Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, KCMG, JP (Sinhala: සොලමන් ඩයස් අබේවික්රම ජයතිලක සෙනෙවිරත්න රාජකුමාරුණ කඩුකෙරළු බණ්ඩාරනායක; 22 May 1862 – 31 July 1946) was a Ceylonese colonial-era headmen.[1] 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.[2]
Family History
The origins of the Bandaranayaka family in Sri Lanka is claimed to be from the person known as Nilaperumal Pandaram who was from India and served he was high priest of the Temple of Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya. The family changed their name to the Sinhalese form of Bandaranaike and they adopt Portuguese name like Dias. They served the Portuguese rule and got social privileges and later on Dutch. Their golden era began as translators and local scribes expanding their influence and power. A member of the family, Don William Dias who served as a translator for the British was present when deposed Kandyan King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha was captured while in hiding by Ekneligoda Disawa.
Early life
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike was born on 22 May 1862, the son of the AnglicanGate Mudaliyar Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike, Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate and Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale East and Anna Florentina Philipsz.[3] His grandfathers were Don Solomon Dias Bandaranayake, Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale East and Phillipsz Gysbertus Panditaratne, Mohandiram of the Governor's Gate. He was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia in Colombo. His sister Charlotte married Gate Mudaliyar Solomon Seneviratne, Mudaliar of the Atapattu of the Western Province.[2]
Colonial service
He was appointed a Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate in 1882 by Prince Albert Victor during his royal visit to Ceylon, following the death of his father in 1887 he succeeded him to the post of Mudaliyar of the Siyane Korale East. Eight years later, Governor Sir Arthur Havelock appointed him to the post of Maha Mudali (Head Mudaliyar) following the death of then Head Mudaliyar Conrad "Peter" Petrus Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike who was also his uncle. This was the highest position available to a native Ceylonese in British Ceylon in 1895 and traveled to England as Ceylon's official representative at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1896. He was the youngest to hold the position at the age of thirty three and would hold it for thirty three years until his retirement in 1928.[2]
Wealth
Sir Solomon was a wealthy land owner with large estates. Apart from his town house in Colombo, he built a stately house, Horagolla Walauwa, and converted his fathers walauwa in Horagolla to his stables, Horagolla Stables. He was the first Ceylonese to own a house in the hill station of Nuwara Eliya, which was an exclusive holiday destination for the British.[4]
Bandaranaike, Sir Solomon Dias (1929). Remembered yesterdays, being the reminiscences of Maha Mudaliyar Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, K. C. M. G. J. Murray.[1]
References
^Wimalaratne, K. D. G., ed. (1994). Personalities, Sri Lanka: A Biographical Study (15th-20th Century), 1490-1990 A.D., A-Z. Ceylon Business Appliances Limited. p. 22. ISBN9789559287001.
^ abcWright, Arnold, ed. (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. pp. 522–523. ISBN9788120613355.
^Wickramasinghe, Somasiri; Wickramasinghe, Nilmal (2005). S.D. and the Family Roots in Sri Lankan Politics. p. 158. ISBN9789559916611.
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