Thelma Gunawardena

Dr. Thelma Gunawardena (1934–2015) was the first female Director of the National Museum of Colombo.[1] She was also the Director of National Museums for Sri Lanka.[2]

Thelma Gunawardena
Born
Thelma de Alwis

1934 (1934)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died2015 (aged 80–81)
NationalitySri Lankan
OccupationMuseum Director
Spouse(s)G. J. P. Gunawardane

Life

Thelma de Alwis was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1934. She attended the University of Colombo where she received a Bachelor of Science in zoology.[2] In 1961 she married G. J. P. Gunawardane with whom she had four sons.[3] She subsequently attended the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England, earning her PhD in entomology in 1968.[2]

In the 1970s Gunawardena worked on reducing insect damage to coconut trees, an important agricultural product in Sri Lanka.[2]

National Museum of Colombo

In 1982 Gunawardena became the Director of National Museums and Director of the National Museum of Colombo. She served as Director of the National Museum of Colombo from 1982 through 1994.[4] She contributed to the establishment of the Colombo Dutch Museum, the National Museum of Galle, the National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, and the National Maritime Museum in Galle.[2]

Gunawardena died on 23 January 2015.[2]

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References
  1. Perera, Janaka. "National museum: looking back 130 years". Observer Online. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. Gunawardane, Kavisha. "The Life Cycle of a Legend". The Island. Upali Newspapers. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. Fernando, Anoja. "Appreciations". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  4. Salie, Ryhanna. "National Museum: Window into the past". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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