Dear Esteemed Peradeniya Chemistry Alumni,

We had come to realize for sometime that the two teaching labs in the main chemistry building, namely the first year lab and the adjoining final year research lab and upstairs general lab and the adjoining special lab are in a very poor state of repair after continuous usage for over 40 years. They have served thousands of chemistry students both general and special in the past. However, we were troubled by the possibility that they would not be able to serve future students entering this faculty.

Having favourably considered a proposal from us, the University has agreed to spend Rs. 15 million to refurbish these labs and to renovate the old “WHO” lab into a research lab. These refurbishments would, in addition to ensuring our ability to cater to future chemistry students, also enhance our research capacity. Rs. 10 million has been set aside to refurbish the First Year/Special Research Labs (downstairs) and the General/Special labs (upstairs). The purpose of the refurbishments is toincrease the number of First year students offering Chemistry by utilizing the Special Research lab for First year students and relocating the Special Research students into the refurbished WHO lab. It is about the latter venture I am writing to you about: The Rs. 5 million allocated for the renovation of the WHO lab will only be enough for the first floor and to complete a roof over the proposed second floor. The second floor needs another Rs. 2.5 million to complete. I have attached the proposed plan for you to get a better idea about this project. I have taken up this important challenge in 2008 to raise this Rs. 2.5 million from you (approximately 16.5% of the total refurbishment budget), the past beneficiaries of this department.

I know how proud you are about the department and high standards it had maintained which I am sure gave you a head start in your careers. As its current Head I can assure you that we the latter day custodians of your department have kept that flame of high quality inviolate to be passed on to future students.

Although I did not have the privilege like you to have studied in this department, it has been a very special place to me, more than all other institutions I have studied in. That is why I am committed to this project. Volunteering to become a donor is easy for me. But asking you to become a donor is not. But if we are ever going to do this very important project, I know I have to ask.

Regardless of whether or not you can support the department at this time, I appreciate your taking the time to share what we are involved in and why we think it’s important.

Some suggested contributions:

$10,000	– We would be happy to name the labs after you
$2,000 $1,500 $1000 $500	- Your name would be preserved for posterity at the entrance to the labs
$20-500	– Your names will appear in the official list of donors

Yours truly,

Veranja Karunaratne, Ph.D.

Head of the Department

Proposed floor plan of the renovated WHO lab

WHO lab today

WHO lab under construction

List of donors for the building fund.

• Dr. Anura Dantanarayana
• Dr. Dimuthu Jayawickrama
• Dr. Ishika Lokuge
• Dr. Udeni Yapa
• Dr. Darshani Bopagedara
• Mr. Uthpala Seneviratne
• Mr. Udaya Kumara Jayasundara
• Mr. Deepthika Halambage
• Thiloka Ariyasena
• Dr. Dilusha Dalpathado
• Dr. Deepani Indrugalle
• Hemali Premathilake
• Kithsiri Herath
• Nuradhika Herath
• Dr. Ravi Amunugama
• Susanthi Jayasinghe
• Dr. Karu Bombuwala
• Dr. Thushari Bombuwala
• Mahesilu Amunugama
• Champ Ranatunga
• Keerthi B. Jayasundera
• Rasika Dias
• Sandun Perera
• Hiranthi Jayasuriya
• Iffazz Salahudeen
• Lalith Thalagala
• Periyannan Gopal Raj
• Sanjeewa Gamagedara
• Lalith Jayasinghe
• Dhammika Bandara
• Kalpani R. Pahalagedara
• Chandana Karunathilaka
• Varuni Karunathilaka
• Ravindra De Silva
• Dhananjaya Kaluappuge
• Dr. U. S. Ketipearachchi
• Udayana Ranatunga
• Dinushi Samarajeewa
• Chamini Perera
• Dilani Jayawardhana
• Dulan Gunasekara
• Neil Dias
• Panduka Koswatte
• Rohan Wimalasena
• Sanka Tannakoon
• Upasiri Samaraweera
• Yamuna Ariyarathne