A tribute to a tireless academic
returning to the Colombo University as a lecturer. Following the same career path Charlotte was appointed Associate Professor in 1989. During that time she supervised the research of two scholars who received the first ever doctorates in Geography awarded by any University in the country. She also worked as visiting lecturer at four other universities in Sri Lanka and as senior lecturer at the Nairobi University, Kenya.
In 1992 Charlotte joined the University of Papua New Guinea as Associate Professor and worked there until retirement in 2005.
Charlotte’s contribution during this span of time was not confined to teaching. She worked as an author for the Compilation of the National Atlas of Sri Lanka, as a member of the National Transport Commission, headed several major consultations mainly related to transport, and contemporary socio-economic development in Sri Lanka, and worked as Chief Editor and Supervisor in charge of compilation of the course material for training of secondary Geography teachers in Sri Lanka. She was a life member of Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Sciences (SLAAS), and held the posts of Secretary/President of its Section on Social Sciences.
She also devoted time to writing. Among them were books such as ‘An Introduction to Geography’, Published by Sarasavi Publishers, ‘Private Bus Transport’published by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, Colombo;‘Tyranny of Terrain’ - a book on the Development of the Transport Systems in PNG; ‘Introduction to Geography’ and The Environment and Society; the last three focused on Papua New Guinea. These were in addition to a large number of research articles, among them an essay on ‘Popularisation of Bicycle as a mode of Transport.’ which won the first prize in a International Lecture Prize Competition, organised by the European Cyclists’ Federation.
A little-known major contribution Charlotte was to help to establish a women’s hostel for the Colombo University. That was when there was no organised safe accommodation for girls in the Arts and Science faculties. She was instrumental in eventually starting and managing three such hostels.
Even her retirement in Auckland was spent not in enjoying a well-earned rest but in voluntary work helping non-English speaking migrants to learn the language and customs so that they could become fully fledged citizens of New Zealand. To qualify for this she followed a course from the Trinity College of London. Hundreds of migrants have benefited from her efforts.
Charlotte offered the world much more. She had done a lot of pioneering academic work, which held considerable promise for the students in Sri Lanka.
It is not possible to document in a commentary of this nature the immense contri- bution Charlotte made to Sri Lanka and the world. Her commitment to work and her students, or anything she undertook, was total. Although I was not a student, vivid in my memory is when I sought her help to edit a book I had written about the end of the war in Sri Lanka. She worked day and night and changed that amateur job into a well-received professional work, which was in great demand all over the world. That was Charlotte. Nothing was left half done.
Her knowledge, talent, friendly demeanor and infectious laugh all made her the soul of any party. She gave much more than what she received, to help make the world a better place. Charlotte, you fulfilled your role on this earth very ably and completely. May you attain blissful Nibbana.
Grieving for Charlotte are her husband Rane, children Vidumini and Janaka, and a large number of relatives and friends.