James Peter Obeyesekere I (????-1880) was a

Ceylonese Sri Lankan or Ceylonese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Sri Lanka * A person from Sri Lanka, see Demographics of Sri Lanka ** Sinhalese people, the ethnic majority ** Sri Lankan Tamils, an ethnic minority ** Sri L ...

legislator. He was an unofficial member of the

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 ...

representing the

Sinhalese Sinhala may refer to: * Something of or related to the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka * Sinhalese people * Sinhala language, one of the three official languages used in Sri Lanka * Sinhala script, a writing system for the Sinhala language ** Sinha ...

until his early death in 1880. James Peter Obeyesekere was born the eldest son of Don Bastian Ferdinandus Wijesiri Guneratne Obeyesekere,

Mudaliyar Thuluva Vellalar (Thondamandala Tuluva Vellalar), also known as Agamudaya Mudaliars and Arcot Mudaliars, is a caste found in northern Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh and southern Karnataka, India. They were originally significant lando ...

of Talpe Pattu and Cornelia Susanna Dias née Bandaranaike daughter of Don Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Mudliyar of Udugaha. His younger brother was

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 ...

. His father died soon after he was born and his mother returned to Colombo. She then married her cousin, Rev. Samuel William Dias Bandaranaike and they had two boys and two girls. The oldest son, Felix Reginald was a

Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

judge. He married Corneliya Henrietta Dias Bandaranaike, daughter of

Gate Mudaliyar Mudali (or Mudaliyar) was a colonial title and office in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which was part of the native headman system. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from ...

Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Bandaranaike and sister of Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Head Mudaliyar (1895-1928). Their sons were Sir James Peter Obeyesekere II, the last

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 ...

and

Donald Obeyesekere Donald Obeyesekere, MBE (1888–1964) was a prominent colonial era legislator from Ceylon. He was a member of the State Council of Ceylon, the Legislative Council of Ceylon and was the President of the National Olympic Committee of Ceylon. Educa ...

, member of the

State Council State Council may refer to: Government * State Council of the Republic of Korea, the national cabinet of South Korea, headed by the President * State Council of the People's Republic of China, the national cabinet and chief administrative auth ...

. Their daughter

Hilda Obeyesekere Hilda is one of several female given names derived from the name ''Hild'', formed from Old Norse , meaning 'battle'. Hildr, Hild, a Nordic-German Bellona (goddess), Bellona, was a Valkyrie who conveyed fallen warriors to Valhalla. Warfare was oft ...

married Sir

Paul Edward Pieris Sir Paul Edward Pieris Deraniyagala Samarasinha Sriwardhana, (February 16, 1874 – 1959) (''commonly known as'' Sir Paul E. Pieris) was a Ceylonese civil servant and historian. He served as Ceylon's Trade Commissioner and a District Judge and ...

of the

Ceylon Civil Service The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, was the premier civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule and in the immediate post-independence period. Established in 1833, it functioned as part of the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obeyesekere, James Peter I Members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon Sri Lankan politicians Alumni of Royal College, Colombo Ceylonese advocates Sri Lankan barristers People from British Ceylon Sri Lankan Christians Sinhalese lawyers

See also

References