Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere, Maha Mudaliyar of Dutch Ceylon | |
| Born | 8 May 1719 |
| Died | 10 May 1794 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | Ceylonese |
| Education | Dutch Reformed Church |
| Occupation | Colonial Administrator |
| Title | Head Mudaliyar |
| Spouses |
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| Children | Don Balthazar Johannes Welhelmus Abraham Dona Ana Hertroyda |
Nicholas Dias Abeysinghe Amarasekere Maha Mudaliyar, (Sinhala: නිකලස් ඩයස් අබේසිංහ අමරසේකර) (8 May 1719 - 10 May 1794) was a Ceylonese Dutch colonial administrator.[1] He was appointed as the Maha Mudaliyar (Head Mudaliyar) of Dutch Ceylon, hence he was one of the most powerful personalities in the country.[2]
He received Mudaliyar medal from Governor Jan Schreuder in 1768 and later received the Head Mudaliyar Gold medal on 31 May 1785 from Governor Willem Jacob van de Graaf,[3] as a recognition and reward for his fidelity towards the Dutch East India company. A Mala Padakkama is also said to have been conferred on him by the Kandyan King of the era.
- ^ Social Change in Nineteenth Century Ceylon Archived 2013-01-21 at archive.today
- ^ Dutch and British Colonial Intervention in Sri Lanka, 1780-1815 By Alicia Schrikker, pp 67
- ^ DIAS ABEYSINGHE - Family