Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike, frequently referred to as S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, was the fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon and founder of the left-wing and Sinhalese nationalist Sri Lanka Freedom Party. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike became the prime minister of Ceylon in 1956 and carried out left wing reforms such as nationalizing bus services and introducing legislation to prohibit caste based discrimination. Bandaranaike is also remembered for removing British naval and air bases in Sri Lanka and establishing diplomatic missions with a number of communist states.
U.N. Gunasekera (1922–2008), was a Sri Lankan civil engineer. A construction magnate, he is considered to be one of the most prolific civil engineers of the 20th century in Sri Lanka. He revolutionized engineering in Sri Lanka through his construction of high-rise buildings, including Sri Lanka's first five-star hotel and its largest five-star hotel, among various other projects.
Patrick de Silva Kularatne was Sri Lankan educationist and politician. He was a Member of the State Council of Ceylon (1942-1947) and Member of Parliament (1960-1965). He served as Principal of Ananda College and Dharmaraja College and established Nalanda College Colombo, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Moratuwa Vidyalaya and Dharmapala Vidyalaya.
Dr. Cristopher William Wijekoon Kannangara was a Sri Lankan Lawyer and a politician, accredited often with being the Founder of the post independence island nation. Being a not so very distant relation of Sri Lanka's old ruling Imperial Royals, now fully informal, CWW worked with other princely families and Ceylon's traditional nobility, other impotent members of the self rule movement, as well as the British courtsi in the end to attain the goal of self rule. Rising up the ranks of Sri Lanka's movement for independence in the early part of the 20th century, he moved on to play a pivotal role defending leaders of the independence movement in court and achieving vital legal victories contributing vastly to the cause of independence as a lawyer and orator, soon achieving the Presidency of Ceylon National Congress, the forerunner to Sri Lanka's Parliament UNP. Later, he became the first Minister of Education in the State Council of Ceylon, and was instrumental in introducing extensive reforms to the country's education system that opened up education to children from all levels of society.
Fredrick Richard Senanayake was a Ceylonesen lawyer and independence activist. A leading member of the Sri Lankan independence movement, he was an elected member of the Colombo Municipal Council. He was the principle supporter of the early political career of his younger brother D. S. Senanayake, would go on to lead Sri Lanka's independence movement, becoming the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka in 1947.
Charles Henry de Soysa, JP was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter, industrialist and was the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank, the Moratuwa carpenters guild, the Ceylon Agricultural and National Associations. He is widely regarded as the greatest philanthropist of the island for contributions which includes the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, St. Matthias Church, the Model Farm Experimental Station and many other institutions and acts of charity, establishing infant-maternal healthcare and secular education for girls in the country. He would have been the island's first Knight Bachelor, but having died prior, his widow was given the rare honor of the use of the style and dignity of wife of the Knight Bachelor and was known as Lady Catherine de Soysa.
Albert Emmanuel de Silva Snr. was a prominent businessman during the late 19th century in Sri Lanka.
Sir Edwin Aloysius Perera Wijeyeratne, known as Edwin Wijeyeratne, was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician, diplomat, and one of the founding members of United National Party. He was a Senator and Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in the government of D.S.Senanayake.
Sir Don Baron Jayatilaka known as D.B. Jayatilaka was a Sri Lankan educationalist, statesmen and diplomat. He was Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon; the Minister for Home Affairs and Leader of the House of the State Council of Ceylon; and Representative of Government of Ceylon in New Delhi. Sir D. B. Jayatilaka is also considered as a flag bearer of Buddhist education in Sri Lanka.
Sir Cyril de Zoysa was a Sri Lankan industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. The President of the Senate of Ceylon from 1960 to 1965, he was a leader in the Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon in the 20th century. He was distantly related to Sri Lankan tycoon Sir Ernest de Silva.
Sir Kalutaravedage Deepal Susantha de Fonseka, KBE (1900–1963) was a Sri Lankan statesmen and diplomat. He was the Deputy Speaker of the State Council of Ceylon and following Ceylon's independence from Britain her first Ambassador to Burma and first Ambassador to Japan. De Fonseka took an active part in the country's struggle for universal suffrage and self-determination.
Patthinihennadige Warnadeepthia Kurukulasuriya Selestina Rodrigo was a Ceylonese philanthropist and businesswoman. She was a pioneer in the field of Buddhist Girls' education and women entrepreneurs. She was the founding patron (1917) of the premier Buddhist School for girls in Sri Lanka; Visakha Vidyalaya, located in Bambalapitiya, Colombo. and few years later Sri Sumangala Girls College, Panadura.
Sir Albert Ernest de Silva was a Ceylonese business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Ceylonese philanthropist of the 20th century. A wealthy and influential polymath, he was the founder-chairman of the largest bank in Ceylon, the Bank of Ceylon, the founder-governor of the State Mortgage Bank and chairman of the Ceylon All-Party committee. He made many contributions to Ceylonese society and is also considered to be the preeminent philatelist in the history of Ceylon. Upon Ceylon's independence, he was asked to become the first Ceylonese Governor General, an honour he declined for personal reasons. De Silva was at the pinnacle of upper-class society and, as the wealthiest Ceylonese of his generation, he defined the island's ruling class. His memorials describe him as highly respected for his integrity and honesty.
Madampe is a town situated in the Puttalam District, of North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Madampe is a town with historical importance which was ruled by king Thaniwallbha according to the history. There are two areas: Old town and New town which is also known as Silva town. Old town is located on Colombo - Negombo - Chilaw main road. The new town is located on Kuliyapitiya road. The old town area is mainly occupied by Muslim community and consists of many shops. Town areas are occupied by commercial users: several super markets, shops, hardware stores, restaurants and other public institutions. Middle income class residential users are mostly occupied. The road network is well developed.
Sir Lalitha Abhaya Rajapaksa, QC was a Ceylonese lawyer and politician. He was the first Minister of Justice of Ceylon and a member of the Senate of Ceylon.
Thomas Amarasuriya, OBE was a Ceylonese planter and politician. He was a member of the State Council of Ceylon and President of the Senate of Ceylon. He was the first Ceylonese Chairman of the Planters Association and a brother of H. W. Amarasuriya.
Wilmot Arthur de Silva was Ceylonese veterinary surgeon, politician and philanthropist. He was the Minister of Health (1936–1942) in the second State Council of Ceylon and a former President of the Ceylon National Congress.
Henry Woodward Amarasuriya was a Ceylonese plantation owner, politician, educationist and philanthropist. He was the Cabinet Minister for Trade and Commerce in the cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. A former member of the Ceylon state council, H. W. Amarasuriya was a founding member and the first general secretary of the United National Party. He also held the position of Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees in the first parliament of Ceylon. A member of the first Education Executive Committee of the state council and a former general manager of the Buddhist schools, he did a great service to improve the education in Ceylon.
Ena de Silva was a notable Sri Lankan artist, credited with re-establishing the country's batik industry.
Mary Elizabeth Mikahala Robinson Foster was a Hawaiian philanthropist, and known as the first Hawaiian Buddhist. On her death, she donated her substantial gardens to the city of Honolulu, and they later became the Foster Botanical Garden.
