The Lady of Dunuwila: A Story That Lives on at Cinnamon Citadel Kandy
(Statue of Lady of Dunuwila)
She stands quietly and does not speak, yet her presence alone feels as though she belongs to another time. This elegant brass statue, dressed in a traditional Sri Lankan saree, has been part of this building for over a century. Before this land became Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, it was known as Dunuwila Walawwa, an aristocratic Kandyan residence with deep cultural and family connections to influential Sri Lankans.
(Dunuwila Walawwa)
Locals identify her as the wife of William Dunuwille, the “Raté Mahatmaya”, or chief headman of the area during the British period, who built Dunuwila Walawwa. The Dunuwille family has had great influence in Kandy, balancing colonial administration while standing along Kandyan traditions and culture. The statue is believed to honour the lady of the house, placing her presence at the heart of the Walawwa’s social and spiritual life.
Believed to have been crafted during the British colonial period of Sri Lanka, the sculpture dates back over 100 years, reflecting the quality of Kandyan craftsmanship of that era. The imprinted stains on the brass simply show how time leaves a mark. It carries the influence of decades shaped by the different eras of Kandy’s history. While all ancient figures feel ceremonial, the lady of Dunuwila feels personal. From her posture, the fall of her saree, and the calm expression on her face, she gives off a sense of life, making her seem more like someone meant to be remembered with importance and less like a piece of decoration.
The Walawwa is also closely linked to Sirimavo Bandaranaike, a descendant of Lady Dunuwila, who would later become the world’s first female prime minister in 1960. Following in the footsteps of William Dunuwille and the silent lady who watches over his house, eight generations of proud Kandyan family heritage have passed through these halls.
Today, the Lady of Dunuwila remains a quiet guardian of the house and a lasting symbol of Kandyan grace and legacy.
