Tragic Accident Claims the Life of Senior Lecturer Dr. Janaki Jayawardena

 

Dr. Janaki Jayawardena (59), a Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, University of Colombo, tragically passed away on March 7 following an unfortunate accident at her residence on Sumanarama Road, Kohuwala.

The Incident

According to a statement released by the police, the accident occurred when Dr. Jayawardena and her son’s wife attempted to remove a stone placed in front of the front wheel of a stalled vehicle belonging to her son. The vehicle had been parked on a slope, and as soon as the stone was removed, it unexpectedly moved forward, trapping Dr. Jayawardena underneath.

Despite being rushed to Kalubowila Hospital with severe injuries, she was pronounced dead upon admission.

Both Dr. Jayawardena and her daughter-in-law were engaged in the effort to move the car, unaware of the potential danger. While the daughter-in-law managed to step away in time, Dr. Jayawardena was unable to move to safety. Her son, who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, is currently in police custody as investigations continue.

A Remarkable Academic Career

Dr. Janaki Jayawardena was a distinguished scholar in the field of history, with a special focus on gender studies. She earned her PhD from the University of York in the United Kingdom and made significant contributions to historical research in Sri Lanka.

She previously served as the Head of the Department of History at the University of Colombo and also held the position of Secretary of the University’s Academic Staff Association.

The Department of History at the University of Colombo has expressed deep sorrow over her untimely passing, emphasizing the invaluable role she played in advancing historical studies in Sri Lanka.

Ongoing Investigation

The Kohuwala Police have launched a thorough investigation into the incident.