Shiromi

A person worth celebrating. Full of life and laughter. A generous soul that was always there for you when you needed her. ”

Shiromi’s personality revolved around her goals and improving her situation. A captivating and delightful person, you could not take your eyes off her. When it came to confidence, she always trusted her own abilities and knew her value. As for her personality and outlook, Shiromi was dazzling and was the life of the party and impressed everyone she met.

Shiromi will always be in my heart and memories of her will always be treasured, especially for the sincerity she has shown everytime by welcoming  us and making her friends feel comfortable in her establishment.”
-Prithi Fernando-

It was a given that when with her, you would go home a happy person even if you were in the foulest of moods at the outset. It was a great move when Shiromi took charge of the Asylum Restaurant. The restaurant, which was like a mausoleum at one time, was brought to life with her amazing personality and lively spirit being in charge and was packed to capacity pre-Covid times. 

I remember vividly when Jessica Heath, author of the cookbook ‘Ceylove’ cooked at the Asylum. Jessica was shattered when she heard the news of Shiromi passing away and was saddened like all of us. “I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful Shiromi during my first visit to Sri Lanka in 2012 and saw her on every trip thereafter. I was blown away by her infectious aura and I always looked forward to our crazy, playful banter. She could take a joke and give it back ten times harder. I loved being around her and listening to her colourful life. She gave me real guttural laughs! Shiromi was witty, vivacious, encouraging and a very smart woman. I’m so sad to hear about her passing and I’m going to miss her very much!!”, was what Jessica had to say about Shiromi.

I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful Shiromi during my first visit to Sri Lanka in 2012 and saw her on every trip thereafter. I was blown away by her infectious aura and I always looked forward to our crazy, playful banter.” 
-Jessica Heath-

Indu and Sanwadha Dharmasena, close friends of Shiromi remember “Shiromi or ‘Pinna’ as she was affectionately referred to as a friend indeed. “A person worth celebrating. Full of life and laughter. A generous soul that was always there for you when you needed her. She was always our go-to person when we were down or even had good news to share. She always had time for us. She never expected anything back in return. She had a positive outlook on life, ‘no’ or “can’t “ are not words we ever heard from her, it was always “let’s see what we can do.”   It aches when we think of her and knowing now that we will never hear her say “Hello darling”  ever again. She had a knack for making each encounter with her memorable, and now sadly all we have are memories of a solid friend who left us too soon. Shiromi, we will love you always and miss you greatly, a little piece of us died the day you died, but you will forever be in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.”

Prithi Fernando feels that she had lost a true and sincere friend. “Shiromi will always be in my heart and memories of her will always be treasured, especially for the sincerity she has shown everytime by welcoming and making her friends feel comfortable in her establishment.”

Shiromi helped people in many ways possible. Even during the curfew last year, she spoke to me to find out if there were any people I knew who were going hungry. She was happy to have food delivered to them at no charge and guaranteed anonymity to avoid any embarrassment. “People must never go hungry,” she said. Chapters can be written of Shiromi. Her death has shattered many who knew her well. Shiromi’s life will always be celebrated by all who were close to her.

My condolences to the husband, daughter and son she leaves behind.

“And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.”  Maya Angelou