About Thelma Gunawardena
Lived 1934 – 2015 (aged 80–81). Thelma Gunawardena was a curator and entomologist.
Dr. Thelma Gunawardena (1934–2015) was the first female Director of the National Museum of Colombo. She was also the Director of National Museums for Sri Lanka.
Life Thelma de Alwis was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1934. She attended the University of Colombo where she received a Bachelor of Science in zoology. She subsequently attended the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London, England, earning her PhD in entomology in 1968. She contributed to the establishment of the Colombo Dutch Museum, the National Museum of Galle, the National Museum of Natural History, Colombo, and the National Maritime Museum in Galle.
Gunawardena died on 23 January 2015.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Thelma Gunawardena?
Sri Lankan entomologist and museum director
When was Thelma Gunawardena born?
Thelma Gunawardena was born in 1934 in Colombo.
When did Thelma Gunawardena die?
Thelma Gunawardena died on 23 January 2015.
What was Thelma Gunawardena's occupation?
Thelma Gunawardena was a curator and entomologist.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Thelma Gunawardena
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thelma Gunawardena. https://biography.guide/thelma-gunawardena/
MLA: "Thelma Gunawardena." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thelma-gunawardena/.
Chicago: "Thelma Gunawardena." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thelma-gunawardena/.
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