Gamini Weerasinghe
9 January 1943 - 27 May 2026
- About
- Obituary
- Life Timeline
- Tributes
About
Birthplace: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Residence: Chapel Hill, Queensland
Service Date: Mon, 8 June 2026, 9:00 AM
Service Location: Centenary Memorial Gardens, 353 Wacol Station Road, Sumner, Queensland 4074
Obituary
Weerasinghe, Sudharma Gamini – Loving husband of Lalitha; dearly loved father of Indika Niroshan (Niro) and Jayani Chamanthi (Chami); loved father-in-law of Eleonora Tarzibachi and Ian Kiteley; loved brother of Indrani Perera, Ranjith, (late) Nimal, Lakshman, Jayaraj and (late) Jayanthi Perera. Gamini studied at Ananda College in Colombo and graduated from The University of Colombo. He then worked at the Fisheries Department in Colombo and then worked in Nigeria (1980 – 1987). Gamini then emigrated to Australia, graduated from The University of Queensland and worked at the Woodridge and Mansfield State High Schools as a science teacher specialising in Chemistry and Physics until his retirement in 2009. Gamini passed away on the 27th May 2026 in Brisbane with his family by his side after living a full life to the age of 83. His funeral will take place on 8th June at 9am at Centenary Memorial Gardens, Brisbane, Australia. In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make a donation via the GoFundMe link below. On 3rd June, an alms giving will be organised in Gamini’s memory at Battaramulla temple in Sri Lanka for the nearest family members to attend. If any further details are required, please contact: chami_weerasinghe@yahoo.co.uk
Life Timeline
Gamini enters the world
Gamini is born, the fifth child of Ariyadasa and Leelawathi Weerasinghe in Colombo, Sri Lanka
His mother sadly passes away
Gamini's mother sadly dies when he is just 11 years old. His father and older sister, Indrani, takes over caring for him and his six siblings.
Gamini graduates high school
Gamini attends Ananda College in Colombo and graduates in 1960. He had a love of science from an early age and went on to study science at university.
Gamini's lands his first job
Gamini's journey to help others and enrich their lives begins when he gets his first job as a social services officer.
Gamini gets his second job – aqua-culturist
Gamini joins Department of Fisheries in Sri Lanka as an aqua-culturist, to help improve lives by increasing food production and employment in the island
Gamini graduates with a BSc
Gamini successfully graduates from Colombo University with a Bachelors degree in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology.
Gamini meets the love of his life
Gamini’s car breaks down when his radiator overheats. He goes looking for water and, as fate would have it, meets the charming Lalitha Udabage through her equally charming aunty.
Gamini gets married!
Gamini and Lalitha ties the knot and enjoy a wedding reception at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on the outskirts of Colombo.
Gamini and Lalitha welcome their first child
Lalitha gifts Gamini with a bouncing baby boy called Indika Niroshan - "Indy" to his future friends and "Niro" to family members.
Gamini's daughter meets the world
Lalitha gifts Gamini with a beautiful baby daughter called Jayani Chamanthi "Chami"
Gamini's travels begin
Gamini enjoys his first overseas trip when he scores a six month scholarship to China to further his knowledge of aqua-culture.
Gamini moves to Nigeria
To secure a bright future for his own growing family, Gamini answered a calling to teach Chemistry at Tafawa Balewa Memorial College in Kaduna, Nigeria in Africa. His family joins Gamini for the first two years before returning back to Sri-Lanka. For the next five years, Gamini worked alone in Nigeria—enduring the distance with monthly letters and annual visits—fulfill his role as a loving provider.
Gamini moves to Australia
Gamini bravely moves his family, with next to no money, to Brisbane, Australia in the hope of giving his children better opportunities than he had himself.
Gamini gets his teaching degree
Gamini studies to become a teacher and passes with flying colours. He goes on to become a chemistry teacher at Woodridge State High and Mansfield. He becomes an excellent teacher who is well loved by students and colleagues alike: "Had the greatest time with Mr Weerasinghe in intro to physics and after an exam, he let all the muso's sing - he even joined in himself!! hope we can still see him around the school."; "I have so many great memories from Mr Weerasinghe's class. He says the funniest things but it actually helps us to remember. Just adorable"; "Hilarious teacher, knows how to teach and has great revision sheets"; "I had Mr Weerasinghe once in HPE, he really got involved into table tennis (and he was very good at it)".
Indy gets married
Gamini and Lalitha warmly welcome Eleonora "Ele" to their family as daughter-in-law. They go on to forge strong bonds with their new Argentinian in-laws that last for his whole life.
Gamini finally retires
After a lifetime of teaching, building the careers of his students and supporting his family, Gamini gets to take a well deserved break, put his feet up and make a serious start on eating his own body weight in chocolate... just one of his many lifelong loves.
Chami gets married
Gamini and Lalitha welcome Ian to their family as son-in-law. Ian and Gamini "G" go onto become great friends with a shared love of science, chocolate and toilet humour.
Gamini hits 70!
Gamini hits the major milestone of 70 years old. A good time was had by all... especially the main man himself who had recently discovered a love of KPop and its anthem at the time: 'Gangnam Style'.
Gamini visits Bodh Gaya
Gamini goes on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya in India, walking in the footsteps of Buddha. The journey includes visiting Kushinagar, the Buddha's final resting place, and receiving a white scarf.
Gamini hits 80!
Gamini hits the grand old age of 80 and becomes, in his own words, a living fossil... albeit a good looking one.
Gamini sadly says goodbye
Gamini sadly passes away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends after a long and rich life. We know he is going somewhere better but will miss him and keep him in our hearts always.