Charles Henry de Soysa’s birth anniversary is today He was a visionary far ahead of his time

In these days of ingratitude, it is a joy to behold how much the students of Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges love him

He never lost the common touch, but reached out to all in need

He gifted land to the landless, in various parts of the country and thought far beyond the narrow peripheries of caste, creed or race in doing so

It is indeed a wonder that so many years after his death, on the September 29, 1890, Charles Henry de Soysa is still revered and remembered, not only by us- his descendants- but by so many in the institutions he gifted with unprecedented generosity, which still remains unequalled by any individual thereafter. 

This undoubtedly makes him the greatest philanthropist this country has ever had. Particularly,  the students, past and present of Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, Moratuwa, who never fail in paying homage to their founder in more ways than one. In these days of ingratitude, it is a joy to behold how much these students love him and never cease in their acts of gratitude.  As his great-granddaughter, not only am I proud of him, but am amased at not only his extraordinary largesse to our nation; but by the avenues he thought of which shows that he was a visionary far ahead of his time.

Astute business sense

Health, agriculture and education were quite obviously manifold in his thoughts. The De Soysa hospital for women was built by him in 1877, and is recorded to be the oldest hospital for women in Asia and the third oldest in the world.  He also built the Ceylon Medical College and The Medical Research Institute which was the first Bacteriological Institute in Asia. Hospitals in Lunawa, Panadura and Marawila were also built by him. In my opinion, his decision to build Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges in his hometown Moratuwa, was because he wanted these children to have the very best education possible, to be able to compete favourably with students in leading schools in Colombo and other cities. The legend behind his building the De Soysa hospital for women is that when he once saw a woman crying out in labour on the street, he made arrangements for her to be sent to hospital and decided immediately to build this hospital.  This hospital has helped millions of mothers through several decades.

Charles inherited wealth from his father, the late Jeronis who is said to have started life with a capital of Rs 800 and died a millionaire, and from his uncle Susew, but with his astute business sense he soon increased his inheritance several times over and  gave generously  to Churches, temples, building roads, schools, hospitals and dispensaries.  He gifted land to the landless, in various parts of the country and thought far beyond the narrow peripheries of caste, creed or race in doing so. He was one of the first students at S. Thomas’, when it began in Mutwal and helped the school most generously in his lifetime. He was the first Sri Lankan banker and gifted 160 acres in Colombo for a Model Farm for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. This land is now called Model Farm road; the Golf club and other palatial residences have been built on it. When the Colombo Museum was being built in commemoration of the jubilee of Queen Victoria, he contributed one thousand pounds sterling towards this and also money to Jaffna College. He was also a founder member of the Ceylon National Congress from which stemmed the United National Party. Another family legend is about his hosting a banquet for a Royal visitor, Prince Alfred the second son of Queen Victoria. The Royal visitor and other guests ate on gold crockery and cutlery studded with gems, specially made for the occasion and was a banquet which was the talk of the town then; even today because of its unprecedented magnificence. Many roads have been named after him as they stand on land which he once owned. Charles Place, Charles Way, Charles Drive, Alfred Place, Alfred House Gardens are among them. He never lost the common touch, but reached out to all in need. He was an example as an employer, a friend in need to all those whether he knew them or not. No-one who came to him walked away empty handed. He didn’t live in an Ivory tower and distance himself from reality and the problems of the people. He sent his sons to Cambridge, and saw that his daughters married professionals, who rose to great heights in their respective fields.

Such was his foresight. He contributed generously towards many causes in hospitals in England. My father, his grandson was surprised to see a plaque with his grandfather’s name at Great Ormond Street Hospital when he interned there. Obituaries and appreciations to him after his death were published in the best newspapers in the UK, including the Times and in Scotland. Such was the respect he commanded both here and in the UK. As his great-granddaughter, I’m glad that the younger members among his descendants are continuing their interest in keeping his memory alive by organisng a ceremony each year with the Present and Past students of Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales at his statue, which is garlanded; followed by a meeting on his birthday, on March 3.

We have to thank God for an ancestor such as him; for what we have today and as an example and inspiration, and bow our heads with respect, each time we pass his statue which stands tall at De Soysa circus, renamed in his honour. His, was the first statue of a Sri Lankan erected in Colombo and was done so by a grateful public.  We, his descendants, owe much to our renowned ancestor, and have much to live up to. We cannot emulate his generosity, but each of us in our own way should try to help whoever we can, in any way we can and try to live up to his standards of humanity, honour and integrity in whatever we do. I know he will bless us from above. 

I end with a quote from Longfellow. ‘lives of great men  all remind us  we can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sand of time.’