Solomon Dias Bandaranaike

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Sir Don Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar, JP (22 May 1862 - 31 July 1946) was the chief native interpreter and adviser to the Governor of Ceylon by appointment as Head Mudaliyar and therefor was one of the most powerful personalities in British colonial Ceylon.

A member of an elite Sinhalese Anglican Christian family he was the son of Mudaliyar Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike who was Mudaliyar Governers Gate and 2nd Udagaha Mudaliyar. Sir Solomon was Educated at St Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.

He was appointed a Mohandiram in 1882 by the British and later made Mudli Siyane Korale. Governor Sir Arthur Havelock appointed him to the post of Maha Mudali (head Mudliyar) highest position of a Ceylonese could archived in British Ceylon, his service to the British Empire was marked by the award of Knight Commander of Order of St Michael and St George. After travailing to England as official representative for diamond jubilee celebration for Queen Victoria. He was made an All Island Justice of the Peace and had received the King Edward VII Coronation Medal.

He married Daisy Ezline Obeyesekere in 1898 and his son, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike became the 4th Prime Minister of Ceylon after independence and his granddaughter Chandrika Kumaratunga became both Prime Minister and President of Sri Lanka. His grandson Anura Bandaranaike became Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

[edit] References

  • Jayawardena Kumari 2000 Nobodies to Somebodies - The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka

[edit] External links

Bandaranaike