He was an unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon representing the Sinhalese until his early death in 1880.
[1] James Peter Obeyesekere was born the eldest son of Don Bastian Ferdinandus Wijesiri Guneratne Obeyesekere, Mudaliyar of Talpe Pattu and Cornelia Susanna Dias née Bandaranaike daughter of Don Solomon Dias Bandaranaike, Mudliyar of Udugaha.
Samuel William Dias Bandaranaike and they had two boys and two girls.
The oldest son, Felix Reginald was a Supreme Court judge.
Their daughter Hilda Obeyesekere married Sir Paul Edward Pieris of the Ceylon Civil Service.