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Eminent economist, academic, administrator and policy advisor no more
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Professor Buddhadasa Hewavitharana, Emeritus Professor of Economics, former Chair and Head, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Peradeniya, passed away on July 7 at his residence at the age of 85. Professor Hewawitharana, an eminent economist, academic, administrator and policy advisor, contributed widely to teaching, research, and influencing policy in the field of development economics and economic planning in Sri Lanka during a career of more than fifty years of intellectual and public life.
The funeral will take place at 4 p.m. at General Cemetery, Borella following religious observance at 3 p.m. at the Barney Raymonds Funeral Parlour today. The Sri Lanka Association for Political Economy (SLAPE) in a condolence message said that in his passing away, “we witness yet another blow to the academic community in economics, signifying the gradual disappearance of the old school of economic thought in Sri Lanka.”
It said those seniors in the economics field today would testify for his dedication to the students, the Department and the University, and more importantly for the country and the nation. Prof. Hewawitharana was a pillar of support during the debate of converting the medium of higher learning to Swabhasha.