Honouring Prof. E.R. Jansz, a trailblazing researcher and teacher

It was a poignant moment – the felicitation of not only a great researcher but also teacher.

The venue was ‘Adamantane House’ or the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon at Welikada, Rajagiriya, and the event was the inauguration of the E.R. Jansz Laboratory and the unveiling of Prof. Jansz’s portrait on January 10.

While the Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Ajit Abeysekera delivered the Professor E.R. Jansz Oration; others who addressed the gathering were the Honorary Rector of the College of Chemical Sciences, Prof. Sujatha Hewage; the Head of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Sugandhika Suresh; and the first Ph.D student of Prof. Jansz, Dr. Nirmala M. Pieris. The ceremony was held under the guidance of the President of the Institute of Chemistry, M.R.M. Haniffa and his council.

The portrait painted by Mevan Pieris was unveiled by the Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Peradeniya, Prof. Vijaya Kumar.

A biochemist and bio-organic chemist, Prof. Jansz is wellknown for his contributions in this field. Numerous are the awards he has won including four gold medals along with more than 130 publications in peer-reviewed journals.

He has been cited by many biographies including the ‘Marquis Who’s Who of the World’ from 1997 to 2012. He was also rated as one of the top 10 scientists and top 100 intellectuals globally in 2011. He was listed for the ‘Iconic Einstein Award’ by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.