Sunday Times 2
The Edirimana Corea family union takes a trip down memory lane
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Sanjeeva Corea, grandson of C.E.Victor S. Corea places a garland on his statue, which stands adjacent to the Chilaw District Court
The formation of the Edirimana Corea Family Union (ECFU) was inspired by the heroic exploits of Dominicus Corea Edirimanasuriya Vikramasingha Bandara popularly known as Edirilla Rala. He was General of the Sinhala Army who was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka by Wimala Dharma Suriya the First of Kandy, King of Sri Lanka (vide page 409 of the Conquest of Ceylon by Father De Queyroz and also page 82 of the Rajavalliya).
Being fully aware that the security of his own kingdom depended in great measure on Dominicus Corea to fight the hated Portuguese, King Wimala Dharma Suriya sought to honour him to the fullest extent possible. He also gave him a Royal Princess of his court, Subadra Devi as his bride. She was the daughter of Vidiya Bandara, ruler of the seven korales.
As General and Commander of the Sinhala Army, Dominicus Corea was acknowledged to be a brilliant military strategist whom even Queyroz, the great Portuguese historian and writer described as the greatest swordsman that lived in those times.
Dominicus Corea, was credited with recovering the ‘Tooth Relic’, hidden under a grinding stone at Delgamuwa in Kuruwita and conveying it to his boyhood friend Wimala Dharma Suriya, King of Kandy who enshrined the Sacred Relic in the Dalada Maligawa. This incident was corroborated by Nissanke Wijeratne, the then Minister of Justice, in an article written by him titled the ‘Esala Perahera’ that appeared in the Sunday Observer of August 10, 1980 when he was the Diyawadana Nilame.
The prime mover in forming the Edirimana Corea Family Union was the late Henri Corea ably supported by Sri Sangabo Corea, President of the Edirimana Corea Family Union. Lifetime membership in the Edirimana Corea Family Union (ECFU) founded on March 16, 1982, was open exclusively to those who were descendants of Dominicus Corea. President J.R. Jayewardene, who himself qualified for membership, supported the formation of the Edirimana Corea Family Union and was its Patron.
On Sunday, November 8, 52 members of the Edirimana Corea Family Union set off to Chilaw on a trip down memory lane. The Chairperson of the project, Manoranee Silva ably assisted by Surangani Ameresekere (Vice President), Aloma Gunesekera (Secretary) and Sri Sangabo Corea (President) co-ordinated the arrangements. The first stop was at the Bishop’s House in Chilaw to meet Bishop Valence Mendis followed by a short service in the chapel.
Bishop Valence Mendis with Sri Sri Sangabo Corea and the Project Chairperson Manoranee Silva
“Firstly, I consider it my duty to pay a glowing tribute to the Coreas of Chilaw for their outstanding contribution as a single family towards achieving for our people, their legitimate rights during colonial rule. Christianity, is based on the fundamental principle of willingly giving to the less fortunate, their needs. In that respect, the Coreas have been outstanding,” Bishop Mendis said.
Leaving Bishop’s House, the bus took the passengers and the convoy of cars to all the locations where the Coreas lived, but with some of the sprawling walauwes no longer in existence.
The last stop was in the Courts Complex where the statue of Charles Edward Victor Seneviratne Corea is located. Sanjeeva Corea, grandson of C.E.Victor S. Corea garlanded the statue.
The next stop was at Munneswaram Temple which the Coreas were closely associated with. C.E.Victor S. Corea, was the last of the Coreas to be the Legal Adviser to this ancient Hindu Temple. As the oldest Corea in Chilaw he was closely associated with the annual festival which drew unprecedented crowds from near and far. On the last day of the festival after the water cutting ceremony at Deduru-Oya the chariot would stop in front of the main gate at Sinhapura Walauwe and perform a special pooja as a mark of respect to him.
The last stop was at St. James’ Church where the Coreas worshipped and held responsible office in the diocese from time to time. The residence of the parish priest was donated by late Ashley Winfield Corea (Project Chairperson Manoranee Silva’s father) who played a prominent part in the activities of the church. Here the passengers alighted and went into the small and impressive church for a short prayer, after which the bus made its way to the Chilaw Rest House.
After a sumptuous buffet lunch there followed by an enjoyable three-hour fellowship get-together. A sing-a-long, tombola, games and competitions ended with a baila contest. Prizes for the winners were donated by Dayasiri Warnakulasooriya Chairman and Managing Director of Midaya Ceramic Co.Ltd.
With several service projects in the pipeline the Edirimana Corea Family Union is planning to help patients warded in the paediatric ward of the Chilaw Base Hospital.
For more details see www.chilawcoreas.com