188th birth anniversary of Charles Henry De Soysa Scholars, academics and students honour visionary leader

 De Soysa pioneered free education in Sri Lanka before such initiatives were considered by the Government

The celebration honouring the enduring legacy of Charles Henry de Soysa, the esteemed founder of the De Soysa Hospital for Women, Lunawa Hospital, and Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges, took place on Sunday (March 3) in commemoration of his 188th birth anniversary.  
Family members of the late philanthropist, the Charles Henry De Soysa Commemoration Committee, and Principals, staff and students of Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges gathered at the De Soysa Circus to place garlands and floral tributes at the de Soysa statue. A commemorative meeting was later held at the Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church.  
In his welcome address, former Solicitor General of Sri Lanka, Suhada Gamalath PC, noted that the event has been carried out annually since 1920 by those who wished to extend their gratitude to the life and work of De Soysa. “He was a remarkable renaissance man who lived far beyond his time and continues to do so as a great inspiration to all of us who are looking for a proper role model to emulate, particularly at a time like this,” said Gamalath.   

National Medicines Regulatory Authority Chairman and Sri Lanka Medical Association President, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, who was the chief guest at the occasion, lauded De Soysa’s monumental contributions, particularly in the fields of healthcare and education. Noting that Sri Lanka’s maternal mortality rates were lower than other countries in the region, Dr. Wijewickrama attributed it to the visionary leader who founded the De Soysa Hospital for Women in 1879; the second oldest hospital dedicated for maternal healthcare in Asia. “Today, De Soysa Hospital for Women cares for thousands of mothers and also plays a part in training medical students on maternal healthcare. When I was a medical student, I too studied maternal healthcare at the De Soysa Hospital,” said Dr. Wijewickrama.   
Highlighting De Soysa’s exceptional endeavours in founding numerous other hospitals, as well as funding for the development of various hospitals in Sri Lanka, Dr. Wijewickrama underscored the philanthropist’s significant contribution to the establishment of the Medical Research Institute. “This exemplifies his foresight, which prompted him to consider medical research 150 years ago,” he said.   
Dr. Wijewickrama underscored that De Soysa pioneered free education in Sri Lanka before such initiatives were considered by the Government. “He did not stop with the establishment of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges, but also supported numerous other schools and provided scholarships for many students. It is when we reflect on his work that we realise the foresight he possessed,” the doctor said  

As a former student of the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Medicine, which owes its first building to De Soysa’s generosity, Dr. Wijewickrama emphasised the significant impact the philanthropist had beyond the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges. “So, I too owe my education to him, not just the students of Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges,” reiterated Dr. Wijewickrama.   
Furthermore, Dr. Wijewickrama pointed out that De Soysa, despite being a Catholic, extended his help to all faiths, as he perceived religious harmony to be a pivotal force for a country’s progression. “From time to time, there is disharmony caused between religious groups. Religious harmony is required for a country’s success. He is a good example of this. Although a Catholic, he helped all faiths in the same manner. He has helped temples, mosques and kovils equally,” he said.   
Dr. Wijewickrama remarked that these endeavours pointed to an exemplary and visionary leader. “A country needs a leader with a vision, and I see Charles Henry De Soysa as such a leader,” he added.   
Representing the family of De Soysa, Kishan Karunaratne noted that De Soysa’s acts of kindness were borne out of a deep sense of humanity as he understood that uplifting the most vulnerable members of the community was not an act of charity, but an act of self-preservation for the nation as a whole. “His unwavering belief in the potential of every Sri Lankan is more relevant today than ever before as our country grapples with divisions and economic hardship,” said Karunaratne.   

The Principals of the Prince of Wales’ and Princess of Wales’ Colleges, H.K. Weththimuni and Thilini Wijeweera respectively, highlighted that their Founder’s aim to provide education in Sinhala and English mediums to all children equally, irrespective of caste, race, religion or financial status is a reality even today, as was his vision to make Moratuwa an area of academics.   
In honour of his 188th birth anniversary, students from the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Colleges performed a song dedicated to Charles Henry D e Soysa. The composing of the song was made by Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne while the music directed by Dr. Rohana Weerasinghe.