Charles Henry de Soysa Dharmagunawardana Vipula Jayasuriya Karunaratna Disanayaka popularly known as Charles Henry de Soysa,
JP (3 March 1836 – 29 September 1890) was a
Ceylonese
Sri Lankan or Ceylonese may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Sri Lanka
* A person from Sri Lanka, see Demographics of Sri Lanka
** Sinhalese people, the ethnic majority
** Sri Lankan Tamils, an ethnic minority
** Sri L ...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship is the creation or extraction of economic value. With this definition, entrepreneurship is viewed as change, generally entailing risk beyond what is normally encountered in starting a business, which may include other values th ...
and philanthropist. He was a pioneering planter,
industrialist
A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...
and was the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century.
[The Story of Ceylon Tea](_blank)
by Maxwell Fernando (book review), Retrieved 5 December 2014
Richard Simon, pp. 24 & 97 (Colombo Tea Traders' Association, 2017), He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank, the
Moratuwa
Moratuwa ( si, මොරටුව, ta, மொறட்டுவை) is a large suburb of Colombo, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, south o ...
carpenters
guild
A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular area. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradesmen belonging to a professional association. They sometimes ...
, the Ceylon Agricultural and National Associations. He is widely regarded as the greatest
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
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,
[Great Lives From History: Incredibly Wealthy]
Howard Bromberg, pp. 263-5 (Salem Pr Inc), [Charles Henry de Soysa’s 176th birth anniversary: Philanthropist par excellence](_blank)
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
The ''Daily News'' is an English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is now published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), a government-owned corporation. The newspaper commenced publishing on 3 January 1918. D. R. Wijew ...
, 1 December 2014 establishing infant-maternal healthcare and
secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...
education for girls in the country.
[The baby hospital]
by Nadeera Seneviratne and Nimna Edirisinghe The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 3 November 2015[De Soysa Maternity Hospital (Official Website)]
Retrieved 22 December 2014[Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp. 117-8 & 552 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ] He would have been the island's first
Knight Bachelor
The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the ...
, 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''.
Early life and education
Charles de Soysa was born at the humble abode of his maternal grandfather in
Moratuwa
Moratuwa ( si, මොරටුව, ta, மொறட்டுவை) is a large suburb of Colombo, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, south o ...
on 3 March 1836.
[The De Soysa Charitaya](_blank)
by C. Don Bastian Jayaweera Bandara and V. S. M. De Mel, pp.iii, 1, 14, 17, 75-6, 89, 93-102, 109 (University of California) ASIN B00H1CYGL4 He was the only son of
Mudliyar Jeronis de Soysa Dissanayake and Francesca de Soysa Lamaethani (née Cooray). Jeronis de Soysa, an
Ayurveda
Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. The theory and practice of Ayurveda is pseudoscientific. Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population repo ...
doctor
Doctor or The Doctor may refer to:
Personal titles
* Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree
* A medical practitioner, including:
** Physician
** Surgeon
** Dentist
** Veterinary physician
** Optometrist
*Other roles
** ...
, was one of the most successful merchants in Ceylon and established the largest native commercial enterprise of the era.
[Charles Henry De Soysa; The Anepindu Sitano of Lanka](_blank)
by Buddhika Kurukularatne The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 1 December 2015[Philanthropist and Patriot: Charles Henry de Soysa](_blank)
by Wimalasiri A. Fernando The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 5 December 2014[Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp.256-7,260,313,538-54 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ] His grandfather Warusahennadige Joseph Soysa (1764-1839), an Ayurveda practitioner, great grandfather Bastian Soysa and earlier ancestors; Don Francisco, Juan and Manual Soysa
Muhandiram
Muhandiram ( si, මුහන්දිරම්, ta, முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. It was awarded as a title o ...
were salt and grain merchants having interests in the transportation, boat building and the agricultural sector.
[THE GREATEST VISIONARY AND PHILANTHROPIST OF MORATUWA, Tribute to Jeronis de Soysa]
by B. R. Oclen. Fernando The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 23 December 2014[The De Soyas of Alfred House by Rupa de Soysa, p.10, 13, 34, 38, 51-9, 71, 74-5 & 95 (Karunaratne & Sons)] Their ancestor was the lay custodian of the
Devinuwara Temple Matara at the time of its destruction in 1587.
Having his primary education at the Palliyagodella
Buddhist Temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
in Moratuwa, de Soysa went on to gain his secondary education at the
Colombo Academy
Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...
and then became one of the first students of
S. Thomas' College, Mutwal before completing his education at home with a tutor. He became an apprentice under his father and uncle Susew de Soysa (1809–1881) in managing the large estates and trading network of the family, starting at
Hanguranketa
Hanguranketa is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.
See also
*List of towns in Central Province, Sri Lanka
Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka, containing the Kandy District, Matale District, and Nuwara Eliy ...
. From a young age De Soysa had displayed a benevolent nature.
[Charles Henry De Soysa A rare Ceylonese, his philanthropy reached far beyond our shores]
by Ilica Malkanthi Karunaratne, The Daily Mirror
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
, Retrieved 30 May 2015[112th death anniversary of C. H. de Soysa – philanthropist unequalled](_blank)
Dr. K. N. M. D. Cooray Daily News (Sri Lanka)
The ''Daily News'' is an English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is now published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), a government-owned corporation. The newspaper commenced publishing on 3 January 1918. D. R. Wijew ...
Retrieved 23 December 2014
Marriage
De Soysa, a devout
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
, sought the hand of Catherine (1845–1914), the daughter of
Chevalier
Chevalier may refer to:
Honours Belgium
* a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II
* a title in the Belgian nobility
France
* a rank in the French Legion d'h ...
Jusey de Silva Deva Aditya (1816–1889) and Weerahennadige Weerabala Jayasuriya Patabendi Anna Fernando (1825–1877) who were staunch
Catholics
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
. De Silva hailed from the traditional nindagam land holders of Moratuwa during the
Kotte Kingdom
The Kingdom of Kotte ( si, කෝට්ටේ රාජධානිය, Kottay Rajadhaniya), named after its capital, Kotte, was a Sinhalese kingdom that flourished in Sri Lanka during the 15th century.
Kotte, under the rule of Ming-backed ...
[Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp. 650, 667-9 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ][A Tribute to my Father : DR. KINGSLEY DE SILVA DEVA ADITYA on his 100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY](_blank)
By Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya (MEP) The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 15 December 2014 and was a successful wholesaler and exporter of
arrack
Arrack is a distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane, and also with grain (e.g. red rice) or fruit depending upon the country of origin. It ...
.
[Extracts from 'Nobodies to Somebodies - The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka']
Kumari Jayawardena, (Social Scientists' Association and Sanjiva Books).
by Surath Peiris. Retrieved on 1 December 2014 A compromise was made to solemnise the marriage according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church and the wedding was held on 4 February 1863 at the Chevalier
walauwa
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/Colony, colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a Native headmen of Ceylon, native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
The term walauwa is derive ...
, Moratuwa
[ Save oldest mansion in Moratuwa from the Police](_blank)
Ravi Perera The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 23 December 2014
Trade and Industry
De Soysa was a pioneering
tea planter
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of '' Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and north ...
which was usually the preserve of Europeans.
[Ceylonese Participation in Tea Cultivation](_blank)
by Maxwell Fernando: History of Ceylon Tea Website, Retrieved 5 December 2014 When the coffee crash occurred in 1869 many European planters went back home. However, De Soysas' investments were not only in coffee, which enabled him to survive the coffee crisis and expand his plantations further. De Soysa planted tea in the former coffee estates and it fetched record prices at the Colombo and London auctions
An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition ex ...
. Guru Oya, Marigold, Hantana and others, established in 1870, were among the earliest tea plantations of the country.
De Soysa also cultivated citronella, coconut
The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family ( Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the ...
, cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...
, rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima
''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...
, rubber
Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...
, cocoa and cotton in seven of the nine provinces of the Island. His other investments included transportation, graphite
Graphite () is a crystalline form of the element carbon. It consists of stacked layers of graphene. Graphite occurs naturally and is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. Synthetic and natural graphite are consumed on large ...
mining, coffee, coir
Coir (), also called coconut fibre, is a natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, and mattresses. Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell ...
and oil mills, tea factories and the import-export trade.[Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth By Anoma Pieris, p.65-81 & 83 (Routledge) ][A Bean Two Leaves and a Bud, Chapter 12 - The de Soysa Family]
by Ed Rowlands. Retrieved 5 December 2014 Built in 1870, the Wolfendhal and Diyatalawa mills were some of the earliest steam mill
A steam mill is a type of grinding mill using a stationary steam engine to power its mechanism.
* And did those feet in ancient time, Albion Flour Mills, first steam mill in London from around 1790
* Aurora Steam Grist Mill, a historic grist ...
s of Ceylon and his fibre mill was the largest in the world.[Nobodies to Somebodies: The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka]
Kumari Jayawardena, pp. 152 & 369 (Zed) ''C. H. de Soysa Exports'' was the first company registered by a Ceylon national.[ He constructed ]commercial buildings
Commercial property, also called commercial real estate, investment property or income property, is real estate (buildings or land) intended to generate a profit, either from capital gains or rental income. Commercial property includes office b ...
at Galle Face
Galle Face is a ocean-side urban park, which stretches for along the coast, in the heart of Colombo, the financial and business capital of Sri Lanka. The promenade was initially laid out in 1859 by Governor Sir Henry George Ward, although t ...
, Colpetty
Kollupitiya, also known as Colpetty is a major neighbourhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period of British ...
, Fort
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
and Pettah
Pettah may refer to:
* Pettah of Ahmednagar, a fortified town outside the Fort of Ahmednagar stormed by British soldiers in 1803 during Second Anglo-Maratha War
* Pettah, Colombo, a neighborhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the City cent ...
and the De Soysa building in Slave Island
Slave Island ( si, කොම්පඤ්ඤ වීදිය, ta, கொம்பனித்தெரு) also known as Kampong Kertel and Kompanna Veediya is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka, located directly south of the Fort. The suburb contain ...
, Colombo.[Extract from Seaports of India and Ceylon]
edited by Allister Macmillan, p. 437 (Asian Educational Services). The residential property he owned became the most sought after residential areas in latter times.
by Padma Edirisinghe, Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
''Sunday Observer'' is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka, published on Sundays. The ''Sunday Observer'' and its sister newspapers the '' Daily News'', ''Dinamina'', ''Silumina'' and ''Thinakaran'' are published by Associated New ...
, Retrieved 10 December 2014
De Soysa was also the first Ceylonese banker and he was instrumental in establishing the Bank of Kandy
Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...
at Dalada veediya and Pettah, Colombo
Pettah is a neighbourhood in Colombo, Sri Lanka located east of the city centre Fort, and behind the Colombo Port. The Pettah neighborhood is famous for the Pettah Market, a series of open air bazaars and markets. It is one of Sri Lanka's busi ...
in 1860.[ Engeltine Cottage in Kandy: The Intertwining of Three Families — Pieris, Sangakkara and Krishnapillai](_blank)
by Michael Roberts. Retrieved 5 December 2014 He was the first Ceylonese member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. De Soysa undertook measures to improve and diversify agricultural productivity in the country by experimenting with farming methods and promoting agricultural innovations. He adopted measures to compete directly in the international market and encouraged other local entrepreneurs to do so.[ When the 'nobodies' made their mark](_blank)
Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
Retrieved 10 December 2014 He introduced emerging technologies and setup incentives for his employees including pensions
A pension (, from Latin ''pensiō'', "payment") is a fund into which a sum of money is added during an employee's employment years and from which payments are drawn to support the person's retirement from work in the form of periodic payments ...
at a time when such a system was yet to be formally adopted by governments and institutions.[
]
Royal banquet
De Soysa was accorded the unique privilege of being invited to hold a reception on behalf of the people of Ceylon for Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh, named after the city of Edinburgh in Scotland, was a substantive title that has been created three times since 1726 for members of the British royal family. It does not include any territorial landholdings and does not produc ...
who was the first member of British Royalty to visit the Island. This he did in royal style at his palatial mansion in Colombo Bagatelle walauwa
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/Colony, colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a Native headmen of Ceylon, native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
The term walauwa is derive ...
, (later renamed Alfred House) which had been specially reconstructed for the occasion in a sprawling park of 120 acres.[Bagatelle Road – will it be gone with the wind?](_blank)
by Dr. A.R.B. Amerasinghe Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
Retrieved 10 December 2014 De Soysa entertained the Prince where the crockery and cutlery of the banquet was made of gold and studded with gems and pearls
A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living animal shell, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pea ...
.[The day the Queen came to Queen’s Road](_blank)
recalls Stephen Prins Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...
Plus. Retrieved 10 December 2014 De Soysa extended the invitation to the elites as well as the commoners from all communities. Consequent to this event H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a reception to the De Soysas (at Queen's House, Colombo
President's House is the official residence and workplace of the President of Sri Lanka, located at Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Since 1804 it had been the residence of British Governors and Governors-General and was known as the ...
) and conferred the title of Gate Mudaliyar
Mudali (or Mudaliyar) was a colonial title and office in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) which was part of the native headman system. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from ...
(Wasala Mudaliyar) on Susew de Soysa and of Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
for the Island on Charles Henry de Soysa (the latter had declined the title of Mudaliyar).[
]
Philanthropy
Health
De Soysa initiated measures to reduce the infant mortality
Infant mortality is the death of young children under the age of 1. This death toll is measured by the infant mortality rate (IMR), which is the probability of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births. The under-five morta ...
rate by creating a supply of trained Sinhalese midwives
A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery.
The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughout their lifespan; con ...
. He later became the first person in Asia to gift a maternity
]
A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of gestati ...
hospital; the De Soysa Lying-In-Home at Borella
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Demographic
Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
, which was once his childhood residence.[ The original buildings of the ]Ceylon Medical College
Ceylon Medical College was a public medical school in Ceylon. The college was established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School. The college was based in Colombo. The college was merged with Ceylon University College in 1942 to form the University ...
gifted by him and his uncle Mudliyar Susew de Soysa were also declared open on the same day by the Governor Sir James Robert Longden
Sir James Robert Longden (7 July 1827 – 4 October 1891) was an English colonial administrator.
Longden was born as the youngest son of John R. Longden, proctor, of Doctors' Commons, London. In 1844, two years after the establishment of a ci ...
on 9 December 1879.
The Lunawa
Lunawa is a suburb in Sri Lanka lying on the coast just south of the capital, Colombo.
Lunawa is a suburb of Moratuwa in the Colombo District of the Western Province. The main sources of income in this city are carpentry and fishing. There are al ...
Hospital Moratuwa, the Panadura
Panadura ( si, පානදුර, translit=Pānadura; ta, பாணந்துறை, translit=Pāṇantuṟai) is a city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately south of Colombo and is surrounded on a ...
hospital, Marawila
Marawila is a town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka.
It is located on the A3 highway, which connects Negombo and Chilaw. The town is located away from Negombo
Negombo (, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the w ...
hospital, Hanguranketa
Hanguranketa is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province.
See also
*List of towns in Central Province, Sri Lanka
Central Province is a province of Sri Lanka, containing the Kandy District, Matale District, and Nuwara Eliy ...
dispensary, the Ingiriya
Ingiriya ( Sinhala: ඉංගිරිය; Tamil: இங்கிரிய) is a city in Kalutara District of Western Province, Sri Lanka, near the border with Sabaragamuwa Province. The city is the meeting point of the Rathnapura–Panadura, ...
hospital and the Bacteriological Institute (Medical Research Institute) headed by the erudite Dr Aldo Castellani
Aldo Castellani, KCMG (8 September 1874 – 3 October 1971) was an Italian pathologist and bacteriologist
A bacteriologist is a microbiologist, or similarly trained professional, in bacteriology -- a subdivision of microbiology that studies b ...
were also gifted by the de Soysa family.[Sri Lanka's Development Since Independence: Socio-economic Perspectives and Analyses](_blank)
W. D. Lakshman and Clement Allan Tisdell, p.226 & 351 (Nova Biomedical) [Sri Lanka’s first medical museum](_blank)
By Nilma DOLE, The Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
''Sunday Observer'' is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka, published on Sundays. The ''Sunday Observer'' and its sister newspapers the '' Daily News'', ''Dinamina'', ''Silumina'' and ''Thinakaran'' are published by Associated New ...
, Retrieved 18 December[Saga of Lunawa Hospital: A century gone, names changed, what remains are only a few original edifices]
By Dhanesh Wisumperuma The Nation (Sri Lanka)
''The Nation'' is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published on every Sunday, by Rivira Media Corporation (Pvt) Ltd. A sister newspaper of ''Rivira'', ''The Nation'' was established in 2006. It has a circulation of 132,000 p ...
Retrieved 22 December 2014[Medical Research institute, Sri Lanka: History (Official Website)](_blank)
Retrieved 18 December 2014 The Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital, the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and the Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders.
An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a medic ...
Departments of the Kandy
Kandy ( si, මහනුවර ''Mahanuwara'', ; ta, கண்டி Kandy, ) is a major city in Sri Lanka located in the Central Province. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills ...
and Galle
Galle ( si, ගාල්ල, translit=Gālla; ta, காலி, translit=Kāli) (formerly Point de Galle) is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the southwestern tip, from Colombo. Galle is the provincial capital and largest city of Souther ...
hospitals also benefited from the de Soysa generosity.[Galle as quiet as asleep]
by Norah Roberts, p.201 (N. Roberts/Vijitha Yapa)
by Shabna Cader (Ceylon Today
''Ceylon Today'' is an English language Sri Lankan daily newspaper published by Ceylon Newspapers (Private) Limited. It was founded in 2011 and is published from Colombo. Its sister newspaper is the ''Mawbima''. Ceylon Newspapers (Private) Limited ...
Features) On a visit to Great Britain in 1886, De Soysa gave liberally to 20 major hospitals including the Guys Hospital London, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, Seamen's Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. He also maintained a convalescent home
A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
at the Alfred House premises for the Buddhist clergy.[
]
Education
De Soysa introduced a system of free education
Free education is education funded through government spending or charitable organizations rather than tuition funding. Many models of free higher education have been proposed. Primary school and other comprehensive or compulsory education is fr ...
and scholarships in the schools he founded in his home-town; the Prince & Princes of Wales Colleges. De Soysa lavished the then princely sum of Rs. 300,000 on the buildings alone, on a beautiful site of 15 acres bordering the Lunawa lagoon.[Remembering Sir Charles Henry de Soysa]
by Dilwin Mendis The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 5 December 2014 The secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...
school catered to both genders of all walks of life as the mediums of instruction were English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, the language of the elite as well as the vernacular
A vernacular or vernacular language is in contrast with a "standard language". It refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, n ...
( Sinhala), the native language of the masses. Two plantations were also endowed for its maintenance. The ceremonial opening was performed by Sir William Gregory, the Governor of Ceylon, on 14 September 1876 (along with the ceremonial opening of the St. John's Church and St. John's College Panadura
St John's College is a school in Panadura, Sri Lanka, that was founded in 1876. It is a National school with a student population of 2500 and staff of about 100.
History
St. John's College was initially known as 'Primary State English School' w ...
built by Mudliyar Susew De Soysa).[ The Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges - Moratuwa: The seeming endlessness of the Soysa legacy]
by Malathi Perera, Daily News (Sri Lanka)
The ''Daily News'' is an English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is now published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), a government-owned corporation. The newspaper commenced publishing on 3 January 1918. D. R. Wijew ...
, Retrieved 5 December 2014 Princess of Wales' College
Princess of Wales' College is a girls' school in Sri Lanka, situated in Moratuwa, a suburb of Colombo. Princess of Wales' College was founded in 1876 by Sir Charles Henry de Soysa who was a famous 19th century Sri Lankan philanthropist and was ...
was the first major attempt at imparting a secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin ''saeculum'', "worldly" or "of a generation"), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. Anything that does not have an explicit reference to religion, either negativ ...
education for girls in the country.[
De Soysa's earliest contribution to education was the establishment of the Alfred Model Farm Agriculture School in 1871] and lavish grants to S. Thomas' College.[150th Anniversary Publication of the Holy Emmanuel Church, pp. 3-36, (Rev. Kirtihsiri Fernando), Retrieved 30 August 2015] He also facilitated his alma maters with the impetus for teaching science. The family also gifted land to Royal College, Colombo
Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...
, now the University of Colombo
(Buddhih Sarvatra Bhrajate)
, mottoeng = ''Wisdom Enlightens''
, established =
, endowment = Sri Lankan rupee, LKR 1.461 1,000,000,000 (number), billion sports grounds[ and for the inauguration of the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana.][100 Years of The Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind - Rathmalana]
(srilankastamps.lk) Retrieved 23 December 2014 as well as financing several building projects of Trinity College, Kandy
"Look to the End"
, mottoes =
, founder = John Ireland Jones
, established =
, type = Independent Private
, affiliation = Church of Ceylon, Anglican
, grade ...
. De Soysa gifted the first buildings of the Ceylon Medical College
Ceylon Medical College was a public medical school in Ceylon. The college was established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School. The college was based in Colombo. The college was merged with Ceylon University College in 1942 to form the University ...
.[ Regina Walauwe: A College House of 100 Years]
Serendib magazine, Srilankan Airlines Web (Heritage) Retrieved 5 December 2014 He gave liberally to the National Museum of Colombo
The Colombo National Museum, also known as the Sri Lanka National Museum, is a museum in Colombo and the largest in Sri Lanka. Founded in 1877 and maintained by the Department of National Museums, it holds collections of significant importanc ...
and other institutions throughout the island, including Jaffna
Jaffna (, ) is the capital city of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a peninsula of the same name. With a population of 88,138 in 2012, Jaffna is Sri Lanka's 12th most ...
, scholarships to individuals and also endowed several rural schools. De Soysa is considered a grandfather of free education. Lady De Soysa also patronised St. Sebastian's College and the Convent of Our Lady of Victories founded by her father.[Chevalier Jusey de Silva, Knight of St. Gregory]
- Dr. K.N.M.D.Fernando Cooray Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
''The Sunday Times'' is a weekly Sri Lankan broadsheet initially published by the now defunct Times Group, until 1991, when it was taken over by Wijeya Newspapers. The paper features articles of journalists such as defence columnist Iqbal Athas a ...
Retrieved 22 December 2014
De Soysa also extended his patronage to literary projects. He initiated and sponsored the translation, printing and publication of the Hitopadesha
''Hitopadesha'' (Sanskrit: हितोपदेशः, IAST: ''Hitopadeśa'', "Beneficial Advice") is an Indian text in the Sanskrit language consisting of fables with both animal and human characters. It incorporates maxims, worldly wisdom and ...
, works by the poet Kumaradasa and the Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero, including the publication of the 3rd standard reader. De Soysa also arranged educational charities through the Ven. Ratmalane Sri Dharmarama Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the Vidyalankara Pirivena
Vidyalankara Pirivena is one of the largest Buddhist pirivenas in Sri Lanka. Located in Peliyagoda, it is nearly 150 years old. Under the pirivena's leadership, several schools were started in the region; one is Sri Dharmaloka College, one of the ...
.
Spiritual
At the request of the people of Lakshapathiya, De Soysa built the St. Mathias Church in Lakshapathiya. The foundation for this church was laid by the Rt. Revd. Hugh Willoughby Jermyn (3rd Bishop of Colombo) on 24 February 1872. The church was consecrated on St. Matthias’ Day, 24 February 1876 by the Rt. Revd. Dr. Reginald Stephen Copleston
Reginald Stephen Copleston (26 December 1845 – 19 April 1925) was an Anglican priest and author who served as a bishop in India for more than 30 years.
Biography
Copleston was born in Barnes, London, the son of Rev. R. E. Copleston, Fellow of ...
(4th Bishop of Colombo).[St. Matthias’ Church, Lakshapathiya, Moratuwa – 125th Anniversary]
, by N. T. B. Fernando The Island (Sri Lanka)
''The Island'' is a daily English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is published by Upali Newspapers. A sister newspaper of ''Divaina'', ''The Island'' was established in 1981. Its Sunday edition, ''Sunday Island'', commenced publishing in 199 ...
Retrieved 22 December 2014
De Soysa was a Life Warden of the Holy Emmanuel
Immanuel ( he, עִמָּנוּאֵל, 'Īmmānū'ēl, meaning, "God is with us"; also romanized: , ; and or in Koine Greek of the New Testament) is a Hebrew name that appears in the Book of Isaiah (7:14) as a sign that God will protect the H ...
Church Moratuwa, built by his father, St. John’s Church Panadura, built by his uncle, Saint Stephen
Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ''Stéphanos'', meaning "wreath, crown" and by extension "reward, honor, renown, fame", often given as a title rather than as a name; c. 5 – c. 34 AD) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first ...
's Church Marawila and the Holy Emmanuel Church Hanguranketha, built by him and his uncle. He was also a patron of the St. Sebastian
Saint Sebastian (in Latin: ''Sebastianus''; Narbonne, Narbo, Gallia Narbonensis, Roman Empire c. AD 255 – Rome, Roman Italy, Italia, Roman Empire c. AD 288) was an early Christianity, Christian saint and martyr. According to traditional beli ...
s Church Moratuwa, built by his father-in-law Chevalier
Chevalier may refer to:
Honours Belgium
* a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II
* a title in the Belgian nobility
France
* a rank in the French Legion d'h ...
Jusey de Silva who was also a chief contributor to St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo.[
The Marawila Buddhist temple, Soysaramaya Moratuwa, Pothgul Viharaya Hanguranketa and grants to charities through the Ven. Ratmalane Sri Dharmarama Nayake Thero, the Chief Incumbent of the ]Vidyalankara Pirivena
Vidyalankara Pirivena is one of the largest Buddhist pirivenas in Sri Lanka. Located in Peliyagoda, it is nearly 150 years old. Under the pirivena's leadership, several schools were started in the region; one is Sri Dharmaloka College, one of the ...
and the Ven. Weligama Sri Sumangala
Weligama Sri Sumangala Thero (1825-1905) was an outstanding scholar bhikkhu with many important publications -Hitopadsesa Atthadassi, Hitopadsesa Padarthavykanaya, Upadesa Vinischaya, Siddanta Sekaraya. His work Siddhanta Sekharaya of 700 pages wa ...
Mahanayake Thero are examples of the patronage extended to Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
. De Soysa also maintained a convalescent home
A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
at his Alfred House estate for the Buddhist clergy. Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and Islamic
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...
institutions also benefited from this generosity, a testimony to the broad-minded religious outlook.[ Moratuwa De Soyza MV’s rise has not been an easy path]
- Sujitha Miranda Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
''The Sunday Times'' is a weekly Sri Lankan broadsheet initially published by the now defunct Times Group, until 1991, when it was taken over by Wijeya Newspapers. The paper features articles of journalists such as defence columnist Iqbal Athas a ...
Retrieved 5 December 2014
Other welfare activities
De Soysa set up measures to improve agricultural productivity and the diary industry in the country. In 1871 he inaugurated the Alfred Model Farm
A demonstration farm, or model farm, is a farm which is used primarily to research or demonstrate various agricultural techniques, with any economic gains being an added bonus. Demonstration farms are often owned and operated by educational instit ...
Experimental Station and Agricultural School at Borella
Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.
Demographic
Borella is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic area. The major ethnic communities in Borella are Sinhalese and Tamils. There are also various other ...
and Narahenpita
Narahenpita is a municipal ward of Colombo. Located at the South-Eastern corner and served by the Kelani Valley Railway Line
The Kelani Valley railway line in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District. The line is owned, maintained, ...
to conduct research into farming methods and to promote agricultural innovations. He also introduced new species of crops
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...
and livestock
Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animals ...
and provided teaching and residential facilities. The sum of 10,000 Pound Sterling and of land was set apart for this project. It was declared open on 31 December 1871 by Governor Sir Hercules Robinson
Hercules George Robert Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead, (19 December 1824 – 28 October 1897), was a British colonial administrator who became the 5th Governor of Hong Kong and subsequently, the 14th Governor of New South Wales, the first Gover ...
. The Board of Directors included George Henry Kendrick Thwaites
George Henry Kendrick Thwaites (9 July 1812, Bristol – 11 September 1882, Kandy) was an English botanist and entomologist.
Thwaites was initially an accountant and studied botany during his spare time. He was interested particularly in the lo ...
, the Superintendent of the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.[ However, as the project was less than successful most of the land was later utilized for the Royal Colombo Golf Course and the remainder for extending the Colombo General Cemetery and the Castle Street Hospital.] The family also gifted the De Soysa Stadium
De Soysa Park Stadium (formerly known as Tyronne Fernando Stadium) is a multi-use stadium in Moratuwa, 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 groun ...
.
De Soysa presented the Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain (often the Royal Institution, Ri or RI) is an organisation for scientific education and research, based in the City of Westminster. It was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, inc ...
and museums with archaeological antiquities purchased at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition
The Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886 was held in South Kensington in London with the objective to (in the words of the then Prince of Wales) "stimulate commerce and strengthen the bonds of union now existing in every portion of her Majes ...
including a facsimile
A facsimile (from Latin ''fac simile'', "to make alike") is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, Old master print, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from ...
of the Yapahuwa
Yapahuwa (Sinhalese language : යාපහුව) was one of the ephemeral capitals of medieval Sri Lanka. The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between Kurunagala and Anuradhapura was built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly almost a ...
gate. He constructed the Lunawa road from Galle road to Lunawa
Lunawa is a suburb in Sri Lanka lying on the coast just south of the capital, Colombo.
Lunawa is a suburb of Moratuwa in the Colombo District of the Western Province. The main sources of income in this city are carpentry and fishing. There are al ...
and the bridge across the lagoon. He also had the Katubedda road (Moratuwa) constructed and donated land and money to build the Lunawa Railway Station. He established a Co-operative
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
Society for carpenters and craftsmen in Moratuwa and gave land for resettlement to over a hundred displaced families of Walapane evicted for non-payment of the grain tax and was one of the largest contributors to the Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
and Irish
Irish may refer to:
Common meanings
* Someone or something of, from, or related to:
** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe
***Éire, Irish language name for the isle
** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
famine funds.[Charles Henry de Soysa: Sri Lanka’s greatest philanthropist]
NTB Fernando (2017), Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
''Sunday Observer'' is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka, published on Sundays. The ''Sunday Observer'' and its sister newspapers the '' Daily News'', ''Dinamina'', ''Silumina'' and ''Thinakaran'' are published by Associated New ...
, Retrieved on 6 March 2019 When the colonial authorities introduced the Poll Tax
A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual (typically every adult), without reference to income or resources.
Head taxes were important sources of revenue for many governments fr ...
(which could not be paid by the many thousands of poor people in Moratuwa, at the time consisting the third largest population in Ceylon), De Soysa paid the sums involved on behalf of all the townfolk.[ De Soysa is reputed to have given far more in private benefactions than his known public benefactions.][Charles Henry de Soysa - embodiment of humanity]
Daily News (Sri Lanka)
The ''Daily News'' is an English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka. It is now published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (Lake House), a government-owned corporation. The newspaper commenced publishing on 3 January 1918. D. R. Wijew ...
Retrieved 3 November 2015
Socio-political activity
On 11 November 1871, Ceylon's first mass political
Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
meeting was held on the grounds of the De Soysa walauwa
Walauwa or walawwa is the name given to a feudal/Colony, colonial manor house in Sri Lanka of a Native headmen of Ceylon, native headmen. It also refers to the feudal social systems that existed during the colonial era.
The term walauwa is derive ...
in Moratuwa agitating against the discriminatory provisions of the Village Councils Ordinance 1871, to uphold the dignity of minority groups
The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number o ...
and to oppose the colonial policy of ''divide and rule''. De Soysa's name headed the petition signed by 1000 persons from Moratuwa
Moratuwa ( si, මොරටුව, ta, மொறட்டுவை) is a large suburb of Colombo, on the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, near Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. It is situated on the Galle–Colombo (Galle road) main highway, south o ...
and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia ( si, දෙහිවල-ගල්කිස්ස, translit=Dehivala-Galkissa; ta, தெஹிவளை-கல்கிசை, translit=Tehivaḷai-Kalkicai), population 245,974 (2012) is the largest suburb of the City of ...
requesting the Governor to amendment the Ordinance and to print it in the native language.[
On 24 June 1881 the Ceylon Agricultural Association was formed to safeguard the interests of the native enterprises facing stiff competition from the Europeans and to limit their control of the economic activities of the country. It also inaugurated a movement to abolish the paddy tax. De Soysa was the Founder-President of the Ceylon Agricultural Association which later transformed itself into the Ceylon National Association in 1888 and subsequently played a significant role in the struggles for ]constitutional
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When these princip ...
reforms in the early part of the twentieth century with such celebrities as Sir James Peiris
Sir James Peiris (20 December 1856 – 5 May 1930) 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). as President and D. R. Wijewardena
Don Richard Wijewardena ( Sinhala:දොන් රිච්ඩ් විජෙවර්ධන) (23 February 1886 – 13 June 1950) was a Sri Lankan press baron who was involved in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur ...
as Secretary. The Ceylon National Association paved the way for the rise of the Ceylon National Congress
The Ceylon National Congress ( Sinhala: ලංකා ජාතික කොන්ග්රසය ''Lanka Jathika Kongrasaya'') (CNC) was a Nationalist political party which was formed in Ceylon on 11 December 1919. It was founded after national ...
, which in turn played a decisive role along with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party, often abbreviated as LSSP (Literal translation, literally: Lanka Socialist Party, Sinhalese language, Sinhala: ලංකා සම සමාජ පක්ෂය, Tamil language, Tamil: லங்கா சமசமா ...
in the penultimate lap on the road to independence. The ''Ceylon Standard'' and the '' Ceylon Morning Leader'' newspapers, owned by the de Soysa family powerfully molded the public opinion when it was under the editorship of Armand de Souza
Armand de Souza (29 October 1874 – 1921) was a Ceylonese newspaper editor and democratic activist.
Early life
De Souza was born in Assagaum, Goa, to a Roman Catholic family belonging to the Saraswat Brahman community. He was the tenth des ...
.
Death
De Soysa was bitten by a rabid
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, vio ...
dog that strayed into Alfred House on 2 August 1890. It was originally decided to remove him to Paris for treatment, but he opted to remain in Ceylon and obtain native treatment. He died of rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, vi ...
on 29 of September 1890. As per his wishes, he was instead buried outside the Holy Emmanuel Church in the graveyard next to his son who had died in his infancy. His mortal remains were laid to rest amidst a gathering described as the largest in the nineteenth century.[
]
Honors
In addition to be appointed a Justice of the peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
by Duke of Edinburgh, following his sudden death, his widow, became the first Sinhalese to be granted the use of the courtesy title
A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title).
In some co ...
of ''Lady'' and was known as Lady Catherine de Soysa, as a widow of a Knight Bachelor
The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry; it is a part of the British honours system. Knights Bachelor are the ...
of the realm, with its style and precedence in February 1892.
Legacy
De Soysa, the far sighted native entrepreneur and philanthropist played the role of a paternal figure in 19th century Ceylon. He was the first Ceylonese since the days of the Sinhalese kings to build and equip a complete hospital. He introduced a system of free education long before the state took on that responsibility. The example he set in philanthropy is unique in our annals; he catered from the womb
The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The uter ...
to the tomb
A tomb ( grc-gre, τύμβος ''tumbos'') is a :wikt:repository, repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes. Placing a corpse into a tomb can be ...
. In contrast to the latter day culture where institutions built by public funds
Government spending or expenditure includes all government consumption, investment, and transfer payments. In national income accounting, the acquisition by governments of goods and services for current use, to directly satisfy the individual o ...
, foreign gifts or collected through charities
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a cha ...
are named after individuals, particularly politicians
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
, most institutions pioneered by De Soysa's personal wealth and foresight were in fact not named after himself. He was a public man of the first degree. The first steps towards a formation of a political process which later opened up the possibility of negotiating legislative reforms, self governance and independence were initiated with the stand taken by Mr. De Soysa and others. All the major political parties in Sri Lanka, with the exception of the Marxist and communalist parties can trace their origins even partly to the Ceylon Agricultural Association. De Soysa was far ahead of his times in understanding the importance of the economic, social and moral progress in the process of nation building.[
]
Family
He married Catherine de Silva (1845 - 1914), the only child of Chevalier
Chevalier may refer to:
Honours Belgium
* a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II
* a title in the Belgian nobility
France
* a rank in the French Legion d'h ...
Lindamulage Jusey de Silva, KSG and Weerahennadi Weerabala Jayasuriya Patabendige Anna Fernando on 4 February 1863. They had eight sons and seven daughters;[The cascade of the Soysa family]
by PADMA EDIRISINGHE Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)
''Sunday Observer'' is a weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka, published on Sundays. The ''Sunday Observer'' and its sister newspapers the '' Daily News'', ''Dinamina'', ''Silumina'' and ''Thinakaran'' are published by Associated New ...
Retrieved 23 January 2015 J. W. C de Soysa,[ Hon. ]A. J. R. de Soysa
Alfred Joseph Richard de Soysa, also known as A. J. R. de Soysa (15 February 1869 – 1939) was a Ceylonese landed proprietor and politician. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.
Early life and education
He was the second of ei ...
of Lakshmigiri
Saifee Villa (previously known as Lakshmigiri) is a mansion at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, located between Thunmulla Junction and College House, Colombo.
History and Alfred Joseph Richard de Soysa
Lakshmigiri (built in 1910) ...
,[ E. L. F. de Soysa, T. H. A. de Soysa of ]Regina Walauwa
College House is the administrative center of the University of Colombo, situated in the Cinnamon Gardens suburb of Colombo, it is a national heritage site. ,[ J. S. W. de Soysa,][ Sir Wilfred de Soysa and R. E. S. de Soysa][ who were phillanthrophists in their own right. Famous sons-in law include Sir ]Marcus Fernando
Sir Hilarion Marcus Fernando, FRCP (21 October 1864 – 18 December 1936) 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 Stat ...
, Charles Matthew Fernando, Dr. Solomon Fernando, Dr. W. H. de Silva, Francis Perera-Abeywardena of Closenberg and Louis H. S. Pieris of Whist Bungalow. Famous grandchildren include Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
Harold de Soysa
Charles Harold Wilfred de Soysa MA (1907-1971) was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Born to Sir Wilfred and Lady Evelyn de Soysa, he was educated at Royal College, Colombo and graduated from Oriel College, Oxford o ...
, cricketer Ryle de Soysa. labour unionist and campaigner for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage (also called universal franchise, general suffrage, and common suffrage of the common man) gives the right to vote to all adult citizens, regardless of wealth, income, gender, social status, race, ethnicity, or political stanc ...
, Chevalier
Chevalier may refer to:
Honours Belgium
* a rank in the Belgian Order of the Crown
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold
* a rank in the Belgian Order of Leopold II
* a title in the Belgian nobility
France
* a rank in the French Legion d'h ...
C.H.Z. Fernando[Traversed new paths making History]
, Ananda E. Goonesinha (The Island) Retrieved 2 November 2015 and Loranee Senaratne, the island's first Ambassadress.[ Other relatives include Metropolitan Bishop ]Lakdasa De Mel
Most Rev. Lakdasa Jacob De Mel (1902–1976), MA was the first Bishop of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka and the last Metropolitan Archbishop of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylo
Lakdasa De Mel was born on 24 March 1902 in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, to a prom ...
,[ Sir Henry De Mel, J. L. D. Peiris,] Wilmot A. Perera
Wilmot Abraham Perera (1905–1973) was a Sri Lankan statesman and philanthropist. He was declared a National Hero in 1993. A member of parliament, he was Ceylon's first Ambassador to China.[James Peiris
Sir James Peiris (20 December 1856 – 5 May 1930) 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).] , Apollonia de Soysa, Professor Indra de Soysa, Flying Officer Chinthaka de Soysa, and golfer Amrith de Soysa.Amrith braves the weather and wins the course
By Naushad Amit Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)
''The Sunday Times'' is a weekly Sri Lankan broadsheet initially published by the now defunct Times Group, until 1991, when it was taken over by Wijeya Newspapers. The paper features articles of journalists such as defence columnist Iqbal Athas a ...
Retrieved 23 January 2015
References
External links
De Soysa Maternity Hospital - 125 Anniversary
Prince of Wales' College - 135 Anniversary
School for the Deaf and Blind - 100 Anniversary
Holy Emmanuel Church
Royal Colombo Golf Club
Medical Research Institute
*Tea production in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon) has a climate and varied elevation that allows for the production of both '' Camellia sinensis var. assamica'' and ''Camellia sinensis var. sinensis'', with the assamica varietal holding the majority of product ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Soysa, Charles Henry
1836 births
1890 deaths
19th-century philanthropists
Alumni of Royal College, Colombo
Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Burgher people
Ceylonese Knights Bachelor
Charles Henry Charles, Charlie, or Chuck Henry may refer to:
Sportsmen
*Charlie Henry (baseball) (1900–1972), American Negro leagues baseball player
*Charles Henry (basketball), Gonzaga basketball coach for the 1943–44 season
*Charlie Henry (footballer, bor ...
People from Colombo
People from Moratuwa
People of British Ceylon
Planters of British Ceylon
Sinhalese businesspeople
Sri Lankan bankers
Sri Lankan Christians
Sri Lankan educational theorists
Sri Lankan justices of the peace
Sri Lankan philanthropists
Sri Lankan planters
19th-century British businesspeople