Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake

Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake (Sinhala: ධම්මික ගංගානාත් දිසානායක; 1 July 1958 – 11 August 2020), also known as Ganganath Dissanayake, was a Sri Lankan university professor, lecturer, academic and diplomat. He is known for his crucial contributions to mass media and has also authored numerous publications in the fields of mass communication, contemporary Sinhala cinema and politics.[1] He served as a former associate professor at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and also notably served as a former ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan.[2]

Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake
ධම්මික ගංගානාත් දිසානායක
Born(1958-07-01)July 1, 1958
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Died11 August 2020(2020-08-11) (aged 62)
Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama
Resting placeBorella Cemetery
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationDharmaraja College, Kandy
Alma materUniversity of Sri Jayawardenepura, Tokai University, Tsukuba University
Occupationscholar, professor, lecturer, educator, diplomat
Known forcontributions to mass media
Spouse(s)Saroja Dissanayake
Children2
Parent(s)
  • Wimalanath Dissanayake (father)
AwardsMathshumaye Cultural Award (1993)
Hidoyoshi Mimisu Award (1999)

Personal life

Dissanayake was born in 1 July 1958 in Kandy. His father Wimalanath Dissanayake was a film director and journalist.[3]

Ganganath pursued his primary and secondary education at the Dharmaraja College in Kandy.[1] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree on Japanese language from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura in 1982. In 1987, he went Japan to pursue a postgraduate degree which he later obtained in Japanese.[4] He completed his master's degree in mass communication at the Tsukuba University in 1990 and pursued PhD degree from the Tokai University in 1993.[5]

He was married to Saroja Dissanayake and the couple has two daughters – Saki and Ruchi.[2][6][7]

He died on 11 August 2020 at the age of 62 at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama due to cancer.[8][9][10] His remains are kept at his residence at Sambuddhiwatte, Mattegoda for final rites.[11] Funeral services was held at the Borella Public Cemetery on 13 August 2020.[12]

Career

He served as the former head of the Department of Sinhala and Mass Media Academic Unit at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura from 2010 to 2013.[13] He has also been the coordinator of the Diploma in Writing and Communication and Post Graduate Diploma conducted by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.[4]

He also held the chairman posts of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Independent Television Network (ITN) and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). Ganganath also served as the head of the communications division of the United National Party for a short stint in 2013.[4][14] Meanwhile, Dissanayake served as media advisor to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1993, 2002 and 2003.[2]

In 2004, he was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Appeals Board as well as served as an advisor to the Ministry of Policy Planning and Implementation.[2] He was appointed as the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan on 19 September 2015.[15]

As a journalist, his Pani Walalu column was extremely popular with readers and has authored a book, Adyathana Cinamawe Vishaya Ksheshthraya (The Scope of Modern Cinema).[3]

Abduction

One day in March 2009 at about 7.30 p.m. two people had rung the bell of Prof. Dissanayake's residence. They responded saying they were friends of his and a police officers. However, they were in civilian clothing and officers wanted a form filled as part of a registration program of residents of the area. While Dissanayke filling the form, two more people arrived the gate where one had a pistol and two were carrying T56 rifles. They said they are from Kahathuduwa Police station and need to search the house. They opened several cupboards and took about 50 CDs. Meanwhile, Dissanayake saw a white van parked outside. When he got in to the vehicle, the group blindfolded him and tied his hands with a plaster. They asked several political questions and taken to the second floor of a building. After taking a statement about the opposition leader he was dropped near a paddy field. After the incidence, Kahathuduwa Police station denied any involvement of officers from the police.[16]

Honors

In 1993, he was awarded the Mathshumaye Cultural Award by the Tokai University. In 1999, he was conferred with the Hidoyoshi Mimisu Award by the Government of Japan for his outstanding services and contributions to mass media studies.[5]

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References
  1. "Professor Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake passes away". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  2. "Professor Dhammika Ganganath passes away". Mawbima. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  3. "Dhammika Ganganath passes away". Sarasaviya. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. "Professor Dhammika Ganganath passes away". News First. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. admin (2020-08-11). "Former Sri Lankan diplomat Ganganath Dissanayake passed away | Colombo Gazette". Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  6. "Dhammika Ganganath passes away". Lankadeepa. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  7. "Dhammika Ganganath passes away". Divaina. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. "Professor Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake passes away". News First. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. kelum. "Prof. Ganganath Dissanayake no more". srilankamirror.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  10. "Sri Lanka : Professor Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake passes away". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  11. "The last rites of Prof. Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake will be held tomorrow". Colombo Today. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  12. "The last rites of Prof. Dhammika Ganganath today". V fm. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  13. "Professor Dhammika Ganganath passes away". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  14. "Prof. Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake passes away". Aruna. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  15. "Ambassador - The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan". www.slembassyjapan.org. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  16. ""I was blindfolded, questioned and given dinner" – Prof Ganganath". Sunanda Deshapriya. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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