| Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike KCMG JP | |
|---|---|
Maha Mudaliyar of Sri Lanka |
|
| Born | 22 May 1862 Horogolla Walauwwa, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 31 July 1946 Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Education | St Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Title | Head Mudaliyar |
| Religion | Christian |
| Spouse | Lady Daisy Ezline Obeyesekere |
| Children | Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, Alexandra Camelia Bandaranaike, Anna Florentina Bandaranaike |
Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar, JP (22 May 1862 - 31 July 1946) was the chief native representative, interpreter and adviser to the Governor of Ceylon by appointment as Head Mudaliyar and therefore was one of the most powerful personalities in British colonial Ceylon.
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A member of an aristocratic, elite Sinhalese Anglican Christian family he was the son of Mudaliyar Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike who was Mudaliyar Governors Gate and 2nd Udagaha Mudaliyar. He was educated at the leading educational institution, S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia.
He was appointed a Mohandiram in 1882 by the British and later made Mudaliyar of the Siyane Korale. Governor Sir Arthur Havelock appointed him to the post of Maha Mudali (head Mudliyar), the highest position a native Ceylonese could have achieved 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 travelling to England as Ceylon's official representative at the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. He was made an All Island Justice of the Peace and 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.