Cyril de Zoysa
Encyclopedia
Sir Cyril de Zoysa (October 26, 1896 – January 2, 1978) was a Sri Lanka
n 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 (now Sri Lanka
) in the 20th century. He was distantly related to Sri Lankan tycoon Sir Ernest de Silva.
, and was their second son. His brother V.T. De Zoysa also became a famous leader in his own right. He was educated at St. Thomas College in Galle for his primary studies and then moved on to Richmond College
in Galle. His father was a notary public
and for this reason de Zoysa moved many times during childhood. He completed his secondary education at the Royal College of Colombo. At the young age of twenty, he began pursuing his studies at Ceylon Law College
. After graduating from Sri Lanka Law College
, he began practicing law in 1921. He started at the police courts of Balapitiya
. In 1926 he moved to Kalutara
after five successful years of practice in Balapitiya.
was a centre of Buddhist learning and a pilgrimage site where people came to view the Kalutara Bodhi. In violation of colonial law, he began lighting lamps at the Kalutara Bodhi. The Bodhi tree
was one of 32 allegedly brought to Sri Lanka
by King Devanampiyatissa
, as a scion of the Sri Maha Bodhi
of Anuradhapura
. When the colonial authorities came, they attempted to corral devotees away from the tree. They accosted De Zoysa, and De Zoysa challenged them to arrest him. He invested much of his own money into the project, and created pilgrimage facilities for worshippers.
for eight years, prior to that he was the vice-president of the Senate for six years. He was made a Knights Bachelor.
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 industrialist, Senator and a philanthropist. The President of 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...
from 1960 to 1965, he was a leader in the Buddhist revival movement in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
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...
) in the 20th century. He was distantly related to Sri Lankan tycoon Sir Ernest de Silva.
Early life
He was born on October 26, 1896 to Solomon and Harriet de Zoysa in GalleGalle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, and was their second son. His brother V.T. De Zoysa also became a famous leader in his own right. He was educated at St. Thomas College in Galle for his primary studies and then moved on to Richmond College
Richmond College
Richmond College is a primary and secondary school in Galle, Sri Lanka. The school was established in 1814 by Christian missionaries. Richmond College is now a well established institution with a reputation as one of the finest schools in Sri Lanka...
in Galle. His father was a notary public
Notary public
A notary public in the common law world is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business...
and for this reason de Zoysa moved many times during childhood. He completed his secondary education at the Royal College of Colombo. At the young age of twenty, he began pursuing his studies at Ceylon Law College
Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College was established as the Ceylon Law College under the Council of Legal Education in 1874 in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to be lawyers in Ceylon...
. After graduating from Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College was established as the Ceylon Law College under the Council of Legal Education in 1874 in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to be lawyers in Ceylon...
, he began practicing law in 1921. He started at the police courts of Balapitiya
Balapitiya
Balapitiya is a coastal area in south west Sri Lanka. It is located in the Southern Province in Sri Lanka. Situated 80 km South of Colombo, it is about a two-hour drive from the capital. It is the nearest city to the Maduganga River....
. In 1926 he moved to Kalutara
Kalutara
Kalutara is a resort town located approximately 40 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka.- Overview :Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River . In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince...
after five successful years of practice in Balapitiya.
Kalutara activism
The town of KalutaraKalutara
Kalutara is a resort town located approximately 40 km south of Colombo in Sri Lanka.- Overview :Once an important spice-trading center, the city's name is derived from the Kalu Ganga River . In the 11th Century, the town was temporarily made a capital on the orders of a South Indian Prince...
was a centre of Buddhist learning and a pilgrimage site where people came to view the Kalutara Bodhi. In violation of colonial law, he began lighting lamps at the Kalutara Bodhi. The Bodhi tree
Bodhi tree
The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo , was a large and very old Sacred Fig tree located in Bodh Gaya , under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama Buddha, is said to have achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi...
was one of 32 allegedly brought to Sri Lanka
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...
by King Devanampiyatissa
Devanampiyatissa
Tissa, later Devanampiya Tissa was one of the earliest rulers of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 307 BC to 267 BC. His reign was notable for the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka under the aegis of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka...
, as a scion of the Sri Maha Bodhi
Sri Maha Bodhi
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened...
of Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
. When the colonial authorities came, they attempted to corral devotees away from the tree. They accosted De Zoysa, and De Zoysa challenged them to arrest him. He invested much of his own money into the project, and created pilgrimage facilities for worshippers.
Business ventures
De Zoysa was a successful businessman having a diverse array of ventures. During law school he earned money by tutoring, and used his first earnings to buy a buggy cart. He later reminisced that "I gifted this to my father, who blessed me for this act of love and generosity. I perceived that this gift I gave my father brought him immense joy. Likewise this brought me too unforgettable joy.” He was the founder of the AMW group, one of the largest conglomerates of Ceylon.Senatorial career
De Zoysa was the President of the Senate of CeylonSenate 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...
for eight years, prior to that he was the vice-president of the Senate for six years. He was made a Knights Bachelor.
External links
- 105th Commemoration of Sir Cyril de Zoysa
- Sir Cyril de Zoysa by Ven. Kosgoda Siri Sudhamma Thera
- Sir Cyril - great Buddhist and exemplary philanthropist, by Ven. Weligama Gnanaratana Maha Nayake Thera
- Gateway to the South, BY PRASAD Abu Bakr
- Amara Samara in Sinhala
- Sir Cyril de Zoysa in Sinhala 1
- Sir Cyril de Zoysa in Sinhala 2
- Sir Cyril de Zoysa, the great Buddhist devotee