King Dominicus Corea (Edirille Rala) | |
---|---|
Pretender | |
Born | 1565 Colombo |
Died | July 14, 1596 Colombo |
Title(s) | King of Kotte and Sitawaka |
Father | Don Jeronimo Corea (Mudaliyar Vikramasinha)(Commander-in-Chief of King Mayadunne's army) |
Mother | Anna Devi |
Spouse | Princess Subadra Devi, daughter of King Veediya Bandara, ruler of the Principality of the Seven Korales |
Dominicus Corea (Sinhalese family name Edirille Bandara) also known as Domingos Corea and Edirille Rala, was the son of Don Jeronimo Corea and Anna Corea. Don Jeronimo Corea was also known as Mudaliyar Vikramasinha, Commander-in-Chief of King Mayadunne's army. [1] Jeronimo Corea was executed by King Mayadunne's son, Rajasinghe. [2] Dominicus Corea was born in Colombo in 1565. At that time, the Portuguese had colonised Ceylon, and his parents converted to Catholicism.
Following the death of Don Jeronimo Corea, his two sons, Dominicus and Simon were sent to Colombo for safety – at the time King Dharmapala was reigning in the Kingdom of Kotte. Dominicus and Simon were baptised as Catholics and grew up with the young Prince Konappu Bandara – later on he reigned as King Vimala Dharma Suriya of the Kandyan kingdom. [3]
De Queyroz, the great Portuguese historian writing about Dominicus Corea noted that "he was able to read and write like a well bred man." Trained from boyhood warlike pursuits, he was skilled in arms, and was dreaded as being one of the most expert swordsmen in his time.
Dominicus Corea was crowned King of Kotte in 1596. He was given the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitawaka by King Vimala Dharma of Kandy around 1596. [4] John M. Senaveratna, in his book 'Great Sinhalese Men and Women of History' (Volume 3) wrote: 'He (King Vimala Dharma) according him (Dominicus Corea) the precedence of a King, and, in order to cement the friendship between the two, gave him a Royal Princess – Subadra Devi.' [5] (She was the daughter of sub-King Veediya Bandara, ruler of the Principality of the Seven Korales.)
Vimala Dharma made a proclamation throughout his capital, that on the following day would be celebrated the marriage and coronation of 'Edirimanne Suriya Bandara' – which was the name (It was his wife's family name) adopted by Corea for his investiture with Royal rank – and ordering that all the grandees of the kingdom should be present in gala dress. Edirimanne Suriya Bandara, the new-made King, wearing a crown of gold on his head, was then accommodated on the seat of the back of the middle elephant; while two influential chiefs – the oldest Mudaliyars of the (Kandyan) Court – rode each on an elephant by the side.' [6]
The 'Mahavamsa', the recorded chronicles of Sri Lankan history (starting from the 3rd century BCE), refers to Edirille Rala as a 'war hero.' The Mahavamsa recalls the meeting of Edirille Rala and Commander Veediya Bandara who led the armies of the Kandyan kingdom. Edirille Rala married his daughter when he was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka. According to the Mahavamsa, 'He (Veediya Bandara), went and stopped at the Seven Korale. By this time, the ruler there was a war hero. He was Edirimanne Suriya, better known as Edirille Rala. He had made Mudukondapala, a place close to Kurunegala, his capital city. When he saw Commander Veediya Bandara, he was delighted and welcomed him with all love and respect. He was well treated. Then both of them broke into conversation. Edirille Rala, just like Veediya Bandara, was an erstwhile enemy of the Portuguese. As such, this meeting of theirs was extra special. Both of them were enemies of the King of Sitawaka as well. This common feature was something to be happy about.' [7]
'Sabaragamuwe Vamsa Kathawa,' ('Sabaragamuwa – in Legend and History'), a book published by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, mentions Edirille Rala: 'Some of the very heroic and colourful figures in our history are sons of Sabaragamuwa – Parakramabahu I, born in Dedigama, the warrior King Rajasinghe I also known as Sitawaka Rajasingha, Edirille Rala born in Colombo and baptised Domingo Corea, who returned to the village of his ancestors Atulugama near Sitawaka and turned against the Portuguese.'. [8] In his lifetime he fought for all the contending forces of the period, often changing his allegiance. [9]
Corea rebelled against the Portuguese, and inflicted massive defeats between 1594 and 1596. Professor K. M. de Silva in his book 'A History of Sri Lanka,' writes about Edirille Rala's revolt against the Portuguese: 'From the beginning however, there was resistance to Portuguese mastery over Kotte. While Dharmapala was alive there were two major revolts, one led by Akaragama Appuhamy in 1594, and the other by Edirille rala in 1594–96.' [10] King Dominicus Corea was captured by the Portuguese and executed on July 14, 1596, at the age of 31 in Colombo.
"Such was the sad end of Domingos Corea, Edirimana Suriya Bandara, the greatest Sinhalese of his day," said Sri Lankan historian John M. Seneviratna. 'Great Warriors like Mayadunne, Veediya Bandara, Seethawaka Rajasinghe, Vimaladharmasuriya I, Senarath, Rajasinghe II, Nikapitiye Bandara and Edirille Rala who fought the Portuguese to preserve our territorial integrity and kept the Portuguese at bay despite all odds,' wrote Janaka Perera in the Asian Tribune. [11]
The Sri Lankan author Kumari Jayawardena, writing about the Coreas observed: 'Unconnected to the liquor trade but making their money on plantation ventures was the Corea Family of Chilaw, an influential goyigama group with a history going back to Portuguese rule when they were warriors to Sinhala kings. During Dutch and British rule, members of the family were officials serving the state in various ways and rewarded with titles. Some members of the family took to the legal and medical professions, most notably the sons of Charles Edward Corea (a solicitor), who were active in local politics and in the Chilaw Association which campaigned against British land policies – especially the Waste Lands Ordinance, and for political reforms. The most active of Corea's sons was C.E.(Charles Edgar) who spoke up for peasant rights and was militant in his stand against the government. He was President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1924. C.E.Corea's brother, Alfred Ernest, was a doctor and the youngest Victor Corea was a lawyer who achieved fame for leading a campaign (and going to jail) in 1922 to protest the Poll Tax on all males; he was the first President of the Ceylon Labour Union led by A.E.Goonesinha and was active in the Ceylon Labour Party. While being professionals and political activists, the Coreas were also important landowners. ' [12]
The descendants of Edirille Rala, King Dominicus Corea, still play leading roles in various professional fields in Sri Lanka and around the world. Among the notable contributions to society are ones made by Charles Edgar Corea and his brother Victor Corea [13] who were founder members of the Ceylon National Congress and the Legislative Council of Ceylon. C.E.Corea was elected President of the Ceylon National Congress in 1924. Both were distinguished freedom fighters and were prominent in the independence movement of Ceylon. James Alfred Ernest Corea, brother of C.E.Corea and Victor Corea, was born in 1870 – he joined the medical service in Ceylon. He was a clever doctor and what was unique about him was that he charged no fees from the poor for his services. [14] Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea was in charge of the rural police in Pitigal Korale. Sir Claude Corea was Ceylon's High Commissioner in the United Kingdom and was appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1948. He was elected President of the United Nations Security Council in May 1960 and was featured in Life Magazine . [15] His son Harindra Corea was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka in the 1990s and was also the member of parliament for Chilaw. [16] Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea was a distinguished parliamentarian, MP for Chilaw and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Ceylon from 1967 to 1970. [17]
J.C.A. Corea was the first Sri Lankan Principal of Royal College, Colombo. [18] Reverend Canon Ivan Corea was Rural Dean of Colombo and Chaplain to the Bishop of Colombo in the Church of Ceylon. [19] His sons went on to play significant roles in the media and in the Diplomatic Corps – Vernon Corea was a pioneer broadcaster with Radio Ceylon (SLBC) – he was appointed the Ethnic Minorities Advisor to the BBC in the late 1970s. [20] Ernest Corea, onetime Editor of the Daily News was appointed Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador to the United States in the 1980s. [21]
Dr. C.V.S.Corea was President of the Homeopathic Association of Ceylon. This association was inaugurated in 1951 by Dr C.V.S Corea whose efforts paved the way for the Homeopathy Act 1970 and the appointment of The Homeopathic Medical Council in Sri Lanka. [22] He was also a founder member of Ceylon Theatres in 1928. His son was the Sri Lankan Economist, Dr. Gamani Corea who was appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. [23] Another son, Dr.Vijaya Corea was Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in Colombo. [24]
Norman Corea, brother of C.V.S.Corea was a celebrated Sri Lankan musician and composer. His music was played at the first ever Serendipity Festival in London, UK in 2003. It was a presentation of Sri Lankan painting, installation, sculpture, mixed media work, poetry, dance and music in association with the October Gallery of Bloomsbury, London. [25] It was the first major exhibition of Sri Lankan art outside the shores of Sri Lanka, since the 43 group exhibited in London.
Charles Alfred Ernest Corea (Ernie) was a leading lawyer in Sri Lanka. [26] His son, Dr. Eugene Corea now heads the Edirimanne Corea Family Union in Colombo. Sri Sangabo Corea is a pioneering advertising guru, he 'discovered' Sri Lanka's 'King of Pop', Clarence Wijewardena and Sri Lankan star, Annesley Malewana. [27] Henri Corea was a Senior Superintendent of Police in Sri Lanka, his son Professor James Randunna Corea worked at the King Fahd Teaching Hospital in Dammam, where he trained orthopaedic surgeons. [28] Another son, Deva Corea, was also a Senior Superintendent of the Sri Lanka Police. The younger generation of the Corea Family are also playing their part in society across the world.
Mohandas K. Gandhi ( The 'Father of India' ) visited Ceylon in 1927 and stayed with the Corea Family in Chilaw. [29] Mohandas Gandhi stayed in a Corea home called 'Sigiriya,' on his only visit to Ceylon. According to an article in the 'Sunday Observer' in Sri Lanka: 'When Mahatma Gandhi came to Ceylon he visited Chilaw to attend a banquet that was hosted by the Coreas at "Sigiriya" the house that belonged to Victor Corea's sister and husband. Here, Mahatma Gandhi presented a colour poster under the headline Fighters for Swaraj that featured all the national heroes of India each in oval shaped bust size photographs to Victor Corea as his photograph too was included in the poster amongst the political giants of India. This alone was a glowing tribute to the campaign for freedom, initiated by Victor Corea that was somewhat similar to the campaign conducted in India. ' [30]
Hector Vernon Ivan Seneviratne Corea was a priest of the Church of Ceylon.
Rajasinghe I also known as the lion of Sitawaka was a king of Sitawaka, known for his patriotism and fight against the Portuguese invasion of Sri Lanka. Born as Tikiri Bandara to King Mayadunne, he received the name "Rajasinha" after the fierce Battle of Mulleriyawa.
The kingdom of Sitawaka was a kingdom located in south-central Sri Lanka. It emerged from the division of the kingdom of Kotte following the Spoiling of Vijayabahu in 1521. Over the course of the next seventy years it came to dominate much of the island. Sitawaka also offered fierce resistance to the Portuguese, who had arrived on the island in 1505. Despite its military successes, Sitawaka remained unstable, having to contend with repeated uprisings in its restive Kandyan territories, as well as a wide-ranging and often devastating conflict with the Portuguese. Sitawaka disintegrated soon after the death of its last king Rajasimha I in 1593.
Mayadunne was the founder and ruler of Sitawaka from 1521 to 1581. A fierce opponent of the Portuguese, he devoted his life to oust his father and brother Bhuvanekabahu VII, the king of Kotte in order to preserve the independence of the island, being undermined by Portuguese intrigue. He constantly invaded the territory of Bhuvanekabahu of Kotte.
The Vijayabā Kollaya took place in the Kingdom of Kotte in 1521. The three sons of the reigning king Vijayabahu VI mutinied against their father, killing him, and divided the Kingdom among themselves. The three sons were products of the king's first marriage and were named Bhuvanekabahu, Pararajasingha and Mayadunne. Queen Kiravella, whom the king married second, had a son named Deva Rajasinghe by her previous marriage. The princes overheard that the king intended to make Devaraja the heir to the throne, at the request of his second queen, and became hostile to the king, and hired a foreigner to murder the king in the palace.
Chilaw is a city in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is governed by an urban council, whereas the outskirts are governed by a pradeshiya sabha of the same name. The town is located 80 kilometers away from Colombo via Negombo.
Charles Edgar Corea (1866-1946) was a politician and a prominent freedom fighter of Sri Lanka.
The Kingdom of Kotte, named after its capital, Kotte, was a Sinhalese kingdom that flourished in Sri Lanka during the 15th century.
The Edirimanne Corea Family Union (ECFU) is a group set up to 'foster interaction' among the members of the powerful Corea family in the island of Sri Lanka. The Corea family is one of the leading families of Sri Lanka. They trace their ancestry to Dominicus Corea also known as Edirille Rala who was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka in Sri Lanka - Dominicus Corea was born in Colombo in 1565.
Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea was a Ceylonese colonial-era headman.
James Alfred Ernest Corea was a Sri Lankan public official. He was born in 1870. His father was Charles Edward Bandaranaike Corea who was a Proctor of the Supreme Court. His mother was Henrietta Seneviratne. J.A.E Corea's father died in 1872 when his youngest son Victor was just one. His wife Henrietta was a widow from the age of 21.
Charles Edward Bandaranaike Corea was a Sri Lankan lawyer.
Charles Edward Victor Seneviratne Corea was a Sri Lankan lawyer, legislator, politician, civil rights activist, and anti-colonial nationalist. As a lawyer, Corea was an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. As a politician, he was a founding member of the Ceylon National Congress, the Founding President of the Ceylon Labour Union, and an executive member of Ceylon Labour Party, all parties focused on promoting Sri Lankan independence amidst British colonial rule in Ceylon. He is widely credited for resisting the Poll Tax in Ceylon. Corea is a descendant of King Dominicus Corea of Kotte.
Charles Alfred Ernest Corea was a Sri Lankan lawyer. He was a Proctor of the Supreme Court. His father was Dr. James Alfred Ernest Corea, the prominent physician of Chilaw who was the brother of Sri Lankan freedom fighters Charles Edgar Corea and Victor Corea.
Srikumaradas Charles Shirley Corea was a Sri Lankan politician. He was the 9th Speaker of the Parliament and a Member of Parliament, representing Chilaw. He was a member of the United National Party of Sri Lanka.
Harindra Jayantha Corea was a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament, who represented Chilaw. He was member of the United National Party of Sri Lanka. His parents were Sir Claude Corea who was renowned politician and diplomat and Lady Karmini Corea. Sir Claude was Minister of Labour in the State Council of Ceylon led by DS Senanayake, and was appointed the first ever Representative of Ceylon to the UK and was also Ceylon's first Ambassador in the United States. Harindra Corea was the brother of Nihal Corea and Chandra Corea. The family home was situated in Alfred House Gardens in Colombo.
Mahatma Gandhi the 'Father of the Nation of India,' paid a historic visit to Ceylon in 1927. On his first and only visit to the island, he was invited to Chilaw by the famed freedom fighters of Sri Lanka, Charles Edgar Corea and his brother Victor Corea. In addition to Chilaw, Mahatma Gandhi had visited Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Badulla, Bandarawela, Hatton and Point Pedro during his three-week-long visit to Sri Lanka and made many speeches to Sri Lankan audiences. During his stay in Ceylon he also visited the schools established by the Buddhist Theosophical Society in Ceylon namely Ananda College in Colombo, Mahinda College in Galle and Dharmaraja College in Kandy.
Sinhalese–Portuguese conflicts refers to the series of armed engagements that took place from 1518 AD to 1658 AD in Sri Lanka between the native Sinhalese and Tamil kingdoms and the Portuguese Empire. It spanned from the Transitional to the Kandyan periods of Sri Lankan history. A combination of political and military moves gained the Portuguese control over most of the island, but their invasion of the final independent kingdom was a disaster, leading to a stalemate in the wider war and a truce from 1621. In 1638 the war restarted when the Dutch East India Company intervened in the conflict, initially as an ally of the Sinhalese against the Portuguese, but later as an enemy of both sides. The war concluded in 1658, with the Dutch in control of about half the island, the Kingdom of Kandy the other half, and the Portuguese expelled.
Veediya Bandara was the commander-in-chief of the Kingdom of Kotte, Sri Lanka, during the reign of Bhuvanaikabahu VII of Kotte (1521–1551). He was a gifted warrior and widely regarded as one of the greatest generals of Sri Lankan history. Well known for his prowess of warfare, he was the central figure of the Kotte army, in a series of relentless wars against King Mayadunne of Sitawaka and occasionally, against the Portuguese. Being impetuous by nature, he got himself involved in many scandals, including the murder of his wife, Samudra Deviya, the daughter of his king.
Kuruvita Rala was a Sri Lankan rebel leader and prince of Uva, who served as regent in the kingdom of Kandy. He was also a relation of Dona Catherina, Queen of Kandy and the guardian of her children.