Bolgoda Chat : the founding Dean of Engineering and Architecture

Abstract

I obtained my B.Sc. degree from the University of Ceylon, and Prof. Kuruppu was my batch mate. There was only one university those days. My career at the University of Moratuwa started when the newly established Ceylon College of Technology (CCT) was started with virtually the university status, and they wanted to hire academic staff members. I was at the University of British Columbia, Canada at that time. Prof. Kuruppu sent me a letter telling that he joined CCT, and asking to join as well. I applied from Canada. Since CCT was a government institution, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner came in person from Ottawa to UBC to interview me. I completed my PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1969, and was selected for the job. Later, the institution became a campus of the University of Sri Lanka. In 1972, I was the first Dean of Engineering and Architecture. Architecture at that time was a mature department operating under the University of Colombo, and they were shifted to Katubedda, and joined with the engineering programme. Later, after my time, the faculties were separated due to growth in different directions.