In Loving Memory of Wilson Gunapala Kulasuriya

 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved friend, Wilson Gunapala Kulasuriya, who left us this morning, 17th September 2025. He was born on 13th March 1937 and lived a long, fulfilling life marked by friendship, service, and passion.

Wilson’s early childhood was spent in the Deniyaya–Rakwana hills, where families sought refuge during World War II. After the war, he returned to complete his schooling at Mahinda College, excelling both academically and in sports. A keen soccer player during his school years, he later devoted himself to cricket—coaching the Mahinda Junior team and eventually becoming a respected figure in cricket administration. He authored Sinhala-language coaching books and went on to serve as Assistant Curator of the Galle International Cricket Stadium, where he proudly recalled meeting cricketing legends, including Sir Garfield Sobers.

I first met Wilson in 1980, when he was transferred to the Irrigation office in Galle. From that moment, we became inseparable friends. We both shared a deep love for the outdoors, especially birdwatching. Having studied The Birds of Ceylon on our own, we became ardent observers of these feathered creatures. In 1996, we joined the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka and served together for many years. With his remarkable linguistic skills, Wilson took on the role of Editor of the Malkoha, the group’s quarterly journal. Together, we participated in pioneering birding camps in remote areas, contributed to research work, and even guided specialist birdwatching tours before formal certificate courses in Natural History began at the Open University.

His love for the arts was equally remarkable. Wilson was deeply passionate about the songs of Sunil Shantha. My wife, Hemamala, discovered his rare talent when she organized a three-hour concert of Sunil Shantha’s music for the girls of Sacred Heart Convent, Galle. Wilson trained the students in the complex tonal harmonies of those songs, and the concert—the first of its kind in a Sri Lankan school—was such a success that it inspired three more performances in the years that followed, before she retired from teaching.

A man of many gifts and boundless dedication, Wilson will be remembered with love and respect by all whose lives he touched. He will be cremated at 5:00 PM on Friday, 19th September, at the Dadalla Crematorium, Galle.

May he rest in eternal peace.