Biog:
Mudaliyar;(2) Sri Lankan landowner
and philanthropist
- Who
Was Who 1941-50, p xxxvi (addendum)
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- ...The
Padikara Mudaliyar of Ceylon.... Received title and
gold sword from the British Government, 1913; visited
England in 1919; received in Private Audience by the
King... President of the Association of the Chiefs of
Ceylon (1921-28)... Address: Richmond Castle,
Ceylon.
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Date: 22
December 1919.
Occasion:
Visit to England... received in Private Audience by the King
Location:
The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London.
Descr:
TQL standing.
Costume:
Heavily encrusted gold embroidery, often on red velvet, is frequently
seen in Sri Lankan ceremonial dress. The splendid hat lying on the
table is of a type worn in Sri Lanka since the 17th or 18th century.
The ornate sword has a typically Sri Lankan hilt ending in a mythical
animal head.
Orders, Decorations
& Medals:
Gold plated brass pendant
with the following inscriptions:-
- (1)
' In token of the high esteem and regard for his
many acts of philanthropy and usefulness to the
general public of Ceylon this medal is presented
to Nanayakkarage Don Arthur Thomas Leo Silva Wijeysinghe
Siriwardana by his numerous friends and well-wishers
on the occasion of his investiture with the rank
of Mohandiram by his excellency Sir Henry Arthur
Mc Callum C.G.M.G. A.D.C.& c. Governor of
Ceylon on the 67th Anniversary of the Birthday
of His Majesty King- Emperor Edward VII. 9th November
1908.'
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- (2)
' Presented to N.D.A.Silva Wijeysinghe Siriwardena
Mohandiram by his friends and admirers among the
Kandyan chiefs as a mark of hearty appreciation
of the recognition by the Government of his manifold
acts of charity and benevolence.''
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Furniture
& Props:
Studio painted backdrop.
Photographer:
Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London.
Evidence
of photographer at work: -
No
of poses: 1.
Copyright:
V&A Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired
1989.
References:
Biog:
The Sunday Observer, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26 May 1996 ("Leisure"
section), pp 21, 25, article entitled 'Mansion now a big tourist
draw'; Who Was Who
Occasion:
Who Was Who
Costume:
Orders,
Decorations & Medals: Mr U Mapa, Public Trustee, Richmond
Castle Centre for Underprivileged Children, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
Reproduced:
-
Additional
Information: Visual identification by Mr U. Mapa
Acknowledgements:
(Costume) Rosemary Crill, Indian Department, V&A; (Inscription)
Mr U. Mapa.
1.
The Sunday Observer, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 26 May
1996 ("Leisure" section), pp 21, 25, article entitled
'Mansion now a big tourist draw'. This article, and the photograph
published on p 25 provided the identification for the negative,
originally labelled "Padikara-Mudaliyar". According
to the article, Don Arthur's hometown was Kalutara, in the western
province. The home he built, Richmond Castle, is now an education
centre for the underprivileged children of the Kalutara-Panadura
province. Don Arthur is referred to in the article as 'the Pakidara
Mudali'. "The British respected him so much that they conferred
on him the title of Mudaliyar [see footnote 2] and assigned
40 security guards to protect him."
2.
M.N.M. Kamil Asad, PhD, The Muslims of Sri Lanka under
the British Rule, Windsor Publications, Sri Lanka, 1996,
p 119n: "Native Official, Chief aide to the Governor of
the Colony under British rule and the highest rank in the hierarchy
of native officials." |
