Karava of Sri Lanka
Karava Mansions V
A few Karava Residences from past centuries are illustrated here. Only a handful of these homes survived the Death Duty, Paddy Land Acts, Land Reform, and Housing Reform legislations introduced by post independence Govigama dominated governments.
According to folklore, the heirs of a mansion of similar proportions in the heart of Colombo had their Estate Duty (Death Duty) deferred for 2 decades, thus enabling them to hold onto the property. Theheirs were close relatives of a former Govigama Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The heirs subsequently blocked out and sold some of the surrounding land for millions of rupees at current market prices, the sale proceeds being many thouand times more than the Death duty deferred in the past. That mansion is still with the family. However, many Karava mansions had to be sold soon after the death of the owner to pay the high Death Duties on such properties.
This is a labour of love, a random selection of Karava homes. As such the homes are not presented here in any particular order of antiquity or importance. Preparing a comprehensive album of all Karava mansions is a near impossible task due to the vastness of the subject. As such undoubtedly many Karava mansions would not be included here. Therefore if your ancestral home does not appear here and you have old photographs, please send them to the webmaster for inclusion
Click here to go to Part I , Part II , Part III or Part IV of Karava Mansions
Whilst the Karavas in provincial capitals and the interior called their residences 'Walauva', the avant-garde Karava’s in Colombo and the western coast preferred to give fashionable English names to their homes, or just call them their 'Residence' or 'Bungalow'.
However despite the reluctance of the owners to use the old fashioned term ‘Walauwa’ to describe their residences, these residences were invariably referred to by the general public as ‘Walauvas’.
Family Crest of the Perera Abeywardena family of Galle.
Tombs of Charles Henry and Lady De Soysa at the Holy Emmanuel Church cemetery, Moratuwa
Isaak de S Kularatne and his tomb at Galle cemetery
The now dilapidated residence of Arthur V Dias at Panadura
Woodwork from the Amarasuriya Maha walauwwa , Galle
Views of two wings of the Amarasuriya Maha Walauvva, Galle
Samaraweera Patabendige Theadoris de Silva's Rosmead Estate in southern Sri Lanka. 1800s
Second son of Samaraweera Patabendige Theadoris de Silva, 27 year old David Martin Samaraweera, Plantation owner and pioneer essential oil distiller in 1882
Barnes Samaraweera, elder son of Samaraweera Patabendige Theadoris de Silva
Matilda Eva Samaraweera
More photos of the Samaraweera family
Mariage of Louis Pieris and Cecila de Fonseka from defonseka.com. click for Larger image
Tombstone of Mudliyar Varnakula Adithya Arasa-nilaitta Alvinu Lowe d. 18.2.1885 at Marawila cemetery. Larger image
The Gates and views of "Luxmigiri" built by the Karava de Soysa family on their Alfred House estate. Queens road, Thurstan Road and other roads have since been cut through it. The main mansion, the palatial "Alfred House" was demolished when Duplication Road was built right through it. College house next door is another of the de Soysa residences and was originally know as "Regina Walauwwa"
W. A. de Silva's "Srawasthi" as it appears now.
A de Soysa residence on Queen's Road as it appears now.
Emmanuel de Silva Wijeratne, wife Anne Claribel Mary de Fonseka of Negombo and family of 'Havelock Villa', Havelock Road.in 1897
A Karava Coat of arms on the graves of Varnakula Adtta Arasanilaitta Carolis de Fonseka, and his nephew Jagathpala Wijenayaka Patabendi Muhandiramge Martin de Silva
The residence of Kalutaravedage Deepal Susantha de Fonseka, grandson of Muthuthanthrige Simon Fernando Sri Chandrase of Panadura.
The 2008 office bearers of the Rodrigo Family Friend in need Society of Panadura. Click for larger image with names and more information on the oldest family society of Sri Lanka.
The original ‘Maha Walauwwa’ of the Rodrigo family of Panadura.
The 1925 Office bearers of the Rodrigo Family Friend in need Society.
Major Montague Jayawickrama Member of Parliament - Weligama (1947/1952/1960/1977)
Ronnie de Mel Minister of Finance (1977 to 1988), father of the Free market economy of Sri Lanka.
Thomas Amarasuriya (1907-1979) OBE, President of the Senate, Fist Ceylone chairman of the Planter's Association and Tea propaganda Board.
