Obituary Notice – Prof. (Mrs.) Rajeswary Mageswaran

Prof. (Mrs.) Rajeswary Mageswaran
BScHons (Chemistry)(Ceylon), PhD (Sheffield, UK)

Emeritus Professor in Chemistry, Former Head, Dept. of Chemistry and
Former Rector (09.04.2003 – 10.04.2006), Vavuniya Campus, University of Jaffna

Words may not suffice to express the heartfelt sorrow that we feel for the passing away of our beloved Professor Rajeswary Mageswaran at the age of 77 on 17.04.2022 in Croydon, London.

Professor Rajeswary Mageswaran launched her distinguished career with a BScHons Degree in Chemistry from the then University of Ceylon in 1968 and a PhD in Organometallic Chemistry from the University of Sheffield, UK in 1972 with many postdoctoral experiences.

After serving at the Peradeniya Campus of the then University of Ceylon for eight years, she joined the newly established University of Jaffna as a Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry on 01-04-1976 and subsequently promoted to Senior Lecturer, Professor and Senior Professor of Inorganic Chemistry on 03-03-1980, 17-03-1986 and 01-01-1993, respectively in recognition of her achievements in the academic, administrative and research activities. Professor Rajeswary Mageswaran was a distinguished scientist and teacher, who maintained the highest standards in her teaching, research and administration. She was the cornerstone in the development of the Department of Chemistry and the Faculty of Science of the University of Jaffna.

As an able academic administrator, Professor Rajeswary Mageswaran served as the Head of the Department of Chemistry of University of Jaffna for more than a decade during the most challenging period in the Northern Sri Lanka and Rector of the then Vavuniya Campus of the University of Jaffna from 2003 to 2006. Her resourceful contributions to the uplifting of the Department of Chemistry and the then Vavuniya Campus will be remembered forever.

The faculty expresses deep sadness and sorrow on her demise and conveys deep gratitude to the bereaved family. May the departed soul attain eternal rest.