PATRICIA NIRMALIE ERIN ABAYASEKERA ("PATSY") is the daughter of Charles Alfred Ernest Corea and Lilian Wilhelmina Patricia Corea (nee Samarasekera). Her father Ernest Corea (Ernie) was an Attorney-at-Law, founder member and past President of the Edirimana Corea Family Union (ECFU). Patsy was born on the 29th of January 1953 and was the third in a family of four children. Her eldest brother is James Alfred Ernest Corea, the next was Dr. Robert Treutand Eugene Corea and the youngest, was her sister, Avril Lilian May Salgado (nee Corea).

The family lived at 'Serendib', Madapatha Road, Kolomunne, Piliyandala, from where she attended Ladies' College, Colombo. A good scholar, member of the school choir and school prefect, she entered the Peradeniya University in 1972, to graduate in Electrical Engineering with a Second Class (Lower Division) in 1976.

Patsy joined the Department of Posts & Telecommunications in 1977 as an Electrical Engineer and during her 32 years in service, held several executive posts, ending up as Chief Corporate Officer. She retired in 2008, as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom. Patsy was elected Hony Secretary of the ECFU.

Patsy married Egodage Gemunu Abeyesekera, who also graduated as an Electrical Engineer from the Peradeniya University, in 1979, Gemunu served in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for over 30 years and retired as the Additional General Manager of the CEB.

They have two children, a daughter, Lalanika Manahari, born in 1985 and a son, Dilip Manoj, born in 1988. Manahari was also educated at Ladies' College, Colombo and obtained a First Class (Honours) degree from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Manoj attended S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and obtained his Commercial Pilot’s License in the US. He is currently a licensed pilot in Sri Lanka.