A shining light in the Jayaweera family passed away on February 16, 2020.
Indrani, my elder sister, was born in Colombo on March 27, 1951 to Nonis and Charlotte Jayaweera from Kamburupitiya, Matara, the ‘lucky seven’ in a family of 10. She was a beautiful and talented lady.
Indrani had her early education at Buddhist Girls High School in Colpetty, and completed her schooling at Anula Vidyalaya in Nugegoda in 1968. An athletics star, in 1968 she set the Ceylon record at the public schools athletics meet. In the same year, she entered the University of Peradeniya and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 1972. Following this she joined the Singer company head office in Ratmalana.
Indrani married Prasada Perera at Fatima Church in Maradana in December 1974 after meeting each other at the Peradeniya Campus. They were brought together by a common athletic bond. Prasada was the holder of the Ceylon record for 800m for a number of years before it was broken by Kosala Sahabandu. Indrani and Prasada were married for 46 years. They loved each other and it was a perfect match.
In 1975, Indrani and Prasada migrated to England and lived there for nine years, first in Newbury, then Reading. My brother Gamini was also in England. During that time their first child Veronica was born.
In 1979 Gamini and Indrani invited me and my wife, Prasani, to settle down in London. In a foreign country far from home, we became very close and often visited each other on the weekend. Indrani loved cooking and knew all my mother’s secret recipes. Prasani and I enjoyed her food.
In 1984 Indrani and her family moved to Melbourne, Australia and settled down in Wantirna South, living there for 36 years until four months before she passed away. In 1989 I followed and settled in Sydney. Over the years we met each other a number of times, in Sydney, Melbourne and Colombo. She was always very bubbly and lively, with a beautiful unique smile. It was a pleasure to be in her company. Indrani and Prasada’s second child Chantella was born in Melbourne, and continued the family tradition of excelling in sport.
She represented her country in basketball with the Emerging Opals, the World University Games and the FIBA under 21 World Championships, all extraordinary achievements. Indrani was very proud of her daughters and always talked about their achievements. She even attended the season opening of Chantella’s AFLW club, West Coast Eagles, at the MCG two weeks before she passed away.
Always ambitious, Indrani joined National Australia Bank as a mortgage banker, and was later elevated to bank manager. She was clearly well-loved and well-respected by her colleagues, evident in the vast number who attended the funeral at the church service and burial.
Indrani battled with cancer for more than three years. She was a very determined and brave lady during this time. She revealed her battle with cancer to me late in 2018. Before that we had attended my elder brother’s funeral in Colombo and she was her usual self. I never suspected that she had been going through this. I cried for hours and days after hearing this news.
Indrani, my sister, I can’t believe that you are gone forever. During 2019 when I visited you we talked about growing up in Kalubowila. How we went to school together in the mornings, how I picked you up from your English classes in Bambalapitiya. Your family came first for you and your family was your life.
It was too soon for you to go. I love you, my dear beautiful sister.
Goodbye my sister, until we meet again.
Jayantha Jayaweera