Mudaliyar Atauda Arachchige Attanayaka Louis Ameresekera's biography

Birth:1844    Marriage:18/11/1876

Info
Father:
Mudaliyar Don Johannes Abraham Ameresekere
Mother:
Maria Magdalena de Silva
Siblings:
James Ameresekere
Spouse:
Meraya Eliza (de Silva) Wijesinghe
Children:
Louis Ameresekere jnr.
Albert Ameresekere
Alice Ameresekere
Amy Ameresekere
Don Louis Ameresekera was born in 1844 in Mahara[1] and married in 1876 at the age of 24 [2]. But the math does not add up, as he would be 32 years during marriage. A closer inspection of the adjoining marriage records within the database can help to verify the registration date is read accurately. At the time of his marriage, he was the Head Clerk at Registrar of Lands Office in Kurunegal and his residence is given as Kurunegala in his marriage record. Though the marriage is registered in Kurunegala, it has taken place at the Weslyan Chappel at Godapitiya, Gangabodapattu, Matara, which is at his bride Meraya Eliza Wijesinghe's hometown. Meraya was 22 years old at marriage. The marriage was witnessed by his uncle Don Conrad Ameresekere (Proctor of Supreme Court in Kurunegala) and by James Alex Corea (Clerk, Colombo). Soma [1] claims the marriage took place in 1874, one year after he was appointed as Mudaliyar of Gangabodapattue [1].
Marriage Certificate
Marriage record of Louis
Fig. 1: Marriage record of Louis & Meraya

He was appointed as Mudaliyar of Gangaboda pattu in Matara in 1873 [1], after the retirement of Maha Mudaliyar James de Silva Wijesinghe. It appers a credible narrative, that a young man living in Kurunegala moves far away from home to Matara to take over from retiring Mudaliya, and forms a friendship with his predecessor and marries his daughter and settled down in Matara. The list of promiment people in Ceylon [3, p.209] as of 1878 shows L. Amarasekara to be Mudaliyar of Siyane Korale (Adikari and Meda pattu) which seems to refer to Louis. If that is the case, it is unsure, if he could have been Mudaliyar for Matara at the same time.

The other possibility is, if Grandson of Mudl. Samuel Amarasekara from Ekanayake tree, Son of Abraham Amarasekara, who was a Mohandiram in the same Siyane Korale (Medapattu) in 1860. Did Grandson Louis Ameresekere become a Mudaliyar in the same Korale as his father Abraham, 18 years later? The Ekanayake family tree does not designate him as a Mudaliyar, though.

It would be interesting to find out when was Louis appointed as Mudaliyar for Siyane Korale, and when did he exactly move to Matara, and when he was appointed Mudaliyar for Matara as stated by Soma, and after being appointed Mudaliyar for Matara, if he continued to function as Mudaliyar for Siyane Korale. This is unlikely, due to the distance between Matara and Kelaniya.

On the other hand, one can argue that while the young Louis was living in Kurunegala, a marriage to a suitable partner was arranged from a suitable family in Matara, and after marriage, the father-in-law made room for Louis to take over the his vacating position. Therefore, further research using Marriage record database and Govt. Gazette can shed light if the Marriage took place before or after his appointment as Mudaliyar can be a useful clue.

It appears that he settled down in Matara, as all his descendants are settled there. But he is supposed to be born in Mahara, though his father Mudl. Johannes' records show that Johannes lived in Kurunegala too. It is possible that the family did live in Kurunegala, but the birth of Louis took place in Mahara, if Mahara is to be considered as the Home Town of his lineage. Even Louis' uncle Proctor Conrad A. lived in Kurunegala. It is worth researching further, if the Home Town of Athauda Ameresekere lineage is to be considered as Mahara, then which ancestor of Louis first moved to Kurunegala, and if that ancestor moved from Mahara to Kurunegala or if Kurunegala is to be considered as their hometown, later branching off to Mahara.

A further clue that might support Mahara Hometown assumption is, the new couple build a Walauwa in Thihagoda around 1875, Matara and named named it "Mahara Mahawalauwa". The Thihagoda Primary School and the nearby Mission House standing todate, were built by Mudaliyar Louis in 1884.

It is of great interest to note that Louis is using Attanayake Ameresekere in his full name, which is sofar the first instance we come across within Athauda lineage, that indicates a possible connection to the original Attanayake, Ekanayake Ameresekere lineage that goes back to 1640's as Prime Minister of Rajasinghe II. If this is a correct assumption, that would link Atauda lineage with Kegalle, Kaleliya and Madampe lineages. Further research is warranted.

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