Wilfred de Soysa

Last updated

Sir Lambert Wilfred Alexander de Soysa, also known as Sir Wilfred de Soysa (20 Feb 1884 - 3 May 1968), was a Ceylonese entrepreneur, landed proprietor and philanthropist. [1] He was the seventh son of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and Lady Catherine de Soysa. Born at Alfred House Colombo and educated privately, then at Royal College, Colombo and Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, he completed his studies at the Royal Agricultural College, England. [2]

De Soysa was successful as a tea, rubber and coconut planter and established the firm De Soysa & Co. [3] He was also a member of the Ceylon National Association and part of the Lanka Mahajana Sabha delegation to the Donoughmore Commission. [2] He was a proprietor of the Ceylon Morning Leader newspaper, [4] and played host to the young Hirohito and Rabindranath Tagore. [5] [6] He was knighted in the 1938 New Year Honours as a Knight Bachelor. [7]

De Soysa married Senator Evelyn Yohana (née Fernando) [8] [9] and their first son Harold de Soysa was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo. [10] His second son Cecil de Soysa was the founding Chairman of the Ceylon Tourist Board [11] [12] and the Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Lines. [13] [14] [15] In 1954 his third son Terence de Soysa was appointed as the first Sri Lankan Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. [16] [17] [18] [19] His fourth son Ryle de Soysa was the opening batsman for the All-Ceylon (national team) from 1938 to 1945, and represented the Oxford University, the Sinhalese Sports Club (of which he was later president) and captained the Royal College, Colombo first XI team to Australia in 1936. [20] [21] [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmund Samarakkody</span> Ceylonese lawyer, trade unionist, politician and Member of Parliament

Edmund Peter Samarakkody was a Ceylonese lawyer, trade unionist, politician and Member of Parliament.

De Soysa International Cricket Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, in southwestern Sri Lanka. It is currently used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 15,000 people and hosted its first Test match in 1992. The ground opened in 1940 and gained Test status in 1979. Moratuwa, located just eight miles (13 km) south of Colombo is renowned for its carpentry, cricket and its philanthropists. Indeed it was the most famous of these families that initiated the development of De Soysa Park Stadium, when they donated the 5 acre plot of land to the Urban Council in 1940, to develop the Sports Complex. An additional 2 acres were sold under its market value by another member of the family. The ground was named De Soysa Park and subsequently used mainly for Moratuwa Sports Club (MSC) and school competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Henry de Soysa</span> Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Charles Henry de Soysa Dharmagunawardana Vipula Jayasuriya Karunaratna Disanayaka popularly known as Charles Henry de Soysa, JP was a Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter, industrialist and 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, 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 Catherine, Lady de Soysa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin Wijeyeratne</span> Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and diplomat

Sir Edwin Aloysius Perera Wijeyeratne, known as Edwin Wijeyeratne, was a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician, diplomat, and one of the founding members of the Ceylon National Congress and the United National Party. He was a Senator and Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development in the cabinet of D. S. Senanayake. He thereafter he served as Ceylonese High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ceylonese High Commissioner to India

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Peiris</span>

Sir James Peiris was a prominent leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement, the first elected Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Ceylon and the first native Governor of Ceylon (Acting).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. R. Wijewardena</span> Sri Lankan media proprietor and leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement (1886-1950)

Don Richard Wijewardena was a Sri Lankan media proprietor who was involved in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and played a significant role in the independence movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold de Soysa</span> Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Charles Harold Wilfred de Soysa MA (1907-1971) was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Sir Henry Lawson De Mel, was a Ceylonese industrialist, lawyer, philanthropist and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council and founder of the H.L. De Mel & Co.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Fernando</span> Ceylonese statesman, physician and banker

Sir Hilarion Marcus Fernando, FRCP was a pre-independence Ceylonese statesman, physician and banker. He was a member of both the executive council and legislative council, as well as the chairman of the State Mortgage Bank of Ceylon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeronis de Soysa</span> Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa was a pioneering Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneer coffee planter and an industrialist who became the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century by establishing the largest native commercial enterprise of the era. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank and is often referred to as a father of private enterprise in British Ceylon. He was the first Mudaliyar to be elevated in recognition of his philanthropy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennet Soysa</span> Ceylonese politician and philanthropist

Sir Bennet Soysa, CBE was a Ceylonese politician and philanthropist. He was a member of the 2nd State Council of Ceylon and the Senate of Ceylon. He was also Mayor of Kandy on five occasions and dedicated his wealth for the propagation of Buddhism.

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.

Harold Peiris (1904–1981) was a Sri Lankan lawyer, author, scholar, teacher, patron of the arts, and philanthropist. He was the co-founder of the Lionel Wendt Art Centre and its sole life-trustee. He is sometimes confused with Harry Pieris, a cousin and contemporary, who was a member of the Colombo '43 Group of artists and established the Sapumal Foundation.

The Ceylonese was an English-language newspaper in Ceylon founded by P. Ramanathan and other leading figures. The newspaper started on 5 March 1913 with Americans H. H. Marcus as manager and Tom Wright as editor. The paper was based at Tichborne Hall, Tichborne Avenue in Maradana, Colombo. The paper's other directors included Hector Alfred Jayewardene and Francis de Zoysa. The paper was editorially nationalistic and was run like an American newspaper, a contrast to other Ceylonese papers which were run according to the British model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. R. de Soysa</span> Ceylonese politician (1869–1939)

Alfred Joseph Richard de Soysa, also known as A. J. R. de Soysa was a Ceylonese landed proprietor and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn de Soysa</span>

Lady Evelyn Johanna Publina de Soysa OBE was the third female member of the Senate of Ceylon.

Bernard Soysa was a Sri Lankan politician.

Gahmini Ryle Johannes de Soysa was a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer and entrepreneur.

Solomon Fernando was a Ceylonese physician and a community leader. He was the first Ceylonese to qualify in Western Medicine along with John Attygala and went on to serve as the Director of Health Services before his retirement. He died of a heart attack after delivering a protest speech against the imprisonment of Sinhalese by the British Colonial administration during the 1915 riots.

Holy Emmanuel Church is an Anglican stone church, located in Hanguranketha. The church was constructed in 1886 by Charles Henry de Soysa and is one of the oldest churches in the district. It is located approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the town centre, adjoining Hanguranketha C. C. Vidyalaya.

References

  1. ↑ History of Ceylon Tea Website Retrieved 30 January 2015
  2. 1 2 Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp.538-54 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ISBN   978-8120613355
  3. ↑ De Soysa & Co Retrieved 30 January 2015
  4. ↑ A brief history of local and foreign newspapers, KKS Perera (Daily News) Retrieved 25 October 2019
  5. ↑ Keepers of their forest, Lankika de Livera (Sunday Times) Retrieved 12 February 2016
  6. ↑ Visit to the Historical Rajamaha viharayas and Kodigaha Kanda forest sanctuary, Lakdasun Trips, Retrieved 12 February 2016
  7. ↑ "SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 1 JANUARY, 1938" (PDF). thegazette.co.uk. The London Gazette. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  8. ↑ The Holy Emmanuel Church (history) Retrieved 30 January 2015
  9. ↑ 150th Anniversary Publication of the Holy Emmanuel Church, p. 23, Retrieved 30 August 2015
  10. ↑ A daughter's tribute: My father's life was his honour Retrieved 30 January 2015
  11. ↑ Sri Lanka’s Tourism all Began in the USA by Sam Samaradivakara The Island (Sri Lanka) Retrieved 26 October 2019
  12. ↑ Presidential awards for travel and tourism lauded - Shirajiv SIRIMANE Retrieved 19 February 2015
  13. ↑ Ceylon's Outlook Continues Bleak by H.B.W. Abeynaike (NEW YORK TIMES) Retrieved 16 February 2015
  14. ↑ Cancer Society's 16th AGM, Sarath Malalasekera Retrieved 16 February 2015
  15. ↑ Selwood- A Triumph of Design by Tissa Jayatilaka Retrieved 16 February 2015
  16. ↑ 100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF S.T.L.DE SOYSA, A man of vision and principle, The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 30 May 2015
  17. ↑ Ceylon Chamber of Commerce marks 175 years Ceylon Today Retrieved 16 February 2015
  18. ↑ April 5, 1942 the day Ceylon escaped Japanese occupation By Gamini de Silva Retrieved 16 February 2015
  19. ↑ He played the game on and off the field, Tambyah Murugaser Retrieved 16 February 2015
  20. ↑ Player Profile ESPN Cricinfo.com Retrieved 23 January 2015
  21. ↑ Diplomatic Moves: Life in the Foreign Service, by Sally James, pp.42,47,49-50. (I. B. Tauris) ISBN   9781850439240
  22. ↑ Ryle de Soysa scholarships for deserving students Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 January 2015
  23. ↑ Sinhalese Sports Club: Home of Lankan cricket, Ryhanna Salie, Sunday Observer, Retrieved 24 March 2019
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.