A life-long learner and life-long teacher, he was a man for all seasons

PROFESSOR N.D. SAMARAWICKRAMA

The recent demise of Professor N.D. Samarawickrame – affectionately known as Samare to his Peradeniya friends – was sudden and shocking and caused enormous grief. He was hale and hearty; he advised us to keep safe from COVID19. Alas! Ironically he himself finally became a victim.

Samare was born in 1943 at Mederipitiya, a beautiful village bordering the Sinharaja rainforest. He was the “Loku Ayya” to his five brothers and four sisters born to R.D. Samarawickreme, village headman and Laura Senanayake.

Samare was popular among students and teachers and excelled in both curricular and extracurricular activities in his alma mater the Deniyaya Central College.

He joined the Colombo campus of University of Ceylon in 1964 and was among the few selected for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Peradeniya University.

Peradeniya University is a paradise. Samare’s eyes were opened inside as well as outside the library. Samare, the loner was no longer a loner. He was at ease in the lecture room, the library, the gym and of course, the famous lovers’ lane. He enjoyed university life fully. He was the first from rural Deniyaya to graduate from a university.

He was affectionate to all irrespective of age, rank, relationship or position. His welcoming smile and resounding laughter were his hallmarks. His affection and closeness were reflected through a “yo’ added to a name of a friend: Sunil was Sunilayo; Madure Madureyo; Parane Paraneyo; and Justin Justiyo. He was never good at pretence. He was a model of sincerity.

Samare earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Second Class (Upper Division) in 1968. He joined the Department of Economics, University of Peradeniya and served in various capacities until the day before his passing away. Samare was educated at prestigious universities in UK (Manchester and Surrey) and in USA (Boston University). He completed his doctoral degree at the University of Colombo with his pioneering research on “Industrial Accumulation in Sri Lanka: Impact of Policy Shifts”.

This thesis was published by Gyan Publishing House, India and remains until now the only exhaustive critical study of the early phase of Sri Lanka’s industrialisation policies.

Samare remained in Sri Lanka teaching thousands of University students. He served as a senior lecturer in economics and management at the University of Sokoto, Nigeria. He spent 2005 as a Visiting Senior Fellow at the School of Economics & Finance, College of Law & Business, University of Western Sydney, NSW, Australia.

He used to recall his memorable short visits to the Sun Moon University, Asan, South Korea in 1997 and the Faculty of Economics, Saga University, Japan in 2008.

While he was in his final year, his father passed away. As the eldest son, he gave his mother immense support to bring up his brothers and sisters. One of his brothers fondly recalls: “He was not only a brother; he was a father to us too.”

Samare had a chance encounter with Chandra Rajakaruna, his batchmate and popular teacher, at a friend’s place a few years after she left Peradeniya. It was love at first sight, and it was a marriage made in heaven. Chandra became his lifelong companion and beacon. They were blessed with two sons – Sachithra (a medical professional domiciled in USA) and Madhubasha (an IT professional living in Peradeniya). The grandchildren brought immense joy and happiness to Samare and Chandra who were devoted and adoring grandparents.

We all enjoyed their lavish hospitality at their mansion built with a beautiful view of the Mahaweli river on a hillock in Hindagala, next to the campus.

Samare was both a life-long learner and life-long teacher. He loved sharing his knowledge with his students and peers. He was dedicated to university teaching – he taught at the Universities of Peradeniya, Colombo and Rajarata. He was the first Head of the Economic Studies programme at the Dumbara (Polgolla) Campus.

He retired in 2008 but, it was by no means the end of his prolific academic contributions. He contributed to the Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, as a postgraduate thesis examiner, and was a member of the Board of Study in Economics & Management and University Council – the governing body at the University of Peradeniya.

He was a man for all seasons. We shall always remember Samare as a dear brother, true friend, father- figure, loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, teacher who dedicated his life to the promotion of standards of university education in Sri Lanka, an amiable and generous host, and above all, a kind human being with roots on the ground.

Samare! Your gentle captivating laughter still rings in our ears.

Dear departed friend: Rest in peace! May you attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!! Campus friends