Ernest de Silva
Encyclopedia
Sir Ernest de Silva was a Sri Lanka
n business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Sri Lankan philanthropist of the 20th century. A wealthy and influential polymath
, he was the founder-chairman of the largest bank in Sri Lanka, the Bank of Ceylon
, governor of the State Mortgage Bank and chairman of the Ceylon All-Party committee. He made many contributions to Sri Lankan society and is also considered to be the preeminent philatelist in the history of Sri Lanka. Upon Sri Lanka's independence, he was asked to become the first Ceylonese Governor General (representative of the King in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto head of state), an honour he declined for personal reasons.
De Silva was at the pinnacle of upper-class society and, as the wealthiest Sri Lankan of his generation, he defined the island's ruling class. His memorials describe him as highly respected for his integrity and honesty.
and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
. He was a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
who was a classmate of his at Cambridge. The two former schoolmates met again in 1930 when Nehru arrived for a visit.
Sir Ernest de Silva's wife, Evadne who, following his knighthood, became known as Lady Evadne de Silva, was herself a prominent philanthropist and, upon independence, became one of the first women in the Senate of Ceylon
. One of his daughters, Sita, married construction magnate U. N. Gunasekera
, considered to be Sri Lanka's most notable and influential construction engineer of the 20th century, having built many of the nation's largest buildings, including its first five star hotels. Other notable professionals to join the family were Dr. Oliver.R. Medonza (one of Sri Lanka's most renowned physicians) who married his daughter Swarnapali and M Ratnasiri Perera (a member of the Diplomatic Service) who married his daughter Irangani.
He went on to establish Ceylon's first tuberculosis sanatorium in Kandana
. Sir Ernest also donated a multi-acre cinnamon and coconut estate to cover the expenditure of the organization. He served as the President of the Ceylon National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (CNAPT). Among Sir Ernest’s numerous contributions to health care was the donation of the inaugural Radiology unit inclusive of the first X-ray machine in Ceylon to the National Hospital in memory of his father, A.E. de Silva Snr.
As the founder-chairman of the Bank of Ceylon, he also became the governor of the State Mortgage Bank which was established to provide financial assistance to the island's low-income earners. Among his various philanthropic acts were the establishment of the Angela Children's Home, the Mallika Home, the Parakrama Home, Children's homes in Negombo, Walana, Biyagama, Kandana and Heenatiyana, a maternity home in Bokanda, a Monastery in Salgala, a hermitage in Rajagiriya in addition to the Welisara Children’s hospital and a fully constructed hospital at Wanni Athpaththu Kurunegala. He also supported the establishment of worthy charitable organizations such as the Gamini Matha Elder’s home and Harischandra Vidyalaya. He gave away lands, buildings and funds to numerous orphanages, hospitals, schools, social service bodies, temples and hermitages without fanfare or publicity.
. One such instance was when he purchased an Island (Polgasduwa) in 1911 and offered it to Ven. Nanatiloke, the famous German monk, to start a hermitage for Buddhist monks. The founder-Preceptor, a reputed German Professor who had been ordained in Burma, attracted many scholars and thinkers from all parts of the world, to name a few, from Germany, France, Holland, Yugoslavia, England and the United States of America in the West to the Far East and went onto play a prominent role in the revitalization of Buddhism in the world. Sir Ernest was thus instrumental in putting Sri Lanka on the map of the world of philosophy and religion.
When a great disciple of the German monk, Ven. Gnanoponika, had wanted to disrobe and return to Germany to take his Jewish mother away from the Nazi hostilities, Sir Ernest had used his influence and vouched for his mother and relatives and brought them to Ceylon whereupon some resided in one of his estates.
He also built a temple along with this mother: the Veluvanaramaya. He was the President of the YMBA (Young Men's Buddhist Association) and the Kalutara Bodhi Trust and his wife was the Inaugural President of the Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress. Ranasinghe Premadasa
, who was Sri Lanka's president from 1989 to 1993, said of him that "if there was a Buddhist Temple or school that he did not help, it was not in Sri Lanka.
. One such estate was the famed 1200 acre (5 km²) Salawa estate which was used as a rubber plantation. He owned 46 acres (7360 perches) of land mostly in the Cinnamon Gardens
(Colombo 7) which, being one of the most expensive areas in Sri Lanka, would be worth approximately $500 million in the economy of the 2000s. His company dealt in every description of Ceylonese produce, principally plumbago (graphite), desiccated coconut, fibre, cacao, rubber, cinnamon and tea. The main export business was done with the United Kingdom
and the continent, through the firm's agents in London
, Hamburg
and other European ports. His residence, the "Sirimathipaya Mansion", equipped then with horse stables and tennis courts, now serves as the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office
.
. His Ceylonese collection is said to have been world-class, second only to that of King George V
. He was said to be one of the most notable philatelists in the world and also owned the legendary orange-red "Post Office" Mauritius One Penny (1847) stamp; considered to be among the rarest and most expensive stamps in the world. In keeping with his charitable ways, he donated the stamp to his relative, Sir Cyril de Zoysa
, for the construction of the YMBA headquarters building. Subsequently, the stamp brought $1.1 million at an auction in 1993.
Sir A. E. de Silva was also known to be one of the best Sri Lankan billiards
players of his time and was the patron of the Ceylon Amateur Billiards Association. He played rounds with the then-world champions in his mansion and club. He was also the president of the Ceylon Turf Club and had the rare distinction of winning two Governor's Cups in Ceylon with his favourites Louvello and L'Allegro as well as a Governor's Cup in Calcutta. As president, he maintained a high level of integrity in the "Sport of Kings". He was also one of the first Ceylonese to own a Rolls Royce
.
for his services to Ceylon. In recognition of his services, Flower Road (where he resided) was renamed Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha and a stamp was issued in his honour. Considered the most respected and wealthiest Sri Lankan of his generation, he was offered the position of the first Ceylonese Governor General (Representative of the British Monarch in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto Head of State), which he declined due to personal reasons.
Sir Ernest de Silva died at the age of 70, almost ten years after Sri Lanka gained independence, a cause he strived for. At his funeral, attended by many state officials and leaders, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who was the prime minister at the time, mentioned the loss the nation has to bear with and thanked the departed philanthropist for his services for Sri Lanka, saying that he was a "true gentleman in every sense of the word".
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...
n business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Sri Lankan philanthropist of the 20th century. A wealthy and influential polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
, he was the founder-chairman of the largest bank in Sri Lanka, the Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon is a government-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in iconic cylindrical building in the capital Colombo, the political and commercial capital of the islandThe bank has a network of 308 branches and 200+ extension centers covering all parts of the...
, governor of the State Mortgage Bank and chairman of the Ceylon All-Party committee. He made many contributions to Sri Lankan society and is also considered to be the preeminent philatelist in the history of Sri Lanka. Upon Sri Lanka's independence, he was asked to become the first Ceylonese Governor General (representative of the King in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto head of state), an honour he declined for personal reasons.
De Silva was at the pinnacle of upper-class society and, as the wealthiest Sri Lankan of his generation, he defined the island's ruling class. His memorials describe him as highly respected for his integrity and honesty.
Formative years
Sir Ernest de Silva was born at the "Royal Palace" to one of the most affluent families in Ceylon. His parents and grandparents were extremely wealthy and owned much land all over the country. His great-grandfather, Emans de Silva Gunasekera and his grandfather, S. D. S. Gunasekera bequeathed the properties to his father, A. E. de Silva, who later became the wealthiest businessman in Ceylon, and named his son A. E. de Silva Jr. The young heir received his education first at Royal College, Colombo, graduated subsequently from Clare College, CambridgeClare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He was a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
who was a classmate of his at Cambridge. The two former schoolmates met again in 1930 when Nehru arrived for a visit.
Sir Ernest de Silva's wife, Evadne who, following his knighthood, became known as Lady Evadne de Silva, was herself a prominent philanthropist and, upon independence, became one of the first women in the Senate of Ceylon
Senate of Ceylon
The Senate of Ceylon was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed/indirectly elected rather than directly elected. The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time...
. One of his daughters, Sita, married construction magnate U. N. Gunasekera
U. N. Gunasekera
U.N. Gunasekera BSc Eng , MI.Struct. UK, FIE is considered to be Sri Lanka's greatest construction magnate of the 20th century. - Early life :...
, considered to be Sri Lanka's most notable and influential construction engineer of the 20th century, having built many of the nation's largest buildings, including its first five star hotels. Other notable professionals to join the family were Dr. Oliver.R. Medonza (one of Sri Lanka's most renowned physicians) who married his daughter Swarnapali and M Ratnasiri Perera (a member of the Diplomatic Service) who married his daughter Irangani.
Philanthropy
Sir Ernest de Silva was, arguably, Sri Lanka's greatest philanthropist of the twentieth century, funding a vast number of charitable endeavors. Among his various projects were the building of four major schools (including Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Dematagoda Veluvanarama Vidyalaya and Lakshmi College) and providing free education as well as scholarships to its students. Through the Devpathiraja Vidyalaya, Sir Ernest established the inaugural free Buddhist English school in the South, 23 years prior to the establishment of free education in Ceylon and therefore is sometimes referred to as the ‘Grandfather of free education’ for the conception and successful implementation of the notion. He and his wife, Senator Lady Evadne de Silva, funded the inaugural orphanage in Ceylon in the form of a donation of 9 acres (36,000 m2) in Katunayake.He went on to establish Ceylon's first tuberculosis sanatorium in Kandana
Kandana
Kandana is a town in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka, just 19 km north of the Capital, Colombo. Due to the close proximity to the Capital, Negombo as well as the Bandaranaike International Airport, Kandana is a popular Residential Area....
. Sir Ernest also donated a multi-acre cinnamon and coconut estate to cover the expenditure of the organization. He served as the President of the Ceylon National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (CNAPT). Among Sir Ernest’s numerous contributions to health care was the donation of the inaugural Radiology unit inclusive of the first X-ray machine in Ceylon to the National Hospital in memory of his father, A.E. de Silva Snr.
As the founder-chairman of the Bank of Ceylon, he also became the governor of the State Mortgage Bank which was established to provide financial assistance to the island's low-income earners. Among his various philanthropic acts were the establishment of the Angela Children's Home, the Mallika Home, the Parakrama Home, Children's homes in Negombo, Walana, Biyagama, Kandana and Heenatiyana, a maternity home in Bokanda, a Monastery in Salgala, a hermitage in Rajagiriya in addition to the Welisara Children’s hospital and a fully constructed hospital at Wanni Athpaththu Kurunegala. He also supported the establishment of worthy charitable organizations such as the Gamini Matha Elder’s home and Harischandra Vidyalaya. He gave away lands, buildings and funds to numerous orphanages, hospitals, schools, social service bodies, temples and hermitages without fanfare or publicity.
Faith
Sir Ernest de Silva was a strong Buddhist who contributed much to the advancement of BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. One such instance was when he purchased an Island (Polgasduwa) in 1911 and offered it to Ven. Nanatiloke, the famous German monk, to start a hermitage for Buddhist monks. The founder-Preceptor, a reputed German Professor who had been ordained in Burma, attracted many scholars and thinkers from all parts of the world, to name a few, from Germany, France, Holland, Yugoslavia, England and the United States of America in the West to the Far East and went onto play a prominent role in the revitalization of Buddhism in the world. Sir Ernest was thus instrumental in putting Sri Lanka on the map of the world of philosophy and religion.
When a great disciple of the German monk, Ven. Gnanoponika, had wanted to disrobe and return to Germany to take his Jewish mother away from the Nazi hostilities, Sir Ernest had used his influence and vouched for his mother and relatives and brought them to Ceylon whereupon some resided in one of his estates.
He also built a temple along with this mother: the Veluvanaramaya. He was the President of the YMBA (Young Men's Buddhist Association) and the Kalutara Bodhi Trust and his wife was the Inaugural President of the Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress. Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa
Ranasinghe Premadasa was the 3rd President of Sri Lanka from January 2, 1989 to May 1, 1993. Before that, he served as the Prime Minister in the government headed by J. R. Jayewardene from February 6, 1978 to January 1, 1989...
, who was Sri Lanka's president from 1989 to 1993, said of him that "if there was a Buddhist Temple or school that he did not help, it was not in Sri Lanka.
Wealth
Sir Ernest was, in his time, Sri Lanka's richest man and one of the wealthiest Sri Lankans of the twentieth century. He inherited and purchased thousands of acres of tea, rubber and coconut estates as well as land in the prominent areas of ColomboColombo
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...
. One such estate was the famed 1200 acre (5 km²) Salawa estate which was used as a rubber plantation. He owned 46 acres (7360 perches) of land mostly in the Cinnamon Gardens
Cinnamon Gardens
Cinnamon Gardens is a suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka located 3 kilometers south-east from Colombo city centre. Cinnamon Gardens is named from the former Cinnamon plantation in this area. In the year 1789, there were of Cinnamon trees in Cinnamon Gardens...
(Colombo 7) which, being one of the most expensive areas in Sri Lanka, would be worth approximately $500 million in the economy of the 2000s. His company dealt in every description of Ceylonese produce, principally plumbago (graphite), desiccated coconut, fibre, cacao, rubber, cinnamon and tea. The main export business was done with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the continent, through the firm's agents 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...
, Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and other European ports. His residence, the "Sirimathipaya Mansion", equipped then with horse stables and tennis courts, now serves as the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office
Prime Minister's Office (Sri Lanka)
The Prime Minister's Office is a ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka. It provides the administrative and institutional framework for the exercise of the duties and responsibilities vested in the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka...
.
Hobbies
Aside from public life, de Silva's central passion was stamp collectingStamp collecting
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies, with the number of collectors in the United States alone estimated to be over 20 million.- Collecting :...
. His Ceylonese collection is said to have been world-class, second only to that of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. He was said to be one of the most notable philatelists in the world and also owned the legendary orange-red "Post Office" Mauritius One Penny (1847) stamp; considered to be among the rarest and most expensive stamps in the world. In keeping with his charitable ways, he donated the stamp to his relative, Sir Cyril de Zoysa
Cyril de Zoysa
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...
, for the construction of the YMBA headquarters building. Subsequently, the stamp brought $1.1 million at an auction in 1993.
Sir A. E. de Silva was also known to be one of the best Sri Lankan billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
players of his time and was the patron of the Ceylon Amateur Billiards Association. He played rounds with the then-world champions in his mansion and club. He was also the president of the Ceylon Turf Club and had the rare distinction of winning two Governor's Cups in Ceylon with his favourites Louvello and L'Allegro as well as a Governor's Cup in Calcutta. As president, he maintained a high level of integrity in the "Sport of Kings". He was also one of the first Ceylonese to own a Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
.
Final years
Ernest de Silva was knighted on 1 January 1946 by King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
for his services to Ceylon. In recognition of his services, Flower Road (where he resided) was renamed Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha and a stamp was issued in his honour. Considered the most respected and wealthiest Sri Lankan of his generation, he was offered the position of the first Ceylonese Governor General (Representative of the British Monarch in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto Head of State), which he declined due to personal reasons.
Sir Ernest de Silva died at the age of 70, almost ten years after Sri Lanka gained independence, a cause he strived for. At his funeral, attended by many state officials and leaders, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who was the prime minister at the time, mentioned the loss the nation has to bear with and thanked the departed philanthropist for his services for Sri Lanka, saying that he was a "true gentleman in every sense of the word".