Sunethra

Hi Avanti!

The photo isn't the clearest but recalls happy times when we were just a "bit younger"😉 (I think this was @Kataboola). 

I hope you will have a happy day today and a healthy happy year ahead.

Xx

Micheal and Shalika

Darling Avanti, 

One of your most endearing qualities is how caring and friendly you are to everyone you meet...your welcoming smile and warm heart always resonated. 

We had so much fun during your visit with us in Sweden... We will always be glad that we get to see you in Sri Lanka whenever we visit. 

May the years ahead be the best to come and today on your birthday our wish for you is that you are surrounded by love and  joy...😘 Happy birthday🎁🎉🎊

We love you

Michael, Shalika, Anthony and Matthew

Bertha

Seeing Chami and Chathu together on our 21st Birthday....

.....and 21 tequilas later we thought we were seeing double

Shero

Avanti was my partner in crime at school. Always somehow we just went looking for trouble or maybe trouble found us

I remember one day in Grade 7 or 8, we had a few disagreements and a few bitchy remarks passed by some juniors over one of our teenbooks that we used to have, where it was passed around mutual friends and all our secrets were in there. We caught them after the interval in the staircase and thrashed. Pasted them to the wall and just punched. Man was I scared after that. Avanti not bothered.

After getting study leave for O/Ls Avanti, Shontal, Bertha Dishani and me walked from school to Fife Road. Was so much fun. Bullying Rizna everyday about wanting to hook up with her brothers , and why she needs to support it.

Avanti’s energy never changes. I remember when she came for my son’s funeral with Charmaine the two of them were with me all night trying every possible way to make me forget the pain even for that moment.

Up to date her text messages would start by saying* ‘hey what r u wearing?’ And then it goes on from there

Romany and Manendra

Memories warm the heart and bridge distances, instantly transporting one to another place of wonderful times spent together! Manendra and I would roll over to Avi’s place on many evenings. The first thing to greet us was the mouthwatering aroma of homemade spaghetti bolognese - one of Avi’s specialties. 

She introduced us to Macky’s - a lovely restaurant, which we haunted frequently. Avi and Manendra loved the steak Diana they served there. They also had a fantastic array of fresh juices that were absolutely delicious! As you can see, it’s all about the food!!

And of course, the night would not be perfect without dropping into the Taprobane restaurant at the Cinnamon Grand. Nestled amongst cushions on a couch in a quiet corner of the restaurant, sipping coffee and stuffing ourselves with food from the late night menu, we shared our stories, laughed, argued, gossiped, and above all, had loads of fun. At some point in our soirée, I would invariable start “clicking”, which is when I become very sleepy (the only one not able to handle late nights), start blinking rapidly, and talking utter rubbish, in an effort to show that I’m wide awake. That’s when we say goodnight and part ways, till we do it all over again a few days down the road.

Wonderful memories of times spent with a dear friend!

Niroshinie

Bubbly! Never a dull moment! Takes life as it comes! No pretense! Loves food! 

Ava was the first girl who welcomed me to Bishop's College, we ran together...we went for music together...and chatted away much to the annoyance of our athletics coach and music teacher. My mum packed extra food in my lunch box specially for Ava, and it’s always over before interval, not sure how she did it without getting caught, hahaha. 

Once our athletics-friends had a midnight feast at my home and oh no Ava didn’t have patience to wait for the goodies, suddenly we noticed the home baked pizzas vanishing long before midnight and she was literally hiding, hilarious! So much of fun and laughter with Ava. 

Happy Birthday good old friend Ava, cheers to happy memories!

Iresha

What I remember most about Avanti is when we were in our o/l class next to the canteen she used to get punished by Diffy all the time. 

Once she actually was not doing anything wrong..some other girls were talking but Diffy walked in and first girl she asked to leave the class was Avanti. So like an obedient student, without saying a word, Avanti walked out of the class and stood outside. 

Poor thing. She was Diffy's favourite.