“Siri Medura”, Panadura – Karava Reminiscences by Rajiv Cooray
I feel I should share a story that my late Father Lloyd Cooray told me a few years before he passed on at a good age of ninety.
Mr Domingo Dias of “Siri Medura” Panadura was a very rich gentleman and on Monday mornings he travelled to Colombo in a six white horse carriage driven by an Englishman.
On his way, he had frequently noticed a beautiful teenager and her brother playing in a front garden. One day he had invited Mr. Cooray, the girl’s Father to visit “Siri Medura”. When he arrived he was greeted by the British governess Ms. Gwen and was told to be seated until Dias Hamu came out to the verandah. Domingo arrived and told Cooray that he would like to marry the young girl and that she would inherit all his wealth.
He had also invited the Cooray family to move into “Siri Medura” and the marriage had taken place soon with the British Governor of Ceylon as the attesting witness.
The brother was enrolled at Royal and was chauffeur driven to Colombo and back with a Nanny to look after him. Time went by, he became a Doctor, built the 21 bedroom ‘Leelamahal” of Panadura and married Pusethi Jayawickreneme.
Domingo who was much older than his wife died early. The couple had adopted Domingo’s sister’s daughter and she married Sir Susantha.
Domingo’s wife had 30 domestic staff, a British governess to take care of affairs and she managed more than 900 acres of land scattered all over Ceylon. She was my grand Aunt and I remember going to “Siri Medura” for the monthly ‘family lunches’. After lunch she used to give handsome handouts to everyone .The British governess had the envelopes ready and every one had to go in line, even my father and mother. Those from that generation got 500 rupees each. We little fellows got 10 rupees.
She used to point at me and ask my Mum “ay me podi ekata indian namak demme? Rajiv sinhala namak neme“. And my Mum used to just smile!
Monks and residents of Panadura protest demolition of historic bungalow
By Ranjith Padmasiri
The Sunday Times – 19th August 2018
Buddhist monks and Panadura residents are protesting the demolition of a historic bungalow that once belonged to one of its distinguished personalities, Susantha de Fonseka, who was elected to the State Council in 1931 and later served as its Deputy Speaker. A landmark in Panadura, facing the river, the bungalow named “Siri Medura” is nearly 100 years old.
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| The way it was: Siri Medura and (inset) Sir Susantha de Fonseka | The demolition in progress |
Leading monk of the Amarapura Chapter, and Chief Incumbent of the Moratuwa Dharma Nikethanaya, Ven. Magalle Nagitha Maha Nayaka Thera is among those who has spoken out against the demolition and, this week, he has written to President Maithripala Sirisena seeking his intervention. “This building is of immense archaeological value and is among the most treasured possessions of the people of Panadura. It is the duty of all Sri Lankans to safeguard such buildings,” the Thera said in the letter.
Susantha de Fonseka entered politics in 1931 winning a seat to the State Council as member for Panadura. He was re-elected in the 1936 general election. He also served as Deputy Speaker in the State Council. A diplomat who served in Burma (now Myanmar) and Japan, Sir Susantha de Fonseka died in 1963.
He had his early education at the then Colombo Academy (Royal College) and went to the UK for his higher education.
The bungalow had been sold by a relative of de Fonseka who inherited it, and the buyer is in the process of demolishing it, a resident of the area who wished to remain anonymous said. Meanwhile, the new owner of the property Tissa Illeperuma said that he purchased the property from Anura De Silva, the grandson of Susantha De Fonseka. “I inqured at the time of purchase if the house was protected by the country’s archaelogy laws and was told it was not. The house hasbeen built in 1923 and will become a protected site only in five years when it becomes 100 years old,” he said.
Some images of the property just before demolition, as advertised in the internet by the realtor. Last two images taken by website shows the property after demolition in February 2019.