Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere
Sir Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere was Ceylonese lawyer and legislator. He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.Early life and career
Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere was born 12 February 1848, the youngest son of Don Bastian Ferdinandus Wijesiri Guneratne Obeyesekere, Mudaliyar of Talpe Pattu and Cornelia Susanna Dias née Bandaranaike. His older brother was James Peter Obeyesekere I. His father died soon after he was born and his mother returned to Colombo. She then married her cousin, Rev. Samuel William Dias Bandaranaike and they had two boys and two girls. The oldest son, Felix Reginald was a Supreme Court judge.
Obeyesekere was educated at Royal Academy and S. Thomas' College, Mutwal. In 1866 he passed the entrance examination for the Calcutta University, obtaining a first class diploma in 1868. He was apprenticed to Charles Ambrose Lorensz and in 1872 he qualified as a proctor, heading the list in every subject.
Engaging in his legal practice, Obeyesekere managed the large family land holdings and was elected President of the Low Country Planters’ Association. In February 1900, Obeysekara was appointed as the Unofficial Member representing the low country Sinhalese in the Legislative Council, replacing Anthonisz De Alwis Seneviratne. He served on the Council until 1916. In 1902 he was among the Ceylonese representatives invited to attend the London Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. He was.Family
He married Ezline Maria de Alwis, the eldest daughter of James De Alwis, an unofficial member of the Legislative Council. They had four children:
