Jayakodi walawwa of Ganemulla
Jayakodi walawwa of Ganemulla
This stately mansion is located near the Welipillewa junction along the Kadawatha–Ganemulla road. Surrounded by a dense grove of century-old trees, only the white, square-shaped central tower of the mansion is clearly visible from the road. This elegant residence, which adorns many picturesque villages around Ganemulla such as Galhittiyawa, Parakandeniya, Kossinna, Amunugoda, and Suriyapaluwa was built by Don Gabriel Kumarasinghe Jayakody, Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate.Gabriel Jayakody was born in 1871 into the prestigious Walawwa family of Mahawalawatta in Ganemulla. Around the year 1890, he left his home with only about 50 rupees in hand due to his parents' opposition to his romantic relationship with a young woman named Engeltina Welivita (d. 1942), whom he dearly loved. From that point onward, he began his life journey with his partner and engaged in small-scale businesses, eventually establishing himself as a capable young entrepreneur.He became well known under the name “Gaban Appuhamy.”
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| Gate Mudaliyar Don Gabriel Kumarasinghe Jayakody |
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| As a Muhandiram |
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| Engaltinna Welivita - wife of Mudaliyar |
Don Gabriel Jayakody became involved in this railway development as a contractor supplying steel sleepers. A skilled businessman, he earned the trust of the government by completing his tasks on time. The profits he earned from his contracting business were wisely invested in the coir trade and in purchasing large coconut estates, eventually turning him into a wealthy magnate. He owned thousands of acres of estates, including plantations in Narangalla, Appaladeniya, Poogalla, Yaya, Barigoda, Piduma, and Bohingamuwa in the Kuliyapitiya area. Mudaliyar Gabriel also operated a large-scale business converting coconuts into copra, with his copra warehouses located in Grandpass, Colombo.
In 1920, he began constructing his residence in Ganemulla, Gampaha, and completed it around 1925. The architect of this house is believed to have been of Muslim descent. The laborers brought in for the construction stayed temporarily on the surrounding land for nearly five years until the building was completed.
‘Jayakody Walawwa,’ built adjacent to the Kadawatha–Ganemulla road, stood on several acres of land. This majestic mansion, enclosed by a uniquely styled but elegant arched parapet wall built in tiers, features whitewashed walls, a small balcony with an overhanging verandah from the upper floor, towering columns supporting the upper level, and a splendid solarium enclosed by intricately carved wood and iron railings. Most notably, at its center stands a tall, square-shaped tower that soars into the sky an architectural feature not seen in any other Walawwa in Sri Lanka.
The furniture crafted for this mansion was made of rare and valuable woods like ebony and included the Jayakody family’s emblem "Jaya" engraved on them. Some of these furnishings were specially designed and imported from England by Mudaliyar Jayakody himself.
Land now housing the Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment’s camp, which was established in 1980, as well as places like the Jayakody Maha Vidyalaya in Ganemulla and the lower Yagoda Jayakody Estate, were once all part of the original Jayakody Walawwa property.
With time, the estate was divided and reduced, and today, only the portion of land on which the Walawwa itself stands remains.
On June 3, 1922, Don Gabriel Jayakody was conferred the title of Muhandiram by the British Crown Government, and later, on June 13, 1940, he was elevated to the prestigious title Mudaliyar of the Governor's Gate . Gabriel and Engeltina Jayakody had a son born on January 21, 1901 their only child whom they named Don Edwin Kumarasinghe Jayakody. He received his education at Wesley College and Ananda College in Colombo, and later married Siridatta Amarasinghe, a young woman from the Amarasinghe family of Matara.
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| Don Edwin Kumarasinghe Jayakody |
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| Edwin and Siridatta Jayakody |
They had seven children in total two sons and five daughters. Sadly, one son and one daughter passed away at a young age. Among the surviving children:
The eldest daughter, Hemakantha Jayakody, married Senaka Ranasinghe of the Katana Ranasinghe family.
The second daughter, Ramyakanta Jayakody, married Dr. P.R. Walpita of Horana.
The third daughter, Hethumathi Jayakody, married former Member of Parliament and Minister for the Galle District, Rupa Karunathilaka.
The fourth child and eldest son, Kamalawarna Kumarasinghe Jayakody, married Kanthi Meedeniya from the Meedeniya family of Kegalle.
The youngest daughter, Jayasvini Jayakody, married Dr. Nihal Mahawelatenna Jayawardena of Balangoda.
The Jayakody family made numerous donations in the interest of social service. Don Gabriel Jayakody himself offered the family’s holiday residence in Bandarawela to house Bandarawela Vishaka Girls' School during World War II. Siridatta Jayakody, the wife of Edwin K. Jayakody, contested the 1960 March general election from the United National Party and secured 9,042 votes, though she was not elected to Parliament.
She contributed to the construction of several temples, including Kirinda Maha Viharaya, Wijitapura Viharaya, Yudaganava Viharaya, and Alpitiya Viharamahādevi Pirivena, and also built and donated the Welipillewa Junior School. She was the founder of the Viharamahadevi Women's Society, and it was at her request that then-Mayor of Colombo, M.H. Mohamed, renamed Victoria Park in Colombo as Viharamahadevi Park.
Mr. Don Kamalawarna Kumarasinghe Jayakody was born on October 20, 1937. He received his education at St. Thomas’ College in Kollupitiya and at Ananda College in Colombo. He entered politics by contesting for and being elected as the Chairman of the Mahara Village Council. Continuing his political journey, he contested the 1983 General Election from the Mahara electorate under the United National Party (UNP) and was elected to Parliament with 29,944 votes. He donated a plot of his land for the establishment of the Jayakody Maha Vidyalaya in Welipillewa, Ganemulla.
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| Don Kamalawarna Kumarasinghe Jayakody |
The founder of the Jayakody Walawwa, Gate Mudaliyar Gabriel Jayakody, passed away on May 12, 1951. His son, Edwin Jayakody, who inherited the Walawwa, passed away on February 21, 1981. Kamalawarna Jayakody, the last heir of the Jayakody Walawwa, also passed away on June 17, 2007. Following his death, the current custodian of the Walawwa is his wife, Mrs. Kanthi Jayakody, who resides there today.
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