Sir Lambert Wilfred Alexander de Soysa, also known as Sir Wilfred de Soysa (20 Feb 1884 - 3 May 1968), was a Ceylonese entrepreneur, landed proprietor and philanthropist.History of Ceylon Tea Website Retrieved 30 January 2015 He was the seventh son of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa and Lady Catherine de Soysa. Born at Alfred House Colombo and educated privately, then at Royal College, Colombo and Prince of Wales' College, Moratuwa, he completed his studies at the Royal Agricultural College, England.Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, pp.538-54 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company)
De Soysa was successful as a tea, rubber and coconut planter and established the firm De Soysa & Co.De Soysa & Co Retrieved 30 January 2015 He was also a member of the Ceylon National Association and part of the Lanka Mahajana Sabha delegation to the Donoughmore Commission. He was a proprietor of the Ceylon Morning Leader newspaper,A brief history of local and foreign newspapers, KKS Perera (Daily News) Retrieved 25 October 2019 and played host to the young Hirohito and Rabindranath Tagore.Keepers of their forest, Lankika de Livera (Sunday Times) Retrieved 12 February 2016, Lakdasun Trips, Retrieved 12 February 2016 He was knighted in the 1938 New Year Honours as a Knight Bachelor.
De Soysa married Senator Evelyn Yohana (née Fernando)The Holy Emmanuel Church (history) Retrieved 30 January 2015150th Anniversary Publication of the Holy Emmanuel Church, p. 23, Retrieved 30 August 2015 and their first son Harold de Soysa was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo.A daughter's tribute: My father's life was his honour Retrieved 30 January 2015 His second son Cecil de Soysa was the founding Chairman of the Ceylon Tourist BoardSri Lanka’s Tourism all Began in the USA by Sam Samaradivakara The Island (Sri Lanka) Retrieved 26 October 2019Presidential awards for travel and tourism lauded - Shirajiv SIRIMANE Retrieved 19 February 2015 and the Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Lines.Ceylon's Outlook Continues Bleak by H.B.W. Abeynaike (NEW YORK TIMES) Retrieved 16 February 2015Cancer Society's 16th AGM, Sarath Malalasekera Retrieved 16 February 2015Selwood- A Triumph of Design by Tissa Jayatilaka Retrieved 16 February 2015 In 1954 his third son Terence de Soysa was appointed as the first Sri Lankan Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF S.T.L.DE SOYSA, A man of vision and principle , The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 30 May 2015Ceylon Chamber of Commerce marks 175 years Ceylon Today Retrieved 16 February 2015April 5, 1942 the day Ceylon escaped Japanese occupation By Gamini de Silva Retrieved 16 February 2015He played the game on and off the field, Tambyah Murugaser Retrieved 16 February 2015 His fourth son Ryle de Soysa was the opening batsman for the All-Ceylon (national team) from 1938 to 1945, and represented the Oxford University, the Sinhalese Sports Club (of which he was later president) and captained the Royal College, Colombo first XI team to Australia in 1936.Player Profile ESPN Cricinfo.com Retrieved 23 January 2015Diplomatic Moves: Life in the Foreign Service, by Sally James, pp.42,47,49-50. (I. B. Tauris) Ryle de Soysa scholarships for deserving students Sunday Times. Retrieved 30 January 2015 Sinhalese Sports Club: Home of Lankan cricket, Ryhanna Salie, Sunday Observer, Retrieved 24 March 2019
References
External links Chloe de Soysa Collection Tribute to the Bawa Brothers Kodigaha Kanda forest sanctuary