His father was Madawala Basnayaka Nilame, who was a notary and landowner; his mother was Ranmenike from Walgama. Madawala was educated at S. Thomas' College and Trinity College Kandy, where he completed his arts examination in 1897, then was admitted as a proctor of the district court of Kurunegala in 1901. Having established his legal practice in Kurunegala, he served as a crown proctor and a unofficial magistrate. He was large landowner, owning the Mahakeliya coconut estate, and hundreds of acres of paddyland in the Kurunegala District. Later he donated his residence, Godfrey Villa to the Maliyadeva College.[1]
He married Frances Alexandra Elsie, second daughter of C. E. Tennakoon, Rate Mahaththaya of Wanni Hath Paththu. They had three children, one son and two daughters.[1]
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