by Deshya Wijesundera
(June 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) "I prefer Sir Isaac Newton because he was an all-rounder. His contribution to mechanics, mathematics, thermodynamics and optics was enormous."
These were Dr. Munindradasa’s words in his last lecture, and indeed it was well said, because Dr. Munindradasa himself was an all-rounder. His expertise ranged from electronics and quantum physics to photography and wild life conservation.
Born in 1966 in Panadura young Amith Munindradasa obtained his primary education at Sri Sumangala Vidyalaya, Panadura and went on to study at Royal College Colombo, having passed the grade 5 scholarship examination.
At the time of his demise Dr. Munindradasa was not only a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, but also a Consultant at the Arthur C. Clarke Centre and the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka, a member of the Spectrum Management Committee of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission and the Advisory Board on Satellite telephony and was involved in many other technological institutions.
He was also one of the very few scientists in the country whose work was published in the internationally renowned science journal "Nature".
Dr. Munindradasa had served in many capacities in the Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Moratuwa. Having joined the department as an Assistant Lecturer after obtaining a first class in his BSc. Engineering degree, Dr. Munidradasa left to Liverpool for his PhD on semi-conductors. After the completion of his PhD, Dr. Munindradasa joined the department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering as a Senior Lecturer. He was the head of the department from 2003-2006.
With an inborn talent for mechanics, an ace in Mechatroncis, he created an efficient electronic motor vehicle using a multi-phase-axial-flux-permanent- magnet-motor. This could not be controlled by a normal single or three phase motor. Thus Dr. Munindradasa came up with a mathematical model of a five-Phase motor which was the most efficient solution. He was engaged in related research even at the time of his demise.
His expertise in quantum electronics extended to successful research on high-efficient-white- light emitting diodes. He also guided his students in inventing power electronics products like high voltage generators. He also pioneered introducing Nanotechnology to Sri Lanka.
A wildlife enthusiast and a lover of nature, once he adopted two baby bats he had found in the university until they were old enough to be on their own. In another instance, having found a large python in his backyard he went to the trouble of catching it and releasing it in the Sinharaja forest.
His kind heart extended to organising projects to provide water to wild animals dehydrating in the drought. Dr. Munindradasa’s expertise in wildlife was such that his friends say that he had the ability to immediately identify even a creature found in the depths of the Sinharaja forest. Dr. Munindradasa had even discovered a frog species "Lankacornubatrachus", endemic to Sri Lanka. Even before going to Israel, where he passed away he had spent the previous night writing a paper on an endemic species that he had just found.
Dr. Munindradasa also organised annual wild life conservation camps for university students through the World University Service. He naturally had the ability to handle even the most feared animals like snakes, scorpions and centipedes. He never feared nature or wild animals. He once said that human beings will not drown in water if they were not fearful of it and showed it by floating on top of water without paddling or swimming.
He was engaged in research to recognise the mode of communication of various animals including elephants and also other animals at the time of his demise. For this he used a filter with a data storage unit, fixed in the jungle which would only record the trumpeting of elephants which he thought would be a good remedy to save elephants from railway accidents by fixing a siren which has the same frequency in which elephants trumpet. He had also designed a special siren which is only audible to elephants so that they stay clear of the village.
He was a simple man who always referred to himself as a teacher rather than a university lecturer. He was humble enough to teach a subject like photography to undergraduates.
Dr. Amith Munindradasa was unique as lecturer who believed in ‘out of the box’ thinking. He always tried to promote creativity and analytical thinking among students. In fact, his question papers were filled mostly with design questions that were open-ended.
For his son’s birthday, he had designed a small electrical car fully equipped with a semi-gear and clutch system, which he himself assembled.
A talented man who could be employed anywhere in the world with the highest of wages sacrificed all that for the love he had for his country and his fellow men. He never sought fame or fortune. Having reached the acme of his career he was a man who never forgot his identity. On any important occasion he would be seen in the ‘National Dress’ with his long hair tied behind, which led to quite a few of his students following suit.
What we could learn from him is immense. His exceptional talent all of us might not be blessed with but his originality surely is exemplary. He taught us that we could not only preserve our identity, but be ambassadors of it as pros in sciences which developed in the West.
(The writer is an undergraduate in the Third Year at the Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Moratuwa.)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Even after one year of time, i still like to read about this great teacher of our time.
Thank you very much for the article.
that's obvious, he's great!!
thanx for the article.
I still remember him walking down to deliver a lecture about analog electronics in my 2nd year in JG hall. It was one of his first lectures. We didn't recognise him as a lecturer until he ask us to ready for it. He was a unique down to earth guy with a smile always on his face. May he attain Nibbana.
I sat next to him in University bus from Panadura to Moratuwa . I have had many interesting conversations with him. He was extremely knowledgeable in many fields since undergraduate days. He was a very friendly down to earth person and never hesitated to help anyone. I can still remember him carrying a folded cardboard file or a book in his hand all the time . He was a great loss to the country!!
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