I was born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) toward the end of British colonial rule. When I was growing up, Sri Lanka was Ceylon. In the following narrative, I describe events in my time in the country I used to know as Ceylon; therefore, the use of this nomenclature is not intended to undermine Sri Lanka, but to recreate the period of history in which I lived; it was Ceylon then.

I completed my high school education in 1954 while English was still the medium of instruction. I was among the last to study in the English medium at the University of Ceylon. I graduated in 1958 with an honors degree in Economics specializing in Money and Banking- a specialty that opened up a promising professional career in the Bank of Ceylon in 1960 as one of two women officers hired by the Bank for the first time. (more…)