The Bandaranayaka family is claimed to originate from Nilaperumal Pandaram (pandaram is a tamil title given for a non-brahmin priest), 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.[1]
Family tree
Don Francisco Dias Wijetunga Bandaranaike (born 1720), Mudaliyar Hewagam Korale + Dona MarKumarathunga
Conrad Pieter Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike, Maha Mudliyar
Jacabus Dias Wijewardena Bandaranaike (born 1780), Mudaliyar of Governor Gate & Translator of Supreme Court + Liyanage Catherine Philipsz Panditharatne
Rev Canon Samuel William Dias Bandaranaike + Cornelia Susanna Elizabeth Dias Bandaranaike
James Peter Obeyesekere I (stepson of Cornelia's first marriage to D. B. Ferdinandus Obeysekere), Member of Legislative Council + Corneliya Henrietta Dias Bandaranaike (daughter of Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Bandaranaike)
Deshamanya James Peter Obeyesekere III, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Finance, Senator and Member of Parliament for Attanagalla + Deshamanya Siva Obeyesekere, Cabinet Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Mirigama
Don Daniel Dias Bandaranaike + Dona Clara Amarasekere
Don Solomon Dias Bandaranaike (-1859), Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale, 1st Udagaha Mudaliyar + Cornelia Philipsz Panditharatne de Saram
Don Christoffel Henricus Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilake Seneviratne Bandaranaike (born 1826), Mudaliyar Governors Gate and 2nd Udagaha Mudaliyar + Anna Florentina Philipsz Panditharatne
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.[3]