Quick Facts
Biography
Professor Rajaratnam Kumaravadivel is a Sri Lankan Tamil physicist, academic, former dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna and former acting vice-chancellor of the University of Jaffna.
Early life
Kumaravadivel joined the University of Ceylon, graduating in 1956 with a first class honours BSc general degree. He received a first class honours BSc special degree in physics in 1960. He then received a PhD degree from the University of Bristol in 1975 after producing a thesis titled Theory of Thermodynamic Properties of Liquid Metals.
Career
Kumaravadivel was lecturer-in-charge of the Department of Physics, Peradeniya Campus of the University of Sri Lanka between January 1978 and January 1979. He served as Head of the Department of Physics, University of Jaffna three times: February 1985 to February 1988; March 1991 to June 1991; and April 1994 to November 1999. He was Head of the Computer Unit at the university from August 1989 to October 1990.
Kumaravadivel served as dean of the Faculty of Science from November 1999 to July 2010. He was a nominee for the vice-chancellorship of the university in 2000, 2003 and 2006. He served as acting vice-chancellor of the university between June 2006 and December 2007 after the nominee Ratnajeevan Hoole failed to take up his post. Kumaravadivel is currently serving as senior professor at the Department of Physics. He is currently an emeritus professor at the university and a member of the University Grants Commission.