The Bandaranaike family
is a
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
n
Sinhalisation
Sinhalisation is a term, derived from Sinhala, that has number of meanings in Sri Lanka. it is mainly the assimilation into Sinhalese Culture in which the members of an ethno-cultural group are steadily integrated or "absorbed" into establis ...
of Kerala Tamil family origin that is prominent in family politics. Along with many members who have been successful
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
across generations, the family includes three
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
s and one
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
of Sri Lanka.
History
The origins of the Bandaranayaka family in Sri Lanka is claimed to be from the person known as
Nilaperumal Pandaram who was from India and served he was high priest of the Temple of
Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya. The family changed their name to the Sinhalese form of Bandaranaike and they adopt Portuguese name like Dias. They served the Portuguese rule and got social privileges and later on Dutch. Their golden era began as translators and local scribes expanding their influence and power. A member of the family, Don William Dias who served as a translator for the British was present when deposed Kandyan King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha was captured while in hiding by Ekneligoda Disawa.
Family Tree
* Don Francisco Dias Wijetunga Bandaranaike (born 1720), Mudaliyar Hewagam Korale + Dona MarKumarathunga
** Conrad Pieter Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike, Maha Mudliyar
*** Jacabus Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike (born 1780), Mudaliyar of Governor Gate & Translator of Supreme Court + Liyanage Catherine Philipsz Panditharatne
****
John Charles Dias Bandaranaike John Charles Dias Bandaranaike was a Ceylonese lawyer and legislator. He was the Sinhalese member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
Born to Jacabus Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike, Mudaliyar of Governor Gate and translator of the Supreme Court ...
, Member of
Legislative Council of Ceylon
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of British Ceylon, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first f ...
**** Sir
Harry Dias Bandaranaike
Justice Sir Harry Dias Bandaranaike (22 August 1822 - 24 June 1901) was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) barrister and judge. He was the first Sinhalese and native acting Chief Justice and Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He was an Un ...
,
Puisne Justice
A puisne judge or puisne justice (; from french: puisné or ; , 'since, later' + , 'born', i.e. 'junior') is a dated term for an ordinary judge or a judge of lesser rank of a particular court. Use
The term is used almost exclusively in common law ...
of the
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්රී ලංකා ශ්රේෂ්ඨාධිකරණය, Sri Lanka Sreshthadikaranaya; ta, இலங்கை உயர் நீதிமன்றம், Ilankai uyar neetimanram) is th ...
and Member of Legislative Council
**** Rev Canon Samuel William Dias Bandaranaike + Cornelia Susanna Elizabeth Dias Bandaranaike
*****
James Peter Obeyesekere I
James Peter Obeyesekere I (????-1880) was a Ceylonese legislator. He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon representing the Sinhalese until his early death in 1880.
James Peter Obeyesekere was born the eldest son of Don ...
(stepson of Cornelia's first marriage to D. B. Ferdinandus Obeysekere), Member of Legislative Council + Corneliya Henrietta Dias Bandaranaike (daughter of Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Bandaranaike)
****** Sir
James Peter Obeyesekere II
Sir James Peter Obeyesekere II, Maha Mudaliyar, JP (1879–1968) was a Ceylonese colonial-era headmen. He was the last Head Mudaliyar and served as aide-de-camp to the British Governor of Ceylon and Governor General of Ceylon.
Born to ...
,
Head Mudaliyar
******* Deshamanya
James Peter Obeyesekere III
Deshamanya James Peter Obeyesekere III (14 July 1915 – 23 October 2007) was a Sri Lankan politician and aviator. A Senator, he was also a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Finance.Siva Obeyesekere
Deshamanya Sivagami Verina "Siva" Obeyesekere (Sivagami; ''née'' Dassenaike; 7 May 1929 – 23 December 2017) was the Cabinet Minister of Health (1976-1977) and a Member of Parliament from Mirigama. She is known as the founder of the ''L ...
, Cabinet Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Mirigama
******
Donald Obeyesekere, Member of the Legislative Council and the
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time. It r ...
.
***** Sir
Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere
Sir Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere (12 February 1848 – 13 October 1927) was Ceylonese lawyer and legislator. He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon (1900-1916).
Early life and career
Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere wa ...
(stepson of Cornelia's first marriage to D. B. Ferdinandus Obeysekere), Member of Legislative Council
****** Sir
Forester Augustus Obeysekera
Forester Augustus Obeyesekere (7 August 1880 – 26 December 1961) was a prominent colonial era legislator from Ceylon. He was the Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon and a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
Born to Sir Solomon Chri ...
, Member of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the State Council.
****** Daisy Ezline Obeysekera + Sir
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, ( Sinhala: සොලමන් ඩයස් අබේවික්රම ජයතිලක සෙනෙවිරත්න රාජකුමාරු ...
****** Liliyan Augusta Obeysekera + Gate Mudaliyar Simon William Ilangakoon
*******
Christophel Panini Illangakoon, Member of Parliament for Weligama
*****
Felix Reginold Dias Bandaranaike (1861–1947) + Annie Lucy (Florence) de Alwis (1864–1920)
******
Reginald Felix Dias Bandaranaike (1891–1951), Judge of the Supreme Court + Freda Dias Abeysinghe
*******
Felix Dias Bandaranaike
Felix R. Dias Bandaranaike ( Sinhala:ෆීලික්ස් ඩයස් බණඩාරනායක) (5 November 1930 – 26 June 1985) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician, who served as Cabinet Minister of Finance, Parliamentary Secret ...
(1930–1985), Government Minister, Member of Parliament
** Don Daniel Dias Bandaranaike + Dona Clara Amarasekere
*** Don Solomon Dias Bandaranaike (-1859), Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale, 1st Udagaha Mudaliyar + Cornelia Philipsz Panditharatne de Saram
**** Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike (born 1826), Mudaliyar Governors Gate and 2nd Udagaha Mudaliyar + Anna Florentina Philipsz Panditharatne
***** Sir
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, ( Sinhala: සොලමන් ඩයස් අබේවික්රම ජයතිලක සෙනෙවිරත්න රාජකුමාරු ...
(1862–1946),
Maha Mudaliyar
The Maha Mudaliyar ( ''Head Mudaliyar'' or මහ මුදලි) was a colonial title and office in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Head Mudaliyar functioned as the head of the low country native headmen and native aide-de-camp to the Governor of Ceyl ...
+ Daisy Ezline Obeyesekere
******
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike ( si, සොලොමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක; ta, சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிட்ஜ்வே டயஸ் ப ...
(1899–1959),
Prime Minister of Ceylon
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head and most senior member of parliament in the cabinet of ministers. It is the second-most powerful position in Sri Lanka's executive branch behind the president, wh ...
, Government Minister, Member of Parliament, Member of State Council +
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike ( si, සිරිමා රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක; ta, சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே; 17 April 191 ...
(1916–2000),
Prime Minister of Ceylon
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head and most senior member of parliament in the cabinet of ministers. It is the second-most powerful position in Sri Lanka's executive branch behind the president, wh ...
, Member of Parliament, Senator
*******
Sunethra Bandaranaike
Sunethra Bandaranaike is a Sri Lankan philanthropist and socialite. A member of the Bandaranaike family, she is the eldest daughter of former Prime Ministers S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike and sister of former President Chandrik ...
(born c. 1943), politician and socialite
*******
Chandrika Bandaranaike (born 1945),
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Sri Lanka ( si, ශ්රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති ''Śrī Laṃkā Janādhipathi''; ta, இலங்கை சனாதிபதி ''Ilankai janātipati'') is the head of state and head of government of t ...
,
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the head and most senior member of parliament in the cabinet of ministers. It is the second-most powerful position in Sri Lanka's executive branch behind the president, wh ...
, Member of Parliament, Chief Minister of Western Province, Provincial Councillor +
Vijaya Kumaratunga
Kovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga ( si, කොවිලගේ ඇන්ටන් විජය කුමාරණතුංග; ta, விஜய_குமாரணதுங்க; 9 October 1945 – 16 February 1988), popularly known as Vijaya ...
(1945–1988), actor and politician
********Yashodara Sirimavo Kumarathunga Walker
********Vimukthi Kumaratunga
*******
Anura Bandaranaike
Anura Priyadarshi Solomon Dias Bandaranaike (15 February 1949 – 16 March 2008) was a Sri Lankan politician, served as Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka (2000-2001) and Leader of the Opposition (1983–1988). He held several cabinet min ...
(1949–2008);
Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
The Speaker of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the presiding officer of the chamber. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, in office since 20 August 2020. The Speaker fulfills ...
, Government Minister, Member of Parliament
Other members of the family include;
*
S. D. Bandaranayake
*
Pandu Bandaranaike
Chakrawarthi Pandukabhaya Dias Bandaranaike (''commonly known as Pandu Bandaranaike '') (born 31 August 1962) is a Sri Lankan politician. He was a Member of Parliament from the Gampaha Electoral District.
Born to the Bandaranaike family, his fath ...
*
James de Alwis
James De Alwis (1823–1878) was a lawyer, writer, poet and a prominent colonial era legislator from Ceylon. He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council. He is remembered for his writings that included several works on Buddhism.
Educa ...
*
Albert L. De Alwis Seneviratne Albert L. De Alwis Seneviratne was a Ceylonese legislator. He was an unofficial member appointed to the Legislative Council of Ceylon representing the Sinhalese from 1881 to 1899, he was succeeded by Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere.
Born somewhe ...
(also related to Ratwatte family,
William Gopallawa
William Gopallawa (, ; 17 September 1896 – 31 January 1981) was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first and only non-executive and ceremonial President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic i ...
,
A.R. Udugama,
Hector Kobbekaduwa
Hector Senarath Rajakaruna Bandara Kobbekaduwa (29 August 1916 – 17 September 1983) was a Sri Lankan politician and lawyer. He was the Sri Lanka Freedom Party candidate in the 1982 Sri Lankan presidential election and the Minister for Agricult ...
,
Jeewan Kumaranatunga
Jeewan Kumaranatunga (born 7 November 1958: si, ජීවන් කුමාරතුංග), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television, who later became a politician, a former member of the parliament and a former cabinet ministe ...
)
Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi
![Bandaranaike Samadhi at Horagolla, Sri Lanka](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Bandaranaike_Samadhi_at_Horagolla%2C_Sri_Lanka.jpg)
The Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi is the final resting place of
and his wife
Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. It is located in the grounds of the Bandaranaike
property
Property is a system of rights that gives people legal control of valuable things, and also refers to the valuable things themselves. Depending on the nature of the property, an owner of property may have the right to consume, alter, share, r ...
of Horagolla in Atthanagalla,
Western Province
Western Province or West Province may refer to:
* Western Province, Cameroon
*Western Province, Rwanda
*Western Province (Kenya)
*Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
*Western Province (Solomon Islands)
*Western Province, Sri Lanka
*Western Provin ...
,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
.
SWRD Bandaranaike and the paradox of Sri Lankan federalism
/ref>
See also
*List of political families in Sri Lanka
This is a partial listing of prominent political families in Sri Lanka.
Abdul Majeed
* A. L. Abdul Majeed (15 November 1933 – 13 November 1987) also known as Mutur Majeed, former Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Member Par ...
References
{{Reflist
https://www.thearchives.lk/swrds-father-in-1924/