Chandra Dharmawardana

Chandre Dharma-wardana is a Sri Lankan-born academic and scientist. He was a senior lecturer and Professor of chemistry at Vidyodaya University (now the University of Sri Jayewardenepura) from 1969-1975. From 1974-1975, Dharma-wardana was Vice-Chancellor of Vidyodaya University. He was also the director of CeyLon Leather Products and Tannery from 1972 to 1974. Currently, he works on various topics in the Quantum Theory and nanotechnology.

Brief Biography
Dharma-wardana was educated at Royal College, Colombo and received his Ph.D. from Cambridge University. Subsequently he worked at the National Research Council (NRCC) before he accepted a position at Vidyodyaya University, prompted by his acquaintance with Ven. Walpola Rahula in Paris. During his period at Vidyodaya, he retained a summer position at the NRCC, and subsequently at the Centre European de Calcul Atom et Moleculaire (CECAM), Université Paris IX, Orsay. Professor Dharma-wardana left Vidyodyaya University in 1976 and was attached to CECAM, Orsay, till 1978 when he rejoined the National research Council of Canada. He has been a visiting professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara and various others international academic institutions.

Fields of research
Professor Dharma-wardana has worked on a wide variety of scientific topics, where the unifying theme is the application of the quantum theory, usually to many-body problems. His work focused on quantum theory, statistical mechanics and solid state physics. He has also done research into many-body theory and plasma physics, often in collaboration with François Perrot of the French Atomic Energy commission. Thus the construction of the classical-map scheme for quantum systems [1] is a ground-breaking work, leading to the formulation of the classical-map hyper-netted chain method (CHNC). This method has led to a new approach for the evaluation of properties of Fermi liquids. His previous work on the density-functional theory of dense plasmas [2] is now a well-established method in the field. It has led to the development of methods for the first-princiiples evaluation of the equation of state, and the transport properties of dense plasmas[3]. His contributions to the energy-relaxation of hot electrons in semiconductors and also in plasmas [4] has presented a new direction in the theory of non-equilibrium states of two-temperature charged fluids. His paper elucidating the unusual thermal conductivity of clathrates still attracts many citations [5]. His contributions to surface science (e.g. reconstruction of the sulphur-passivated InP surface), nanotechnology, phonons in semiconductor structures etc., are well known and are contained in over 200 research publications. Dharma-wardana currently serves as a Principal Research scientist at the National Research Council of Canada, and is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Universite de Montreal[6].

Contributions to Toponymics and development studies
Professor Dharma-wardana has also contributed to various aspects of Sri Lanka's antiquarian, historical, toponymic, and development studies[7] in Sri Lanka. He was responsible for initiating the degree in Development Studies (B. Dev.) at the Vidyodaya University in 1974, during his tenure as the Vice- Chancellor of the university.