Solomon Dias Bandaranaike

Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike KCMG JP

Maha Mudaliyar of Ceylon
Born 22 May 1862
Veyangoda, Ceylon
Died 31 July 1946(1946-07-31) (aged 84)
Ceylon
Nationality Sri Lankan
Education S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Occupation Headmen
Title Head Mudaliyar
Religion Anglicanism
Spouse(s) Lady Daisy Ezline Obeyesekere
Children S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Alexandra Camelia Bandaranaike
Anna Florentina Bandaranaike

Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar, JP (Sinhala: සොලමන් ඩයස් බන්ඩාරනායක) (22 May 1862 – 31 July 1946) was a Ceylonese colonial-era headmen. He was appointed as Head Mudaliyar and the aide-de-camp to the British Governor of Ceylon, therefore he was one of the most powerful personalities in British colonial Ceylon.[1]

Early life

Born to the Anglican Gate Mudaliyar Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike, Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate and Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale East. He was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia in Colombo.[1]

Colonial service

He was appointed a Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate in 1882 by the British and later made Mudaliyar of the Siyane Korale, following the death of his father. Eight years later, Governor Sir Arthur Havelock appointed him to the post of Maha Mudali (Head Mudaliyar), the highest position available to a native Ceylonese in British Ceylon.[1]

Honours

Sir Solomon's service to the British Empire was marked by his appointment as Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), 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, received the King Edward VII Coronation Medal and was a Fellow of the Imperial Institute.

Family

In 1898, he married Daisy Ezline Obeyesekere, daughter of Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere, a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. His son, S. W. R. D. 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.

See also

References

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