Gajaman Nona (1758-1814) was an illustrious Sri Lankan poetess who was noted for having the ability to compose and recite impromptu Sinhala verses.
Gajaman Nona and Walawwa Dona Isabella Perumal Korneliya alias Gajaman Nona (1758-1814; Sinhala: දෝන ඉසබෙලා කොරනෙලියා, ගජමන් නෝනා) was an illustrious Sri Lankan poetess who was noted for having the ability to compose and recite impromptu Sinhala verses. She is considered the best-known woman poet of the Matara school. Her house in Weragampita known as Gajaman Walawwa is presently protected as an archaeological monument by the government. Life Events Gajaman Nona was born in 1758 as the daughter of a minor Sinhala official named Veerthamulla Gamage Don Fransiscu Senaratne Kumarapperumal (1737-1801) and to Fransina Jasenthu Greru, the daughter of the Schoolmaster at Milagiriya (Jayawardena, 2016; Ranaweera, 2015). She was baptised on 30 July 1759 as Dona Isabella Cornelia at Milagiriya St. Paul's Church in Bambalapitiya (Vanarathana, 1994). She schooled at Milagiriya Church before her family migrated to Matara (Vanarathana, 1994). She completed her Sinhala education under Patthayame Lekam as well as under sev…
