The Bandaranaike family is a Sinhalese family prominent in Sri Lankan politics. The family includes three prime ministers and one President of Sri Lanka.

The Bandaranaike family
Current regionColombo
Place of originAtthanagalla
MembersSolomon Dias Bandaranaike
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Chandrika Bandaranaike
Anura Bandaranaike
Sunethra Bandaranaike
Connected membersVijaya Kumaranatunga
Jeewan Kumaranatunga
Ranjan Ramanayake
Traditions
Estate(s)Neela Perumal (Kalu Kapuge – the black priest) Horagolla Walauwa
Horagolla Walauwa, Atthanagalla—family seat of the Bandaranaike family

History edit

The Bandaranayaka family is claimed to originate from Nilaperumal Pandaram, who was from India and served as high priest of the Temple of Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya. The family changed their name to the Sinhalese form of Bandaranaike and adopted Portuguese names like Dias. They served the Portuguese and, later, Dutch colonial rulers. Their golden era began as translators and local scribes, expanding their influence and power serving as local headmen. A member of the family, Don William Dias, who served as a translator for the British, was present when deposed the Kandyan King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Kandy was captured while in hiding by Ekneligoda Disawa.[1]

Family tree edit

 
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon

Other members of the family include;

(also related to Ratwatte family, William Gopallawa, A.R. Udugama, Hector Kobbekaduwa, Jeewan Kumaranatunga)

Legacy edit

Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi edit

 
Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi.

The Horagolla Bandaranaike Samadhi is the final resting place of Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike and his wife Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike. It is located in the grounds of the Bandaranaike family seat of Horagolla in Atthanagalla, Western Province, Sri Lanka.[2]

Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall edit

 
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo.

Constructed as a gift from the People's Republic of China in 1970 in the memory of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall was the largest conference hall on the island and in 2003 Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre was added to the same complex as a gift from the People's Republic of China in the memory of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. The complex is governed by the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation which was established by the S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation Act No. 2 of 1975 with a permanent seat for the senior member of the Bandaranaike and two seats for distinguished individuals appointed by that family member on the board.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The doomed King". Archived from the original on 1 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  2. ^ SWRD Bandaranaike and the paradox of Sri Lankan federalism
  3. ^ "S. W. R. D. BANDARANAIKE NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOUNDATION". lawnet.gov.lk. Ministry of Justice - Sri Lanka. Retrieved 11 May 2023.

https://www.thearchives.lk/swrds-father-in-1924/