What kind of a child was Udari?

Very naughty. More mischievous than her younger brother. But she loved her parents a lot. She studied at Negombo Ave Maria where she excelled in studies, music and arts. I remember present- in ing her with a piano on h her 9th birthday. She le learnt it, sat for exams a and became a talented p pianist. I was teaching at a Dankotuwa school then. From her younger d days we shared a very good rapport and even today we are the same although we live in two countries. I am her best friend and that’s how mothers should be with their daughters.

As a family member Udari has been very considerate and simple. Udari used to help me with household chores and she is also a good cook. She loves her father and brother too just as she loves her family – her husband Sujith and daughter Shenarya Umeily. She met Sujith when she was 20. He was a final year medical student then. Today he is a specialized doctor.

I am delighted about the honorary titles she received recently for her humanitarian traits. In fact such qualities were instilled in her during her childhood when we celebrated our birthdays with meritorious deeds at orphanages or elders homes. I am from Balangoda and I always share my birthday joy with inmates at children’s and elders’ homes there.

I have been working here in New York for the past five years. Udari visits me with her family whenever time permits. She was here a couple of weeks ago too. Since graduating from the Colombo University I worked as an Economics teacher for 18 years and then served as a teacher trainer. My son Chamika Haritha is in Melbourne. I am planning to visit Sri Lanka this year and hope all works out well.

Little Udari