Professor Wimal Dissanayake passes away

Professor Wimal Dissanayake, a leading scholar who rendered unparalleled service to the fields of literature, arts, and culture in Sri Lanka, passed away yesterday. At the time of his demise, he was 87 years old, and he was a distinguished pundit who held full authority in subjects related to mass communication, cinema, literature, and aesthetic arts.

Mr. Dissanayake, who received his primary education at Trinity College Kandy and later entered the University of Peradeniya, obtained his Honours Degree in Sinhala from there. During his time at Peradeniya University, he had the opportunity to extensively study Sinhala, English, and Sanskrit languages, and later earned the rare distinction of holding professorships in both Sinhala and English.

He pioneered the unparalleled service of introducing the subject of Mass Communication to the local university system and served for a long period as a Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya. In addition, he worked as a lecturer in the Sinhala Departments of the Universities of Colombo and Kelaniya Vidyalankara, and later extended his distinguished academic service abroad as a Professor of Aesthetic Arts at the University of Hawaii in America.

Professor Dissanayake, who was a researcher, translator, critic, and an excellent poet, gifted numerous poetic works including the collections 'Kalpa Vinashaya' in 1965 and 'Indrachapaya' in 1972, as well as 'Akalwessa', 'Nara Rakusa', 'Rau Pilirau', and 'Duru Rata Sita'. He also succeeded in enriching local literature through several works, including the highly acclaimed critical book 'Girikula Ha Sandamandala'.

The arrangements for the final rites of Professor Wimal Dissanayake, who rendered immense service for the advancement of both humanities and social sciences, are to be announced later.