Don Carolis Hewavitharana
Encyclopedia
Don Carolis Hewavitharana Wijeyaguneratne (1833 - 18 February 1906) was a Ceylonese
businessman, industrialist, philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement. He was the father of Anagarika Dharmapala
, and created a political family of considerable influence.
, the son of Hewavitharana Dingiri Appuhamy. He was educated at Hittatiya Raja Maha Vihara
by Ven. Mirrise Revatha, his brother was to become a monk at the same monastery, later its chief incumbent. He became an astrologer
by profession.
In 1860, he married Mallika Dharmagunawardhana, the daughter of Lansige Lansige Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
, a wealthy businessman from Colombo
. The couple had 5 children, Don David Hewavitharana who later changed is name to Anagarika Dharmapala
and became a prominent figure Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon and in India; Dr Charles Alwis Hewavitharana, a proinent physician and independence activist; Edmund Hewavitharana; Simon Alexander Hewavitharana and Dona Engeltina Moonesinghe.
, Don Carolis received a furniture shop in the Pettah
, which became H. Don Carolis & Sons Ltd, one of the largest and reputed furniture companies in Asia
. In 1886 H Don Carolis & Sons exported furniture to Australia. An Indo-Afric syndicate
was formed in London
in 1895 to carry out a large furniture business with South Africa
. This led to the establishment of the firm‘s first factory, 'Steam Furniture Works' in Slave Island
. The firm became the dominant furniture maker in the country.
By the turn of the century, the firm was exporting to Australia
, South Africa, India
, Burma, England
, Europe
& the USA. Don Carolis obtained Gold and Silver medals for furniture exhibited at the Ceylon Agricultural Exhibitions, the Indian Industrial Exhibition of 1901, the Paris Exhibition
of 1900, and the St. Louis Exposition
of 1904.
to declare themselves Christian
. This was changed after Col. Henry Steele Olcott made representations to Secretary of State for the Colonies
in London
on behalf of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka.
The Buddhism Protection Committee (also known as the Colombo Committee) was formed in January 1884 under the patronage of Colonel Olcott, mainly with the objective of getting the Vesak
full-moon day holiday restored. The British had not shown any interest in restoring the Vesak holiday which the Buddhists lost in 1770 during the Dutch rule. Dharmagunawardena was elected President with Don Carolis as Vice President.In 1885 the Vesak holiday was restored and the committee elected a steering committee, to which Don Carolis and his father-in-law were again elected, which went on to design the Buddhist flag
.
and Dr CA Hewavitharana. Of the others, two had offspring. The most notable of this generation were:
The most prominent members of the third generation:
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
businessman, industrialist, philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement. He was the father of Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
, and created a political family of considerable influence.
Early life
He was born in Yatiyana, Hittetiya, MataraMatara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
, the son of Hewavitharana Dingiri Appuhamy. He was educated at Hittatiya Raja Maha Vihara
Vihara
Vihara is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a Buddhist monastery. It originally meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges" used by wandering monks during the rainy season....
by Ven. Mirrise Revatha, his brother was to become a monk at the same monastery, later its chief incumbent. He became an astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
by profession.
In 1860, he married Mallika Dharmagunawardhana, the daughter of Lansige Lansige Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana
Muhandiram Lansage Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana was a Sri Lankan businessman, a philanthropist and a pioneer of the Buddhist revival movement...
, a wealthy businessman from Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. The couple had 5 children, Don David Hewavitharana who later changed is name to Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
and became a prominent figure Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon and in India; Dr Charles Alwis Hewavitharana, a proinent physician and independence activist; Edmund Hewavitharana; Simon Alexander Hewavitharana and Dona Engeltina Moonesinghe.
H Don Carolis & Sons
As dowryDowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
, Don Carolis received a furniture shop in the Pettah
Pettah
Pettah is an urban neighbourhood of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the Indian state of Kerala.-Location:Pettah is on the way to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Shanghumugham Beach. Private and KSRTC buses connect Pettah to most parts of the city.The railway station at Pettah is...
, which became H. Don Carolis & Sons Ltd, one of the largest and reputed furniture companies in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. In 1886 H Don Carolis & Sons exported furniture to Australia. An Indo-Afric syndicate
Syndicate
A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or entities formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in organized crime...
was formed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1895 to carry out a large furniture business with South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This led to the establishment of the firm‘s first factory, 'Steam Furniture Works' in Slave Island
Slave Island
Slave Island is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka located directly south of the Fort area of Colombo. The name Slave Island was given during the period of British occupation and administration, and refers to the situation under Portuguese and Dutch administration when slaves were held there, most of...
. The firm became the dominant furniture maker in the country.
By the turn of the century, the firm was exporting to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, South Africa, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Burma, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
& the USA. Don Carolis obtained Gold and Silver medals for furniture exhibited at the Ceylon Agricultural Exhibitions, the Indian Industrial Exhibition of 1901, the Paris Exhibition
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
of 1900, and the St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition
St. Louis Exposition can refer to either:*Saint Louis Exposition *Louisiana Purchase Exposition...
of 1904.
Buddhist Revival
Until 1884, Buddhists were forced by the colonial authoritiesBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
to declare themselves Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. This was changed after Col. Henry Steele Olcott made representations to Secretary of State for the Colonies
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on behalf of the Buddhists of Sri Lanka.
The Buddhism Protection Committee (also known as the Colombo Committee) was formed in January 1884 under the patronage of Colonel Olcott, mainly with the objective of getting the Vesak
Vesak
Vesākha is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the South East Asian countries of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, and Indonesia...
full-moon day holiday restored. The British had not shown any interest in restoring the Vesak holiday which the Buddhists lost in 1770 during the Dutch rule. Dharmagunawardena was elected President with Don Carolis as Vice President.In 1885 the Vesak holiday was restored and the committee elected a steering committee, to which Don Carolis and his father-in-law were again elected, which went on to design the Buddhist flag
Buddhist flag
The Buddhist flag is a flag designed in the late 19th century to symbolise and universally represent Buddhism. It is used by Buddhists throughout the world.-History:...
.
Descendants
Don Carolis had five children, the most notable being Anagarika DharmapalaAnagarika Dharmapala
Anagarika Dharmapala was a leading figure of Buddhism in the twentieth century. He was one of the founding contributors of Sinhalese Buddhist Nationalism and Protestant Buddhism...
and Dr CA Hewavitharana. Of the others, two had offspring. The most notable of this generation were:
- Neil Hewavitharana
- Raja Hewavitharana
- Kumaradas Moonesinghe, founding Managing Director of the Elephant Match Company
The most prominent members of the third generation:
- Anil MoonesingheAnil MoonesingheAnil Moonesinghe was a Sri Lankan Trotskyist revolutionary politician and trade unionist. He became a Member of Parliament, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and a Diplomat. He authored several books and edited newspapers and magazines. He was Chairperson and General Manager of...
MP, Cabinet Minister, Deputy Speaker and Ambassador - Gamani Jayasuriya MP, Cabinet Minister
- Susil MoonesingheSusil MoonesingheSusil Moonesinghe is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and diplomat and current Chairman of State Trading Wholesale Company Ltd. A former Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council and a member of parliament, he was a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran...
MP, Chief Minister and Ambassador - Mangala MoonesingheMangala MoonesingheMangala Moonesinghe is a Sri Lankan lawyer, politician and diplomat. He was Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2002 and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India from 1995 to 2000...
MP and High Commissioner