Celebrating 24 Years of UCSC Excellence

UCSC Anniversary Tribute

“This is not just a celebration of UCSC—it’s a tribute to the hundreds of individuals who shaped its remarkable journey.” (Photo Archive Library (c) Turrance Nandasara)

A Legacy Rooted in History 

UCSC celebrates 24 years of excellence, but its true legacy spans more than 59 years of dedicated contributions to computing and education in Sri Lanka. From humble beginnings in the Mathematics Department, Statistical Unit, and Computer Centre, to the pioneering Department of Statistics and Computer Science and the visionary Institute of Computer Technology—each chapter laid the foundation for what became the fully fledged Department of Computer Science, with Statistics forming its own path and ICT continuing independently.

The Birth of UCSC

The final merger of ICT and DCS gave rise to UCSC, a centre of academic and technological innovation. Though these original entities are no longer visible within UCSC, their spirit lives on in every line of code, every lecture, and every breakthrough.

Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future

As we honour the past, we also look ahead—with hope, ambition, and a commitment to shaping the future of computing for generations to come.

Building a Legacy: How a Lecture Hall Became a World-Class Auditorium at UCSC

By Turrance Nandasara

In 2017, I achieved a truly remarkable milestone for the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) by personally undertaking the complete conceptual and technical design to transform a raw, multi-level lecture hall—just as originally planned in the building's architecture—into a state-of-the-art, 360-seater auditorium that stands proudly as one of the very best at the University of Colombo, built to meet the highest visual and acoustic standards in higher education.

A Vision Realised for the 50th Anniversary

The conversion was timed to perfection. Shortly after its inauguration in 2017, the newly established auditorium was put to its ultimate test during a historic milestone: the celebration of 50 Years of Computing History in Sri Lanka (1967–2017).

Grand stage performance inside the newly inaugurated UCSC Auditorium during the 50th Anniversary Celebrations (1967–2017)

Watching the stage come alive with vibrant cultural performances under brilliant, digitally controlled LED stage lighting—backed by a colossal 32-foot projection display—was an immensely rewarding moment. As traditional rhythms and music resonated flawlessly through the packed hall without distortion or echo delay, it confirmed that the technical vision had been achieved: a world-class platform capable of capturing the true soul, energy, and heartbeat of our institutional history.

Crafting the Perfect Acoustic and Visual Environment

Creating an exceptional auditorium requires far more than mounting speakers and hanging screens; it demands rigorous acoustic engineering and spatial planning. To ensure maximum comfort and optimum sound dynamics, plush floor carpeting and ergonomic modern seating were introduced throughout the 360-seat space.

The architectural walls were extensively re-engineered with specialized sound-controlled acoustic paneling. This precision acoustic treatment eliminated interior echo, suppressed external noise bleed, and delivered maximum acoustic fidelity to every seat in the audience.

Technical Infrastructure Highlights

• Projection Display: 32-foot auto-operated wide screen powered by a high-lumen wide short-throw Panasonic laser projector (direct import from the USA).

• Audio System: JBL line-array sound system, surround fill speakers, digital audio distributor, high-fidelity amplifiers, wired & wireless mic array.

• Broadcasting & Video: Blackmagic 4K four-camera system with a dedicated video mixer for live FHD recording to tape or disk.

• Lighting & Control: Centralized master control room managing a digitally operated LED stage lighting grid.

Engineering for Longevity and Excellence

A central pillar of the design philosophy was durability. The flagship short-throw Panasonic laser projector—the first of its kind imported directly to Sri Lanka from the United States—was engineered to deliver over 20 years of continuous service without requiring routine maintenance or replacement parts.

"Bringing this state-of-the-art auditorium to life—a space where staff and students can fully experience the profound benefits of cutting-edge digital technology, both visually and acoustically—remains one of my proudest achievements."

Sustaining the Legacy

Nearly a decade after its inauguration, the UCSC Auditorium stands just as pristine and capable as it did on day one in 2017. This enduring quality is a testament to the meticulous care and management provided by the staff of the Advanced Digital Media Technology Centre (ADMTC), under the guidance of the present Director, Dr Ajantha Athukorala.

Special gratitude is owed to former Director, Professor Hewagamage, whose steadfast support and vision made it possible to elevate this hall into a premier academic landmark. As the venue continues to host international conferences, cultural galas, and historic lectures, it remains a vibrant hub for the university community for generations to come.

The Sinhala Word Processor Race: A Look Back at 1994

 

The Sinhala Word Processor Race: A Look Back at 1994

As I continue to compile my personal archives for an upcoming memoir and comprehensive history of computing in Sri Lanka, I occasionally unearth documents that perfectly encapsulate the atmosphere of the early days of local tech development. One such treasure is a clipping from the March 1994 issue of INFOLINK magazine, featuring an article titled "Setting the Standard in Sinhala Word Processing."

Looking back at this page brings forth a vivid reminder of a highly competitive and innovative era in our technological landscape.

From Pharmacology to the UK and Back

The INFOLINK piece serves as a rather neat summary of my early career. It traces my beginnings at the University of Colombo's Department of Pharmacology as a Research Assistant, where early exposure to computing fundamentally shifted my career trajectory.

This newfound direction led me to the UK for higher studies at the University of Reading, a period of rigorous learning that prepared me for my return to Sri Lanka. Joining the Institute of Computer Technology (ICT) in 1987 under the guidance of Professor V.K. Samaranayake placed me right at the centre of a massive technological hurdle: localising the digital workspace.

Building from Scratch

Unlike other regional languages that had existing frameworks to adapt, Sinhala word processing had to be built from the ground up. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw numerous claims and intense competition—what the magazine aptly dubbed the "Sinhala Word Processor Race."

My contribution to this race, which began in 1989, was the development of Wadantharuwa (charmingly misspelt as "Wedanthura" in the publication).

The Technical Leap: An 8-Bit Sinhala BIOS

What truly set Wadantharuwa apart from other packages on the market was its underlying architecture. We took the decision to develop a bespoke Sinhala Basic Input Output System (BIOS).

• Memory-Resident Design: The Sinhala BIOS was a disk-based, 8-bit standard code that remained memory-resident once the computer booted.

• High Resolution: Despite being a remarkably compact 20 Kb programme, it achieved high character resolution, allowing users to easily differentiate Sinhala characters on both mono and VGA monitors.

• Seamless Transition: Crucially, once loaded, the operation was entirely free, allowing operators to switch seamlessly between Sinhala and English, mixing text within the same document.

Preserving the History

This clipping is more than just a personal milestone; it is a vital record of how the foundational architecture for local language computing was engineered in Sri Lanka. While this blog post offers a brief overview, I am currently expanding these notes into a full, comprehensive chapter for my forthcoming book, where I will delve much deeper into the technical challenges and the brilliant minds who drove this era forward.