Lanka mourns death of economics guru

Prof. A.D. V. de S Indrarathna, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Colombo, and the President of the Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA), was 'Guru' to many leading economists in Sri Lanka, not only in academia, but also in the industry, bureaucracy as well as in policy making, a group of economists said on Saturday (yesterday).

Prof. Indrarathne passed away at the age of 84 and the funeral took place in Colombo yesterday.

The Sri Lanka Association for Political Economy (SLAPE), in a statement, said that Prof. Indrarathna took immense pain to develop the teaching of economics, particularly in Sinhala medium at universities, during a period when many were sceptical about the capabilities of our mother tongue to become the medium of instruction in higher education, and his contribution towards it was remarkable. His famous book “Mila Nyaaya” stands as evidence to his contributions in this regard. Many students coming from deep rural corners in Sri Lanka rose on the ladder of academic progress thanks to his excellent teaching abilities.

SLAPE said Prof. Indrarathna founded the Department of Economics of the University of Colombo. It was because of his sheer strength and commitment that Sri Lanka Economic Association (SLEA) and its Journal achieved their respective heights and recognition.

He also has served the professionalism in Sri Lanka by functioning as President of the Organisation of Professional Associations. He was also a patriot professional who endured to make the Sri Lankan economy strong, independent and self-sufficient. He never was dogmatic and thus did not get carried away by different tides of ideological extremes. He was an active member of the National Economic Council and his contributions were always with the ultimate objective of national interest.

“The highest tribute payable to late Prof. Indrarathna would be to persevere and erect the Sri Lankan economy back in the up-right position,” SLAPE said joining academics and professionals in the field of Economics, and also with those forces which assign policy priority to upholding the interests of our national economy, in expressing their sympathies to family, friends and colleagues of the late eminent economist.