Sri Lanka Sinhalese/Burgher Family Genealogy
PIERIS DERANIYAGALA - FAMILY
# 1005
Deraniyagala
family is descended from Keerawelle Hiripitiya Rala
from Malwathu Hiripitiya in Siyane Korale. Hiripitiya Rala was a high courtier
and an historical figure whom the chronicles mention as having smuggled the
tooth relic from the catholic dominated court to the custody of the buddhist
King Mayadunne of Sithavaka in the 16th century. (see article down below) (It
is said that the Keerawelle Royal clan of Keerawelle raja pelpata, had
descended from a kalinga royal clan, which had settled down in the sathara
korale.)
0000 Keerawelle Hiripitiya Rala b approx 1520.He was the Diyawadane Nilame ,caretaker of the tooth
relic and the temple in the Kotte Kingdom. In 1557 riots broke out during the
Portuguese, after Christianity was embraced by King Don Juan Dharmapala
(1551-1597) of the Kotte Kingdom. Hiripitiya Rala smuggled the tooth relic around 1557, when there was a danger the tooth relic would
be destroyed. He then handed the tooth relic to the Buddhist King Mayadunne of
Sithavaka (1521-1581) Then the tooth relic was hidden in the Delgamuwa temple
in the Delgamuwa village of Sabaragamuwa for 43 years. The tooth relic was
handed to King Wimaladharmasuriya in 1600 when he was King of Kandy.
000 Bandara b approx
1550
00 Bandara b approx
1580
0 Deraniyagala Bandara b approx 1610. He was a ambassador to the Dutch Govt of Ceylon
(1650-1796) ,during the period King Rajasinghe 2 ruled Kandy (1635-1687).He may
have lived in the village Deraniyagala
in the Kegalle District of Sabaragamuwa Province.
1 Deraniyagala Manuel Pieris Appuhami, b:1640 Approx. hailed from
Attidiya near Colombo + Dona Maria (m21/11/1689)
2 Paulo Samarasinghe
Siriwardena Mohandiram (Salpita Korale)(b approx 1690 bp1707+ Hettimullage
Guneratne Dona Angela Dias, m:11/8/1737-d1752
3 Bastian
3 Louis
3 Salman
3 Joana
3 Louisa
3 Juan Pieris+ Maria
4 Apolonia
4 Abraham Pieris
5 Lewis Pieris
6 Harmanis Pieris
7 Thomas Deraniyagala +Leela Wikramanayake (3121)
8 Edward Deraniyagala (b1936-d26/12/2004)
(Presidents Counsel)(d 2004-Tsunami)(STC) +Gemini Jayasekera (died in Tsunami
on 26/12/2004) (he was a collector of
antique items, observer of wild life and a talented photographer)(see photo
below)
9 Rajiv Deraniyagala (Nestle)+ Renuka Perera
9 Sonali Deraniyagala
(Sonali b.1964,studied economics at Cambridge University,and has a
doctorate from the University of Oxford.Economics lecturer-UK)(she survived the
tsunami in Sri Lanka after being carried several miles inland by the Waves in 2004)(see photo and article
below.)
Sonali was married to Dr Steeve Lissenburgh,Researcher,1964-2004,died
in tsunami on 26/12/2004,near Yala Safari Game Lodge,he was a resident of
UK,and was on holiday in SL,when he met his tragic death. (Around 30,000 people
died in Sri Lanka in the tsunami of 2004.)
10 Vickram Lissenburg(1997-d2004
Tsunami)
10 Nikhil Lissenburg.(1999-d2004
Tsunami)
2 Deraniyagalage Juan Pieris + Dona Dominga
3
Siman Pieris
3
Maria Pieris
3
Joanna Pieris
3
Apolonia Pieris
3
Adrian Pieris +Jebel
4
Abraham Pieris
5
Siman Pieris
4
Joan Pieris
5
Paulo Pieris
4
Christina Pieris
2 Gimara
Pieris
2 Louisa
Pieris
2 Jebel
Pieris
2 Manika Pieris
2
Deraniyagala Louis Pieris Samarasinghe Siriwardena (Mudaliyar), b:1680 + Maria
Siriwardena de Saram (d/o Anthonan
Siriwardena de Saram & Johana Dias), Maria died before 1746
(3126)(Maria is a sister of Leander de Saram)
3 Geertrujda Pieris b1731-d1737
3 Jacoba Pieris b1728-d1737
3 Deraniyagalage Cornelis Pieris
Samaranayake Siriwardena Basnayake Arachchi b1732 (M1)+ Dona Magdalena of Wolfendhal
4 Deraniyagalage Isaak Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena Mohandiram
Ralahamy b:17 Apr 1763 + Louisa de Saram Lama Etini m:3 Jun 1804. (3126)(d of Leander de Saram)
5 Jacoba Carlena Pieris
5 Johannes Pieris
5 Deraniyagalage Jacovis Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena + Fredricka de Saram, m:28 July 1841 (3126)
6 Jacoba Pieris
Samarasinghe Siriwardena+George Welikala(m1865)
7 Don Edward Welikala +
Mary Perera Samarasinghe
(She may be Deraniyagala Maria Pieris
Samaranayake Siriwardena Hamine mentioned in the Ambagahawatte deed.She may be
the daughter of Deraniyagalage Daniel Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena, Daniel
was married to Ilana de Saram..There is evidence of Mary Perera
Samaranayake,Edward Welikala and Ilena de Saram leasing a land in 1904.
Subsequently these Ambagahawatte lands were purchased by Peter de Saram
Weerasinghe Siriwardena of Udaha Walauwwa in Galkissa.Later Peter de Saram gave
the Ambagahawatte property to Thomas de Saram and Eugine de Saram,his children.)
6 Deraniyagalage Sophiya Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena + Don Baron
Martinus Rupasinghe (m1871)
7 Henry Foster Rupasinghe (b1893)+ Sumana Munasinghe
8 Hugh Fred
Rupasinghe + Etinne Dias
Bandaranaike
9 Harsha Rupasinghe
6 Deraniyagalage Richard Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena +
Apolonia Ranasinghe.
7 Deraniyagalage Louis Edwin Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena
+Engeltina Perera Rupasinghe
8 Deraniyagalage Basil Ivor Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena (DBIPS)(Civil
Servant)(SLAS)(1984-Secretary of the Ministry of Public
Administration.)(Awarded Deshamanya in 1994)(STC) + Eileen Wickremasinghe
(Principal Visakha Vidyalaya 1983-87) b1929 d2016
9 Udaya Siriwardena
9 Aruna Siriwardena b:1960 STC Mt. Lavinia +Shivani Pothuhera
10 Birendra Siriwardena
10 Serika Siriwardena
9 Cyrene Siriwardena + Paul Steele
10 Sumaya Steele
10 Pravin Steele
7 Deraniyagalage Henry Walter
Pieris
3 Deraniyagalage Cornelis
Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena Basnayake Arachchi b1732(M2) +Dona Ana de Saram
(M1768)
4 Lewis Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena
+Johanna de Saram (d of Velun de Saram)
5 Deraniyagalage
Daniel Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena +Elena de Saram
6 Deraniyagalage
Maria Pieris Samaranayake Siriwardena
4 Christina Pieris b1770
4 Plantina Pieris b1773
4 Johanna Pieris b1785
3 Deraniyagalage Welhelmus Pieris
Samarasinghe Siriwardena (Mohandiram) born
17/9/1730 died 24/8/1816 + (m:26/8/1756 at Mapitigama) Maria de Livera
Wirekon d13/6/1812(daughter of Jacabous de Livera Wirekon
+Phillipa m1737)
4 Jacobus Antonius Samarawira Pieris Mohandiram bp:11/9/1766 (died
1/6/1816) + Ana Jacaba de Silva, d/o Simon de Silva Maha
Mudaliyar
5 Welhelmus Nicholas Pieris Siriwardena Mohandiram of the Governor's
Gate(of Kelaniya)(b13/2/1789)
bp 25/11/1792, d:10/3/1862(expired after suffering a very long time from a
cough.) + Johanna Agnetha de Silva (d/o Bernedt de Silva Seneviratne Mohandiram and Catherina de
Saram(b21/1/1788), and Grand
daughter of Louis de Saram) (3126)
6 Johanna
Fredricka Pieris + Nicholas de Siva Goonathileke Samaranayake(m1866)
6 Julias
Pieris+Louisa de Saram
6 Henry Richard
Pieris + Catherine de Silva
7 Rosalind
Pieris + Charles Edwin Samarakkody.b1881(Proctor-later Judge)
8 Dottie
Samarakkody
8 Malcolm Samarakkody.+ Daisy
Kobbekaduwa
8 Hinton
Samarakkody.
7 Stewart
Pieris
7 Valentine
Pieris
7 Baron Pieris
6 Edwin Abert
Pieris+Susana de Alwis
7 Johanna
Fredricka Pieris + Charles Henry Samarakkody.(Mudaliyar Pasdun Korale)
(they had 11
children.)(see Samarakkody family
tree)(m1909approx)
7 Rowland
Pieris
7 Henry Pieris
7 George Pieris
7 Julian Pieris
+ Eliza de Silva
6 James Pieris
b1833
6 Cornelia Pieris
b1845-1863
4 Isaac Renaldus Siriwardena bp:29/1/1770.
4 Elizebeth Pieris Siriwardene bp:19/8/1763 + Don
Hendrick Dias Bandaranaike Mohandiram of Siyane Korale(became Mohandiram 5/6/1794) (1001)
4 Johan Louis Samarasinghe Siriwardena Pieris Mudaliyar Siyane
Korale
(Mace bearer of the Supreme Court)b1773 d17/6/1857 + m:6/6/1805 Johanna
Corneliya Perera Gunerwardena(Canahara
Mudiyanselage Cornelia), b:7 Apr 1784,d29/3/1862 (d/o Abraham Perera
Abeyesekere Gunerwardena Koeroewe
Mudaliyar and Maria Samarakoon)(her ancestor Canahara Mudiyanse the commander
in Chief of Sithavaka Rajasinghe in the siege of Colombo held by the
Portuguese)
5 Johanna Gertruda Pieris(b 8/7/1806)
+David de Alwis Goonesekara Seneviratne(Mudaliyar of Bolgoda)
6 Charles Abraham Seneviratne
b1832
6 Jane Gertruda
Seneviratne b1833
6 Johanna
Seneviratne b1835
5 Johan Godfred
Cornelis Pieris Samarawira Siriwardena(b16/3/1808-15/5/1887)(Mohandiram of Attepattoo)
+Caroline Perera.(d of Johan Louis Perera)(m1834-no issue)
5 Johannes Adrian
Peter Pieris Samarasinghe Siriwardena Mohandiram of the Gate
(19/4/1811-21/10/1877)+Eliza Perera(m1847)(d of Johan Louis Perera)
5 Thaachi Nona
5 John Martinus Pieris Siriwardena,(Jan 1856 Appointed asst.District officer Kandy Road,Jan 1858
Superintendent Officer Nelundeniya,1865 District officer.) b:circa 1815 d
22/9/1894 + (m1)Johanna Louisa Dias Bandaranaike,
b:12/12/1820, m:1851,d1860, d/o of Don Johannes Dias
Bandaranaike and Fredricka de Saram, grand daughter of Don
Conrad Peter Dias Bandaranaike (1001)
6 Vincent
Pieris b 22/4/1855
6 Catharine
Pieris b1856 approx
6 Rosmand
Pieris b1858 approx
6 John Louis
Pieris Siriwardena (see pic below)
b 1852 (educated at Royal College, Colombo) + Florence Elisa
Bandaranaike born approx 1865, m:1895 (daughter of Conrad Peter
Dias Bandaranaike b:1827) (1001) (ref: 20th Century impressions of Ceylon by
Arnold Wright)
7 Louis Alexander Pieris +Dulci
Dias Bandaranaike.
8
(children-John,Louis,Conrad,Edward,Margret & Gladys)
7 Conrad
Peter Pieris (died in motor accident)
7 Arthur William Pieris
7 Soloman Franciscus Pieris + Brenda Gunasinghe
8
(children-Florence Rachel,Christine,Evon.)
7 Ethel
Aexander Pieris (1895-1930)+ Lionel Welliington de Saram (See de Saram family tree)
7 Diana Margret de Saram (m1940)+ Edmund de
Livera
8
Hazel de Livera +Jeramyn Fernando
7 Ruth
Pieris
7 Rachel
Eliza Pieris b1903 + Charles Edward Hartnoll de Saram m1928
5 John Martinus Pieris
Siriwardena b1815 approx +(m2)Susan Elizabeth Dias Bandaranaike.
(d of Udugaha Salmon Dias Bandaranaike Mudaliyar )m approx 1860
6 Henry Ashmore Pieris Siriwardena(Mudaliyar Hewagam Korale) (eldest son) b:14/10/1861(BP19/2/1862) (m1900)
+ Eliza Harriot Dassenaike (d of Henricus Lucius Dassenaike-Mudaliyar b approx
1830)
7 Henry Ashmore Pieris (b13/9/1903)(Stc
cricket-1923)+ Corneliya Obeyesekere (eldest daughter of Donald Obeyesekere and
Ethel Perera.)m 1934
8 Sita Cornelia Pieris +Cecil Perera (son of Mudaliyar Eric Perera)
8 Wimala Nalini Pieris +
DrChitranjan Amarasinghe
9 Felix Amarasinghe
9 Nilanthi Amarasinghe
8 Hemal Ashmore Pieris + Kanthi Weerasinghe
9 Asoka Pieris
9 Duminda Pieris
8 Henry Sri Mevan Pieris b:1946
(Bsc,Msc,MBA,FPRI(uk)(cricketer STC-1964/65 & Sri Lanka)(see article
below) + Dr Nirmala Gunathilake
9 Dilani Pieris (St Bridgets)
(AMW)+ Hiran Yatawaka
10
Amithra Yatawaka
10 Kiyana Yatawaka
10 Jaanya Yatawaka
9 Nilanka Pieris (Stc cricket captain-1995)+ Dilushi Wickremasinghe
10
Dineth Pieris
10
Nireka Pieris
7 Louis Augustus Paules Pieris b11/1/1905 + Amelia Obeyesekere (1915-2004)(daughter of Donald
Obeyesekere and Ethel Perera.)
8
Amelia Rajini Pieris + Neil Dias Bandaranaike
9
Ayendra Dias Bandaranaike
9 Priyanthi Dias Bandaranaike
8
Chrisanthi Vajirawathi Pieris d9/2/2016
8
Louis Henry Ravindra Pieris + Amari Jayawardena
8
Eliza Surani Pieris +Chittranjan Elangasekera
9
Shehara Elangasekera
9
Shanuka Elangasekera
9
Shalini Elangasekera
8
Savithri Padmini Pieris +Dr Raja Amarasekera
9 Rajindra Amarasekera
+Gowri
10 Johnmark Amarasekera
10 Shania Amarasekere
9
Sherina Amarasekera
9
Sharmini Amarasekera
7 Eliza
Irene Augusta Pieris b 8/9/1901 + Eric Perera.
6 Dr William Christoffel Pieris Siriwardena, b:1867, lived at
40,Silversmith Street Colombo. Educated at STC and later at Marischal College
Aberdeen. He became a Senior medalist in Pathalogy and Bacteriology. He
graduated in MBCM. He was a visiting Physician of General Hospital. Lecturer in
clinical medicine at Medical College. District Medical Officer Haputale.Later
Judical Medical Officer (see pic below) + Ethel Obeyesekere, (b:1885, d:1930), m:1915 (3051)(daughter of S.C
Obeyesekere of Talpe Walauwa Galle.)
7 William
Ian Pieris b1905 + Anula Dias Abeysinghe
8 Susil
Pieris
8
Malkanthi Pieris + J.R Maurice Perera (former high court judge)
9 Asoka
Perera
9 Asanga
Perera
8 Priyanga
Pieris + Eranga (famous singing duo)
9 Dinuka
Pieris (son)
7 Iranganie
Pieris b1908
7 James
Pieris b1910
6 Rosalyn Florence Pieris Siriwardena +John Gunerwardena M1890
6 Susan Elizebeth Pieris Siriwardena +Harry Willisford Dias Bandaranaike b1861(Henry) m1893 -no issue.
6 Lydia Augusta Pieris Siriwardena
b 18/1/1863 (unmarried)
6 Euginia Felicia Pieris Siriwardena +Edwin Vernon Gooneratne m1898 Mudaliyar
6 Deraniyagala Sir Paul Edward Pieris
Samarasinghe Siriwardhana, b:16/2/1874-d:1955, educated at STC Mount
Lavinia.Writer of Sinhala books and Historian, Received University scholarship
in 1891. Wrote the book Sinhalese families which was published in 1911. BA
Trinity College Cambridge. LLM and Litt D(Cantab).Barrister of Inner Temple
1895.Ceylon Civil Service 1896-1935.Trade Commissioner for Ceylon in England.
Organiser of National day movement in 1913, 1903 District Judge Matara,1905
District Judge Kegalle,later District Judge Kalutara. + Lady Hilda Obeyesekere m:1905 (3051)
(d of JP Obeyesekere)
Sir Paul Pieris was president of the Royal Asiatic Society of Ceylon
1932-1934
He was awarded Knight Bachelor in the queen's birthday Honours 1955.
7 Paules Edward Pieris Deraniyagala b;8 May 1900 - d:1976,(STC), Director National Museum of Ceylon 1939-1963, Dean Faculty of Arts
Vidyodaya University 1961-64, Specialist on fossil and recent animals of
Indian Sub continent. Scientist, Zoologist + Prini Molamure (3117)
8 Isanth Deraniyagala
8 Arjun Paulus Mayadunne Deraniyagala + Miriam
9 Yvani Deraniyagala
9 Chandrup Deraniyagala
8 Dr. Siran Upendra
Deraniyagala, b:1942,(STC)
Ekneligoda Walauwa, Kuruvita, Director General Dept of Archaeology, MA Cambridge University, Post Graduate Diploma
in Archaeology, Phd Harvard University.
8 Ranil Yudisthira Deraniyagala
+ (foreign lady)
9 Deraniyagala
(son)
7 Justin Pieris Deraniyagala (Artist)(b20/7/1903-d24/5/1967)
In
1922 entered Trinity College Cambridge-BA Laws.1926/27-State School of Arts UK.
(Greatest
Sri Lankan painter of the 20th century.)
7 Ralph St. L P Deraniyagala (Lawyer)(Civil Servant &Clerk of
the house of Repesentatives of SL)+ Ezlynne
Amelia Obeyesekere (3051)(1st Woman
Barrister)
8 Ralph Deraniyagala (Bando) + Indrani Nugara
9 Arubind
Deraniyagala
8 Nigel
7 Miriam
Cornelia Hilda Pieris Deraniyagala b
14/7/1908-1999 (see article below) + F Robert de Saram (s/o F R de Saram) (3126)
8 Skanda Ajith de Saram + Sharadha
Manorama Muthu Krishna (7010)
8 Rohan de Saram (Cello)(see article below) + Rosemary de Saram
9 Sophia de Saram
9 Suren de Saram
8 Druvi de Saram (Piano) + Sharmini de Fonseka
9 Mandhira de Saram
9 Radhika de Saram
8 Niloo de Saram + Desmond Fernando
9 Jeevani Fernando
8 2nd spouse of Niloo de Saram + Jehan Edwards
6 David George Pieris Deraniyagala b 3/7/1868 Gate Mohandiram + Enid
Muriel De Saa Bandaranaike (1001)(daughter of
Thomas Fredrick de Saa Bandaranaike)
7 Sumana Pieris b1915
+Merril Amarasekara m1950
7 Mallika Eileen Pieris b1931 +Earl Dassenaike m1931
7 Indrani Pieris b1909+ Ronald Doyne de Alwis Seneviratne (m:1936), (1906-2001), (STC)
(Director Medical Reserch Institute,Dy Director of Health)
8 Ranjith Seneviratne
8 Manil Seneviratne + Tennakoon
9 Anushia Tennakoon + Devaka Cooray
10 Devin Cooray
10 Janek Cooray
7 David Merrick Pieris- unmarried
7 Chandra Muriel Pieris Deraniyagala,b1921, d
2008 + James Godwin Vaughn de Livera 1915-2003 (3109)(Stc)(Communication officer
Civil Aviation,Served in the 2hd world war.)
8 Anil Gayan de
Livera.(b1954-d1982 (unmarried)
8 Yasmin de Livera (Aus) + Ramesh Abayasekara
9 Jehan Abayasekara + Ishini Jayamaha
9 Yohan Abayasekara
2 2nd spouse of Louis Pieris
Samarasinghe Siriwardena, b:1680 + Dona
Natalia, m:27/3/1746 -no issue
1 Deringellege Joan (John?) Fernando
2 son
3 Abraham
Pieris, a proponent in the Dutch Reformed Church
Other relatives of Pieris Deraniyagala
family tree
*Ethel Pieris b1885 d1930 married Lionel Wellinton
de Saram.*Johan Godfred Cornelis Pieris Samaraweera Siriwardena Mohandiram of
Atapattu b16/3/1808 d:15/5/1887 married Caroline Perera on 18/6/1834. *Johannes
Adrian Peter Pieris Samarasinghe Siriwardena Mohandiram b19/4/1811 d 21/10/1877
married Eliza Perera on 21/10/1847.
References:
Sinhalese families book by Paul Edward Pieris(1911)
Chieftains of Ceylon (1936)
Internet
20th Century Impressions of Ceylon by
Arnold Wright.
Relative Merits
Data obtained from the Deraniyagala family tree charts prepared by Harsha Rupasinghe & Udaya Siriwardene.
Contributions from Siran Deranyagala
Prepared by :
Mr Manjula
de Livera
Email-manjulafamily@yahoo.com.au
manjuladelivera@yahoo.com.au
Last Updated: 26th March 2016.
PEP Deraniyagala (Children of Miriam Pieris
& Robert de Saram)
Justin Edward
Deraniyagala
Justin
Deraniyagala
Sir Paul E Pieris
Dr Siran Deraniyagala
Dr Sonali Deraniyagala
Chandra de Livera nee Pieris
Mevan Pieris Rohan de Saram Ralph L.P.Deraniyagala Johanna Pieris & Henry Samarakkody
Ashmore Pieris,Mevan Pieris Ashmore Pieris b1903
Nilanka Pieris (3 Thomian
cricketers of 3 generations.)
Thombu Index-Dept
of Archives
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Evening Standard
(London), Jan 11, 2005 by LECH MINTOWT-CZYZ
A LONDON academic
lost her entire family to the Asian tsunami, it emerged today.
Dr
Sonali Deraniyagala, 40, on holiday in
Sri Lanka, saw the giant wave wash away the car her husband-and two sons were
sitting in.
In an instant of
appalling tragedy for the economics lecturer, both her parents were taken by
the water at the same moment.
The bodies of Dr
Deraniyagala's parents, Gemini and Edward Deraniyagala, and her elder son
Vikram, seven, have been found but she does not know whether the remains of
five-year-old Nikhil will ever be recovered.
The body of her
40-year-old husband, fellow academic Dr Steve Lissenburgh, has also still to be
found. In desperation Dr Deraniyagala, a lecturer at the University of London's
School of Oriental and African Studies placed an advertisement in a Sri Lankan
newspaper appealing for information about her family but she has yet to receive
any news.
The heartrending
advertisement included a photograph of Nikhil and said: "Last seen at Yala
Safari Hotel on 26 December 2004. Nikhil is five years old and three and a half
feet tall with black hair and black eyes. He may be dazed and confused and
unable to express himself. He cannot speak in Sinahala or Tamil. He can respond
only in English." The family had been making their usual Christmas trip to
visit Dr Deraniyagala's mother and father in Colombo when tragedy struck.
The family were
staying at the Yala Safari Game Lodge, a coastal wildlife reserve, and had
stopped off in their four-by-four. It is understood Dr Lissenburgh and the two
children were still in the vehicle and were carried away.
Dr Deraniyagala,
who is thought to have got out, was also swept up by the force of the water and
survived-despite being carried several miles inland by the torrent. It is not
known where her parents were at the time of the disaster.
Dr Deraniyagala's
uncle Ken Balendra, who lives in Sri Lanka, said: "With the time that has
now passed we do not think there is much more that can be done. We have given
up hope of seeing them again.
"The tragedy
is so heavy we can barely bring ourselves to speak about it. My niece cannot
speak about it at all.
"She has not
even been able to tell us exactly what happened. Really all we know is that
they were all in the reserve and the water just took them all away with it. We
do not know how, but she managed to escape without serious injury. But she is
severely traumatised."
More than 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka by
the Boxing Day tsunami.
Today friends and colleagues of Dr Lissenburgh, 40,
a senior researcher at the Policy Studies Institute who focused on the social
aspects of economics, paid tribute to a man who "inspired affection and
admiration in all who knew him".
His colleague of 10 years, Dr Michael White, said
he was driven by a desire to make a difference to the world's disadvantaged
communities. "He did make that difference. With more time, he would have
made a great difference," he said.
"He loved Sri Lanka and when he came back he
loved to talk about the good times he had there. He had a big capacity for
enjoyment.
Surely he was happy there in his last days and
hours."
A colleague of Dr Deraniyagala at London University
said: " Everyone who has learned of the dreadful tragedy is united in
their grief and support for Sonali. She is a highly esteemed popular member of
the department of economics."
. Donor countries are urged today to guarantee that
money promised to tsunami victims would not be diverted from other world
disaster funds.
Oxfam echoed pleas from United Nations
secretary-general Kofi Annan that the billions of dollars pledged to help the
stricken region's recovery was "new money".
LATEST DEATH TOLL
Death tolls by country:
Indonesia: 105,522
Sri Lanka: 30,721
India: 10,136
Thailand: 5,291
Somalia: 298
Myanmar: 90
Maldives: 82
Malaysia: 68
Tanzania: 10
Bangladesh: 2
Kenya: 1
MORE than 450
Britons are now believed to have died in the Asian tsunami.
Tony Blair told the
Commons that 51 Britons had been confirmed dead, and the total confirmed or
presumed to have died had risen to 453, up 10 from last week.
Mr Blair said the
number of Britons unaccounted for but not presumed to have died was 871.
Some of those
unaccounted for may have been trekking in remote regions in Asia and have simply
not contacted relatives. But the Prime Minister said the figure "may never
fall to zero".
At least 152,221
people have been reported dead around southern Asia and as far away as Somalia
on Africa's eastern coast following the earthquake and tsunami on Boxing Day.
Miriam de Saram:
Not a mere wanderer
By Peter Burleigh -
Sunday Times June 13, 1999
In the fall of 1968 there was a late south-western monsoon. It might
have been late August. Whenever it was, reflecting an enthusiasm for ocean
swimming and a naivete about its dangers at that time of year, I had gone to
the beach just north of the Mount Lavinia Hotel as I often did during that
initial time of my assignment in Ceylon. Despite the grey and cloudy sky, the
thunderous waves, and a major undertow, I nevertheless plunged in foolishly
alone in the stretch of beach, which is now seldom unpopulated.
I swam for half an hour or so, testing my skills
and unconsciously, in retrospect, challenging the monsoonal sea. Resting on the
beach in exhaustion and exhilaration, staring out to sea, I noticed to my
surprise and curiosity another swimmer. He was doing what I had done, but with
more skill and familiarity, and, I learned later, awareness of the danger.
The other swimmer was Skanda de Saram. After he
emerged from the sea, we chatted and relaxed and, after a time, Skanda invited
me home to meet his family. (Skanda's extended family, like so many in Sri
Lanka, is a story in itself). But that first day of our acquaintance, only his
mother was home. What a mother! Miriam (Pieris/Deraniyagala) de Saram who died
March 13, 1999 at the age of 91, became an intellectual and social focal point
for me, a young diplomat on a first assignment in an alien and exotic place.
Unconventional, controversial, independent minded, erratic, talented, and
tough-minded, Miriam de Saram had since childhood been a rebel. Daughter of Sir
Paul E. Pieris (Deraniyagala), the historian and author as well as Ceylon's
first Trade Commissioner in London, Miriam demonstrated her grit and
determination when she insisted on becoming the first Ceylonese woman to study,
master, and perform publicly, both Kandyan and South Indian dancing. (She
appeared as an "exotic, oriental" dancer in Alexander Korda's famous
film, "The Drum", starring Raymond Massey, Valerie Hobson and Sabu in
1937. When marriage outside the tightly delineated universe of family consent
and approval was unthinkable, headstrong Miriam secretly married a handsome,
tennis-playing lawyer, Robert De Saram. Essentially, though not permanently,
outcast by her family for such a marriage (which occurred in London, when her
father was Trade Commissioner), Miriam was unbendable; determined to make her
own choices regardless of the consequences. The marriage produced Rohan,
Skanda, Druvi and Niloo.
From day one of our acquaintance, something special
transpired between Miriam and me. Miriam had studied deeply in both Hindu and
Buddhist thought. Born and dying a Church of England Protestant, Miriam de
Saram nevertheless pursued psychological and religious enlightenment - whatever
its source and wherever it led. Thus, for me, she was a fascinating source of
insights, adventures, and wisdom. She had studied with a Hindu saint in Jaffna,
with Buddhist scholars around the island; she had travelled to India in search
of knowledge into the multiple religious and spiritual disciplines there.
(Readers will excuse me if I note that such searches were not for
magico-religious gurus so popular now in Sri Lanka and India; they were for
religious adepts who themselves were searching, reflective of the long history
of Indian, including Buddhist, religious thought). When Miriam discovered I was
interested in such issues, she shared with, and challenged me to open up to
possibilities of self-knowledge and enlightenment, which flow from these Indian
traditions.
She took delight in introducing me, through the
culinary virtuosity of her longtime cook, William, to traditional Sinhalese cuisine.
Whether string hoppers, hoppers, or rice, every
conceivable sambol, mouthscalding crab, cuttlefish, or lobster curries, fish
balls and cutlets and curries, incredible vegetable dishes from vegetables I
had never heard of, let alone tasted (snakegourd and ma-karal come to mind),
ambul thiyal, coconut-laced lentils and other parippu dishes - what an
introduction! And jaggery/hakkuru sweets; with curd for dessert.
Miriam also liked in drink, as I do. She introduced
me to milk-wine, to shandies, even to scotch!
We would sit on the veranda of her then home at 61,
Ward Place, sipping whatever, and talking for hours about Ceylon, its history,
its politics (my job as third secretary at the U.S. Embassy at the time), its
sociology, but, most all, its religious thought, as refracted through colonial
religions, and indigenous traditions. I learned of Kataragama, of Adam's Peak,
of caste distinctions among the Buddhist nikayas, of Carnatic music to be heard
during the Vel festival at the devales on Galle Road; of Dutch Reformed
cemeteries in Hulftsdorf where some family ancestors lay buried. It went on and
on, reflecting both the rich religious diversity of Sri Lanka and the
extraordinary depths to which Miriam had studied and learned.
Miriam also combined her interest and knowledge of
things Indian with a profound understanding of Western culture, including
classical music and literature. She forced all her children to pursue Western
music. As a result, both sons, Rohan and Druvi are professional musicians in the
UK. Rohan, in particular, was considered a prodigy as a cellist, and Miriam
accompanied him throughout Europe to study and play with the masters, including
Pablo Casals. A single mother, as we Americans would say now, Miriam was both a
demanding tyrant and a challenging intellect with her children. She insisted on
excellence and would accept nothing less.
She also, unusually for a woman of her social
background, personally managed inherited coconut estates, part of the huge
legacy of the Bandaranaike-Obeyesekere family in and around Horagolla. A
determined, sometimes dangerous, driver of an antiquated Volkswagen beetle in
the late 60s, for which no spare parts were legally available during those
years of draconian import restrictions, Miriam drove at top speeds between Ward
Place and the estates. She reviewed accounts with a hawk eye and terrified
estate workers what she thought, often rightly apparently, of theft beyond the
norm.
I departed Ceylon in August l970, just prior to the
first JVP insurgency, but kept up a lifelong correspondence with Miriam de
Saram. Whether I was in Washington, or Calcutta, or Kathmandu, or Bahrain, the
arrival of occasional aerograms with her spidery, densely knit handwriting
brought a wave of excitement and anticipation - and never disappointment.
I made a few drop-by visits to Sri Lanka during the
next 25 years and always had at least a brief call on Miriam. She was one of
those amazing people — with whom one could conflate years and catchup
immediately. And she almost always had a new intellectual enthusiasm she was
pursuing with characteristic relentlessness and childlike wonder.
When I returned to Colombo as U.S. Ambassador in
January 1996, Miriam was one of my first calls. Sadly, by then, she was
resident in the Joseph Fraser Nursing Home, frail, brittle-seeming, and
painfully thin. But, on nights out - whether at Skanda and his wife Sharadha's,
or with niece Sunethra Bandaranaike, or at my residence on Horton Place, she
never failed to demonstrate her dazzling intellectual skills and her humour.
She could tell stories on herself - and mercilessly on the rest of us - and
laugh at a high and joyous pitch. She was at that stage in life when she liked
to reminisce over her life and adventures - and moments shared with special people.
Sharadha and I organized a viewing of her famous film one night and, on
another, her grandchildren, Tesalia and Ishviyan, gave a beautiful classical
recital. Miriam was delighted and overwhelmed.
Living now in Manhattan where I am the US.
Ambassador to the United Nations, I was awakened in the early morning hours of
March 13 with a call from Sharadha saying that Miriam had passed away. A fax
arrived hours later with details of the simple funeral ceremony. A week later a
long e-mail from Skanda arrived, describing Miriam's last days.
Among many other accomplishments, Miriam de Saram
was a prolific writer of poetry. Her early poems, organized and published
privately by Skanda in the early '9Os, provided, focused and distilled images
of Miriam's religious and philosophical searches. My favourite:
The Wanderer
I am a wanderer
In strange entanglements of opposites
Caught together
In a circus of confusion
Yet -
They appear to adjust themselves
To this environment for their existence
Where do we seek an answer?
I think it is - to look within
A constant Remembrance
In silence - calm
To look within
The writer is a former US ambassador to Colombo.
Rohan de Saram (Cello)
BIOGRAPHY
http://www.sound-scotland.co.uk/site/artists2006/bio_RohanDeSaram.htm
27 October - 28 November 2007
ROHAN DE SARAM
In November 2005 Rohan bid farewell to the Arditti
Quartet in order to pursue his own artistic vision. He now works with other
artists, friends and composers around the world, bringing together music from
different musical periods and different parts of the world, both eastern &
western, classical and contemporary, composed music and improvisations, with
players from many musical backgrounds.
Although he has been more recently known as an
outstanding performer of contemporary music, it was as a classical artist that
he made his name as a teenager and in his twenties and thirties. Having studied
cello from the age of 11 with Gaspar Cassado in Siena and Florence, he was
awarded, at the age of 17, the coveted Suggia award to study in the UK with
John Barbirolli and in Puerto Rico with Pablo Casals. At the invitation of
Dmitri Mitropoulos, who described him in 1957 as "a rare genius... .a born
musician... an amazing...cellist", Rohan was invited to give his Carnegie
Hall debut in 1960 with the New York Philharmonic, playing Khatchaturian’s
Cello Concerto under the baton of Stanislaw Skrowaczewski.
Rohan has performed with the major orchestras of
Europe, USA and the former Soviet Union with conductors such as John
Barbirolli, Adrian Boult, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa and William Steinberg, as
well as with composers conducting their own works such as Luciano Berio. After
the UK premiere of Il Ritorno degli Snovidenia for cello and orchestra Berio said
of him: "Your performance of Ritorno is splendid, but besides Ritorno,
your sound, your perfect intonation, your phrasing and bowing technique, make
you a great performer of any music." As a result Berio wrote for him his
final Sequenza, no XIV, for solo cello which, as a tribute to Rohan, includes
large sections based on the rhythms of the Kandyan drum of Sri Lanka, an
instrument which Rohan himself has played since his childhood in Sri Lanka.
Rohan has worked with Kodaly, Shostakovich, Poulenc
and Walton, as well as more recently with many leading contemporary composers
such as Pousseur, Xenakis and Berio who have, amongst others, written works for
him. Some of his recordings include Vivaldi's Sonatas, Rubbra's Soliloquy for
cello and orchestra, Britten's Cello Suites No 1-3, John Mayer's Ragamalas
& Prabhanda, Xenakis' Kottos and Carter's Figment I and II. Rohan's
recordings of Berio's Sequenza XIV awaits its release on Edition Zeitklang
(also including works by Xenakis, Carter, B. A. Zimmermann, Ruzicka, Gelhaar,
Pröve and Steinke) and on Mode (release April 2006). Upcoming recording
projects include Beethoven's Cello Sonatas and Feldman's Trio.
In December 2004 Rohan was awarded an honorary D.
Litt. from the University of Peradeniya , Sri Lanka. A year later, in December
2005 he received the Deshamaniya, a national honour of Sri Lanka, given by the
President of Sri Lanka.
Rohan's future engagements include solo recitals
and concertos as well as duos with piano and duos with guitar, trios with piano
and violin as well as improvisation concerts. His concerts in the immediate
future will take him to cities such as Stuttgart, Berlin, Edinburgh, London,
Turin, Rotterdam and Heidelberg. He will also be teaching and performing at
Darmstadt in the summer of 2006. The successful collaboration with trumpet
player Rajesh Mehta in the Innovative Music Meeting will also be continued.
Recent Reviews
Recent reviews include the following from The Strad
- of a recital at the Wigmore Hall, London on 17.10.99: "This recital
marked the 40th anniversary of the great cellist's debut... with a colossal
performance of the Kodály solo sonata which will stay with me as long as
I live. The interpretation went far beyond virtuosity into that exalted sphere
where only the most timeless music resonates…"
Of his performance of Dvorak's Cello Concerto at
St. John's Smith Square in May 2004: "This was not only a moving and
involving performance. It was the kind of thing one hears very seldom in our
pre-packaged, cling-film modern concert life. Here was a man, renowned for his
involvement with contemporary music, showing how well he comprehended every
aspect of a late Romantic masterpiece... in the finale... technique was used as
it should be, to aid understanding rather than to show off skill. The poignant
statement of the song towards the end... was one of those moments where the
clocks seem to stop. ... our rapt concentration was suspended by the merest
thread. Few soloists have the courage or the means to achieve this effect, or
the rhythmic control to make it work in context".
Thomian Mevan Pieris probably the most
learned cricketer
Island August 3, 2011, 12:00 pm
He was known as the ‘King of Swing’. Undoubtedly,
he is one of the most feared fast bowlers that Sri Lanka has produced. Added to
his cricketing prowess, he was also a brilliant academic.
I presume, in the field of Polymer Science, he is
one of the most qualified individuals. This talented Sri Lankan all-rounder,
holds a BSC, University of Ceylon Colombo, MSc and M.B.A. from the University
of Sri Jayawardenepura and FPRI (UK). Further, he holds a Masters Degrees in
Polymer Chemistry and Business Administration.
He is Henry Siri Mevan Pieris, popularly known as
Mevan Pieris.
Pieris
learned his basics as a schoolboy at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.
S. Thomas’ College produced highly distinguished
and productive citizens, including three Prime Ministers D. S., Dudley
Senanayake and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and well known historian, Sir Paul
Pieris academics, medical specialists, legal luminaries, accountants,
diplomats, financial wizards, educationalists, top cricketers, etc.
Pieris represented the S. Thomas’ College, First XI
under Premlal Gunasekera and Sarath Seneviratne in 1964 and 1965, respectively.
This right arm fast-bowler was a left-hand batsman. His best performance with
the bat was the dashing unbeaten 120 he made against Ananda, in only 85 minutes
at Mount Lavinia.
Pinnacle of schools Big Matches
For any Royal or Thomian cricketer, the greatest
achievement is to play in a Royal-Thomian encounter ‘The Battle of the Blues’,
and obtain colours.
Mevan Pieris had the distinction of playing in the
85th ‘Battle of the Blues’ as a fresher on 13th and 14th March 1964, at the
Colombo Oval. The Thomians were led by Premalal Gunasekera and the Royal
captain was J. D. Wilson.
The Thomians recorded an eight wicket victory. In
this match, Anura Tennekoon scored 78 and Sarath Seneviratne 96. Playing in his
first Royal-Thomian, Mevan Pieris bowled only five overs, with two maidens and
took 1 for 9 runs when he clean bowled H. N. De Silva for eight runs.
Victorious Thomian side
The victorious Thomian team consisted of L. S.
Perera, K. Boralessa, A. P. B. Tennakoon, P. N. W. Gunasekera (Capt), S. B.
Seneviratne (Vice Captain), S. Rajapakse, R. P. Samarasinghe, G. Balasingham,
B. D. Ried, L. Chelliah and H. S. M. Pieris.
On 12th and 13th March 1965, the Royal-Thomian
match was played at the Oval and H. S. M. Pieris (11-5-13-1) and (12-4-29-0),
opened the bowling with B. D. Ried (29-19-28-3) and (35-19-49-4). This was the
86th ‘Battle of the Blues’.
Played for Sri Lanka as an undergrad
Mevan Pieris, after a brilliant sports and academic
career at S. Thomas’, entered the Science Faculty of the University of Ceylon,
Colombo. He captained the University cricket team in 1970.
As an undergraduate, Pieris played for Sri Lanka
and accounted for MCC number three batsman Keith Fletcher, off the first ball
he faced.
In the first official Test between Sri Lanka and
England, Keith Fletcher captained England.
In the same year, University emerged Division I
league champions. He played against Madras (Chennai), captained by Sirinivasan
Venkataraghavan. The dashing left-hand batsman Mevan Pieris scored twin half
centuries and took 5 wickets for 55.
Mevan brings victory for SL
Going down memory lane, I can recollect this
thrilling match. Madras needed eight runs to win. Satwender Singh was 87.
Pieris dismissed Satwender Singh and thanks to this Sri Lanka won the match.
All hell broke loose. The spectators invaded the field, carried Mevan shoulder
high to the pavilion and showed their appreciation to this fine all rounder.
Leading wicket taker from 1970 to 1975
He represented Sri Lanka from 1970-1975 and became
the leading wicket taker, accounting for the dismissal of some of the world’s
finest batsmen, such as Sunil Gavaskar, Zaheer Abbas, Doug Walters, Greg
Chappell and Keith Fletcher. He took 6 for 33 against the Pakistan U-25 team,
captained by Wasim Raja, at the CCC.
University colours in three sports
While at university, Mevan was awarded colours in
tennis and hockey in addition to cricket. He was was awarded the prestigious
Leslie Handunge Trophy.
In inaugural World Cup team
Mevan Pieris had the proud distinction of representing
Sri Lanka in the first ever World Cup played in England in 1975. In Sri Lanka’s
first match, played at Old Trafford, Manchester, on 7 June 1975, against the
West Indies, Sri Lanka were dismissed for a paltry 86 and WI won by nine
wickets.
Dismissed Greg Chappell and Doug Walters
In the 1975 World Cup match against Australia, Sri
Lanka lost by 52 runs. This match was played at the Kensington Oval, London. As
one of the opening bowlers, Pieris bowled 11 overs, capturing two wickets, that
of Greg Chappell for 55, caught off his bowling. The catch was taken by Tony
Opatha. Then he dismissed Doug Walters. He was caught by Anura Tennakoon.
Walters scored 59 in 66 balls with five tours.
In the third World Cup match on 14 June 1975, at
Trent Bridge, Nottingham, against Pakistan, in reply Pakistan’s 330 for 6 in 60
overs, Mevan Pieris bowled nine overs, gave away 54 runs, without success. Sri
Lanka scored 138 runs in 50.1 overs and Pakistan won by 192 runs. In this
match, Pieris scored 16 runs with two boundaries.
King of swing
Cricket and academic pursuits were a passion for
this unassuming persona. He captained SSC and was a leading all-rounder. As an
in-swing bowler, he was almost always among the wickets, capturing six or more
wickets on many occasions. Because of his brilliant performance, he carried the
tag ‘Kings of Swing’. In 1977, he scored a marvelous 137 against Colts, at his
home grounds, at Maitland Place.
Radio commentator par excellences
Pieris is one of the leading English cricket commentators
in Sri Lanka. He commentates on the Royal-Thomian match regularly.
Unknown facts about Mevan
Mevan Pieris hails from the Pieris Deraniyagala
family of artists; foremost among them was Mevan’s uncle, Justin Pieris
Deraniyagala. Following in the footsteps of his uncle, he became a highly
talented artist. His canvas paintings and portraits are hung on the walls of
the Institute of Chemistry, at Rajagiriya.
Trained singer
He is also a trained singer and was a pupil of the
famous Spencer Sheppard.
Writer
Mevan Pieris is a prolific writer. He has written
many articles to journals and magazines on a wide range of subjects and at
present, he is writing a family history and the evolution of the family combine
to which he belongs. He hopes to launch this historical book next year (2012).
Further, he plans to write ‘His Cricketing Memoirs’. He is also writing another
technical book on rubber and plastic chemistry and technology.
Amazing academic and professional career
Mevan Pieris’s academic and professional careers
are amazing, like his distinguished cricket career. While he served at Arpico,
he sat for the Licentiateship Examination of the Institution of Rubber Industry
in the United Kingdom and was awarded the gold medal for Sri Lanka for the best
performance. Thereafter, he secured a Masters degree in Polymer Chemistry, at
the University of Sri Jayawardenepura and obtained a Merit degree in the Master
of Business Administration of the Post Graduate Institute of Management.
Visiting lecturer
In view of his academic excellence, wide knowledge
and experience, he is today probably the most highly acclaimed visiting
lecturer at several universities.
Leader in professional community
Pieris has been a leader in the professional
community. He is a former President of the Plastic and Rubber Institute and
also of the Institute of Chemistry, Sri Lanka. He has been honoured with
several top awards, distinguished service and achievement awards by
professional institutes.
Mevan is married to Dr. Nirmala Pieris, UNID,
Consultant. They are blessed with a son and daughter. Nilanka, following in the
footsteps of his illustrious father, played for the S. Thomas’ College First XI
and captained the team in 1995 while the daughter, Mrs. Dilani Yatawara is a
Chartered Accountant and the Group Finance Director of Associated Motorways.