Old Mansions History

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 b...

  Denagamuwa Walawwa An old pphotograph of Denagamuwa Walawwa  The Denagamuwa Walawwa, also known as Alfred House, located in Polgahawela, Kurunegala, originally belonged to the de Silva Jayasundara family. It is said that this family, who settled in Kurunegala in the mid-19th century, had migrated from the Colombo area. Mudaliyar Joseph de Silva Jayasundara married Denagamuwa Tikiri Kumarihamy, a daughter of Lokubanda of Kempitiya Walawwa in Kegalle, an aristocratic family from the Kandyan region, where Lokubanda served as a Korale (a reregional chief). This residence was named after their eldest son, Alfred de Silva Jayasundara, but today it is popularly known as Denagamuwa Walawwa. At a time when there was a distinct social divide between the low country and upcountry regions, this marriage is seen as one of the early unions bridging the gap between low-country families and Kandyan aristocracy. Around the year 1880, Mudaliyar Joseph de Silva served as the interpreter to Mag...

The Mirando Walawwa in Mahahunupitiya, Negombo, where Muhandiram Magina Mercilus Henry Mirando once resided, is now a Hindu temple. His father was Mudaliyar Andrew Paul Mirando, and his mother was Anna, daughter of Walisinghe Juwanis de Silva, a wealthy landowner and planter. Based on her lineage, it is assumed that she was related to Walisinghe Edward de Silva, also known as Brahmachari Walisinghe Harischandra. Henry’s grandfather, Marcus Mirando, was a medical practitioner in Magalle, Galle. Henry was born in 1870 and received his education at the Wesleyan Mission School in Negombo and at Royal College, Colombo. Muhandiram  Mercilus Henry Mirando  He joined the public service in 1896, beginning his career as a clerk at the Negombo District Court. After two years, he was promoted to the position of court translator. In 1904, he was appointed as a Muhandiram of the North Alutkuru Korale and served as an officer responsible for criminal investigations in the Negombo judicial di...

 THE HOMES OF HAVELOCK ROAD FIFTY YEARS AGO - by The Rambler Havelock Road at year 1907 Former British Governor Sir Auther Elibank Havelock  From The Ceylankan, Journal of the Ceylon Society of Australia, No.8 (Vol.II No.4) November 1999 (kind courtesy of Hugh Karunanayake - President, Ceylon Society of Australia, Australia) Changes to Colombo’s landscape in recent years have been so rapid and comprehensive that anyone visiting after a period of time will hardly recognise parts of the city where its homes have virtually grown out of sight. Where beautiful homes and gardens once stood gladdening the eye of passers by, there now stands a compacted structure enclosed by high walls. The beautiful garden city that Colombo was, up until the nineteen sixties, and which enraptured visitors over the years, seem to have been lost forever. On a recent visit to Sri Lanka, visiting old haunts, I tried to recapture some of the imagery of the past, particularly in relation to Havelock Road, ...