Born to Basnayaka Ralalage Cyril Siyambalapitiya of Kegalle and Rajakumara Atapattu Mudiyanselage Kusumawathi of Wendala, Ruwanwella, he had his education at Ruwanwella Primary School and then at Royal College Colombo. In 1981 he entered to the University of Sri Jayawardanapura and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1985.