Stanley Wijesundera

Who was Stanley Wijesundera?

Stanley Wijesundera was a Sri Lankan academic. A Professor of Chemistry, he was the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo from 1979 to 1989 and was the Chairman of the Association of Commonwealth Universities from 1983 to 1984.

He was born in Kandy, educated at Trinity College, Dharmaraja College and Ananda College. Entering the University of Ceylon he studied at both the Colombo campus and Peradeniya campus graduating with a BSc in Chemistry. Going on to the University of London he gained his MSc and DSc and his PhD from the University of Oxford.

On return to Ceylon he was appointed as a lecturer in the University of Ceylon, where he went on to become a Professor of Chemistry, thereafter Dean of the Faculty of Science and later was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo when it was established as an Independent university after the disestablishment of University of Sri Lanka.

During the 1987–89 JVP Insurrection, Prof Wijesundera came under pressure from elements of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to shutdown the university, which was steadfastly refused by him. This led to his assassination at the Library Room in the College House by members of the JVP on March 8, 1989.