Bandaranaike family


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

History

The Bandaranayaka family is claimed to originate from Nilaperumal Pandaram, who was from Tamilnadu, India and served as high priest of the Temple of Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya. "Nayaka pandaran" is said to be the original name which the family changed 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.

Family tree

Don Francisco Dias Wijetunga Bandaranaike, Mudaliyar Hewagam Korale + Dona MarKumarathunga
Other members of the family include;

Legacy

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.

Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall

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.