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Beulah C Wijemanne Moonesinghe

Mrs. Kumudu Herath of Saragama, a little village off Kurunegala, suppressing tears with difficulty , spoke at the internment of Mrs. Moonesinghe’s ashes on 6th September 2003 at Kanatte, Borella. Kumudu, one of the earliest entrepreneurs trained by Agromart Foundation spoke of the meeting held by Mrs. Moonesinghe with about ten other women in early 1989 at the Athkanda Vihara Bana Maduwa in Kurunegala. She said that was the first step Mrs. Moonsinghe took in her long and arduous journey in the formation of Agromart Foundation. From then on Mrs. Moonesinghe and a band of enthusiastic helpers did not look back in training and helping with credit facilities the poorer sections of rural women in self employment pursuits to enable them and their families to improve their economic and social conditions. They were also made aware of their civic rights and duties.

From that meeting at Athkanda the training and development of entrepreneurs spread to Puttalam, Galle, Matara, Hambantota , Moneragala and Ampara Districts where today over 50,000 trained entrepreneurs have formed themselves into approximately 600 Agromart Production Societies. Mrs. Moonesinghe knew a large number of these people personally and closely the 500 or more outstanding women and men who were selected each year, over the last ten years, to participate in the Annual Awareness Tours to Thailand and about double that number who were placed in the second and third places in the Farmer Competitions on a similar tours to places of agricultural, small industrial , horticultural, animal husbandry centres etc. in this country.Since the inception of the Foundation, eleven Trade Fairs and Exhibitions have been held in the main towns of the Districts in which Agromart functions. Mrs. Moonesinghe was not present at the Fair held in Chilaw at the end of last August due to ill health. That cast a gloom over event with hundreds entrepreneurship enquiring about her health and some even sobbing in their grief.

Feb 9th 1939- September 2nd 2003

An accomplished life is a Life of service, love and kindness towards others.

“Avoid all evil,
Cultivate the good and the true,
Purify your heart,
This is the Teaching of the Buddhas”

Quote of the day:
“Choose silence of all virtues, for by it you hear other men's imperfections, and conceal your own.”

-George Bernard Shaw

Mrs. Moonesinghe a pioneer in business circles with over 7 successful companies including one of the first exporters of garments to the U.S Inter Trade (Cey) Private Ltd., a Pioneer of Italian Ice Cream in Sri Lanka- Venice Ice Ltd, Pioneer of Premium Van Dyke Carpets from South Africa,. First Carnation Fruit Squash plant in Asia -Lanka Quality Foods Ltd, One of the first largest Exporters of Spices to the western World. A recognized successful business woman globally, sacrificed all for her mission to alleviate poverty and to empower women and men in sri Lanka.

Mrs. Moonesinghe was an outstanding student and Prefect at Visaka Vidyalaya, earned a Degree in Business Administration in London, Degree in a Marketing Research and Development at Harvard Business School in the USA, earned a Diploma in Export Promotion and Development from the World Trade Centre, New York and a Diploma in Business Management from the Helsinki School of Economics. She was also a Fellow of the British Institute of Management, Masters Degree from Pacific University, Hawaii.

She has presented over 25 papers since October 1997 in several countries including Canada, USA, Thailand, India, China, Ivory Coast, Germany etc. all beings connected with poverty alleviation, rural entrepreneurship, women’s rights, enterprise development and leadership in rural societies. She also served as a member of over a dozen Committees in Government Ministries , Councils and Authorities in Sri Lanka over the last few years.

Above all these achievements Mrs. Moonesinghe was kind hearted , generous and concerned about the welfare of a large circle of friends, relatives and of the Staff of Agromart Foundation to all of whom she never hesitated to help whatever the need be .

Similarly if a reprimand or correction was necessary it was carried out very effectively.

She walked with kings but never lost the common touch – enjoying Kos, polos, manioc outside a village hut in Pasgoda or pate de foie gras in five star comfort in Paris . Undoubtedly she preferred the first situation but did not shun the other either.

She was a very fortunate mother of daughter Puthrika and sons Shalila and Kishan. Their devotion to her , particularly when she fell ill, was to say the least exemplary. Her siblings , some in various parts of the world were a great source of strength to her and she to them at all times .

As she was a devout Buddhist and the wish of the thousands who knew her would be that her journey through Sansara be short and fruitful and may she attain Nirvana.

A LIFE OF ADMIRATION