Hulugalle Weda Walauwa.

Just Married.

In this post I've thought of sharing with the reader events that led up to my parents marriage and their blessed married life which lasted 44 yrs until the demise of my mother. The post also shed light on my parents closest relatives and friends who appear on the photographs and documents published herewith. But then again I've not met many of them nor their descendants often and the lack of snapshots in my possession puts a dent in my effort to enlighten the reader. After leaving school my mother's resolution had been to take up Teaching as a profession. Which ultimately does not see it's fruition as she enters the institution of marriage with her life partner and it was my father's idea that she desist her pursuit for the post of a teacher in order to make way for her responsibilities as a house wife. But her endeavors have not been in wane as she had landed a job as an acting sub post mistress at her village in Kandemedagama. Her ascendancy to the post was due to the merit that none of the villagers could read the queen's tongue. I will publish the material in stages in lieu of a verbose narrative.

A character certificate presented to my mother by the sponsorship of Mr. N.M.Appuhamy. A rich business magnate and UNP senator.  Owner of Sathyawadi group of companies and Agent for Ford Motor Company. In the contemporaneous times these businesses are defunct.

The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort. Today it is known as the Republic Building. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located in its southern wing and the Cabinet Office in its northern wing.

                                     My father at Voet's Inn. He passes out as a graduate in law in 1961.

Friends of my father at law college. The photograph was taken in front of Voet's Inn former law college hostel that was located at Barnes Place, Colombo 07. Today it's site is at Kotte Road, Rajagiriya. It's separately located from Sri Lanka Law College formerly Ceylon Law College at Hulftsdorp St, Colombo. 

The hostel is named after the Dutch jurist Johannes Voet (1647-1713). 

Seated: Mr. Mahinda Bulankulama.

Standing from Left to Right: Mr. Fritz Kodagoda, Mr. Palitha Wanasundara, Unknown.

A traditional declaration paper of astrological prediction of auspicious moments for the wedding ceremony. (It's also referred to as Muhurat or Muhurt). 

Gamini Sudaththa Wattegedara attorney-at-law resident of Wattegedara Walawwa of Katugampola Hatpattu of Mayurawathie Korale of Muruthange Ihalagama noble younger son of Chandrasekara Ekanayake Wijesundara Wasala Panditha Mudiyanselage Dingiri Bandara Wattegedara the retired Korale mahatmaya and relict of the late Mrs. Pathiraja Mudiyanselage Alice Wattegedara takes the hand in marriage of Mary Kumari Wanduragala resident of Pahala Walawwa Kandemedagama of Thissawa Korale of Devamedi Hatpattu of Kurunegala District noblewoman and daughter of late Mr. Abeykoon Chandrasekara Mudiyanselage Siyathubandara Clarence Basil Wanduragalaand Ms. Rathanayake Mudiyanselage Nandohamy Kumarihamy accordant with the traditional customs as agreed by negotiators of both parties approve on an auspicious astrological Muhurat for the communion as given below;
A.D. 1969 of April 23rd Wednesday when the hands of the clock is at 7.00 in the morning it is felicitous for the groom's entourage to leave his residence. On the same day at 9.17 the bridal couple will ascend to the Poruwa facing towards the west and thereafter, they will be betrothed in conformity to the traditional ceremony. The newly wedded couple will leave the ceremonial premises at 1.30 in the afternoon. Home Coming will be held on the 25th Friday at 3.10 in the afternoon.
Thence, the aforementioned communique is dispatched to Mrs. Nandohamy Kumarihamy and her relatives with the greatest respect.
                               
                                                                                                                                    D.B. Wattegedara
                                                                                                                    Retired Korale Mahatmaya
                                                                                                                 (Signatory for the Muhurat).

P.S.  'Poruwa’ is a beautifully decorated wooden platform on which the traditional Buddhist marriage ceremony takes place. This event is called the ‘Poruwa Siritha' (Ceremony). 

Standing from Left to Right: Mrs. Nanda Wanduragala, Mrs.Soma Rathnayake (An Aunt of my father), Mr.Hector Wattegedara (Elder brother of my father),
Mrs. Pearl Wattegedara (Wife of Hector).

Standing from Left to Right: Mr. Sirisena Bandaranayake., Mr. John Wanduragala., Mr. Arty Lankathilake. (Asthaka or the Master of Ceremonies), Mr. Mudhiyanse Rathnayake. and Mrs. Nanda Wanduragala nee Nandohamy Rathnayake. at  Town Hall Kurunegala.

The Wanduragala crowd at the wedding.

All those who appear on this photo are my Aunts and Uncles.
Seated from right to left: (Excluding the two ladies seated on the extreme left.)
Miss.Soma Wanduragala,Miss.Dhana Wanduragala.Miss.Pabha Wanduragala. and Miss.Patricia Wanduragala.

Standing from left to right:
Mr.Somachandra Wanduragala. and Mr.Chandrathilake Wanduragala.

 at the Town Hall Kurunegala.

The front porch of my father' s ancestral home at Muruthange, Nakkawatte. The photograph had been taken when my father was an eligible bachelor.

Wattegedara Walawwa ( mansion)  located at Korale Junction.  How it appears today.