Vidya-Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardena is no more

Vidya-Jyothi Philip Rayvatha Wijewardene, popularly remembered in Sri Lanka for the introduction of Dendro Power, passed away today after a brief illness. A onetime Chancellor of University of Moratuwa he is recognized for his accomplishment in the field of engineering.

He is an old boy of St Thomas’ College, Mout Lavinia and a Cambridge University (UK) graduate in three engineering disciplines - Aviation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Agricultural Engineering. He had a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School as well.

He was conferred the title of Vidya-Jyothi in 1988 and an a honorary degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Moratuwa in 1994 in recognition of his contributions to Science and Technology.

The innovative thinking of Dr Wijewardena continued and his services were much in demand both in Sri Lanka and abroad. He was appointed Head of Agricultural Engineering at the Agricultural Engineering Research and Development Institute in Malaysia, a Research Institute set up by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. He served in this post during the years 1972 and 1973. From 1974 to 1980, he served as Head of the Agricultural Engineering and Research Division of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture based in Nigeria.

Back in Sri Lanka in the Nineteen Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties, he served in the Tea Research Board as Chairman, and also as a member, Mahaweli Authority, Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Research Board, Presidential Task Force on Science and Technology, and Arthur C. Clarke Centre for Modern Technologies.

(Details also from University of Moratuwa, Convocation document 17 October1994)