Drunken Marine alleged to have caused accident; She was a contestant at 2000 Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant conducted by Sri Lanka Reporter; Her daughter Aruni crowned Miss Sri Lanka Canada, USA by Mrs. World Rosy Senanayake
Chandrika de Silva. (Picture by Andy Samarasena)
It was around 2 a.m. last month when Chandrika, her husband Sunil with their five-year-old grandson Sahan returned home after attending a family party.
They were happy but tired as they had enjoyed a beautiful evening with friends and relatives. All that joy and happiness was shattered in the next few minutes as Chandika lay dead at the entrance to their residence as a Jeep Cherokee travelling east on Strathern crashed into the back of their car.
Chandrika was pronounced dead at the scene. Los Angeles firefighters airlifted the boy from nearby Cleveland High School field to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He suffered from blunt force trauma to the body and lacerations and later released, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A memorial website created by family members tells the story how Chandrika, a young athelete met her husband in track meet in Sri Lanka:
In 2000 when the Sri Lanka Reporter presented Miss Sri Lanka and Mrs. Sri Lanka Canada, USA pageants late Chandrika De Silva (Right) was one of the contestants for Mrs. Sri Lanka contest. While her daughter Aruni was crowned Miss Sri Lanka Canada USA by first Mrs. World Rosy Senanayake (Left).
Chandrika, the youngest of nine children in her family attended St. Joseph Girls School. She met Sunil in 1976 at an athletic track meet. She was there competing for the 200 meters and he was there competing for the 400 meters. Trying to get attention from four girls, he offered glucose (energy boost powder). Three girls accepted and the one that declined his offer ended up becoming his soul mate.
A year later, they were happily married having three wonderful kids Aruni, Samanthika and Chami. While Sunil was abroad (Oman) making a living, Chandrika was in Sri Lanka raising the kids. By winning the visa lottery the family was given the opportunity to migrate to the United States in search of the “American Dream” in 1990. She took pride in raising her kids with traditional Sri Lankan values.
In 2000 when the Sri Lanka Reporter presented Miss Sri Lanka and Mrs. Sri Lanka Canada, USA pageants late Chandrika De Silva was one of the contestants for Mrs. Sri Lanka contest. While her daughter Aruni was crowned Miss Sri Lanka Canada USA by first Mrs. World Rosy Senanayake.
Chandrika De Silva with her husband, daughters, son, son-in law and grandchildren. (Picture by Andy Samarasena)
Chandrika De Silva, her husband and their grandson were inside a black Toyota Prius that pulled up to a residence on Strathern Street, just west of Wilbur Avenue, Los Angeles Police Officer Mary Brady said.
Chandrika’s husband, the driver, went to unlock the gated driveway of a residence while Chandrika got out of the car to tend to her grandson when accident occurred.
