Background
James Alfred Corea was born on 23 November 1871 at Negombo to Mudaliyar Henry Richard Corea and Cornelia Wilhelmina Perera. He was the grandson of Simon Corea J.P and Mudaliyar of Alutkuru Korale, and Cornelia Dias Bandaranaike.
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James Mohandiram
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Career
He was the Muhandiram of Madampe an area in the Chilaw District of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan author Kumari Jayawardena, writing about the Coreas noted: "Unconnected to the liquor trade but making their money on plantation ventures was the Corea Family of Chilaw, an influential govigama group with a history going back to Portuguese rule when they were warriors to Sinhala kings. He was the only son in the family, he had three sisters, Annie, Missie and Agnes.
James Alfred lived in Corea Court with his family in Madampe.
Mohandiram James Alfred learnt planting under his father after school, then he was appointed Mohandiram of Madampe in 1899. He also owned vast coconut estates - Potuwille and Mugunuatuwane.
J.A.Corea married Eugenie Matilda Sarah Attygalle on 7 June 1906, the third daughter of Doctor John Attygalle and Charlotte Karunaratne. They lived in a Corea family home known as Corea Court which is located in Madampe, where James Alfred served as a Mohandiram of the town.
Writing in 1907 about Mohandiram James Alfred Corea, the English author, Arnold Wright in "Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon," said: " Mr.
J.A.Corea, a descendant (eleventh generation) of Wickremasinghe Bandara, chief of the Seven Korales under the Kandyan emperor (1520–1560) is the son of Henry Richard Corea, Mudaliyar of Alutkuru Korale North.." Wright goes on to state that in "1899 he became Mohandiram of Madampe." His book contains photographs of Mr. J.A.Corea with the title, "Government Agent Corea and Native Headmen.".
Membership
During Dutch and British rule, members of the family were officials serving the state in various ways and rewarded with titles. Some members of the family took to the legal and medical professions, most notably the sons of Charles Edward Corea (a solicitor), who were active in local politics and in the Chilaw Association which campaigned against British land policies - especially the Waste Lands Ordinance, and for political reforms." Kumari Jayawardena goes on to state: "While being professionals and political activists, the Coreas were also important landowners. " As a child, like some members of the Corea family, he attended South. Thomas" College, Mount Lavinia.
He was a member of the Chilaw Association and the Agricultural Society.
