Ernest de Silva
Sir Ernest de Silva | |
|---|---|
 Hon. Sir Ernest de Silva | |
| Born | 1887 |
| Died | 1957 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Ceylonese |
| Education | Clare College, Cambridge, Royal College, Colombo |
| Spouse | Lady Evadne De Silva |
Sir Ernest A. de Silva Kt, BA (Cantab) (1887-1957) was a Cambridge-educated Ceylonese Senator, Barrister, philanthropist, prolific banker, business magnate and public figure. A wealthy and powerful polymath, Sir Ernest was the Chairman of the Senate of Ceylon, Founder-Chairman of the largest bank in Sri Lanka: Bank of Ceylon[1], Governor of the State Mortgage Bank and Chairman of the Ceylon All-Party committee and made many contributions to Sri Lankan society. He is also considered to be the greatest philatelist in Sri Lanka's history[2]. He was asked to be the first Ceylonese Governor General (Representative of the King in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto Head of State) which he declined due to personal reasons.[3] Sir Ernest was at the pinnacle of Sri Lankan society, defining upper-class society, and was the richest Sri Lankan of his generation. He was renowned and highly respected for his integrity and honesty.[4]
Formative years
Sir Ernest de Silva was born A.E. de Silva Jnr. in 1887 at the 'Royal Palace', to one of the most affluent families in Ceylon. His parents and grandparents were hugely wealthy and owned much land all over the country. His father, A. E. De Silva, Snr., was one of the wealthiest businessmen in Ceylon, as was his Grandfather, Emans de Silva Gunasekera. He received his education first at the Royal College, Colombo before graduating from the Clare College, Cambridge and being called to the bar at the Inner Temple. He was a close friend of the late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who was a classmate of his at the Cambridge. Nehru came to Sri Lanka in 1930 to visit Sir Ernest.
Ernest de Silva was married to Lady Evadne De Silva, a philanthropist herself, who later became the first woman in the Senate of Ceylon. One of his daughters, Sita, married construction magnate U. N. Gunasekera, considered to be Sri Lanka's greatest Construction Engineer of the 20th Century having built many of Sri Lanka's largest buildings such as the first and largest five star hotels, whose philanthropy rivaled his own, making one of the most prominent traditionally rich families in Sri Lanka[4].
Philanthropy
Sir Ernest was, arguably, Sri Lanka's greatest philanthropist of the Twentieth Century, funding a vast number of projects. Among his various projects were the building of two major schools (Devapathiraja Vidyalaya and Lakshmi College) and providing free education as well as scholarships to its students. Sir Ernest 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 and the Gamini Matha Home for Elders. They also founded the Angela Children's Home and the Parakrama Home. Sir Ernest also built a temple; The 'Veluvanaramaya'. He gave away lands, buildings and funds to numerous orphanages, hospitals, schools, social service bodies, temples and hermitages without fanfare or publicity[4].
Faith
Sir Ernest was a strong Buddhist who contributed much to the advancement of Buddhism. One such instance was when he purchased an Island in 1905 and offered it to Ven. Nanatiloke, the German monk, to start a hermitage (Polgasduwa) for Buddhist monks. Sir Ernest was thus instrumental in putting Sri Lanka on the map of the world of philosophy and religion. He was the President of the YMBA (Young Men's Buddhist Association) and the Kalutara Bodhi Trust. His wife, Lady Evadne, was the Inaugural President of the Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress. The former President of Sri Lanka, the Late Hon. Ranasinghe Premadasa, stated that "if there was a Buddhist Temple or school that he (Sir Ernest) did not help, it was not in Sri Lanka[5].
Wealth
Sir Ernest was, at one time, Sri Lanka's richest man and one of the richest Sri Lankans of the Twentieth Century[4]. He inherited and purchased thousands of acres of tea, rubber and coconut estates as well as land in the prominent areas of Colombo. One such estate was the famed 1000 acre (4 km²) Salawa estate which was used as a rubber plantation. He owned 46 Acres (7360 Perches) of land in the Cinnaoman Gardens (Colombo 7) area alone which was regarded as one of the most expensive areas in Sri Lanka worth approximately $500 million today. 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.[6] He resided in one of the most exclusive properties in Sri Lanka: the 'Sirimathipaya' Mansion; equipped with horse stables and tennis courts. It now serves as the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office[7].
Hobbies
Aside from public life, de Silva's central passion was stamp collecting. His Ceylonese collection is said to have been world-class, second only to the collection of King George V[8]. Sir Ernest 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, this stamp brought SFr.1,610,000 or $1.1 million at auction in 1993[9].
Sir Ernest was also known to be one of the best Sri Lankan billiards players of his time. He was the Patron of the Ceylon Amateur Billiards Association[10]. He played rounds with the then world champions in his mansion and club. He was also the President of the Ceylon Turf Club, winning the Governor's Cup in Madras, and maintained a high level of integrity in the 'Sport of Kings'. Sir Ernest was also one of the first Ceylonese to own a Rolls Royce.
Recognition
Sir Ernest was made a knights bachelor in 1946 by King George VI 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 published in his honour. As he was perhaps the most respected and wealthiest Sri Lankan of his generation, Sir Ernest was asked to be the first Ceylonese Governor General (Representative of the King in Ceylon, i.e. de-facto Head of State) which he declined due to personal reasons.[4]
Death
Sir Ernest De Silva died on the 9 May 1957, almost ten years after Sri Lanka gained independence; a cause he strived for. At his funeral, attended by many state officials and leaders, the then Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike mentioned the loss the nation has to bear with and thanked the late philanthropist for his services for Sri Lanka saying that he was a 'true gentleman in every sense of the word'.[4]
References
- ^ Sunday Times Online, vol. 42, no. 09 (July 29, 2007)
- ^ Fazli Sameer, Royal Alumni (1 November, 2007)
- ^ Shanika Ratnayake, "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887 - 1957)", The Sunday Times Online, v. 41 no. 51 (May 20, 2007)
- ^ a b c d e f Shanika Ratnayake, "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887 - 1957)", The Sunday Times Online, v. 41 no. 51 (May 20, 2007).
- ^ The Buddhist Channel
- ^ "A. E. De Silva & Co.", 20th century Impressions of Ceylon, on line.
- ^ Official Website of the Prime Minister's Office of Sri Lanka
- ^ "History of the Royal Philatelic Collection"
- ^ Helen Morgan, Blue Mauritius Research Site
- ^ The Morning Leader : Home Page