Dear Bhante, I have been wondering if Sutta Central could give more clear credit to the translator referred to as “Sister Uppalavanna” ? She is not listed in Sutta Central’s biography page.
Without having her address or means to reach her, I think I met her in Sri Lanka during my training in 2005. The Uppalavanna I met was brought up from Galle to Kurunegala to give me vinaya instruction in English, as the local bhikkhunis were not very English-fluent. She was quite iconoclastic and did not use the shiny satin sanghati, and bright orange or yellow robes that were the uniform in the Dambulla order. She wore faded robes and used a piece of string as a belt. The local bhikkhunis disparaged her. She had previously been a disciple of Ayya Khema, and [so they said] in her ordination ceremony where the candidate is asked for the name of the preceptor, she answered, in pali, “my teacher is dead.” She was involved in translation projects.
Whether or not the Uppalavanna I met is the same person, the translator Uppalavanna could be reached via Metta.lk, according to this note.
With appreciation, Ayya Sobhana
Uppalavanna from Galle, Sister (??-??) [uppa]
Ven. sister Uppalavanna (from Galle) is a Sinhalese nun, who translated serval books of the Anguttara Nikaya into English. The name “from Galle” has been given to prevent a possible confusion with the German nun Uppalavanna and on the infomation that she uses to maintain her practice mainly in the province Galla in Sri Lanka. An extensive collection of here translations can befound on www.metta.lk. [Source: personal communication with Bhikkhu Mettavihari, the editor of metta.lk] [clipped from Contributing Authors and Translators: Biographical Notes]
