The Abeyesundere’s of Galle: Their History

Item in THE ISLAND, November 2025

A book covering the entrepreneurial ability and other matters pertaining to the well-known Abeyesundere family from Galle, Sri Lanka, authored by scientist of repute Dr. Nirmala M. Pieris, will be launched on November 14 at 6 pm at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 7.

‘The book traces the 220-year history of the Abeyesundere family of Galle and centres on Pemyano William Abeyesundere, a respected ship chandler, landowner, and philanthropist. It weaves together archival research, family records and oral histories to present a detailed account of heritage and community, the publisher says in a brief write-up.

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A NOTE From Michael Roberts, November 2025

The Abeyesundere  family household in the  mid-twentieth  cenuty was in Kaluwella, the suburb where  St. Aloysius ] College served all and sundry.  Sushila and  Lakshman Abeyesundere both  attended  St. Aloysius and Lakshman played for the  cricket team when I was also in the team. He was  one of our  more fallible fielders, but pulled off two brilliant catches at cover  when we had only three fielders in the off for one of our  left-arm bowlers (Nizam? Vanderputt?) in the course of a strategic bowling programme called “leg-theory!” … a policy which won us that match as far as I can  recall.

Leg-Theory!! Therein lies a MAJOR STORY….. that went into the history of  Aloysian cricket as a team known as “The Invincibles” guided by Marcus  Jayasinghe  and led by Anwer Jawath. lakshman  is  seated on  the Csrl extreme left next  a  bloke named roberts, while anver is seated at centre enxt to our  revered Marcus coach, while Vernon  Regis and Carlyle Rodrigo are seated to his right.