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Sachi Sri Kantha
Born: 	May 8, 1953 Chilaw, Sri Lanka

Occupation: 	Inter-disciplinary biologist, author

Nationality: 	 Sri Lanka

Education: 	B.Sc.(Special) University of Colombo M.Sc. University of Peradeniya Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Sachi Sri Kantha is an inter-disciplinary biologist and author.

Education:

A native of Point Pedro, Sri Lanka, Sachi Sri Kantha received his early education in 1960s at the Colombo Hindu College (Bambalapitiya and Ratmalana) and at the Aquinas University College, Colombo. In 1972, he entered University of Colombo and graduated in Zoology in 1976. During his undergraduate days, he was active in Tamil student drama circle, and held the presidency of University of Colombo Tamil Society during 1974-75, when it celebrated its Golden Jubilee. [1] Subsequently, he earned his Masters degree in Biochemistry from University of Peradeniya (1980). While at this university, Sri Kantha also actively engaged students in Tamil dramas by directing a few in cultural festivals. [2] For doctoral studies, Sri Kantha left for USA in 1981 and earned his first Ph.D. in Food Chemistry from University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign (1986). Then, he moved to Japan as a Monbusho scholar at the University of Tokyo during 1986 –88 and was awarded a second Ph.D. in Marine Biochemistry in 1989. During his second post-doctoral stint (1989-90) at the then Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Sri Kantha collected material for his first reference book. Prostitutes in Medical Literature: an annotated bibliography (1991).[3]. David Friedrichs, reviewing this work for the American Reference Books Annual 1992, indicated, “Currently, of course, there is intense concern with prostitution as a source for the transmission of AIDS. Accordingly, the extensive list of relevant items will be exceptionally useful to researchers.”[4] Vern Bullough and Lilli Sentz annotated this book as, “Is somewhat broader than the title indicates and includes general and history, anthropology, sociology, psychology and mental health. Particularly good on sexually transmitted diseases.”[5].

Career:

After moving to Japan in 1991 to join the group of Osamu Hayaishi (1991-94) at the Osaka Bioscience Institute, Sri Kantha worked on his second reference book, An Einstein Dictionary (1996).[6] This work received mixed reviews. While George Eberhart recommended ‘this volume is useful as a quick fact-finder’[7] and Laurie Brown found it ‘more interesting reading, because of its colorful entries and extensive bibliography and index’ [8], C.D. Hurt criticized it for ‘inequalities in the typeface fonts between the main text and disconcerting tables’[9] Since 2000, Sri Kantha joined the academia as an associate professor at the Gifu University and had continued his career as visiting professor at the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute (2002-05) and Gifu Pharmaceutical University (2006-10). Currently, he teaches scientific English at the Center for General Education, Gifu University. In 2000, he received recognition in the reference work Contemporary Authors series.[10]

References:

[1] Thevamanoharan, N and Sankaranayanan, K., Ilam Thenral (Colombo), 1974-75; Golden Jubilee Issue, Colombo Campus Tamil Society.

[2] Manoharan, T. Three dramas at Peradeniya – a review. Mallihai (Jaffna), April 1980, pp. 47-49.

[3] Sri Kantha, Sachi. Prostitutes in Medical Literature: An Annotated bibliography, Bibliographies and Indexes in Medical Studies, No.6, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1991, 256 pp.

[4] Friedrichs, D.O., review of Prostitutes in Medical Literature, American Reference Books Annual 1992, vol. 23, Libraries Unlimited, Englewood, Colorado, 1992, p. 669.

[5] Bullough, V.L. and Sentz, L., Prostitution: A Guide to Sources, 1960-1990, Garland Publishing Inc., New York, 1992, pp. 2-3.

[6] Sri Kantha, Sachi. An Einstein Dictionary, Greenwood Press, Wesport, Connecticut, 1996, 298pp. [7] Eberhart, G. review of An Einstein Dictionary, College & Research Libraries News, Oct. 1996, vol. 57, no.9, p. 601.

[8] Brown, Laurie M. review of An Einstein Dictionary, Isis, 1998, vol. 89, p. 175.

[9] Hurt, C.D. review of An Einstein Dictionary, American Reference Books Annual 1997, vol.28, Libraries Unlimited, Englewood, Colorado, 1997, pp. 638-639.

[10] Peacock, S. (Ed.) Contemporary Authors, vol. 184, Gale Group Inc., Farmington Hills, MI, 2000, pp. 156-157.