Dominicus Corea
Encyclopedia
Dominicus Corea 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.. Jeronimo Corea was assassinated by King Mayadunne's son, Rajasinghe.
Dominicus Corea was born in Colombo
in 1565. At that time, the Portuguese had colonised Ceylon, and his parents converted to Catholicism
.
Following the murder 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.
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.
in 1596. He was given the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitawaka by King Vimala Dharma of Kandy around 1596. 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.' (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.'
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.'
'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.'. In his life time he fought for all the contending forces of the period, often changing his allegiance.
, and inflicted massive defeats between 1594-1596. 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.' King Dominicus Corea was captured by the Portuguese and executed on July 14, 1596, at the age of 31 in Colombo.
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"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.
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
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. 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. 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. Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea was a distinguished parliamentarian, MP for Chilaw
and Speaker
of the House of Representatives of Ceylon from 1967-1970.
J.C.A. Corea
was the first Sri Lankan Principal of Royal College, Colombo. Reverend Canon Ivan Corea was Rural Dean of Colombo and Chaplain to the Bishop of Colombo
in the Church of Ceylon
. His sons went on to play signifiant 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. 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.
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. 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. Another son, Dr.Vijaya Corea
was Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
in Colombo.
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. 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
. 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
. 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. 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.
' ) visited Ceylon in 1927 and stayed with the Corea Family in Chilaw. 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. '
Dominicus Corea was born in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 1565. At that time, the Portuguese had colonised Ceylon, and his parents converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
.
Following the murder 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.
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.
King of Kotte and Sitawaka
Dominicus Corea was crowned King of KotteKotte
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte , also known as Sri Jayawardenapura or Kotte කෝට්ටේ, is the administrative capital of Sri Lanka. It is located beyond the eastern suburbs of the commercial capital Colombo and is often called New Capital Territory...
in 1596. He was given the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitawaka by King Vimala Dharma of Kandy around 1596. 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.' (She was the daughter of sub-King Veediya Bandara, ruler of the Principality of the Seven Korales.)
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
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.'
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
Mahavamsa
The Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
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
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
, 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.'
'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.'. In his life time he fought for all the contending forces of the period, often changing his allegiance.
Death
Corea rebelled against the PortuguesePortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and inflicted massive defeats between 1594-1596. 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.' King Dominicus Corea was captured by the Portuguese and executed on July 14, 1596, at the age of 31 in Colombo.
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
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.
The descendants of King Dominicus Corea
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 th Ceylon Labour Party. While being professionals and political activists, the Coreas were also important landowners. '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
Charles Edgar Corea
-Early life:C.E.Corea was born in the west coast town of Chilaw, in Sri Lanka. His parents were Charles Edward Bandaranaike Corea, a leading lawyer from Chilaw and Henritta Seneviratne. He was educated at the premier institution, Royal College Colombo where he excelled in his studies. He earned a...
and his brother Victor Corea
Victor Corea
Charles Edward Victor Seneviratne Corea was born in Chilaw, Sri Lanka on 29 January 1871 to Charles Edward Bandaranaike Corea, a famous lawyer, and Henrietta Seneviratne. He was the youngest out of five children, three boys and two girls, Charles Edgar Corea, James Alfred Ernest Corea, Agnes Corea...
who were founder members of the Ceylon National Congress and the Legislative Council of Ceylon
Legislative Council of Ceylon
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first form of representative government in the island...
. 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
James Alfred Ernest Corea
Dr 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...
, 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. Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea
Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea
-Early life:Gate Mudaliyar James Edward Corea was born in Chilaw, on the west coast of Sri Lanka, on the 2nd of December 1865. His father was Johannes Christoffel Corea who was a Mudaliyar of the Chilaw District....
was in charge of the rural police in Pitigal Korale. Sir Claude Corea
Claude Corea
Sir George Claude Stanley Corea was a Sri Lankan politician and diplomat.-Family background:He was born on 29 January 1894 to a well known Ceylonese political family hailing from the Western seaboard town of Chilaw. His father was Alfred Winzer Corea who was an officer in government police and his...
was Ceylon's High Commissioner in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and was appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1948. He was elected President of the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
in May 1960 and was featured in Life Magazine. His son Harindra Corea
Harindra Corea
Harindra Corea Barrister-at-Law, Attorney-at-Law, was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament, who represented Chilaw, he was member of the United National Party of Sri Lanka. Harindra Corea was born in Colombo. His father was the illustrious politician and diplomat, Sir Claude...
was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of the Government of Sri Lanka in the 1990s and was also the member of parliament for Chilaw. Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea was a distinguished parliamentarian, MP for Chilaw
Chilaw
Chilaw is a western seaboard town on the island of Sri Lanka.It is a bustling town with a famous fishmarket and beach...
and Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the House of Representatives of Ceylon from 1967-1970.
J.C.A. Corea
J.C.A. Corea
James Clifford Aelian Corea was a Sri Lankan educationist. He was the former Principal of Royal College Colombo.-Early Life:Born in the coastal town of Chilaw in Ceylon in 1904, he was educated at Royal College Colombo, then gained a MA in Psychology from the University of London and a Diploma in...
was the first Sri Lankan Principal of Royal College, Colombo. Reverend Canon Ivan Corea was Rural Dean of Colombo and Chaplain to the Bishop of Colombo
Bishop of Colombo
The Anglican Bishop of Colombo is the bishop of the Diocese of Colombo, a diocese in the Church of Ceylon which is part of the Anglican Communion.- List:#James Chapman D.D. 1845-1861...
in the Church of Ceylon
Church of Ceylon
The Church of Ceylon, which is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka, was established with the appointment of its first Bishop, Rt Rev James Chapman in 1845 as the Bishop of Colombo.-The Dioceses of Colombo and Kurunegala:...
. His sons went on to play signifiant roles in the media and in the Diplomatic Corps - Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
was a pioneer broadcaster with Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
(SLBC) - he was appointed the Ethnic Minorities Advisor to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in the late 1970s. Ernest Corea
Ernest Corea
-Early life:Corea was born in Kurana, Katunayake in Ceylon.His parents were Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea, and was the brother of Vernon Corea a pioneering broadcaster with Radio Ceylon/SLBC and Ethinic Minorities Adviser to the BBC. Rev. Corea was Rural Dean of Colombo in the Church...
, onetime Editor of the Daily News was appointed Sri Lanka's High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 1980s.
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
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
Act 1970 and the appointment of The Homeopathic Medical Council in Sri Lanka. He was also a founder member of Ceylon Theatres in 1928. His son was the Sri Lankan Economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, Dr. Gamani Corea
Gamani Corea
Deshamanya Gamani Corea is a Sri Lankan economist, civil servant and diplomat. He was the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1974 to 1984, Ceylon's Ambassador to the EEC, Belgium, Luxembourg and...
who was appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body. It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues....
(UNCTAD) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. Another son, Dr.Vijaya Corea
Vijaya Corea
Vijaya Corea is a radio and television broadcaster and one of Sri Lanka's most well known media personalities. Corea is a household name in Sri Lanka, synonymous with broadcasting and show business for over four decades, and has often been referred to as Sri Lanka's #1 Compere.-Early life:He grew...
was Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
in Colombo.
Norman Corea, brother of C.V.S.Corea was a celebrated Sri Lankan musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. His music was played at the first ever Serendipity
Serendipity
Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. The word has been voted as one of the ten English words hardest to translate in June 2004 by a British translation company. However, due to its...
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
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, London. 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
Charles Alfred Ernest Corea
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 the famed Sri Lankan freedom fighters Charles Edgar Corea and Victor Corea.-Education:Corea was...
(Ernie) was a leading lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. His son, Dr.Eugene Corea now heads the Edirimanne Corea Family Union
Edirimanne Corea Family Union
The Edirimanne Corea Family Union is a group set up to 'foster interaction' among the members of the powerful Corea familyin the island of Sri Lanka. The Corea family is one of the leading families of Sri Lanka...
in Colombo. Sri Sangabo Corea is a pioneering advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, he 'discovered' Sri Lanka's 'King of Pop', Clarence Wijewardena and Sri Lankan star, Annesley Malewana
Annesley Malewana
-Life and career:Malewana was born in Ratnapura , and attended St. Joseph’s College in the capital city of Colombo. Upon leaving school, he met Clarence Wijewardena, who formed the group Moonstones...
. 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. 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 Gandhi visits the Corea Family in Chilaw
Mohandas K. Gandhi ( The 'Father of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
' ) visited Ceylon in 1927 and stayed with the Corea Family in Chilaw. 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. '
See also
- Edirille Bandara
- Charles Edgar CoreaCharles Edgar Corea-Early life:C.E.Corea was born in the west coast town of Chilaw, in Sri Lanka. His parents were Charles Edward Bandaranaike Corea, a leading lawyer from Chilaw and Henritta Seneviratne. He was educated at the premier institution, Royal College Colombo where he excelled in his studies. He earned a...
- Gamani CoreaGamani CoreaDeshamanya Gamani Corea is a Sri Lankan economist, civil servant and diplomat. He was the former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1974 to 1984, Ceylon's Ambassador to the EEC, Belgium, Luxembourg and...
- Claude CoreaClaude CoreaSir George Claude Stanley Corea was a Sri Lankan politician and diplomat.-Family background:He was born on 29 January 1894 to a well known Ceylonese political family hailing from the Western seaboard town of Chilaw. His father was Alfred Winzer Corea who was an officer in government police and his...
- Ivan Corea
- Vernon CoreaVernon CoreaVernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
- Ernest CoreaErnest Corea-Early life:Corea was born in Kurana, Katunayake in Ceylon.His parents were Reverend Canon Ivan Corea and Ouida Corea, and was the brother of Vernon Corea a pioneering broadcaster with Radio Ceylon/SLBC and Ethinic Minorities Adviser to the BBC. Rev. Corea was Rural Dean of Colombo in the Church...
- Vijaya CoreaVijaya CoreaVijaya Corea is a radio and television broadcaster and one of Sri Lanka's most well known media personalities. Corea is a household name in Sri Lanka, synonymous with broadcasting and show business for over four decades, and has often been referred to as Sri Lanka's #1 Compere.-Early life:He grew...
- J.C.A. CoreaJ.C.A. CoreaJames Clifford Aelian Corea was a Sri Lankan educationist. He was the former Principal of Royal College Colombo.-Early Life:Born in the coastal town of Chilaw in Ceylon in 1904, he was educated at Royal College Colombo, then gained a MA in Psychology from the University of London and a Diploma in...
- List of political families in Sri Lanka
- Edirimanne Corea Family UnionEdirimanne Corea Family UnionThe Edirimanne Corea Family Union is a group set up to 'foster interaction' among the members of the powerful Corea familyin the island of Sri Lanka. The Corea family is one of the leading families of Sri Lanka...
- MahavamsaMahavamsaThe Mahavamsa is a historical poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri Lanka...
- Kingdom of KotteKingdom of KotteThe Kingdom of Kotte , centred on Sri Jayawardanapura Kotte was a kingdom that flourished in Sri Lanka during the 15th century. Its king was the last native sovereign to unify all of Sri Lanka under one rule. -Etymology:The term Kotte means fortress in Sinhalese...
- Kingdom of SitawakaKingdom of SitawakaThe 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, and over the course of the next seventy years came to dominate much of the island. Sitawaka also offered fierce resistance to...
- Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Chilaw, Sri LankaMahatma Gandhi's visit to Chilaw, Sri LankaMahatma Gandhi the 'Father 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....
- Sabaragamuwa
- Mahatma GandhiMahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
- Portuguese period in CeylonPortuguese period in CeylonPortuguese Ceylon was a Portuguese territory in present-day Sri Lanka, representing a period in Sri Lankan history from 1505–1658. The Portuguese first encountered the Ceylonese kingdom of Kotte, with whom they signed a treaty. Portuguese Ceylon was established through the occupation of Kotte and...
External links
- Edirmanne Corea Family Union Facebook Page
- The ECFU Youth Club Facebook Page
- Dominicus Corea - King of Kotte
- The Mahavamsa History of Sri Lanka The Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka
- Veediya Bandara Seeks Refuge - reference to Edirille Rala, Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
- The End of Edirille Rala (King Domingos Corea), Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
- The Fall of a Warrior - Edirille Bandara, Book Review, Daily News, Sri Lanka
- Facebook Public Figure Page on Edirille Rala - King Dominicus Corea
- Vernon Corea The Golden Voice of Radio Ceylon
- Blog on Vernon Corea 1927-2002
- Mahatma Gandhi and the Corea Family of Chilaw
- References to King Dominicus Corea in Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon by Arnold Wright
- Reference to Edirille Bandara in Lanka Library
- The Family Gatherings of Sri Lankan Society By Dr. Mirando Obeysekere, Daily News, Sri Lanka