Selladevi Vicknarajah

Selladevi was born on the 14th of August, 1934 in Sri Lanka, the second of two daughters of Dr. Ariaratnam and Norah Amelia Daviot. Her arrival was touched by early sorrow, for her mother passed away shortly after her birth. As an infant she suffered an infection that left her with epileptic seizures, which would delay her development and affect her schooling in the years that followed. Yet through every difficulty she carried a gentle, childlike innocence that stayed with her all her life and endeared her to everyone who knew her.

She was raised by her father and her devoted aunt, Mrs. Coomaarasamy, her father’s sister. When her father later married Mrs. Patricia Fernando, Selladevi and her sister Pushparanee were joined by four more siblings – Dr. Rajah Sellarajah, Dr. Sushilla Sella Balasubramaniam, Mrs. Thangam Fernando, and Mr. Sellathurai. Within this family she was treasured as someone truly special: quiet, affectionate and pure of heart.

Her schooling took her to the Good Shepherd Covent in Hatton, during the years her father worked in Dickoya. In time, Selladevi married Mr. Vicknarajah, a lawyer who cared for her devotedly and gave her a comfortable and secure life. They were blessed with two children: Padmini Balakumar and Roshan (Esther). Within her husband’s family she was considered their Lakshmi, their bringer of good fortune, especially by her mother-in-law, for her husband prospered after their marriage and the family flourished and grew.

Following years of civil unrest in Colombo, Selladevi sought solace and joined her children in Canada in 1984.  The passing years brought their share of farewells. After the loss of her husband in 1999, her elder sister, Mrs. Pushparanee passed away in 2019, and her youngest brother, Sellathurai, in 2020. Selladevi is survived by Padmini and Roshan, as well as six grandchildren: Shivoan Nittesh Balakumar (Kate), Sindusha Brindu Balakumar, Anita Gayathri Balakumar (Christian), Joshua Vicknash Roshan, Jeremy Rajah Roshan, and Jason Selvan Roshan.

While living in Canada, Selladevi was tenderly cared for by her devoted daughter in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and later in British Columbia. As she grew older and less able, her three grandchildren Shivoan, Sindusha, and Anita, stood faithfully alongside their mother in caring for her, surrounding her with the same love she had so freely given throughout her own life. She will be deeply missed.    

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