The family of Sittamma Kumarihamy Mahadiulwewa, wife of prominent politician M.D. Banda, has published a tribute to the woman who passed away at age 93, celebrating her role as the steadying force behind her family and her husband's political career.
A heartfelt tribute published in The Island newspaper reflects on the life of Sittamma Kumarihamy Mahadiulwewa, the matriarch of a prominent Sri Lankan family who lived to be 93 years old. Written by her eldest son Gamini Leeniyagolla, the account portrays a woman whose influence operated quietly within the domestic sphere while her husband, M.D. Banda, pursued a political career spanning 25 to 30 years representing constituencies at Maturata and Hanguranketha.
Raised in the North Central Province by a Village Tribunal President father and educated at boarding schools in the Hill Country, Sittamma embodied values of service and simplicity from an early age. According to the tribute, she deliberately distanced herself from public and political life, choosing instead to dedicate herself entirely to raising seven children and maintaining their household. Her son describes her as the emotional anchor of the family, allowing her husband the freedom to serve the country without concern for domestic matters.
The account illustrates her approach to motherhood through specific examples, including monthly visits to her children's boarding schools and attentive care during illnesses. After M.D. Banda's death when she was only 53 years old, Sittamma maintained the family's cohesion through what her son characterises as unwavering resolve and quiet dignity. She never remarried and lived independently until her final years, when she moved in with her late daughter Lalitha's family in Ratmalana.
Sittamma's household reportedly became a refuge for household staff and elderly individuals who remained with the family for decades, suggesting her approach to care extended beyond her immediate family. Her son emphasises that her legacy endures through her children and grandchildren, and through the values of kindness and dignity she demonstrated throughout her life.
