Sophinona Aberathna De Costa nee D.S. Kathriarachchi:

A woman of rare compassion

A prominent social worker and silent philanthropist, Mrs. Sophinona Aberathna De Costa nee D.S. Kathriarachchi a native of Nampamunuwa, Piliyandala passed away on May 25. She was 81- years-old.

She is the wife of the late Aberathna De Costa of Thunbowila, Piliyandala, a well-known businessman in the area who passed away 10 years ago.

Sopinona Costa was a good cook. She had served lunch and dinner from her residence in Thunbowila to three factories of the Ceylon Ceramics Corporation and other industrial institutions in the area.

She had continued with this service for an unbroken period of 50 years, giving food at half the nominal rate.

She is also an active and regular contributor of the Piliyandala, Sri Anuradhpura Poson and Asala Dana Sangraha Dansal Samithiya for the last five decades. Though she completed 81 years, she was healthy and never entered a hospital or saw a physician for any illness.

One day when questioned by a beautician as to how she maintained her good looks, she said, "I never use any perfume other than talcum powder. I never go for facials or style my hair but use pure coconut oil for my hair."

She has four sons - the eldest being Mahinda De Costa, a cricketer and well-known businessman in the Piliyandala area. Dayal De Costa, who is the second is a well-known educationist, academician and also Professor at the Department of Chemistry, University of Colombo.

The third, Saman De Costa is an electrical engineer holding a senior position at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Priyantha De Costa is a senior software engineer and is the youngest. She was blessed with active daughters-in-law-Asokamalee, Seetha, Ruwani and Dilani De Costa.

- Dr. Hemasiri Kuruppu,