzzing cosmopolitan hub. We as citizens should cultivate healthy lifestyles to be able to effectively contribute to this development,” said Director Marketing, Unilever Sri Lanka, Asanga Ranasinghe. “We believe that taking small steps towards a healthy lifestyle will make a big difference,” he added.
Attired in a sports kit, the Defence Secretary took the inaugural bicycle ride around the track, as it was ceremonially handed over to the public; fittingly giving good exercise to the hordes of people who ran alongside his bicycle as well.
The Flora website and Facebook page, which serve the purpose of generating interest as well as providing health information and tips to the general public was also launched. Bike reservations can also be made online.
Flora made sure that no one present left without getting a Health Assessment Test done, and those who were found to have high cholesterol were asked to take the initiative and cycle around the beautiful track.
The Colombo Cycling Club will be managed by the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Authority.
Shanthini Kongahage at Political Leadership Forum
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Central Provincial Councillor and Chairperson Lakwanitha Peramuna Shanthini Kongahage participated in the Grassroots Women’s Political Leadership Forum sponsored by the Asian University for Women and US Department of State in Chittagong, Bangladesh recently. She is seen here with US Ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues Melanee Verveer.
University of Peradeniya to hold ‘family get-together’
The Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter will hold its family get-together for 2012 at Rock House, Gangarama Road, Piliyandala on November 18 from 9.30 a.m.
An array of activities, games for young and old are planned for the day. Music will be by Mahanama Wickramasinghe and his group with vocals by Jayalath Manoratne, Nissanka Diddeniya and Mark Anthony of Sinhabahu fame.
Tickets are available with the committee members and at the gate on the day.
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