HE MADE AN IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION TO THE UPLIFTMENT OF BUDDHA SASANA
Dullabho purisajanno Na so sabbaththaa jayathi Yaththa so jayathi dheero Than kulan sukhamedhathi
Human beings who possess great qualities are rare. The above stanza, according to the Buddha’s word denotes that if such a person is born in a particular generation or society, that generation or society will benefit. In this context, Sir Cyril de Zoysa was a wise and virtuous person with a great personality, expertise, self-confidence, wealth, farsighted knowledge, patriotism, business skills and lover of Buddhism.
The man of the era was born on October 26, 1896 to the Notary, Solomon de Zoysa and his wife Harriet, who resided at Thotamune Kankanam Gedera, Welitara, Balapitiya.
He received his education at St. Thomas’ College Matara, Richmond College Galle, Royal College Colombo, thereafter passed the Cambridge Senior Examination in 1916, entered the Law College and then into the legal profession. He started his legal career in his own village and before long he was asked to serve at the Kalutara Courts as a Counsel. This transfer made a remarkable change in the lifestyle of the young Lawyer, Cyril de Zoysa.
At that time, the historical sacred Bo-tree at Kalutara was unsafe and not in a good condition. The environment was so unfavourable that no devotee was able to worship freely. The British Government Agent had ordered the police to chase away the devotees who come there to offer flowers and light oil lamps. The young lawyer who had great faith in the Triple Gem observed this with sorrow. Despite objections, he made a ‘mal-asana’ under the Bo-tree to offer flowers and later built four more of them. It was after this that the devotees who went away in fear got the opportunity to offer a flower or light an oil lamp.
It could have been that while he was working as an eminent lawyer,
Now I am free. Whatever wealth you may have, it is useless. I was born without any wealth. I die without any wealth. My joy, my consolation, my strength is the Buddha Dhamma Appointed as Chairman YMBA Borella, he gave life to its onward march for progress. He constructed the hall there at his own cost and also made the YMBA building at Fort a large complex Sir Cyril de Zoysa who cultivated the habit of making donations to the sacred Bo-tree during every bus journey, utilised all this money for the purpose of developing the sacred Bo-tree at Kalutara
he focused his attention on the commercial sector with the intention of developing the sacred Bo-tree at Kalutara. The bus company which he started by the name of ‘Swarnapali’ was later changed into ‘South Western Bus Company’ and expanded into a company having 300 buses. Sir Cyril de Zoysa who cultivated the habit of making donations to the sacred Bo-tree during every bus journey, utilised all this money for the purpose of developing the sacred Bo-tree at Kalutara. Sir Cyril de Zoysa who bought the circuit bungalow on the hill in front of the sacred Botree and the
Kachcheri on the right within its premises, constructed a wonderful and attractive Dagoba on the hill and made it a religious place of worship. On beholding the attractive view of the “Bodhirajaramaya” with its quiet environment, the magnitude of his meritorious intentions is comparable to none other than Anepidu Sitanan, the benefactor. To maintain this Bodhiraja premises after his death, for the benefit of the sasana and the society, Venerable Madihe Pannaseeha Thero who always appreciated the noble services of Sir Cyril once mentioned how wise and farsighted it was of him to establish a Trust to be in charge of the Bodhi.
On January 1, 1958 the South Western Bus Company was nationalised by the Government. It was one instance that showed well what a gentleman he was. He handed over the number of buses he had with all depots, sub-depots and infrastruc- ture after repairing all the buses with new tyres and filling the tanks of the buses with fuel. This shows how much he loved the country and the people.
Sir Cyril, who was often attacked, was unshaken and became more and more self-confident. He was of the view that all losses incurred were blessings. He proved the wise saying that “a nation that does not make new things will not rise” and he was fortunate enough to become the proprietor of five companies.
In 1941, he became the Chairman of the Kalutara Urban Council and later he was appointed to the Senate where he served for 6 years as Vice President and 8 years as President. Here too he showed well his farsighted political maturity and wisdom.
Sir Cyril who was appointed as Chairman YMBA Borella gave life to its onward march for progress. He constructed the hall there at his own cost and also made the YMBA building at Fort a large complex. Through his representation, various social institutions like the Maha Bodhi Society, All Island Buddhist Association, Parama Vinnanartha Association, Boys’ Scout Association, Prevention of Tuberculosis Campaign of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Deaf and Blind Association, Bar Association, Sinhalese Sports Club, Child Protection Association and a series of services of national and social level flourished. He was the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka for nine years. He converted his “Brooklyn” residence into Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya. He was the founder of the Buddhist College called Kalutara Vidyalaya.
It was as a result of Sir Cyril de Zoysa’s perseverance, courage and wealth contribution that Kirivehera Dagoba at Kataragama was renovated and the surrounding area that was dark with wild shrub was cleared and made bright as a sacred place of worship. Not only did he fix a large generator to illuminate the whole sacred place of Kataragama, but also provided resting facilities for pilgrims who visited the place. Besides, he made large contributions for the renovations and development activities of Kande Viharaya at Alutgama, Sri Vajiraramaya Bambalapitiya, Saddharmakara Pirivena at Pinwatte, Kuppiyawatte Temple, Gangaramaya, Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya and many other temples.
In the Sasana history of Sri Lanka Sir Cyril de Zoysa will go into history as a person who rendered yeoman service such as bringing the Bhikkhus of Amarapura Nikaya which was spread into twenty two sectors into one Sangha Sabha. In 1956 within 3 days of Venerable Pan- naseeha Thero becoming the Mahanayake of Amarapura Sri Dharma Rakshitha Maha Nikaya, Sir Cyril de Zoysa who was the then President of the Senate, met the new Mahanayake Thero and requested him to amalgamate the Amarapura Nikaya which was spread into twenty two sectors. For this purpose transport facilities were provided to go to all temples for discussions. The matter was discussed by our Maha Nayake Thero with Ven. Kapugama Sumanawansa Thero, Ven. Weligama Gnanaratane Thero and all other responsible monks. By this time, as the background was set by Ven. Akurala Seelawansa Thero and Ven. Kogoda Pannaseeha Thero, this matter became fairly easy. Before long all parts of Amarapura Nikaya were amalgamated and the united Amarapura Sangha Sabha was established.
Sir Cyril de Zoysa was a man of the era with a high reputation in history. This great benefactor with past meritorious actions, expertise, business management skills, who righteously spent his great wealth for the upliftment of the Buddha Sasana and social welfare peacefully passed away on January 2, 1978.
This great person realised what life was. He realised the temporary value of wealth. At the best time of his life, what he had expressed in the following statement indicates a great saying of a follower of the Buddha.
“Now I am free. Whatever wealth you may have, it is useless. I was born without any wealth. I die without any wealth. My joy, my consolation, my strength is the Buddha Dhamma. As long as I live God will protect me”. Ven. Tirikunamale
Ananda Thero