Appreciations

We record with sorrow the death of Sirancee Gunawardene, former Principal of Ladies’ College and Founder Member, Mithuruwela, the Cancer Support Network.

My acquaintance with Mrs. Gunawardene began when as Sirancee Samaweera, she was the Senior Art teacher at Ladies’ College. We used to look forward to her classes because they were a refreshing change from the set patterns of our other classes. More particularly we enjoyed them because they were the only school periods in which we knew we had the licence to walk out. We would often convince our teacher that our artistic masterpieces needed a bunch of leaves that could be found only at the far end of the school garden. Art classes with Mrs. Gunawardene were therefore glorious afternoons of leisurely sorties around the school grounds, smugly aware that we could not be punished, even by our formidable principal, Miss Simon.

In 1968, our gentle, kind Art teacher herself became the principal of Ladies’ College.

The Centenary Volume which charts the history of the school records that she was the first Sri Lankan to be so appointed. During her tenure as Principal, she was to change the ethos of the school into a setting which reflected the diverse cultures of the various communities that formed our nation. Her attempts to ensure that Ladies’ College embraced as many traditions as possible while providing the best of education are echoed in her own career achievements.

During her period as Principal, she managed to complete a course in Education at the University of Oxford, a Diploma in Buddhism and a Master’s degree in Archaeology. Her abiding interest in history culminated in the publication of “ Mediaeval Palm Leaf Manuscripts of Sri Lanka” and her concern for all things natural saw her taking up the post of Editor of ‘Loris’, the journal of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society.

Apart from these personal achievements, Mrs. Gunawardene was also to steer the school through some of the bleakest and most demanding moments of Sri Lanka’s recent past – the youth insurrections of 1971 and the late 1980s, the horrendous ethnic riots of 1983, and in 1991, the bomb blast at the neighbouring JOC headquarters. The fortitude and courage she showed in dealing with these events is reflected in the way she dealt with her illnesses.

Her frail health however, did not deter her from adopting new interests. So when we broached the possibility of establishing a much-needed support group for cancer patients and care-givers, her espousal of our cause was a warm-hearted indication of her dynamic spirit. With characteristic enthusiasm, she drafted a constitution for the newly-formed organization, and pressed her hospitality on us, opening her home in Rosmead Place for our early discussions.

Her subsequent ill-health prevented her from taking a major role in Mithuruwela’s activities, but she was always happy to hear of our progress. Some months ago, when illness struck again, I visited her in hospital. She was obviously weakened, but was as buoyant as ever, and on her sick bed was putting the finishing touches to a charming set of children’s stories, written and illustrated by her. “I am ready to go anytime,” she told me, “but while I am waiting, I thought I’d finish this.”

Mrs. Gunawardene lived a life of dedication to all that she undertook, away from the glare of publicity. Her many achievements are a testimony to the ideals she believed in.

To us at Mithuruwela, she was a Founder Member, a role model who epitomized the truth that cancer may invade the body but cannot destroy the spirit. To Mrs Gunawardene, we offer thanks for all she has given us, and to her family, our sincerest condolences on their loss.