Dominicus Corea (Edirille Bandara)

Dominicus Corea Edirille Bandara also known as Domingos Corea was the son of Jeronimo Corea. He was born in Colombo in 1560 - the Portugese had colonised Ceylon at the time and his parents converted to Catholicism.

De Queyroz , the great Portugese historian said of Dominicus Corea ' 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 of his day.

Dominicus Corea was crowned King of Kotte - he was given the kingdoms of Kotte and Sitavaka by King Vimala Dharma of Ceylon.

Corea rebelled against the Portuguese and inflicted massive defeats. He was captured by the Portuguese and executed on July 14th 1596 at the age of 31 in Colombo. ' Such was the sad end of Domingos Corea, Edirimana Suriya Bandara, the greatest Sinhalese of his day,' said Sri Lankan historian John M.Seneviratna.

References

• Source: Great Sinhalese Men and Women of History - Edirille Bandara (Domingos Corea) By John M.Senviratna, 1938

• Source: Vernon Corea The Golden Voice of Radio Ceylon website