Statues of Sigiriya

An ancient fortress rooted deep within my ancestry. A history so deep its literally etched in the bedrock. It is here that I truly comprehend the depth my familial history and how I had only scratched the superficial surface of a vast chapter. I have much to learn and much to appreciate.

Snapshots From The Hills

The Origins of Ondaatje
My ancestor arrived in Ceylon in 1600. He was a doctor to be specific, and he cured the residing governor's daughter from a mysterious illness. For this feat, he was rewarded with land, and the Ondaatje family name, originating from a Tamil ancestor Ondaatchi residing in Thanjavur. When his Dutch wife passed, he married a Sinhalese woman, had 9 children and remained here.