The marriage of the eldest daughter of the Mahawelatenna Walauwa to the son of Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, the Maha Mudaliyar of Horagolla, was heldwith much pageantry, in keeping with their family traditions. Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, who was serving at the time as Minister of Health and Local Government, had first visited her

Born to Barnes Ratwatte Dissawa of Kandy and Rosalind Mahawelatenne Kumarihamy of Mahawelatenne Walauwa, Sirimavo was the eldest of six children, who included Barnes, Patricia, Macky, Sivali and Clifford. Her father, the Rate Mahaththaya, was actively involved in governance, whilst her mother in addition to playing the role of being housewife, was also known and