C. J. Eliezer

Christie Jayaratnam Eliezer, AM (12 June 1918 – 10 March 2001), known as C.J. Eliezer, was a Sri Lanka-born Australian academic of Sri Lankan Tamil origin who held positions in mathematics faculties in universities in Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne, Australia.

After his undergraduate education in Sri Lanka, he studied mathematics (under Paul Dirac) and law at the University of Cambridge and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in London in 1949.

Eliezer became a professor of mathematics at the University of Ceylon the same year, and was appointed dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Ceylon in 1954. He held that post until 1957.

In 1959 he was named dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Malaya (until 1964) and was a professor of mathematics at the University of Malaya (until 1968).

Eliezer joined La Trobe University in 1968. as a professor of mathematics. From 1969-71 he was dean of the School of Physical Sciences. He was also deputy chairman of the Academic Board at La Trobe 1969-71. Eliezer was again dean in 1982-83.

Following his retirement in 1984, Eliezer was named Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at La Trobe until his death.

In the 1980s he cohosted a Tamil language programme on the Special Broadcasting Service, the Australian multilingual radio and television service. In 1996, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.