Sri Lanka Sinhalese
Family Genealogy
DBR de Silva Family #3890
DBR de Silva, one of the pioneer Ceylonese Entrepreneurs in Zanzibar
Jewellers to H. E. the Governor & Commander in Chef
of Tanganyika Territory &
to HH the Sultan of Zanzibar
Background
"The sea lanes of the British Empire took men (rather than women) far and
wide. Ceylonese traders, many of them from Galle and its hinterland, traded in
Mombasa, Zanzibar and even as far inland as Blantyre in the Rhodesias
during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Others went as workers to
Thursday Island and northern Australia. Yet others traded at Singapore or
joined the colonial service in Malaysia. A few intrepid souls ended up in
Brazil and the Caribbean." (Prof. Michael
Roberts in article titled Four Bajans in British
Ceylon on https://thuppahis.com).
Among
the Asians, Hettihewage Marthenis (HHM)
de Silva from Magalle, Galle
appears to have established a company to manufacture jewellery /deal in
precious stones etc in British East Africa in
1887. De Silva had branches in Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanga &
Mombasa, in addition to his Head Office at No. 6, Chatham St, Colombo, Ceylon.
He passed away around 1921 & his son H. H. Alfred de Silva, who was already
there managed the company for a few years, when it was wound up.
Magalle in Galle was the cradle from which emerged a number of reputed
jewellers who left an indelible mark in some of
these countries. They carved out a niche for themselves & rose to
prominence because of their business acumen, honesty & integrity &
exquisitely crafted gold jewellery.
An
Extract from the Supplement to Ceylon Government Gazette No. 5207 -Friday , March 10 , 1893 containing the JURY LISTS—SOUTHERN
PROVINCE is repoduced below:
“LIST
of Persons in the Southern Province qualified to serve as Jurors and Assessors
under the provisions of the23rd clause of the Ordinance No. 3 of 1883, for the
year 1893 :—
Balage Sinno Appu, tortoriseshell-
worker Etiligoda
Balage Sinno Appu, trader Galupiadde
………………….
Balage Issan, trader Malalagama
De
Silva, Balage Porolis,
trader Galupiadda
……………
Dimingubadatunge Terolishami, trader do
………………………………………..
Dimingu Badatunga Dineshami,
trader do
“Balage Sinno Appu, tortoriseshell-worker
Etiligoda and trader Galupiadde,
referred to in the 1893 List of Jurors appears to have been the next person to
establish a company in East Africa in 1902. Singho Appu passed away in 1909 in Nairobi & Lot No. 150 at
the Nairobi South Cemetery identifies the grave of Singho
Appu. It carries the inscription, " Erected by Mr
& Mrs. B. R. Dissanayake / nee Cathrine Balage heir of Balage Marshall /
"Sennani" Magalle,
Galle.
See http://eamemorials.co.uk/EAMemorials/KENYA/Nairobi%20South%20Cemetery/NairobiSouth16.htm
A few
years after his death, the company appears to have been wound up.
Balage Porolis de Silva in the list of Jurors is none
other than the founder of B P De Silva and Co. who set up a jewellery business
in Singapore in 1872 and which exists as a family enterprise even today, 150
years later.
DB Telorishami, trader (DBT) in the List of Jurors appears to have established a Company
in the name of DB Teloris de Silva & Co. to
manufacture Jewellery with branches in Zanzibar and Dar Es
Salaam.
East Africa (British): Its History,
People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources
Frank Holderness Gale
Foreign and Colonial
Compiling and Publishing Company, 1908 - Africa, British East - 443 p
Extract from Page 423
DB TELOUS DE SILVA & CO.
It is six years (1903) since Mr T De
Silva came from Ceylon and established this business in Zanzibar in its present
position. Two brothers are partners. Ivory and ebony carving, gold and silver
work are done on the premises, and any design is made to order. Sixteen workmen
are employed.
All the boats are met with a good
selection of curios and jewellery.
DB Dineshami of Wanduramba
in the list of Jurors does not figure in any of the records. He could
have been the other brother.
DBR De Silva
DBT apparently got down his
young sons Ranti (DBR) and Malis
(DBM) who apprenticed under their father and learnt the art of managing the
business. There may have been a third brother. . It would appear that the brothers DBR and DBM
arrived in Zanzibar sometime before 1914.
Ranti de Silva and Bros.
In time, DBR set up a
business under the name of Ranti de Silva and Bros.
at Dar Es Salaam and Main Street Zanzibar. Some
references in Trade Journals are shown below:
Guide to Southern Africa - Volumes 20-22; Volume 32; Volumes 34-36
1914 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE
... RANTI DE SILVA &
BROTHERS KENYA and UGANDA .
Territories that thirty years ago were. SOLE PROPRIETOR : DB RANTI DE SILVA , ACACIA AVENUE
, DAR - ES - SALAAM . MANUFACTURING ... East Africa :
Zanzibar , Dar - es - Salaam , ete
. 121.
The South and East African Year Book & Guide
1919 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE
... RANTI DE SILVA &
BROTHERS SOLE PROPRIETOR : DB RANTI DE SILVA , ACACIA AVENUE , DAR - ES - SALAAM .
MANUFACTURING JEWELLERS AND GEM Dealers in Precious Stones ,
MERCHANTS , Ivory Carvers , Ebony Curiosities , Hand - made Lace ...
The South and East African Year Book & Guide - Volume
38 for the year 1919 provides the following Snipper View via books.google.lk ›
books.
1919 · Snippet view
FOUND INSIDE
By Special Appointment to H.H. THE SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR . MS SIMON DE SILVA ... BLANTYRE , NYASALAND . RICHARD & Co. ,
MAIN ROAD , ZANZIBAR . P.O. BOX 109 ... DE SILVA & BROTHERS SOLE PROPRIETOR :
D. B. RANTI DE SILVA , ACACIA AVENUE ...
The
branch in Main Street, Zanzibar is shown below together with one of their
original advertisements. (wwwzanzibarhistory.org): Index of /assets/images
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The firm enjoyed the
reputation of being Jewellers by Special Appointment to His Excellency the
Governor General / Commander in Chief, & His Highness the Sultan of
Zanzibar, as shown in the advertisements displayed here.
DBR managed
the business while DBM looked after the office operations.
A
noteworthy event that took place during DBR’s early years in Zanzibar was the
then world famous British Empire Exhibition held at Wembly
in Great Britain for several months in 1924/25. All kinds of products from all
parts of the Empire were on display & Ceylon too had a colourful pavilion
designed on the lines of the Dalada Maligawa. Ranti de Silva &
Bros., representing Tanganyika had a stall in the East Africa
Pavilion to display their jewellery etc. The Tanganyika Territory Exhibition
Handbook at pages 166 & 167 under Appendix XII gives details of
the elegant ornamental exhibits specially turned out for display by them at the
event .An extract appears below:
Ranti de Silva &
Bros. Dar Es Salaam
Ornamental Cabinet Top in
carved ebony, with a carved elephant tusk resting
horizontally on carved ebony pine grove, and fitted with two ebony elephants on
each side
Dinner Gong: basement of
ebony, with two carved elephant tusks supporting a silver gong attached to
the tusks by a silver chain
Carved Ebony Photo Frame
with an ivory tag one each side, and on the top carved hippo teeth
showing pictures of ostriches
Carved Ivory Lobster
Carved Ivory Elephant with
sold nails on toes and jewelled eyes
Carved
Ivory Elephant mounted on an ebony plate and with jewelled eyes
Carved Ebony Elephant with
ivory tusks
Ebony Walking Sticks
(knobbed handles)
Ebony Walking Sticks
(carved handles)
Page
xv of the Handbook at the end contains an advertisement indicating the wide
& varied nature of their product portfolio
at Dar-Es-Salaam..
Later, his eldest
son, Alfred, & younger son, Wilfred (Somachandra)
arrived in Zanzibar and apprenticed under their father and learnt the trade.
Malis de Silva & Co.
At this stage, DBM, who was
Manager of DBR & Bros. opened his own company, as shown below:
References in Trade Journals to his company appear
below:
The South and East African Year Book & Guide - Volume
41
1935 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE
... MALIS DE SILVA &
CO . 29, ACACIA AVENUE , DAR
- ES - SALAAM . P.O. Box ... Africa via Madeira .
Fortnightly Intermediate Sailings to South & East African Ports with
regular calls at Teneriffe ... ZANZIBAR P.O.
Dar - es - Salaam . 93.
Guide to Southern Africa - Volume 49
1949 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE
... ZANZIBAR JESSE
AND COMPANY 141 , MAIN ROAD Cables " British ,
" Zanzibar P.O. Box
450 Will plan and arrange your ... MALIS
DE SILVA & CO . ACACIA AVENUE , DAR ES
SALAAM . P.O. Box , 342 . Tel .
Phone 383 Add . " MALIS " Direct ...
Owen's Commerce & Travel and International Register - Page 394
1966 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE – PAGE 394
... Malis de Silva & Co.
, P.Ο.Β. 342 . Moloo Brothers & Co. Ltd.
, P.O. Box 53 . Stewarts Stores , P.O.Box 1350 . Swiss Watch Store ,
P.O.Box 1479 . TANGA N. Chellaram
& Co. , P.O.Box 150 . Bhanji Laxman & Sons Ltd. , P.O. Box 236 . ZANZIBAR ...
The following entry found in
the
Official Gazette 1931
(books.google.lk › books)
shows that Malis de Silva started his company
sometime before 1931.
"... de Silva & Co. , to Mr Martin Weerasuriya
is cancelled from to - day . Dar es Salaam , 5th September , 1931 . Signed D. B. MALIS DE SILVA
........"
/
Ranti de Silva & Sons
In time, the business
premises shifted
to more spacious premises on the same street and both sons assisted DBR to
manage the business , which was now renamed Ranti de
Silva & Sons.
DBR returned to Ceylon in
1957 and his elder son , Alfred, took over the management of the business.. At this stage,
the company name was changed to Ranti de Silva Ltd.,
as shown below:
:
Some
references to Ranti de Silva Ltd. are shown below:
Guide to Southern Africa
1963
books.google.lk › books
... RANTI DE SILVA , LTD .
MAIN STREET , ZANZIBAR Manufacturing Jewellers and Gem
Merchants AGENTS FOR : - ROLEX WATCH CO . , GENEVA • THE PARKER PEN CO . ,
LONDON IVORY CARVERS , EBONY ... CO . , LTD . GIBRALTAR .
Beira ; Zanzibar . 97.
The Year Book and Guide to East Africa
1963
books.google.lk › books
... Zanzibar Purveyors to
Royalty . Certificate of Honour and Medal British Empire Exhibition , Wembley ,
1924 Diploma and Certificate of Merit Tanganyika Exhibition 1929 RANTI DE SILVA
, LTD ... CO . , GENEVA • THE PARKER PEN CO . , LONDON ...
The Year Book and Guide to
Southern Africa
1963
books.google.lk › books
... Zanzibar Purveyors to
Royalty . Certificate of Honour and Medal British Empire Exhibition
, Wembley , 1924 Diploma and Certificate of Merit Tanganyika Exhibition
1929 RANTI DE SILVA , LTD ... CO . , GENEVA THE PARKER PEN CO . , LONDON IVORY
...
The 1964 Revolution in
& its Aftermath
Extract from Wikipaedia
Zanzibar was an ethnically diverse state consisting of a number of islands off
the east coast of Tanganyika. Formally separated from German East Africa in 1890,
it had become fully independent in 1963, with responsibility for its own defense and foreign affairs, as a result of Britain giving
up its protectorate over it. In a series of parliamentary elections preceding
this change, the Arab minority succeeded in retaining the hold on power it had
inherited from Zanzibar's former existence as an overseas territory of Oman.
Frustrated by lack of parliamentary representation compared to its share of
votes in the July 1963 election, the African Afro-Shirazi
Party (ASP), led by John Okello, mobilised around
600–800 men on the main island of Unguja on the
morning of 12 January 1964. Having overrun the country's police force and
appropriated their weaponry, the insurgents proceeded to Zanzibar Town, where
they overthrew the Sultan and his government.
The massacre of Arabs during the Zanzibar Revolution ensued, and the insurgents
proceeded to loot Arab and South Asian–owned properties and businesses, and
rape or murder Arab and Indian civilians on the island. The death toll is
disputed, with estimates ranging from several hundreds to 20,000. An estimated
10,000 people escaped from the island, with many fleeing to the UK. Around a
quarter of Zanzibar's Arabs were killed in the massacres. The moderate ASP
leader Abeid Karume became
the country's new president and head of state.`
Winding Up of the Company
In the aftermath of the revolution, the climate was
no longer conducive for business, and many Indian and Ceylonese
wound up their businesses anf returned home
along with their employees. The company set up by DBR also closed down and his
two sons returned to Ceylon.
Death of DBR de Silva
He died at Galle in 1967
Interesting
Information in the public domain
Comments of Mrs. Helen Haylett
http://memorywanderer.blogspot.com/2020/01/on-beach.html?m=0
There were other
jewellers in Zanzibar at this time, but Ranti de
Silva was obviously one among the most sought after, as seen in the following
statements recorded by a Mrs. Helen Haylett :
At page 21 in a book
about her husband "Cecil Walter Haylett" –
" I remember
having my wedding ring made by Ranti da Silva, and
paying for it myself.”
At page 87 in the book,
"My Life"
"For his
Christmas present I got Ranti da Silva to make the
link and studs for his evening dress which we still have, andI
sent these home to him. "
Links under Goa & Zanzibar
at https://www.zanzibarhistory.org/table_of_contents.htm
Item offered for sale at an
Auction in the UK
Date of Auction 18 Jul 2017 10:30 BST
Lot Location: Aylsham, Norwich, UK
Auctioneer : Keys Fine Art Auctioneers
Description of Item
Art Deco period mid-grade precious metal bar brooch, the centre
of double hoop design set with seed pearls, one with small loss, flanked to
either side by a small square cut pale sapphire, stamped 15ct and Plat, weight
5gms within a fitted a case stamped Ranti de Silva
& Bros, Jewellers Zanzibar. See :
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/keys-aylsham-salerooms/catalogue-id-srkey10167/lot-7d45e95d-b8d9-4195-b22a-a7a600d4530e
Extract from Guest
Book Vol. 8
https://zanzibarhistory.org/guest_book_volume_8.htm
Date: 12/26/2006
Comment: 701
Ranti de Silva was born in Ceylon. He owned jewellery shops in Zanzibar, Dar-Es-Salaam, and Mombasa. He died after returning to Ceylon
in 1957. The shop in Zanzibar was then looked after by his eldest son, Alfred,
now deceased, till the revolution. His daughter who was married to the former
Mayor of Galle,Ceylon and
his second son, Somachandra too are now deceased. His
youngest son Keerthisiri is an Eye Surgeon who has a
practice in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Author: bargash@msn.com.
DBR's relatives and their
Companies
Dantanarayana Don Millan
Gazette No. No.
5,395-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 , 1896, contains a List of
Jurors appointed to the Southern Provnce. Among them
are the following:
De
Silva, Balage Sinno Appu, trader Ettiligoda
De
Silva, Balage Siman, trader
Galupiadda
De
Silva, Balage Oralias,
trader do
Dantanarayana, Don Andris
de DSilva, goldsmith Kumbalwella
Dharmasekara, J S, trader Galupiadda
Dineshami, Dimingubadaturuge, farmer Haliwala
Don
Nicholas, Godakanda Arachchige,
contractor and farmer Bope
David, Godage, clerk Haliwala
De
Silva, Hettihewage Marthenis,
trader Galupiadda
De
Silva, Kuruneruge Endoris,
trader do
De
Silva, Kuruneruge Jonathan, trader Bope
De Silva,
Kalupahanage Hendrick, vedarala Kumbalwella
Dantanarayana Don Andiris de Silva, goldsmith,
of Kumbalwella is most likely one of those who
went to East Africa to work with one of the Ceylonese jewellers who had already
established jewellery shops there before and around 1900. Among them were
H. H. M. De Silva, B, Singho Appu,
D. B. Teloris de Silva, M. S. Simon de Silva.
Dantanarayana Don Millan (DDM), was probably his son, and according to Keline Selden, one of his children, DDM
had arrived in Zanzibar, at the age of fifteen.
Millan apparently married Kusum, a
daughter of DBR’s brother, DBM. He probably apprenticed under DBR, learnt
the trade over several years, and in time formed his own company as stated in
the following Trade Journals :
Owen's African and Middle East Commerce & Travel ... and ...
1960 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE – PAGE 457
... Don Millan , P.O.Box 333 . Moloo Bros & Co. Ltd. Monji's , P.O.Box 172 ... Don
Millan , P.O.Box 333 . Bankers
: contd . from foot of prev . column
. ZANZIBAR Virjee Monji , P.O.Box 9 . Ranti
de Silva ... Zanzibar . ZANZIBAR 457.
The Year Book and Guide to East Africa
1960 · Snippet view
FOUND
INSIDE
... ZANZIBAR .
Tel : Add : " MILLAN " ZANZIBAR NOVELTY AND STYLE
JEWELLERY from D. DON MILLAN Creative
Jeweller and Gem Merchant DEALERS IN : IVORY AND EBONY , CURIOS , SILVERWARE ,
WATCHES AND CLOCKS , PARKER AND SHEAFFER FOUNTAIN PENS ...
DDM and Kusum had nine children and lived in
Zanzibar.
During the 1964 Revolution he had been reluctant to leave & had temporarily
shifted to another area to tide over the difficult period. However, when
they returned home they had found that their property had been damaged and
looted. It was no longer possible to stay, and the entire family had returned
to Ceylon. After a few months in Ceylon, Don Millan had passed away. Mrs Kusum Dantanarayana had then
returned to Zanzibar with the entire family, where the children continued their
education. The children are now scattered all over the world.
Read the
story related by his daughter, Keline Selden here :
Zanzibar ‘revolution girls’ reunite after 50 years | The
Citizen
Zanzibar ‘revolution girls’ reunite after 50
years
Saturday,
August 17, 2013 — updated on April 03, 2021
G. N. E. De Silva
GNE was a
relative of DBR, but the exact relationship is not known. Many details about
him are available on the web and those found in Trade Journals can be relied on
and are shown below:
.A
description about him appearing in http://www.zanzibarhistory.org/assets/images/?C=N;O=D, is reproduced below along with
an advertisement.
He had arrived in Zanzibar at theage
of 19 years, apprenticed under DBR and learnt the trade for ten years and
formed his own Company, which was located a few yards away from DBR"s
Company on Main St. Zanzibar.
Another description about G. N. E. De Silva appears here , but this does not
seem to be accurate:
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dewani.ca/af/Forum/zbarcrafts.htm&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwihr_fDuaKNAxUNUGwGHdpxCT4QFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw0NhpvPx-DOS5kL6HAOLClk
Extract from Zanzibar Craftsmanship
“There was also the Gold Smiths Association in Zanzibar. It was made up of
various sonis from Kutch and Kathiawad
(both Hindus as well as Sunni Muslims). One of its prominent members was G.N.D’silva (a Ceylonese) of ‘Ranti D’silva’ & ‘D’don Millon’ who had started his
goldsmith business in Zanzibar as far back as 1920’s.”
This statement is incorrect, because as stated above, he started his own
business in 1932.
A further description
appears here:
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dewani.ca/af/Forum/snippets.htm&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiWnf3buaKNAxVdb2wGHQonLb04ChAWegQIAxAC&usg=AOvVaw0g1zEs3-_sKu2XRgYByIw0
(https://www.dewani.ca//af/forum/snippets.htm)
Extract from
Snippets
“Just a a separate question if that is
ok. When I visited Dar in 67 or so, I recall visiting a Buddhist temple that
was set up by people from what we now call Sri Lanka, I was told. We know
hardly anything about this particular category of Ceylonese migrants to East
Africa and what it was that brought them to Dar. I am sure you have heard
stories about them. May be you can tell us a little bit. “
“ I was checking Barghash’s
website and found out that a Ceylonese by the name of G.N.De Silva
had arrived in Zanzibar in 1922. He was
a goldsmith and opened his shop in the name of ‘Ranti
D’silva’ and later 'D'don
Millon'. In 1932 he started the business W.H.Hamilton & Co. He was also
the President of Zanzibar’s Goldsmiths’
Association.
Bhadra, I suppose the Ceylonese had their Budhist temple along Shangani. It is said that D’silva recruited quite a few Ceylonese to work in his
goldsmith shops. Some of them used to come out wearing the South Indian type
lungi. D’silva later opened branches in Daressalaam and Mombasa.”
The
extract from Snippets seems to indicate that
1) it was G. N. E. De Silva who
started Ranti de Silva
companies .
2) he partnered with D. Don Millan
3) he started W. H. Hamilton &
Co. in 1932
The first two statements are incorrect according to
contemporary records. Both GNE & DDM worked for DBR & Bros and they
later formed their own companies.The
third statement is correct, as shown
above & below:
The Year Book and Guide to East Africa
1962
books.google.lk › books
... G. N. E. De Silva ) GEM
MERCHANTS Agents : -Omega and Tissot watches . The
watches the world has learned to trust BRANCH AT AIRPORT BUILDING Manufacturers
of Jewellery , Ivory and Ebony carved curios Orders
promptly executed at moderate ...
GNE
managed his own business for over 30 years.
Participation in Buddhist Activities
Participation
of DBR, DBM & DDM in Buddhist Activities as found in the records
Extract from Pannasekara.com
1920
In 19th century, in Africa especially in Tanzania, Sri Lankan people
established Buddhist temple after they came to work in Dar es
Salaam around 1920. This is the oldest Buddhist temple in Africa. They were
about 400-450 people. First Buddhist person came to Tanzania is Mr H. G.Gunapala with Ven Lokanatha thero
in 1920. He is the person established this temple in Tanzania. They worked
together and formed “Singhalese Buddhist Association” and then bought a piece
of land from the government of Tanzania, then brought a seedling of Bodhi tree
(this was the tree under which the Buddha attained full enlightenment) from Sri
Lanka and planted it in 1920.It has grown up now covering about quarter acre.
Extract from Pannasekera. om.
1927
The Buddhist Association hall was built in 1927. In those days Tanzania was
still under the British protectorate. The association was then registered under
the societies in 1945.
Extract from Buddhist India Volumes 1-2
1927
books.google.lk › book
... Malis de
Silva , the Manager of the firm of Messrs . Ranti de
Silva and Bros. ,
Jewellers . Dar - Es - Salaam ,
presided . In a beautiful and. lengthy. speech. Mr Gunapala.
impressed. upon. the audience how desirable it was for the community...
Extract from The Maha Bodhi vol
61
1953
books.google.lk › books
... Temple for Dar es Salaam . On the full moon day
of Vaisakha , the foundation stone of a
new Buddhist Temple was laid at Dar es Salaam by Mr
D. B. Ranti De Silva of Zanzibar in the presence of a
large gathering of Sinhalese residents ...
Don Millan was also an
active participant in Buddhist activities in Zanzibar, as shown below:
Extract from Pannasekera.com
1962
Visiting Monks
Ven Palane Narada
He was the first Buddhist monk to the African continent born in Sri Lanka .
After learning Buddhism, he started traveling to many countries to propagate
it. In 1962 he came to Zanzibar for a short visit. At that time there had a Buddhist association office in Zanzibar. It
was at Don Millan’s house. Don Millan was a merchant and jeweler
in Zanzibar. From There Ven Narada
gave a short visit to the temple.
Family Tree
1. D. B. Terolishami, trader, Galupiadda + ............. (Terolis de
Silva)
2. D. B. Dineshami,
trader, Wanduramba + ............ (Dinesh de Silva)
Further details not known. Terolis & his brother
have been partners, according to a 1908 publication,,& the brother may have
been Dinesh.
1.1. D. B. R. De Silva
1.1.D. B.R. De Silva +
Sylvia de Silva
1.1.1 Alfred
1.1.2 Seela
1.1.3 Wilfred
1.1.4 Kirthi
1.1.1. Alfred d. 18,7,1996 +
Punya........d. 4.7.2008
1.1.1.1Niranjala m S. Hapangama,
son of C. P. Hapangama & Seelawathie
1.1.1.2 Manoj
1.1.1.3Jai
Punya's siblings : Clement, Tom, Lena, Siridasa, Amara, Naomal.
Alfred joined his father in Zanzibar & assisted him to
manage his business activities, until he took over, when his father returned to
Ceylon. In 1964, after the revolution in Zanzibar, which resulted in the
killing of thousands of Arabs & Indians, the climate was no longer
conducive to business & he returned to Ceylon
1,1.2.Seela d.............,
married Wilfred Wijekulasuriya d.
,
1.1.2.1 Chinta
1.1.2.2 Rukman
1.1.2.3 Ramya
1.1.2.4 Mahesh
1.1.2.5 Chandrika
1.1.2.6 Shantha
Wilfred Wijekulasuriya was a well known Senior Attorney at Law & leading Politician,
Mayor of Galle from 1945 to 1949 & 1952 to 1953, one of the original
members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party formed by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike,
Chairman, Fishery Harbours Corporation, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Kenya &
concurrently to Zambia etc. A road in Magalle has
been named after him in his honour
He was the son of Mr
& Mrs. (Marsion?) Wijekulasuriya
of Magalle. His siblings :
Herbert, Lionel, Cyril, Eric.
1.1.3 Wilfred (Somachandra),
d......... too joined his father in Zanzibar & assisted him
to manage the business. He too returned to Ceylon along with his
brother. He remained a bachelor
1.1.4. Dr. Kirthi
M.B.B.S.Cey.; F.R.C.S.
(Ophthalmology ) UK., Eye Surgeon, Eye Hospital, Colombo, Eye
Surgeon, London Eye Hospital, UK , Consultant Eye Surgeon Sri
Lanka married Geetha Wickremasinghe,
(B.A. Cey.), daughter of Mr & Mrs. Rex Wickremasinghe of Magalle. Her
siblings : Sarath (B.Sc. Phy Sc.), Dalmie (B.Sc Agric. ), Neela, Lalani, Ramani, ............... .
1.1.4.1. Dr Dinesh,Consultant
Eye Surgeon
1.1.4.2 ............ .
In the mid 1950s the D. B.
R. de Silva family were the proud owners of a Hindustan Ambassador motor car,
being one of two cars imported to Ceylon. This was the first car manufactured
by the Birla Group in India, in the previous year. It was a car modelled on the Morris Oxford made in Gt. Britain. DBR was
probably influenced by his North Indian friends on Main St. Zanzibar to buy the
first Indian car for the use of his family in Ceylon.
Dr D.B.K.de Silva, his sister
Seela Wijekulasuriya &
WT Wijekulasuriya in Mayoral attire
1.2 DBM De Silva +
............
1.2.1 Kusum
+ Dantanarayana Don Millan
They had
nine children, who are scattered all over the world. Keline
Selden, referred to above is one of them. The most well-known among them is Mihiri Dissanayake, Justice of
the Peace in Melbourne, who provides a voluntary community service to Sri
Lankans in Australia and New Zealand , and
publishes a monthly journal named Pahana
containing matters of interest for free distribution among members of the
community. She also helps the needy in Sri Lanka in various ways. She is
married to Bandu Dissanayake, a former Hony. Consul for Sri Lanka in Melbourne.
Some Unique Incidents Featuring W.
T. Wijekulasuriya
1. Resolution on the War
Situation in 1939.
Extract from the minutes of the Genera Meeting of the Galle
Municipal Council held on September 14, 1939 with the Mayor, W. Dahanayake presiding :
The Mayor moved :—•“ On behalf of the citizens of Galle this Council desires to
convey to His Excellency the Governor an assurance of its loyalty and devotion
to His Majesty the King and of its readiness to co-operate in any measures
which the authorities may consider necessary to adopt in the prosecution of the
War ”. Mr AIHA Wahab, Deputy Mayor seconded.
" Mr WT Wijekulasuriya drew
the attention of the Mayor to by-law 10 (d) of the by-laws regulating the
procedure at meetings, and said that the motion was not in order as it had no
bearing at all on Municipal administration. The Mayor ruled that the motion was
in order under the by-law1 quoted by the Member.
Mr T. W. Roberts suggested the insertion of the word “ reasonable ” before the word “ measures ” in line 4, as he
said he could not support any unreasonable measures, such as the present “
black-out ”.
The Mayor said he was unable to agree with the suggestion
made and was not prepared to insert the word “ reasonable ” before the word “
measures ”.
The motion was ' then put to the Meeting and carried,
Messrs. W. T. Wijekulasuriya and
T. W. Roberts declined to vote."(Gazette No. 8,544-Friday, November 3,
1939.p 1942, pdf p.22)”
2. Independence Day Celebrations in 1948 at
Galle
Extract from a News Item
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/190203/plus/when-february-4-dawned-71-years-ago-333520.html
Galle
Mayor Boycotts Event
The Lion Flag had been unfurled, parades held, the National Anthem
sung with gusto, bells rung, tom-toms beaten and conch shells blown all over
the country on February 4. In Galle, however, Mayor W.T. Wijekulasuriya
refused to participate in the celebrations held at the esplanade organized by
Government Agent W.O. Stevens……due to being convinced that “the expenditure of Rs. 800,000 at a time when unemployment, distress and
poverty were widely prevalent was unconscionable”.
3. Galle Mayoral Election 1952
Galle Municipal . Council consisted of 15 members.
Messrs. ARM Thassim (ARMT), WT Wijekulasuriya
(WTW) & ED Nagahawatte (EDN) were the candidates.
The Municipal
Commissioner (MC) conducted the election.
When voting began,
the first member voted for WTW. The next two declined to vote.
At this stage, candidate EDN
withdrew.
Voting continued . 7 voted for ARMT. 6 voted for WTW including EDN.
The MC decided to
conduct the election again with only ARMT & WTW as the candidates.
This time, WTW received 8
votes & ARMT received 7. EDN & the 2 members who declined to vote
earlier, also voted for WTW.
WTW was declared
elected as the Mayor.
ARMT challenged the
decision in the courts claiming that he should have been elected after the
first voting. A galaxy of brilliant lawyers appeared for the parties.
HV Perera,
QC, with EB Wikramanayake, QC, Sir Ukwatte Jayasundera, QC, S Nadesan, MIA Azeez, HW
Jayewardene and GT Samarawickreme, for ARMT
NE Weerasooria,
QC, with SJV Chelvanayakam, QC, CS Barr Kumarakulasinghe, Vernon Wijetunge,
Izadeen Mohamed and AS Vanigasooriyar
, for WTW.
GE Ghitty, with P Somatilakam , S Sharvananda and Joseph St.
George, for the Municipal Commissioner.
After hearing arguments
for both sides, Justice Gunasekera delivering the
judgment on 18 March 1952 refused to intervene & the
election of WTW as Mayor was held to be in order.
Incidentally, W Dahanayake, then MP for Galle , as
well as a member of the Galle Municipal Council voted for WTW.
Case can be read in
full in 55 NLR 59.
However, ARM Thassim was Mayor in 1950-51, & again from 1954-62 , thus becoming the longest serving Mayor of Galle.
4. Prize Giving of St.
Aloysius College, Galle held in 1958
Past Mayor of Galle, Senior Attorney at Law, MrWijekulasuriya and Mrs. Seela Wijekulasuriya were the Chief Guests. he Form I A Prize for Mathematics In 1957 was won by their son Rukman.
He received his prize from his mother. There was applause & smiles from the
audience.
Dr. D. B. K.
de Silva, his sister Mrs. Seela Wijekulasuriya, W. T. Wijekulasuriya
as Mayor
Prepared by KK de Silva
