Tribute to a distinguished alumni of Science Faculty, Peradeniya

The Science Faculty of the University of Peradeniya lost one of its distinguished alumni W.M.D. Wijekoon, an old boy of Dharmaraja College who entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, in October 1968.

Donald read for a Special degree in Chemistry and graduated in 1972. After a short stint at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Peradeniya and later at the CISIR, he proceeded to Sweden for postgraduate research training at the University of Uppsala in Stockholm specializing in the chemistry of insect pheromones and other odiferous compounds.

Subsequently he proceeded to the University of Nevada in Reno, USA and obtained his PhD in Synthesis, Stereo Chemistry and Circular Dichroism of Polycystic ketones, thiones and selones.

From October 1983 to December 1985 he worked as a post-doctoral research affiliate at Stanford University in the USA.

Donald joined the University of Nevada as a senior research associate on January 1986 and carried out research in phototherapy in the treatment of jaundice in infants. He was thoroughly involved in the study of Stereo chemicals which led to him being recruited by the Department of Health Services in the state of California as a chemist until his retirement in 2015.

He was a dedicated scientist with many academic publications in chemistry journals where he discussed his skills in developing analytical methods.

His primary work as a chemist in public health involved the measurement of chemicals at very low levels to see the qualiy of air, water and food.

I understand that at the Department of Health Services in Los Angeles he shared his technical knowledge readily with his staff and his colleagues appreciated him for this quality as well as his supervisory ability. One of his colleagues delivering a funeral oration emphasised his skills as the Quality Assurance Officer and Health and Safety Officer of his laboratory in navigating the administrative hurdles with maturity and efficiency.

As a batchmate at Peradeniya he had a wonderful undergraduate life enjoying social visits and trips where under high spirits he used to mingle with us singing old melodies. Whenever he visited Sri Lanka he used to meet our batchmates and visit Peradeniya where he went down memory lane enjoying the beautiful campsus.

Donald was sick over the last few years of his life but would communicate by email with us and entertained friends from Sri Lanka at his San Francisco home. His devoted wife Manel looked after him during his illness. He could not join us in October 2018 for our golden jubilee. However we are grateful for the contribution he made towards the project by the Science batch to donate display boards to the Faculty of Science at the university.

We send our sincere condolences to his wife Manel, his son Christopher and daughter-in-law Amy and hope he will attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana

C.W. Jayasekera (on behalf of batchmates at the

University of Peradeniya)