FIRST LADY BEYOND COMPARE
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It is the birth anniversary of the late Elina Jayewardene , a first lady beyond any compare and that memorable day will fall on December 15. Her youngest grandson Amrit shares the same birthday. I consider it one of the greatest privileges of my life to have known her well and associated with her closely from my teenage years. She was an icon in her time and a legend even now, long after her death. She was an only child, an heiress, who was never sent to school, but educated at home.
She was the late President Jayewardene’s greatest asset, support and strength, was well read, and maintained the highest standards, in every aspect of her life. She was always dutiful, attentive and competent as a wife, never pushing herself forward and was content staying in the background. Their only child Ravi, was a man of simple tastes like his mother, who never made use of any privileges when his father was President. He never used the official cars given and I recall seeing him more than once walking from Braemar, his parents home.