L. H. Sumanadasa

LH Sumanadasa
LH Sumanadasa
Born	3 December 1910; Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka
Died	24 May 1986 (aged 75); Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Ananda College, University of Ceylon, Imperial College London
Occupation(s)	Engineer, Aeronautical Engineer, Aviator. Vice Chancellor and Founder of University of Moratuwa

Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa, was a pilot, engineer, educator, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon and founder of the University of Moratuwa.

Education

Sumanadasa was born on 3 December 1910 in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) at

Imperial College, London in 1932 Graduating from BSc and DIC (postgraduate Diploma of Imperial College).^[2]

Aviation

He learnt to fly with the

Gipsy Moth with a Gipsy II 120 hp engine) obtaining a private pilot's licence.^[3]

He was a student member and later a full member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

After graduating (the first person from Sri Lanka to qualify in aeronautical engineering) he was hired by

S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia)^[5] saw active service. Sumanadasa, his wife and daughter returned to Sri Lanka in October 1942. His daughter later described the voyage through U Boat infested waters and storms, during which all ships but theirs was lost.^[6]

Government Service

Despite his skills and experience in aeronautical engineering, the government of Ceylon deployed him to work in a senior role for the Ceylon Plywood Corporation in Gintota and later as government engineer for the southern coastal city of Galle.

Education and University

Sumanadasa worked from 1958 with the Ministry of Education to establish the Institute of Practical Technology at Katubedde, Moratuwa, which opened in 1960. Sumanadasa was founder principal and was later Head of Civil Engineering at the Ceylon Technical College (CTC). In 1966 Sumanadasa became the founder director of the Ceylon College of Technology (CCT) which in 1972 became the University of Sri Lanka, Katubedde Campus with Sumanadasa as its first president. Sumanadasa was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Sri Lanka and retired in 1975. The Katubedda campus was awarded independent university status as the University of Moratuwa in 1978.

Honours and awards

The Sumanadasa building, named in his honour and built in 1973, remains in use and is one of the largest on the University of Moratuwa site. The university awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1980.

References

^ "(2) Anandians who have reached Academic Excellence" (PDF). anandacollege.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
^ "Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator". www.hatfield-herts.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
^ "Flightglobal/Archive Aviation History 1934 - 0127.PDF Hatfield". www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
^ "Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator". www.hatfield-herts.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
^ "Thomians remember their Men of Valour Richard Dwight - Daily News Thu Nov 7 2002". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
^ "FERNANDO--Laura Mahnil (nee Sumanadasa)". query.nytimes.com. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[1] "(2) Anandians who have reached Academic Excellence" (PDF). anandacollege.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[2] "Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator". www.hatfield-herts.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[3] "Flightglobal/Archive Aviation History 1934 - 0127.PDF Hatfield". www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[4] "Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator". www.hatfield-herts.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[5] "Thomians remember their Men of Valour Richard Dwight - Daily News Thu Nov 7 2002". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[6] "FERNANDO--Laura Mahnil (nee Sumanadasa)". query.nytimes.com. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-12-25.

[2]

[3]

[5]

[6]