Wijewardene family

The Wijewardene family [1] is a Sri Lankan family that is prominent in enterprise and politics. Along with many members who have been successful politician across generations, the family includes two Chief Justices, two Prime Ministers and a President of Sri Lanka.

The Wijewardene family
Current regionColombo
Place of originSedawatte
MembersDon Richard Wijewardena,
Junius Richard Jayewardene,
Ranil Wickremasinghe,
Ruwan Wijewardene,
Upali Wijewardene,
Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene,
Esmond Wickremesinghe,
Vimala Wijewardene
TraditionsTheravada Buddhism
Estate(s)Rickman House, Colombo,
Arcadia, Diyatalawa,
Adisham Hall

History

Tudugalage Don Phillip Wijewardene gained success as a timber merchant having established the Sedawatte Mills, after moving to his mother's village of Sedawatte near the banks of the Kelani river which was used to transport timber. He became a supplier of timber, bricks and sand to public works and the military undertakings of the colonial government and invested real estate. He was awarded the title of Muhandiram and took the name of Wijewardene at the turn of the century. His sons continued his business ventures, with Don Richard Wijewardena branching out into print media having established Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. After it was nationalized Sirimavo Bandaranaike's government, Don Richard Wijewardena's son, Ranjith Wijewardene established Wijeya Newspapers in 1979.

Family Tree
  • Tudugalage Muhandiram Don Phillip Wijeywardene - Muhandiram + Dona Helena Dep Weerasinghe
    • Don Richard Wijewardena (1886–1950) + Alice Meedeniya
      • Ranjith Wijewardene + Ranjani Senanayake
      • Nalini Wijewardene + Esmond Wickremesinghe
      • Rani Wijewardene + George Gomes
        • Shalini Gomes + Themiya Loku Bandara Hurulle, Member of Parliament, Project Minister (Science and Technology), Member,(North Central Provincial Council), Director-General, Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (T.R.C.S.L.), Engineer (AC&R)
    • Don Charles Wijewardene (1893-1956) + Vimala Wijewardene, Member of Parliament, Minister of Health
      • Padmini Wijewardene
      • Rukmani Wijewardene + C Beligammana
      • Ananda Wijewardene
    • Don Walter T Wijewardene (1894–1939) + Anula Kalyanawathi Wijesinghe
      • Upali Wijewardene (1938–1983) + Lakmini Ratwatte
      • Anoja Devi Wijewardene (1933-2014) + Prof Stanley Wijesundera (1923 -1989)
        • Shalitha Wijesundera, Member of the Western Provincial Council
    • Don Phillip Alexander Wijewardene + Neeva Hulugalle
      • Iranganie Wijewardene + Donald Joseph Wijewardene
        • Nelun Kumari Wijewardene + William Tissa "Tommy" Ellawala
        • Amari Wijewardene, Ambassador to the United Kingdom
    • Dr Don Edmund Wijewardene + Dr Corin Amanda Jennings
    • Agnes Helen Wijewardene + Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene (1874–1932), Chief Justice
    • Don Luis Wijewardene + Muriel Godamunne
      • Donald Joseph Wijewardene + Iranganie Wijewardene
        • Nelun Kumari Wijewardene + William Tissa "Tommy" Ellawala
        • Amari Wijewardene - Ambassador to the United Kingdom
      • Semitha Wijewardene + Victor Tennekoon, Chief Justice

Other members of the family include;

See also

References
  1. "Wijewardene family". Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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