Dr. Janaki Jayawardena (59), a senior lecturer at the Department of History, University of Colombo, tragically passed away yesterday (March 7) following an unfortunate accident at a residence on Sumanarama Road, Kohuwala.
Accident Details Released by Police
According to the police report, the incident occurred when Dr. Jayawardena and her daughter-in-law attempted to remove a stone placed in front of a car belonging to her son, which had failed to start. The vehicle, parked on a sloped area, suddenly moved forward, trapping Dr. Jayawardena beneath it.
Despite being rushed to Kalubowila Hospital with severe injuries, she was pronounced dead upon admission, police confirmed.
Both Dr. Jayawardena and her daughter-in-law were engaged in removing the stone, unaware that the car would roll forward. While the daughter-in-law managed to move away in time, Dr. Jayawardena was unable to escape. At the time of the incident, her son was inside the vehicle and has since been taken into police custody for further investigation.
A Respected Scholar in History and Gender Studies
Dr. Jayawardena was a distinguished academic who made significant contributions to the study of history and gender dynamics in Sri Lanka. She earned her PhD from York University, UK, and previously served as the Head of the Department of History at the University of Colombo. She also held the position of Secretary of the University’s Lecturers’ Association.
The Department of History at the University of Colombo has expressed deep sorrow over her untimely demise, emphasizing her invaluable contributions to Sri Lankan historical studies.
Meanwhile, Kohuwala police are conducting further investigations into the incident.