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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 organisations such as the Gamini Matha Elder's home, Mallika 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.
367:(Colombo 7) which, being one of the most expensive areas in Ceylon, would be worth approximately $ 600 million in the economy of the 2010s. 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
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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.
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310:. Sir Ernest also donated a multi-acre cinnamon and coconut estate to cover the expenditure of the organisation. 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.
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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,
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Sir Ernest de Silva was born 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
Gunasekere and his grandfather, S. D. S. Gunasekere bequeathed the properties to his father,
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in the history of Ceylon. Upon Ceylon'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
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When a great disciple of the German monk, Ven. Nyanaponika, 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
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Sir Ernest de Silva was, arguably, Ceylon's greatest philanthropist of the twentieth century, funding a vast number of charitable endeavours. Among his various projects were the building of four major schools (including
Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Dematagoda Veluvanarama Vidyalaya and Lakshmi College)
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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
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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 Parakrama
363:. One such estate was the famed 1200 acre (5 km²) Salawa estate which was used as a rubber plantation. And also Rukkattana estate in Bingiriya was another property of him which was used as a coconut plantation. He owned 46 acres (7360 perches) of land mostly in the
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Yugoslavia, England and the United States of
America in the West to the Far East and went on to play a prominent role in the revitalisation of Buddhism in the world. Sir Ernest was thus instrumental in putting Ceylon on the map of the world of philosophy and religion.
427:. 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 Ceylonese of his generation, he was offered the position of the first Ceylonese
286:, considered to be Ceylon's most notable and influential civil engineer of the 20th century, having built many of the nation's largest buildings, including its first five star hotels, and a silent philanthropist himself. Another daughter, Swarnapali, married
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Sir Ernest was, in his time, Ceylon's richest man and one of the wealthiest Ceylonese 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
442:, 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".
232:, the founder-governor of the State Mortgage Bank and chairman of the Ceylon All-Party committee. He made many contributions to Ceylonese society and is also considered to be the preeminent
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Sir Ernest de Silva died at the age of 70, almost ten years after Ceylon gained independence, a cause he strived for. At his funeral, attended by many state officials and leaders,
391:(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
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350:, who was Ceylon'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 Ceylon."
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250:, who later became the wealthiest businessman in Ceylon, and named his son Albert Ernest de Silva Jr. The young heir received his education first at
220:, banker, barrister and public figure, considered to be the most prominent Ceylonese philanthropist of the 20th century. A wealthy and influential
346:(Young Men's Buddhist Association) and the Kalutara Bodhi Trust and his wife was the Inaugural President of the Ceylon Women's Buddhist Congress.
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Ceylonese of his generation, he defined the island's ruling class. His memorials describe him as highly respected for his integrity and honesty.
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who was a contemplory of his at Cambridge. They met again in 1930 when Nehru arrived for a visit in Ceylon.
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Ratnayake, Shanika. "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887–1957)",
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Ratnayake, Shanika. "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887–1957)",
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Ratnayake, Shanika. "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887–1957)",
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Sir Ernest de Silva's wife, Evadne who, following his knighthood, became known as Lady
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Sir Ernest de Silva was a strong Buddhist who contributed much to the advancement of
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in Ceylon, i.e. de facto Head of State), which he declined for personal reasons.
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Ernest de Silva was knighted as a Knight Bachelor on 1 January 1946 by King
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Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce ...
216:ශ්රිමත් අර්නස්ට් ද සිල්වා; 26 November 1887 – 9 May 1957) was a Ceylonese
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Sir A. E. de Silva was also known to be one of the best Ceylonese
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He went on to establish Ceylon's first tuberculosis sanatorium in
752:"Tribute to Sir Ernest de Silva", "The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)"
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Ceylonese business magnate, banker, barrister and public figure
592:"Official Website of the Prime Minister's Office of Sri Lanka"
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Aside from public life, de Silva's central passion was
742:"Sir Ernest remembered with a biography", "The Island"
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Louvello and L'Allegro as well as a Governor's Cup in
338:He also built a temple along with this mother: the
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702:(Supplement). 28 December 1945. pp. 275–338.
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326:. One such instance was when he purchased an
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617:"History of the Royal Philatelic Collection"
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423:for his public services in Ceylon in the
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
32:This article includes a list of general
451:
650:"The Morning Leader : Home Page"
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683:. 28 December 1945. pp. 1–132.
578:20th century Impressions of Ceylon,
807:Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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389:"Post Office" Mauritius One Penny
258:and was called to the bar at the
802:Alumni of Royal College, Colombo
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530:"Sir Ernest de Silve - Profile"
488:vol. 42, no. 09 (29 July 2007)
342:. He was the President of the
254:, graduated subsequently from
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721:Asian Educational Svcs.(1999)
576:"A. E. De Silva & Co.",
832:20th-century philanthropists
637:Blue Mauritius Research Site
812:Members of the Inner Temple
474:v. 41 no. 51 (20 May 2007).
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817:Ceylonese Knights Bachelor
767:Sri Lankan philanthropists
518:v. 41 no. 51 (20 May 2007)
292:General Hospital (Colombo)
96:ශ්රිමත් අර්නස්ට් ද සිල්වා
772:Sri Lankan businesspeople
693:United Kingdom list (2):
674:United Kingdom list (1):
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735:The Sunday Times Online,
516:The Sunday Times Online,
472:The Sunday Times Online,
256:Clare College, Cambridge
185:Clare College, Cambridge
431:(Representative of the
369:Prime Minister's office
53:more precise citations.
747:"Inner Temple Library"
622:1 January 2007 at the
535:. Inner Temple Library
252:Royal College, Colombo
210:Albert Ernest de Silva
190:Royal College, Colombo
787:Sri Lankan barristers
440:S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
425:1946 New Year Honours
797:Sri Lankan Buddhists
565:The Buddhist Channel
486:Sunday Times Online,
348:Ranasinghe Premadasa
328:Island (Polgasduwa)
270:Marriage and family
782:Sri Lankan lawyers
700:The London Gazette
681:The London Gazette
598:on 2 February 2008
150:Dominion of Ceylon
503:(1 November 2007)
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827:1957 deaths
822:1887 births
696:"No. 37412"
677:"No. 37407"
409:Rolls-Royce
234:philatelist
163:Nationality
51:introducing
761:Categories
539:27 October
446:References
138:9 May 1957
116:1887-11-26
34:references
421:George VI
400:billiards
335:estates.
226:Sri Lanka
181:Education
167:Ceylonese
155:Sri Lanka
620:Archived
580:on line.
405:Calcutta
324:Buddhism
222:polymath
660:29 June
602:19 June
375:Hobbies
361:Colombo
308:Kandana
228:), the
214:Sinhala
146:Colombo
124:Colombo
47:improve
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415:Honors
354:Wealth
196:Spouse
36:, but
533:(PDF)
318:Faith
153:(now
724:ISBN
662:2008
604:2008
541:2020
344:YMBA
208:Sir
135:Died
110:Born
87:Sir
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