Nugadola Walawwa Pasyala

 The Nugadola Walawwa in Pasyala

One side of Nugadola walawwa 

This Walawwa was built between the years 1938 and 1942 by Hilda Obeyesekere and Paul Edward Pieris Deraniyagala Samarasinghe Siriwardhane, also known as Paul E. Pieris (1874–1959). Mr. Paul E. Pieris was a judge, a renowned historian, and an author. In addition, he served as the Ceylon Trade Commissioner in Britain, the President of the Royal Asiatic Society, and held the post of Public Trustee at the time.

Sir Poul E Peiris

Lady Hilda Obesekara

Mrs. Hilda Obeyesekere was the only and eldest  daughter of Cornelia Henrietta Dias Bandaranaike, sister of the Hon. James Peter Obeyesekere and the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Her brothers were James Peter Obeyesekere II (1879–1968), a barrister and Chief Mudaliyar; Donald Obeyesekere (1888–1964), a member of the State Council; and Stanley Obeyesekere.

Paul E. Pieris and Hilda Obeyesekere had four children

Paul Edward Pieris Deraniyagala (1900–1976), Director of the National Museum (1939–1963) and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Vidyodaya University (1961–1964), also a zoologist.

Ralph Deraniyagala, a lawyer and Parliamentary Secretary.

Justin Pieris Deraniyagala (1903–1967), an artist.

Their only daughter ,       Miriam Pieris Deraniyagala (1908–1999), who was also a talented artist.    

Mrs. Obeyesekere, a renowned philanthropist, donated a substantial sum to the building fund of the University of Peradeniya. In recognition of this, the university’s founder, Sir Ivor Jennings, named the women’s hostel there the Hilda Obeyesekere Hall. A generous and service-oriented woman, she was deeply committed to the advancement of women's education and other forms of social service.

She enjoyed facing challenges that were traditionally considered unsuitable or difficult for women at the time. It was she who built this unique residence on the Nugadola estate in Pasyala, which she inherited from her father’s side. She was also supported in this endeavor by her mother.

The entrance road to the Walawwa can be found on the left side, a short distance along the Pasyala–Attanagalla road from the Pasyala junction. In the past, the estate had its own access road directly from the main road, as it was spread across several hundred acres. However, today the land has been subdivided, and the Walawwa is now limited to few acres at the top of a hill.

As one travels a short distance along the entrance road, a hill appears, lined on both sides with Na trees (Mesua ferrea). Due to the dense canopy formed by these trees, the road remains cool and slightly dark even during the daytime. Because of this, the Walawwa is also locally referred to as "Nawetiya Walawwa."

Although the road was originally paved and leveled using black stones, weathering over time has caused the stones to shift and become uneven. On both sides of the road are rubber plantations.

The construction of this Walawwa was skillfully overseen by Mrs. Hilda Obeyesekere, as revealed by examining the architectural features of the building. The roof incorporates traditional tile types typical of the Kandy period, while the interior features large pillars, high ceilings, and a raised foundation built on the summit of a hill slightly elevated above ground level contributing both to the building’s stability and its grandeur.

This mansion, which comprises two upper floors centered around open courtyards, also includes a partially underground section that was used by household staff. The bathroom fittings were of excellent quality and are believed to have been imported from Europe.

A sound-insulated generator, installed underground, was used to produce electricity. Surrounding the Walawwa were many large, old trees, adding to the character and serenity of the environment.

Justin Peiris Daraniyagala

Mr. Justin Pieris Deraniyagala, one of the sons of the Pieris couple, lived in a separate house on the same estate, which was referred to as the Sudu Bangalawa (White Bungalow). He passed away unmarried in 1967 at the age of sixty-three and is regarded as one of the most distinguished painters of the 20th century. He was a member of the Colombo '43 Group, an art collective that included renowned artists such as Lionel Wendt and George Keyt.

Educated at S. Thomas’ College in Mount Lavinia, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1921 and obtained a Master of Laws degree in 1924. While at Cambridge, he also excelled in boxing. In 1928, he was admitted to the Slade School of Fine Art after securing first place in the entrance examination for drawing. He then spent several years in and around London and Paris, where he studied the works of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Georges Braque.

Returning to Ceylon in 1935, he became involved in archaeological work with the British Museum and served as Vice President of the Ceylon branch of the International Art Society. The primary subject of Justin’s paintings was the female nude. His works were exhibited in London and Venice during the 1950s.

It could be said that his artistic talent and hedonistic lifestyle were unburdened by the economic or existential struggles faced by the common people of Sri Lanka. Like the studios of the great European masters, his own art studio surrounded by tall trees, timber and iron columns—was filled with sensuous nude paintings and a variety of sculptures.

Some paintings of Justin Peiris

After the passing of Mrs. Hilda Obeyesekere, the Nugadola Walawwa was inherited by Mr. Ralph Pieris Deraniyagala. He and his wife, Mrs. Esme Isabel Amelie Obeyesekere (1908–1973)—the first female barrister in Sri Lanka—had one child: Dr. Ralph Senaka Pieris Deraniyagala, who was educated at the University of Cambridge.

Mr. Ralph Deraniyagala’s second wife, Indrani Deraniyagala, around the year 2008, sold a valuable collection of items that had belonged to the esteemed Mr. Paul Pieris. This included a significant personal library, a collection of artistic paintings, and various other antiques. These were sold to the famous Hollywood actress Gillian Anderson, best known for her role as Agent Scully in the television series The X-Files.

Gillian Anderson restored the Walawwa in an elegant and luxurious manner, converting it into an upscale residence. However, she later became entangled in several financial disputes with local Sri Lankan business partners and was eventually involved in a lawsuit. In 2015, she sold the Walawwa to another party. At present, it operates as a boutique luxury hotel under the name Viceroy House.