Great scholar, mentor and ideologist
H.M. Seneviratne, Senevi to his friends, was widely acclaimed as an eminent lecturer in Education, especially in Educational Administration. He was considered an asset when there was a severe shortage of staff to teach the subject at the universities. This gave Senevi an opportunity to train many of today’s high ranking scholars and practitioners in the field of Education and outside. He was well-known for his dedi- cation to students and he was proud to see many of them achieving high positions in the Education sec- tor. He had the qualities of an impressive teacher and he always imparted knowledge in the correct perspective.
Before joining the university service, Senevi was a teacher in the Department of Education and served in three schools. Even as a teacher he shone and proved himself to be dedicated to his field and his students. It was during this period he successfully followed the post-graduate Diploma in Education course at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and won the Khan gold medal in 1970 – to this day Senevi considered this to be the proudest achievement in his academic career. Senevi joined the teaching staff of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and later at the University of Colombo in the same capacity (when the Faculty was shifted there). He won the Commonwealth Scholarship Award to pursue post-graduate studies in 1981 and completed a Masters degree at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, Australia.
Senevi, though every inch a scholar, kept his close touch with the common man. He always gave them counsel and advice whenever they needed them. He hailed from Dahamune, Pilessa, Kurunegala and he received his primary and secondary education at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala.
It would take quite some time for us, his batch mates, to reconcile ourselves to the fact that this great scholar, mentor and ideologist is no more. Our condolences go to his wife Kamala and to his ever loving daughter Tushari who cared for and looked after him during his illness and throughout.