Kandy loses a colourful personality
It is with great sadness that I pen this article about a well known personality, a social worker, a teacher par excellence and also an honest political analyst in her spare time. It is none other than our close friend, Pushpamala Iriyagolla Dharmasena. With her demise about three months ago, Kandy lost a colourful and cheerful personality.
She was a daughter of the famous Mr. I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla, who was a Minister of Education of our country, long years ago.
Pushpamala and her husband Cecil had met at the Peradeniya University as undergraduates, and their relationship blossomed into over 50 years of wedded bliss. She mentioned to me once that their friendship flourished, while practising singing for the famous ‘Sinhabahu Nadagama’, produced and directed by Prof. Ediriweera Sarathchandra.
After graduating from university, Pushpamala chose the noble profession of teaching and her favourite subjects were Sinhala and History. After retirement, she spent some years as an Instructor in English at the Peradeniya University. Many medical and engineering students benefitted from her versatility.
She had an excellent knowledge of Ceylon history. Often when we were on trips to places of historical interest, Pushpamala revelled in describing their history and our knowledge was enhanced as a result. We also enjoyed listening to Cecil’s many encounters with wild life in Sri Lanka, as he had firsthand knowledge by travelling all over the country with his family and friends in his jeep.
She was one who always defended Sinhala rights and recognized the rights of other communities too. Pushpamala’s late brother Gamini Iriyagolla was an advocate of human rights and national cul- ture and contributed many of his views to the daily newspapers and in discussions on TV.
I first came to know Pushpamala and her beloved husband Cecil in Kandy, when I moved my law practice from Matale to Kandy about 25 years ago. We developed a very close friendship with the Dharmasena family over the years due to our common interests in history, archaeology, wild life, politics etc. Our friendship was so strong that when arguments arose, we always agreed to disagree and that had no effect on our relationship but made our bond of friendship stronger.
I can write pages and pages on this illustrious lady, an Old Visakhian, who was a very active member of the Old Girls Association in Kandy and immensely contributed towards the success of the Association.
We miss her dearly as she was always there for us, a true friend, trusted confidante, more like an elder sister. There are many others who will miss her, especially the vast number of people from Ginihiriya Colony, near her home in Kandy, whom she helped with kind and timely advice and a hot meal when they were hungry. It was their habit to run to “Iriyagolle meniké” to solve their daily problems. She was their friend, mentor and saviour at all times.
She leaves behind her beloved husband Cecil, daughter Yoshitha and son Dr. Nishan, who along with her daughter-in-law Dr. Gnana and grandchildren Priyan and Arushi, gave her immense strength and encouragement to carry on with her service to others.
May her journey through Sansara be peaceful and productive and may Pushpamala achieve the Noble Bliss of Nirvana in the shortest possible time.
Indrakumar Wijayatilake