Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe
| Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere | |
|---|---|
| Born |
8 May 1719 Galle, Ceylon |
| Died |
10 May 1794 Ceylon |
| Nationality | Ceylonese |
| Education | Dutch Reformed Church |
| Occupation | Colonial Administrator |
| Title | Head Mudaliyar |
| Religion | Protestantism |
| Spouse(s) |
Lady Dona Clara Goonaratne Lady Adriana Gertruda Ilangakoon |
| Children |
Don Balthazar Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere Johannes Welhelmus Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere Abraham Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere Dona Ana Hertroyda Dias Abeysinghe |
Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere Maha Mudaliyar, (Sinhala: නිකලස් ඩයස් අබේසිංහ අමරසේකර) (8 May 1719 - 10 May 1794) was a Ceylonese Dutch colonial administrator.[1] He was appointed as the Maha Mudaliyar (Head Mudaliyar) of Dutch Ceylon, hence he was one of the most powerful personalities in the country.[2]
He received Mudaliyar medal from Governor Jan Schreuder in 1768 and later received the Head Mudaliyar Gold medal on 31 May 1785 from Governor Van de Graaf,[3] as a recognition and reward for his fidelity towards the Dutch East India company. A Mala Padakkama is also said to have been conferred on him by the Kandyan King of the era.
Family and residences
Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe was born in 1719 to the family of Mohandiram Don Joan Dias Abeysinghe and Dona Gimara de Silva of Galle. He was married to Dona Clara Goonaratne, daughter of Domingu Jayathileke Goonaratne, Mohandiram Atapattu of Galle and to Adriana Gertruda Ilangakoon, daughter of Ilangakoon Mudaliyar.
He had a son and a daughter from his first marriage with Clara Goonaratne; Don Balthazar Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere who was a Sahabndar Maha Mudaliyar and Dona Ana Hertroyda Dias Abeysinghe, who was married to Don Bastian Jayathilleke Gooneratne, Attapattu Mudaliyar of Galle.
He had two sons from his marriage to Adriana Gertruda Ilangakoon; Johannes Welhelmus Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere, who was the Mohandiram of Galle and Abraham Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere, a Guard Mudaliyar and the chief interpreter of Sir Robert Brownrigg, the Governor of British Ceylon.[3]
Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe lived at Pokune Walauwa in Dangedera, Galle. He had two other Walauwas located in Colombo and Katunayake. His Colombo walawwa was situated at Silver Smith Street and Katunayake walauwa was situated at Kotugoda.