Senanayake family

The Senanayake 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 Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka.

The Senanayake family
Mudaliyar Don Spater Senanayake with son-in-law F H Dias-Bandaranaike, sons Don Stephen Senanayake, Don Charles Senanayake and Fredrick Richard Senanayake, daughter Maria Francesca and wife Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekara
Current regionColombo
Place of originBothale Ihalagama
MembersDon Stephen Senanayake,
Fredrick Richard Senanayake,
Don Spater Senanayake,
Dudley Senanayake,
Rukman Senanayake,
Ruwan Wijewardene
Connected familiesWijewardene family
TraditionsTheravada Buddhism
Estate(s)Bothale Walawwa,
Woodlands, Colombo,
Grassmere, Colombo

History

Don Spater from the village of Bothale became a successful mine owner. Making his fortune in graphite mining, he invested in plantations and in the arrack renting franchise. He assumed the name Senanayake and was awarded the title of Mudaliyar by the colonial government. His sons continued his business ventures, and was in the forefront of the temperance movement that transitioned into the modern independence movement led by his sons Fredrick Richard Senanayake and Don Stephen Senanayake following the brutal suppression of the 1915 riots by the British.[2] Don Stephen Senanayake who lead the negotiations with the British Government, was elected the first Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1947, having won the first Parliamentary elections after forming the United National Party. On his sudden death, while in office, his son Dudley Senanayake succeeded him as Prime Minister and went on to server several terms.

Family Tree
  • Don Bartholomew[3]
    • Don Spater Senanayake (1848–1907), Mudaliyar + Dona Catherina Elizabeth Perera Gunasekera Senanayake (1848-?)
      • Don Charles Senanayake (1878–1931) + Euphemia Grace Millicent
      • Fredrick Richard Senanayake (1882–1926), Member of the Colombo Municipal Council and independence activist + Ellen Attygalle
      • Don Stephen Senanayake (1884–1952), Prime Minister of Ceylon, Member of Parliament, Member of State Council, Member of Legislative Council
        • Dudley Senanayake (1911–1973), Prime Minister of Ceylon, Government Minister, Member of Parliament
        • Robert Parakrama Senanayake (1913–1986) + Swarna Neela Senanayake (daughter of Fredrick Richard Senanayake)
          • Ranjani Senanayake + Ranjith Wijewardene
          • Rukman Senanayake (1948- ), Assistant Leader of United National Party, Government Minister, Member of Parliament
          • Ranjit Senanayake + Suwanitha
            • Vasantha Senanayake (1973- ), Member of Parliament

Other members of the family include;

Houses built by family
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See also

References
  1. "Senanayake family". Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  2. The Stalwarts In The Struggle For Independence In Sri Lanka
  3. "Senanayake family". Retrieved 24 September 2019.
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