minnette de silva (1918-1998), born in kandy, sri lanka, became the first female asian architect to be elected as an associate of the royal institute of british architects (RIBA) in 1948. she was considered the pioneer of the modern architectural style in sri lanka.

she also became the first asian representative of congrès internationaux d’architecture moderne (CIAM) in 1947 and was one of the founding members of the publication, marg.