Author: C. R. Panabokke
Fuller name: Christopher Rajendra
Title: Dr.
Born: 1926
Bio: Dr. Panabokke is a very distinguished son of Sri Lanka having excelled as one of the best soil scientists in Sri Lanka or for that matter in the whole world. He graduated with Honours in Chemistry from the University of Ceylon in 1949 and proceeded to the University of Adelaide, Waite Agricultural Re-search Institute in Australia where he completed his PhD degree in Soil Science in 1956, having been placed "proxime accesserunt" for Cuiross Prize for Scientific Research. He is a highly recognized specialist in Soil Science (Soil Survey, Land UseSurvey and Planning), Agro-Climatology and Agro-Ecology, Irrigation Agronomy and Management.

Dr. Panabokke has won several awards which included:

Natural Science Council Sri Lanka award for outstanding research for the year 1981/1982

The Presidential award of "VIDYA JYOTHI" in 1986 - the highest national award for a Scientist in Sri Lanka

Presidential award - "DESHAMANYA" in 1998 made by President Kumaratunga

The positions he held in Sri Lanka include, Head Dry Zone Research Institute, Maha Ilupallama (1956-1960), Head of Soil Survey Unit, Department of Agriculture & Irrigation (1960-l970), Director, Mahaveli Development Board (1970-1975), Head, Land use Division of the Irrigation Department (1970-1974), Director, Research, Department of Agriculture (1974-1979), Director (now designated Director, General) of the Department of Agriculture (1979-1982)

His assignments internationally include, Senior Research Fellow, International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) in the Hague in Netherlands in 1982-83, Irrigation Agronomist at the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) (1982-83) and Senior Associate, Sri Lanka Field operation IIMI, Colombo 1989 to date. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the International Board for Soil Research & Management (IBSRAM) from 1983-1989. Dr. Panabokke has to his credit more than 30 research papers in reputed international Journals, 35 Scientific papers presented at national and international workshops/conferences and has authored three text books on Soils of Sri Lanka. One of the most valuable publication he authored is "Soil Landscapes and Agro-Ecology of Sri Lanka" published by NARESA in 1997, a monumental work with 11 chapters and 220 pages. He has served as the President SECTION B, of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science in 1968, President of the Soil Society of Ceylon, 1974 to 1981, and is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka.

Dr. Panabokke is an erudite scholar, an exceptionally talented world-renowned scientist and a thorough gentleman Sri Lanka has produced and his contributions to soil science and to agriculture in general in Sri Lanka is enormous and praiseworthy. There is no other better way of honouring him than his present appointment as Chancellor, of a relatively new and innovative centre of excellence in higher education - Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, headed by a dedicated Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dayanada Somasundara, the highest honorary position at the apex of academtc Institutions in the country. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka will certainly benefit and flourish from his experience and guidance and Dr. Panabokke will certainly be another gem in the crown of this excellent seat of higher education.