Roots of the Bulankulame family
The Sri Maha Bodhiya was brought to Sri Lanka in 289 BC and the eight brothers of Queen Vedisa (During Emperor Daramsoka’s reign) who belonged to the Suriya-wansa, accompanied the sacred Bo-sapling, and the eldest of the said brothers was Suriyawansa Bodhigupta who was appointed as the Chief Trustee/Custodian of the sacred Bo-tree by King Dewanampiyatissa by conferring him the title Lakdiva Jayamaga Lenavo (vide Bodhiwansa 10th century AD page 233, and 242-245 edited by Kotagala Wachissara Thero and Kotagama Piyatissa Thero). The said Suriyawansa Bodhigupta was the 1st ancestor of Medduma Menike Kumarihamy Bulankulame's lineage (Ancestry) on our soil, and whereas the descendents of the said Suriyawansa Bodhigupta were from time to time (hereditarily) appointed as Chief of Nuwara Kalawiya in addition to the rights as custodians of the scared Bo-tree during the times of Sinhala Kings.
The chiefs were called by their title, Maha Vanni Uneha or Vanni Bandara of Nuwara Wanniya of Anuradhapura. The family had adopted the name Nuwarawewa Suriyakumara Wannisinghe by the time of King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1793 AD) and one among the family was appointed to the post of maha Vanniya upon a Copper Sannas. (vide Sri Lanka National Archives volume 41/58).
The duty of protecting the sacred Sri Maha Bodhiya was vested upon this family, recognized as the primary Buddhist family of Sri Lanka.
The British under the Kandyan convention were obliged to give effect to the customs and traditions of the Sinhalese. In giving effect to such traditions, sections, 9 of the Buddhist Temporalities Ordinance Number 19 of 1931 was enacted preserving the hereditary right of this family. And whereas from time to time when disputes arose the British who were obliged to honour the customs of the Sinhalese were compelled to recognize this hereditary right of the family. The family even during the British rule, even though not under a King that could be called our own, steadfastly preserved their traditions and customs fulfilling their obligations as the primary Buddhist family of Sri Lanka. The emergence of the Bulankulame name is as a result of the Head of the Nuwarawewa Suriyakumara Wannisinghe family taking residence in the village of Bulankulame from which point onwards he and his descendents carried the name of Bulankulame. Henceforth, this family has been accepted as the lay Trustee/s of the Atamasthana.
At one point in time the Head of the Nuwarawewa Suriyakumara Wannisinghe Bulankulame family married one Owille Kumarihamy (Palipane) and the said head of the family died leaving his minor child N.S.W.L.B. Bulankulame (subsequently Dissawa during British rule) as his sole descendent. The said Owille Kumarihamy was given the right, by the District Court of Anuradhapura in case number 156 (referred to in 1988 q SLR 99 at page 107) to act as the lay trustee of the Atamasthana until her minor son attained majority status. The said son, N.S.W.L.B. Bulankulame Dissawa married Kahanda Weragama Kumarihamy and had ten children, of which Medduma Menike Kumarihamy was the fifth born.
Bulankulame Dissawa married Kahanda Weragama Tikirikumarihamy :-
Issues :-
1st - Loku Menike (Kumarihamy) - Married Mr. Rambukwelle
2nd - Meddume Menike(Kumarihamy) - Married Mr. Alfred Ratwatte.
3rd - L.B. (Disawe) -Married Miss. Nimala Hurulle
4th - M.B. (President Rural courts) - Married Miss. Somawathie Ratwatte
5th - Palmawathie - Married Mr. P.B.Ratwatte
6th - Alice - Married T .B. Hurulle.
7th - P.B. (Dr Edmund) - Married Miss. Ivy Senanayake
8th - Leelawathie - Married Mr. Victor Ratwatte.
9th - K.B. (Walter) - Married Miss.Chandra Madawala 1st and
Seetha Panabokke 2nd
Compiled by :-
Naresh Ratwatte,
22/1, Union Place,
Dehiwala.
TP No: 0112712831 / 0777776661 |
