Sir Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere (12 February 1848 – 13 October 1927) was
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 ...
lawyer and 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 ...
(1900-1916).
Early life and career
Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere was born 12 February 1848, the youngest 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 older brother was ]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 Ba ...
. 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.
Obeyesekere was educated at Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...
and S. Thomas' College, Mutwal. In 1866 he passed the entrance examination for the Calcutta University
The University of Calcutta (informally known as Calcutta University; CU) is a public collegiate state university in India, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Considered one of best state research university all over India every year, C ...
, obtaining a first class diploma in 1868. He was apprenticed to Charles Ambrose Lorensz
Charles Ambrose Lorensz (1829–1871) was a lawyer, a journalist and a colonial era legislator from Ceylon. He was a member of the Legislative Council. He is credited for initiating Sri Lankan journalism and was the founder and editor of the islan ...
and in 1872 he qualified as a proctor
Proctor (a variant of ''procurator'') is a person who takes charge of, or acts for, another.
The title is used in England and some other English-speaking countries in three principal contexts:
* In law, a proctor is a historical class of lawye ...
, heading the list in every subject.[
Engaging in his legal practice, Obeyesekere managed the large family land holdings and was elected President of the Low Country Planters’ Association. In February 1900, Obeysekara was appointed as the Unofficial Member representing the low country Sinhalese in the Legislative Council, replacing Anthonisz De Alwis Seneviratne. He served on the Council until 1916.] In 1902 he was among the Ceylonese representatives invited to attend the London Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
The coronation of Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and as Emperor and Empress of India took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on 9 August 1902. Originally scheduled for 2 ...
.[ He was knighted in 1911 as a Knights Bachelor.]
The London Gazette
', 24 February 1911 (issue 28469), p. 1462.
Family
He married Ezline Maria de Alwis, the eldest daughter of 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 ...
, an unofficial member of the Legislative Council. They had four children:
* Daisy Ezline who married Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, ( Sinhala: සොලමන් ඩයස් අබේවික්රම ජයතිලක සෙනෙවිරත්න රාජකුමාරු ...
:*their son, became 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 ...
(1956-1959), followed by his wife, Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike ( si, සිරිමා රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක; ta, சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே; 17 April 191 ...
(1960–1965, 1970–1977 and 1994–2000)
::*their daughter (Obeyesekere's great-grand daughter) Chandrika Kumaratunga
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga ( si, චන්ද්රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග, ta, சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்க குமாரதுங்க; born 29 Ju ...
, became the 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 ...
(1994-2005)
::*their son (Obeyesekere's great-grand son) 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); became the 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 ...
, a Government Minister and Member of Parliament
* Liliyan Augusta who married Gate Mudaliyar Simon William Ilangakoon
:*their son Christophel Panini Illangakoon was the Member of Parliament for Weligama
Weligama ( si, වැලිගම, ta, வெலிகாமம்) is a town on the south coast of Sri Lanka, located in Matara District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. The name ''Weligama'', literally means "sandy v ...
(1965-1960 and 1970-1977)
* Sir Forester Augustus, member of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the State Council (1934-1935)
* Ethel Mildred who married Dr William Christoffel Pieris Siriwardene.
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 ...
*Bandaranaike family
The Bandaranaike family
is a Sri Lankan Sinhalisation of Kerala Tamil family origin that is prominent in family politics. Along with many members who have been successful politician across generations, the family includes three Prime Ministers an ...
References
External links
The Obeyesekere Ancestry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obeyesekere, Solomon Christoffel
1848 births
1927 deaths
Ceylonese Knights Bachelor
People of British Ceylon
Sri Lankan Christians
Members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon
Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Sinhalese politicians
Ceylonese proctors