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 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 2015 (aged 80–81) |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation | Museum 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]
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]
References
- Perera, Janaka. "National museum: looking back 130 years". Observer Online. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- Gunawardane, Kavisha. "The Life Cycle of a Legend". The Island. Upali Newspapers. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- Fernando, Anoja. "Appreciations". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- Salie, Ryhanna. "National Museum: Window into the past". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 27 June 2018.