Rose Anandappa & Joe Casie Chetty
Welcome to Colombo Chetty Genealogy! The website explores the history of the Colombo Chetty Community of Sri Lanka, and it includes information of families such as Adaman, Alles, Anandappa, Candappa, Casie Chetty, Laity Ramenaden, Tavarayan, Wijeratnam and more! Explore:
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Historical documents: 150+ marriage certificates and newspaper articles dating back to the early 1900s;
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Family trees: 50+ tree visualizations of the eldest known ancestors within the Colombo Chetty Community;
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Blog posts: Posts such as wedding photos, family photos, profiles and announcements.
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Higlighted Profile
Anthony Xavier Anandappa
150th Birth Anniversary in 2023
First President of the Colombo Chetty Association
Family Life
Anthony Xavier Anandappa was born on January 24th, 1873 to Anthony Anandappa and Anthonia Wijeratnam.
In the 1890s, he married Anna Pieris Tavarayan, daughter of Saviel Pieris Tavarayan and Cecilia Rodrigo. Anthony Xavier and Anna had 6 children together:
- 3 daughters: Mary Louise, Cecilia Johanna Josephine, and Mary Rose (pictured below).
- 3 sons: Anthony Joseph Nicholas “Joe”, Ignatius Boniface “Bonnie”, and Aloysius Gonzaga.
Education & Work
Like many Colombo Chetties, Anthony Xavier was educated at St. Benedict’s College. Having a talent for math, he won 2nd prize for arithmetic when studying in the the VII Standard in 1888. After his schooling, he went on to work as a broker at Messrs. Carson & Co.
Role in the Church
Anthony Xavier’s father Anthony was Muppu of Mater Dolorosa Church on New Chetty Street, and Anthony Xavier took over this role on June 22, 1916.
Mater Dolorosa Church was built in 1820, and plaques on the church have the names P.B. Anandappa (born 29 May, 1787) and D.B. Anandappa (born 9 June, 1816). The role of Muppu is said to be passed from father to son, so it is possible P.B. Anandappa and D.B. Anandappa are ancestors of Anthony Xavier Anandappa.
Later Life
Anthony Xavier was elected the first president of the Colombo Chetty Association in 1919, and held this role unitl 1932. Around 1930, his brother Joseph Caitan passed away, and Anthony Xavier took care of Joseph Caitan’s two youngest children - Bede Leonard (still living) and Pius Anthony Xavier.
Anthony Xaiver passed away at age 78 on Jan 2, 1952. While he was the eldest in his family, only one of his 8 siblings - Laura Angelina - is known to have outlived him. After his passing, his son Bonnie became Muppu of Mater Dolorsa Church.
