The Life of a Pioneer: Eng. D. J. Wimalasurendra

 

    It was 17^th September 1874 our motherland was able to witness the birth of a real mastermind. He was Eng.Wimalasurendra who was born in Galle. He received the school education under the shade of mother Ananda. Thereafter he followed his higher studies in civil engineering at ‘The Ceylon Technical College’ and graduated in 1893. Later he moved onto the Faraday House in England to master in Electrical engineering.

           

    He was able to gain both the associated memberships of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) UK. That combination of fields made the atmosphere for him, to redefine the power history of Ceylon.      

   He started his career as a field overseer, at the department of public works in 1893. Then he was promoted to the positions of Inspector and junior assistant engineer.

     When he was set to survey the mineral deposits in the Kalani valley. There he identified the potential of generating hydropower for the very first time in Ceylon. As a result of his proposal, the first small hydropower station was established in Blackpool which is located between Nanuoya and Nuwara Eliya. 

     He showed the potential of hydropower generation in the proposal research paper “Economics of hydropower utilization in Ceylon”. He explored that a total amount of 114.5 MW of electric power could be generated by using Maskeli oya and Kehelgamuwa oya. That power was sufficient to illuminate 100,000 light bulbs, which was famed as Laxapana.

     Unfortunately, his proposal was rejected, very strongly by the British rulers. Anyway, he never gave up the intention. Then journalists and national patriots joined hands with him and conducted protests against the British government to execute the project. However, in 1923 year the proposal was implemented, and Eng. Wimalasurendra was left out by the government. In 1924 Laxapana scheme was started, but due to the lack of consideration and patronage, it was stopped shortly after. Even though he had to leave the country for England, later he returned to Ceylon at the request of the colonial secretary. Later he was able to hold the position of chief engineer at the Department of Public Works.

   Thereafter he was appointed as the Director of the Department of Government Electrical undertakings. There he established the first-ever thermal power station in Ceylon, The Stanly Power House. He retired from the government service at the age of 50.          

        He was strongly confident in making an illuminated country. As a brave Anandian, he was never discouraged. He competed for the election to the state council from the Rathnapura district in 1931. After being selected to the state council, he was able to resume the project Laxapana. As a result of a long and patient journey, he was able to see the completion of the Laxxapana hydropower station. His introduction to making the grid in national electricity and hydropower movements paved the way for the self-sufficiency of electricity in that era. At the age of 73, that illuminating mind lamp went off in 1953. 

         His ultimate commitment, patience, and interest in making positive and sustainable changes made him one of the pioneer engineers in Sri Lanka. Even though he is not with us now, as a country we should be grateful to him, as we always consume electricity. Mother Sri Lanka will keep the name Eng.D.J.Wimalasurendra at the top crest, for the incredible concepts he executed. We as maroon blood holders, feel that incredibility even greater.

                                                                        P.A.Vinura Jayasanka

                                                                       

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