The dapper, extraordinary man of science is no more

It is with great sadness that we record the passing away of Vidya Jyothi Dr R.O.B. Wijesekera (or R.O.B. to many) on July 12. He was 93.

Dr Wijesekera took chemistry at the University of Ceylon and started his career as a Research Officer at the Medical Research Institute (MRI), primarily working on medicinal plants. He had his postgraduate studies at the University of Sheffield in late 1950’s and was well known for his work on tannins. He later joined the Ceylon Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (CISIR and ITI now) where he took the lead in building the portfolio of projects on natural products.

I first met him during this time when he, as a visiting lecturer, taught us Organic Chemistry. I was often fascinated by his lectures not because of the organic chemistry content but because he would always connect natural products and plants to organic chemistry. I am not sure whether the syllabus had these elements, but he would go deep into plant products, and the medicinal properties of plants, just as a Weda Mahatmaya would. Amongst the academic staff, he held a special place always very dapper in matching clothes with a pipe tucked into his trouser belt.

When I was on my postgraduate studies in England, one of the Professors having learned that I came from Sri Lanka, asked me about Dr R.O.B. whenever we met. They had been in Sheffield together and he held Dr R.O.B. in high esteem.

Dr R.O.B. then moved to the international arena, mostly with UNIDO; he was in the West Indies for a considerable time working on essential oils and was later responsible for developing UNIDO’s technical assistance programme on medicinal and aromatic plants. His work was well received by the international community; he was the proud recipient of the Guinness Medal for outstanding achievements.

Upon retirement from UNIDO, he was appointed the Chairman of Industrial Technology Institute (ITI formerly CISIR); our paths crossed again when he was appointed the first Chairman of the newly established National Science & Technology Commission (NASTEC), the apex body to coordinate science and technology. I had just left the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP) which has a similar mandate on agricultural research. Since he was very keen on having NASTEC achieve its objectives, we would have long discussions on these ‘apex’ bodies, and how these could be used for betterment of coordination in science and technology. However, at the end of his tenure at NASTEC, he was quite disappointed; the ‘apex’ bodies which have mandate over several different Ministries could not function properly because coordination was almost impossible.

Dr R.O.B. continued to support the scientific community in Sri Lanka. He was a Founder Fellow and an active member of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka. He was also a Past President of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science and the Institute of Chemistry. One of the lecture halls of the Institute of Chemistry is named after him.

Dr R.O.B’s immense contribution to the development of natural products is well recognised. He was very forthright and would express his views without fear or favour. His wisdom and splendid gift of repartee will be sorely missed by the scientific community. His autobiography, ‘Clouds are not spheres, nor mountains cones’, is a rich collection of his work and life and as he says, a world of experience to look back on.

Ranjith Mahindapala