Appreciation: Prof. Samaranayake: doyen of IT studies

It is with profound sorrow and gratitude, I pen this tribute over the sudden demise of Professor V.K. Samaranayake (68), widely known as `Father of Information and Communication Technology in Sri Lanka'.He breathed his last on June 6 (Wednesday) in Stockholm, Sweden attending a review of the Swedish Government's ICT development assistance programme.

A product of Royal College, Colombo, Prof. Samaranayake entered the University of Ceylon in 1957 and graduated with a First Class Honours in Mathematics. He was the Chairman of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka from 2004. While serving as the Emeritus Prof. of Computer Science of the University of Colombo, he proceeded to Imperial College London for his Post Graduate studies and research.

He also served the Council for Information Technology, the Apex National Agency as its chairman for a period of 12 years. In the field of IT he had pioneered work on IT policy, Legal Infrastructure,

E-Commerce, security, Internat Technology, Computer Awareness and IT Education. He was a member of the advisory panel of the Asia IT and C program of the European Commission.

In recognition of his tremendous service for the development of IT in Sri Lanka, the Government honoured him with the award of 'Vidya Prasadini' in 1997 and the 'Vidya Jothi' in 1998.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency also presented its `President's Award for International Cooperation' to Prof. Samaranayake in 1996. The University of Colombo conferred him with the Degree of Doctor of Science for his outstanding contribution to the University.

Although I was not closely associated with Prof. Samaranayake as a personal friend, I had close contacts with him officially during my days at the Daily News Editorial and also at the Sunday observer Editorial where I am serving at present.

I was very fortunate to conduct an interview with him for `Sunday Observer' on 'Information Technology' at a media briefing, conducted by the ComputerLand International Ltd at hotel Taj Samudra on May 8 around 5.00 pm.

During my short association with the Professor, I found that he was not interested in talking on politics. However, I would like to say that Prof. Samaranayake was reluctant to answer my final question on that day, as it was related to the field of politics in our country. He only said "My field is IT, ask a question with regard to that", and not politics.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana.

Ananda Kannangara, Sunday Observer Editorial