E.O.E. Pereira
Encyclopedia
Vidya Jyothi
E.O. Eustace Pereira (September 13, 1907–1988) was a Sri Lanka
n Engineer
and Academic. He was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon
. The Founder of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ceylon he was known as the Father of modern engineering education in Sri Lanka.
of the Ceylon Government Railway. Pereira received his educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
, where he excelled in both academics and sports. He won the De Soysa Science Prize, the Mohamed Ali Arithmetic Prize, Evams Prize for Mathematics (shared with Danton G. Obyesekere) and won house colours for cricket. J.R. Jayawardene the further President of Sri Lanka
and Ceylon Cricketer N.S. Joseph were his classes-mates at Royal College.
In 1928 he entered the University College Colombo graduating with a first class honours degree from the University of London
gaining first place in the faculty of Science and winning the engineering scholarship. The scholarship enabled him to enter Downing College, Cambridge
, where he gained the distinction of being the only graduate to finish the 3 year degree in two years. His contemporaries at Cambridge were Dudley Senanayake the further Prime Minister of Ceylon. From the University of Cambridge
he graduated with first class honours in Mechanical Sciences Tripos
in 1931.
in 1946 and was its first Professor
of Civil Engineering
and founding Dean
of the Engineering Faculty, University of Ceylon at is inception in 1950. In 1969 he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon in Peradeniya
.
He was chairman of the National Science Council and member of a several other government boards and commissions, including the Official Languages Commission, the Loan Commission..
in 1986 and died in 1988. In his honor, named after him is the EOE Pereira Theatre of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya
; the annual E.O.E. Pereira Memorial Prize is awarded for the Best Paper by the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka followed by the annual E.O.E. Pereira Memorial Lecture and the E.O.E. Pereira Gold Medal at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya.
Sri Lankan honours system
The Sri Lankan national honours system is a fully indigenous honours system of titles, decorations and medals which are awarded to recognize achievements of, or service by, Sri Lankans or others in connection with Sri Lanka...
E.O. Eustace Pereira (September 13, 1907–1988) was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n Engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and Academic. He was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
. The Founder of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ceylon he was known as the Father of modern engineering education in Sri Lanka.
Early life and education
Born on September 13, 1907 to George Eustace Pereira a station masterStation master
The station master was the person in charge of railway stations, in the United Kingdom and some other countries, before the modern age. He would manage the other station employees and would have responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station...
of the Ceylon Government Railway. Pereira received his educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, where he excelled in both academics and sports. He won the De Soysa Science Prize, the Mohamed Ali Arithmetic Prize, Evams Prize for Mathematics (shared with Danton G. Obyesekere) and won house colours for cricket. J.R. Jayawardene the further President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
and Ceylon Cricketer N.S. Joseph were his classes-mates at Royal College.
In 1928 he entered the University College Colombo graduating with a first class honours degree from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
gaining first place in the faculty of Science and winning the engineering scholarship. The scholarship enabled him to enter Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, where he gained the distinction of being the only graduate to finish the 3 year degree in two years. His contemporaries at Cambridge were Dudley Senanayake the further Prime Minister of Ceylon. From the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
he graduated with first class honours in Mechanical Sciences Tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
in 1931.
Career
Pereira joined the Department of Public Works, where he would sever for 15 years before joining the teaching staff of the University of CeylonUniversity of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in 1946 and was its first Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and founding Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Engineering Faculty, University of Ceylon at is inception in 1950. In 1969 he was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon in Peradeniya
Peradeniya
Peradeniya is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 main road connecting Kandy and Colombo, just a few kilometres west of Kandy....
.
He was chairman of the National Science Council and member of a several other government boards and commissions, including the Official Languages Commission, the Loan Commission..
Honors
Prof Pereira was honoured with the title Vidya JyothiSri Lankan honours system
The Sri Lankan national honours system is a fully indigenous honours system of titles, decorations and medals which are awarded to recognize achievements of, or service by, Sri Lankans or others in connection with Sri Lanka...
in 1986 and died in 1988. In his honor, named after him is the EOE Pereira Theatre of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
; the annual E.O.E. Pereira Memorial Prize is awarded for the Best Paper by the Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka followed by the annual E.O.E. Pereira Memorial Lecture and the E.O.E. Pereira Gold Medal at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya.