Karava of Sri Lanka

This is a random selection of Karavas and their homes. As such they are not presented here in any particular order of antiquity or importance.

 Click here to go to Part I ,  Part II or Part IV of Karava Mansions

This is a random selection of Karava homes. As such they are not presented here in any particular order of antiquity or importance.

 Click here to go to Part I ,  Part II or Part IV of Karava Mansions

Mr. Jacob de Mel ( son of Francisco de Mel and Leonara Peiris, born1839 in Moratuwa) and his office and staff

“Deyn Court”  Colpetty of H Bastian Fernando (son of H Abraham and Nathalia Fernando,  born 1859) and  Emily nee Arsecularatne and family. He owned 1,200 acres of coconut land in addition to rubber and tea estates. His companies employed about 1,200 staff.

Mr. Henry Pieris and his  "Donnington" Ward Place residence. He was a government contractor. Among his monuments are the Chamber of Commerce Building, The Attorney General's office and St James church Mutwal.

“Siri Bhavana”  Vilegoda, Ambalangoda, residence of Issac de Silva Kularatne (1860-1930), his motor car 1918, his son Heron de Silva Kularatne & Laura Eslie nee de Silva Jayewardene and family. circa 1920

Funeral of Mrs Ciciliana de Silva Jayewardene Circa 1915, daughter of Don Amadoris de Silva Weerasooriya ( web site of the Dodanduwa Weerasooriya family)  wife of Frederic de Silva Jayewardene of Bandarawatte, Ambalangoda and Mother of Laura Elsie de Silva Kularatne of Fort, Galle

Family of Heron & Laura Elsie de Silva Kularatne of Galle. Circa 1922

Mr. M. A. Fernando,  his Graphite yard and Son-in law Jacob Abraham Fernando.

Their private residences in Moratuwa were "Meth Medura" and "Fern Dale" respectively.

Mr.  W. A. Fernando, one of the pioneers of the graphite trade, his graphite yard and his son-in-law Edmund Clarke de Fonseka.  

(See Web site of the De Fonseka family of Kalutara)

Mr. Edmund Clarke de Fonseka resided at "Arcadia" Rosmead Place, adjoining the main store of the firm.

Mr. James Fernando who inherited the business from Mudaliyar Simon Fernando, and his plumbago yard. His private residence was "Siri Nivesa" Moratuwa.

Mr. Henry Joseph Peiris, born 1858, son of Hanwedige (Hennedige ? ) Andris Pieris and his “Oliver Castle”  on Gregory's Road. Sold by the family decades ago this was the Canadian High Commission in Colombo until 2009 and is to be demolished shortly to make way for a modern building

 Mr. Gabriel Fernando and "Fair Lawn" Moratuwa, built in 1855 by his father. His town residence is "Belwood" Bambalapitiya. He married in 1895, Josephine Mary, second daughter of Mr. D. M. Arsecularatne, Proctor and Notary Public.

"Regina Walauwva" of the Karava de Soysa family - now College House of the University of Colombo. The sprawling "Laxmi Giri" adjoining is also a former de Soysa mansion. Another large Karava mansion is W. A. de Silva's "Sravasthi" near the Colombo museum - now A hostel for Ministers.

Widanelage Johannis de Mel (born 1856 in Moratuwa. He owned several fine houses in Cinnamon Gardens and his country residence was "Melbourne House" Moratuwa), his Hunupitiya store and eldest son R. A. J. de Mel born 1885 in Moratuwa.

 "Melbourne", a de Mel Bungalow. in  Moratuwa. 'Melbourne Towers" stands on this site now. Some of the other de Mel residences were “Villa Kon”, “Melmere”, “Mount Villa”, Lilly Lawn” and “Mel Grove” See Family tree 

Partners of W. J. & A. P. de Mel .

The "Watersmeet" bungalow in Mutwal, owned by the  Arsecularatne family

Richard Charles de Silva Dissanayake Mudaliyar (born 1864, son of Sellahewage Don Bastian de Silva and Dona Carlina daughter of Don Mathes Jayawickreme of Matara) & his staff of native headmen at his residence "The Walauwwa" Mundel, Puttalam.

Mudaliyar RC de Silva & wife Alice Grace  Amadore Jayasuriya, daughter of Mudaliyar of Kurunegala

Theyvam Nagalinga Mudaliyar born 1861 Point Pedro. Paternal Grand Father Thever Kanagaraya Mudaliyar - Maniagar of Point Pedro, Great Grand Father Varunakula Suriya Mudaliyar. Maternal Grand Father Kathirgarmar Singa Mudaliyar.

Gate Mudaliyar Warnakula Aditya Arsanelaitta Ambrosius de Rowel JPUM born 1844 in Waikkal. Married 1872, Maria, daughter of Robert Lowe of Marawila. Daughters Dorothy Juliana married F. A. Wijeyesekera JPUPM; and Rosalinde married Mudaliyar W. M. Daberera. His Walauwwa.

Warnakulasuriya Martin Daberera Mudaliyar of Pitigal Korale and his native headmen. born 1880, son of W. Sylvester Daberera, landed proprietor  of Marawila and Celestine, daughter of Carolis de Rowel, Notary Public.  Married Rosalind Prudentia, daughter of Mudaliyar Ambrocious de Rowel in 1902. Resided at "Wasala Walauwa" Waikkal, Chilaw.

The "Lowe Walauwa" Chilaw

Mudaliyar Warnakula Adithya Arsanilaitta Alvino  Lowe family Chilaw

Warnakula Weerasuriya Lodvin Fernando (son of W. Roman Fernando, landed proprietor of Marawila. born 1858), wife Agnes Emerintina, daughter of Mudaliyar Warnakula Adithya Arsanilaitta Alvino  Lowe) and his family

Eldest daughter of Mr. W. Lodwin Fernando, Winifred Charlotte married Warnakulasuriya Timothy Fernando (son of W. Savriel Fernando, planter of Maravila) and resided at "Winifred House", Marawila.

"Samudra Siri", Rampart Street, Fort Galle residence of Heron and Laura Elsie de S. Kularatne and family. L to R standing Iranganie Padmalatha (Mrs. Hudson Silva), Dulcie Ganendra (Mrs. Harrison de Silva), Eunice Nalini (Mrs. Dickson de Silva), Elsie Jinavineetha (Mrs. Harry Wijesekera), Doyle Ubhayasiri, Damon Gamini, Percy Piyasena, Rishi Enulasiri. circa 1940.

 "The firs" Middle Street Galle  of Dr. & Mrs C. E de Silva

Mrs C.E. de Silva (married 1896, daughter of Proctor S. R. de Fonseka of "River View" Kalutara). See de Fonseka Web site  and Family Tree.

Dr Charles Edward de Silva born 1868 Mirissa. Son of landed proprietor Andris de Silva. Owner of Mt. Pleasant and Kadabeddewatte tea estates.

Mr. Samson Abeysuriya (born 1881 son of landed proprietor Thepanis Abesuriya of Weligama ) and family.  He owned Talgahahena, Mahawatte and large extents of paddy land

Mr. Henry de Silva Amarasuriya, (born 1872 in Unawatuna. son of Mohandiram Thomas de Silva Amarasuriya of Galle and Donna Christina nee Lamabadusuriya of Koggala) and wife Caroline   daughter of K. C. Juanis de Silva of Gintota and Galle

Monrovia Factory in Dodanduwa and another Tea factory (Kurulugala in Morawaka ?) of the Amarasuriya family

"Amaragiri" the Amarasuriya 'Maha Walauwa' Matara  Road, Unawatuna, Galle and entrance gate. The family gifted it  to the Sri Lankan government. and now it's a teacher training college.

An older Amarasuriya Walauwa

Mohandiram Thomas de Silva Amarasuriya of  Galle ( b. 1847 son of Jiris de Silva and Guardiyawasam Punchihewage Misohamy). Married Donna Christina nee Jayasuriya of Koggala 1869

The Walauva of Mr. K. C. Juanis Appoo of Gintota & his family.