Bandaranaike was born in Colombo, Ceylon to a Sinhalese Anglican Christian family and was the son of the powerful Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike the Maha Mudaliyar (the chief native and advisor to the Governor) of Horagolla Walauwa in Atthanagalla, during the British colonial rule, who named his son after West Ridgeway, the Governor of Ceylon at the time was his god father. In later life he converted to Buddhism in order to join politics. He received his secondary education at St Thomas' College and went on to study modern greats at Christ Church, Oxford University, where he was Secretary of the famous Oxford Union.