The Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura reached a new milestone in the history of the Faculty with the modest ceremony held to unveil the statue of the Most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero. The ceremony took place at the premises of the Faculty of Technology University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Pitipana on the 25th February 2021 adhering to the COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
The ceremony was attended by Rev. Balangoda Sobitha Nayaka Thero, Parivenadipathi, Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda, Sr. Prof. Sudantha Liyanage, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Prof. Nilmini Liyanage, Dean, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne and Deans of the Faculties
The most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero, founder Vice-chancellor of the Vidyodaya University (1959) which later became the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is a magnanimous presence within the University. With the unveiling of the statue, the Faculty of Technology, which is the first faculty of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to be established away from Gangodawila commemorates his vision with a promise to adhere to it while continuing to be bound to the values of the University in moving forward.
Sr. Prof. Sudantha Liyanage in his welcome address emphasized the historical significance of this milestone and the journey of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura through the vision and leadership of the most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero.
The most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero can be considered as a leader with great foresight. He took initiative to establish the Vidyodaya University during a time when mother-tongue instruction (Sinhala/Tamil) was unavailable in the operating universities at that time and when the Sinhala only act was imposed upon the nation. He identified the gap and addressed it, yet he did not neglect providing the students of the Vidyodaya University with English knowledge along with mother-tongue instruction (Sinhala/Tamil).
Among his greatest contributions to the University, the most venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero laid the foundation to establish the Faculty of Applied Sciences and The Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce. He was able to foresee the direction the world would head and take action in a way that the future graduates of the University of Sri Jayewardene would be hailed by the nation as individuals of great potential.
Emeritus Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne in his key-note address expanded on the points expressed by the Vice-Chancellor expounding on the significance of commemoration and the veneration of the most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero.
Prof. Ariyaratne in his narration of the history of the university and the most venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero emphasized the great feats achieved by him and his single-minded efforts to see that the Vidyodaya University will reach its full potential.
According to prof. Ariyaratne, the journey of the most venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha and his efforts for the Vidyodaya university was riddled with challenges. Many of his initiations such as the Department of Education was taken away from the university. Yet amidst these challenges the university prevailed and is now one of the most leading universities in Sri Lanka.
The legacy left by the most Venerable Welivitiye Sri Soratha Thero will forever guide the university of Sri Jayewardenepura linking its ever-branching sectors to one core of unity and prosperity
