Padmini Goonewardena passes away

Padmini Goonewardena passes away

Mahendra 'Speedy' Gonsalkorale

I report with great sadness that we have received news of the passing of Padmini (Pathmani) Goonewardena. The circumstances of her demise are unusual. I heard that she had embarked on a journey in her car from her retirement complex in California to view her previous residence and was missing for a few days. Sadly, her car was found with her lifeless body in it. Apparently, she had a massive myocardial infarct.

Padmini sat next to me in the Physiology Lecture theatre, with Gnanissara on my other side. 

She did her internship in Ratnapura, and was part of the Exodus to the USA and worked as a Neonatologist in Turlock, California

Chirasri recalled a memory of Padmini in one of our Blog posts - "I used to travel in a private car and pick up late Priya and Kamini from Dickmans Road and Padmini from Isipathana Mawatha. During College days, we were in and out of our houses".

Shanti Nalliah has been in touch with her and was expecting a visit from Padmini this Summer (2025) but she did not turn up. Shanti contacted Padmini's younger sister, Lalitha, who lives in London, and she gave her the news about her last car journey.

I last met Padmini at our 2017 Batch Reunion at Jetwing Hotel, Negombo. I was surprised to find her a keen dancer with a much more lively personality than I remembered her in our Batch days. The photo here is an extraction from a big group photo, and I apologise for the poor quality. If anybody has a recent, better photo, please send it to me, and I shall add it to this post.

May she Rest in Peace.