Seelawathie Rambukwella Gopallawa (died October 4, 1977) was a Sri Lankan public figure, First Lady of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1977, and wife of then-President William Gopallawa when she died. Gopallawa served as the country's inaugural first lady following her husband's assumption of the presidency in 1972.
Seelawathie Gopallawa | |
|---|---|
 Seelawathie Gopallawa (right) | |
| 1st First Lady of Sri Lanka | |
| In office May 22, 1972 – 4 October 1977 | |
| President | William Gopallawa |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Elina Jayewardene |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Seelawathie Rambukwella |
| Died | October 4, 1977 |
| Resting place | Dullewa |
| Spouse | William Gopallawa (1928–1977; her death) |
| Children | 5 |
| Residence(s) | Dharmapala Mawatha, Matale, Central Province |
Biography
editGopallawa was born Seelawathie Rambukwella to L. B. Rambukwelle.[1][2] She married William Gopallawa, a lawyer and then-member of the Matale Urban Council, on March 8, 1928.[1][2] The couple had four children: two daughters, Iranganie and Chintha, and two sons, Asoka and Monty.[1][3] Her youngest son, Monty Gopallawa, served as Minister of Cultural Affairs from 2000 to 2001 and Governor of Central Province from 2002 until 2005.[1]
Gopallawa's husband, William Gopallawa, served as the Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972. In 1972, Seelawathie Gopallawa became the first First Lady of Sri Lanka when Sri Lanka became a republic and her husband assumed the presidency.[1]
Gopallawa served as the country's inaugural first lady until her death on October 4, 1977.[1] Her ashes were buried in the Gopallawa family cemetery in Dullewa following her cremation.[1] Like her husband, who died in 1981, Seelawathie Gopallawa donated her eyes to the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society following her death.[1]
She had lived as the family home in Dharmapala Mawatha, Matale.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Basnayake, Richard (2012-01-30). "William Gopallawa:Gentleman par excellence". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
- ^ a b Wijenayake, Walter (2009-01-30). "William Gopallawa: Illustrious, unassuming". The Island (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 2019-11-23. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
- ^ "Chintha Gopallawa". Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka). 2013-04-21. Retrieved 2019-11-23.