Asoka Kumara De Zoysa Wijesinghe Rajapaksa, 57, of Ojai, California, passed away on July 31, 2022 at his house in Ojai. Asoka was born in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka, to Tenny Talbot De Zoysa Wijesinghe Rajapaksa and Mukundadara Charlotte Perera. He went to school at Revatha College in Balapitiya and Dharmasoka Colege in Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka achieving his GCSE O-Level, and studying in Bio-Sciences. While attending school, he excelled in track, running 100m-400m events, 4x100-4x400 events, and occasional field events. He later went on to work for Hilton Colombo as a cook, which became his profession; working for Carnival Cruises, Intercontinental Hotels, and the Ojai Valley Inn as a banquet chef.
For the majority of his career, Asoka was a private chef for numerous clients from 1996 until his death. During his later life, he became a vocal supporter and advocate of his homeland in Sri Lanka in the midst of their political crisis, even protesting against the former government in LA with other Sri Lankans.
Asoka is survived by his wife, Chandani, his son, Kevin, his daughter, Sachini, all of Ojai, and many other family members in Sri Lanka, including his father, Tenny Talbot De Zoysa Rajapaksa of Balapitiya, Sri Lanka. Other living family members residing in Sri Lanka include the Rajapaksa Family: his brothers Shantha Kumara, Chandra Kumara, and his sister Chandrika Kumari, the Mukundadara Family: his uncle Nelson Perera, his cousins Chandima Perera, Kamal Perera, Amal Perera, residing in Charleston, South Carolina, his aunt Malini Perera, and additional family and children.Asoka is preceded in death by his mother M. Charlotte Perera, and his uncle M. Winter Perera, both of Sri Lanka and both passing away in 2019.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME& CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.