T. Somasekaram
| Sri Lanka Sikhamani Thamotharam Somasekaram FRGS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 37th Surveyor General of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 1991–1992 | |
| Preceded by | E. M. Perera |
| Succeeded by | S. Berugoda |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 September 1934 |
| Died | 11 March 2010 (aged 75) |
| Alma mater | Jaffna Hindu College University of Ceylon Fitzwilliam College Ohio State University |
| Profession | Surveyor |
| Ethnicity | Sri Lankan Tamil |
Sri Lanka Sikhamani Thamotharam Somasekaram (22 September 1934 – 11 March 2010) was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil geographer and Surveyor General.
Early life and family
Somasekaram was born on 22 September 1934.[1] He was educated at the Jaffna Hindu College.[2][3] After school he joined the University of Ceylon, Colombo from where he graduated in 1956 with a BSc degree.[1][4][5]
Somasekaram married Sathanithi. They had three children (Damayanthi, Jayanthi and Arjun).[6][7]
Career
After university Somasekaram joined the Government Survey Department as an Assistant Superintendent of Surveys.[1][4] A year later he joined Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge in 1958 to study the Part II course in geography, which he completed in 1959.[1] On returning to Ceylon he rejoined the Survey Department.[1][4] He became Superintendent of Surveys in 1967, Assistant Surveyor General in 1971 and Deputy Surveyor General in 1973.[1][4] The latter position made in head of the Institute of Surveying and Mapping.[4]
Somasekaram joined the Ohio State University in 1976 on a United Nations Fellowship, graduating with a MSc in Geodesy and Cartography.[1][4][5]
Somasekaram became Surveyor General in 1991.[1][8] He came up with the idea of the Sri Lankan Atlas and chaired the committee charged with creating it.[1][4] He was awarded the Sri Lanka Sikhamani title, a Sri Lankan national honour, in 1990 for this work.[1]
Somasekaram was president of the Surveyors' Institute of Sri Lanka (1985–87) and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science.[1][4][9] In 1998 he was admitted as a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Jaffna.[1][4] He was vice-president of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka between 1985 and 1991 and a member of the Canadian Institute of Geomatics.[4]
Later life
Somasekaram wrote a number of books after retirement.[4] He died on 11 March 2010.[1][7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Fitzwilliam Journal 2012". Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
- ↑ Somasekaram, T. (23 March 2004). "Memorial for IPKF". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ Somasekaram, T. (6 April 2002). "Reconditioning the public service". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 Mahaarachchi, R. (16 May 2010). "Mapping the life of a fine man and outstanding Surveyor General". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "258th Commencement". Ohio State University. Autumn 1976. p. 11.
- ↑ "Dr.T.Somasekaram former Surveyor General of Sri Lanka and Jaffna Hindu College Oldboy passed away". Tamil Sydney.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Obituaries". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 12 March 2010.
- ↑ "History". Department of Survey (Sri Lanka).
- ↑ "About SISL". The Surveyors' Institute of Sri Lanka.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by E. M. Perera |
Surveyor General of Sri Lanka 1991–1992 |
Succeeded by S. Berugoda |