Colombo YMBA remembers late Sir Earnest de Silva

The 125th Birth Anniversary of Sir Earnest de Silva falls November 26, 2012.

Born on November 26. 1887 to a business family in South, Ratgama, he became a prominent Business Personality, Banker, Barrister, Public figure and reputed as a most prominent Sri Lankan Philanthropist of the 20th century.

At a time when Buddhism was threatened by local and foreign aggressiveness, he being a Pioneer Buddhist Leader did a remarkable service to arrest the situation with great dedication.

The yeoman services rendered by Sir Earnest de Silva to the Buddhist Society of this country are edged in gold in the annals of the history of Sri Lanka.

He became the 2nd President of the Colombo Young Men’s Buddhist Association in 1944 and held this prestigious appointment till 1955. During his period, he worked towards the upliftment of the YMBA and bestowed his wealth and property generously for the well-being of Buddha Sasana and Buddhists.

Sir Ernest was, undoubtedly, Sri Lanka’s greatest philanthropist of the 20th Century, funding a large number of Charitable Organisations.

Among his donations and assistance to YMBA, was a land at Walana, Katunayake to build an Orphanage. Today it’s the Lakshmi Home for the Children and Gamini Matha Elder’s Home at Hunupitiya Road, Colombo 2. These are institutions managed and maintained by the Colombo YMBA.

Colombo YMBA, has taken the initiative to commemorate the 125th Birthday of late Sir Earnest, and has organised a Dharma Desana (sermon) followed by an Almsgiving on November 27, 2012 at his Ancestral Home ‘Srimathie Paya’, the present Prime Minister’s Office at Colombo 7 - with the assistance and participation of the staff of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe and the Chairman of the State Mortgage Bank, Jagath Wellawatta will also participate in this occasion to honour their pioneer Chairman and the Governor of these two prestigious banks.