Jeronis de Soysa

Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa (19 April 1797 – 28 May 1862) was a pioneering Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a planter and an industrialist who became the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century by establishing the largest native commercial enterprise of the era. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first Ceylonese bank and is often referred to as a father of private enterprise. He was the first Mudaliyar to be elevated in recognition of his philanthropy.^[1][2][3][4]

Early life

Jeronis de Soysa was born on 19 April 1797 at Moratuwa.^[5] He was the second son of Warusahennadige Joseph Soysa (Jose Rala), an Ayurveda practitioner and Kurukulasuriya Hennedige Francisca Peiris. He had eight brothers and one sister and was affectionately known as Babasingho. Both his father and grandfather Bastian Soysa were reputed merchants engaged in transportation, boat building, dairy and paddy farming.^[5][6][7] Their ancestor was the lay custodian of the Devinuwara Maha Vihnu Devalaya, Matara at the time of its destruction in 1587.^[7][8][9] Jeronis’s parents originally wanted him to become a Buddhist monk, and sent him to the Palliyagodella Temple Rawatawatta, Moratuwa for studies. Jeronis excelled in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, the Sinhala language and astrology. He became an Ayurvedic practitioner and possessed a charming personality.

Business & Industry

De Soysa inherited a small fortune from his uncle Daniel Peiris and grandfather Hendrick Peiris who were ship owners.^{[6][10][11][12]} He invested this in expanding the trading network between the Maritime and Kandyan Provinces with the assistance of his brothers. Meanwhile Jeronis also became famous as Babasingha Vedamahatmaya, a sought after Ayurvedic physician in Kandy. Jeronis’s business prospered and he received several government supply contracts. These investments enabled him to accumulate the large capital necessary to buy/rent the monopoly for the supply of arrack. Later, he curtailed his investment in the distilerry and tavern industry.^[13][14][15]

In 1836 de Soysa bid for the Diyatalawa kanda 'Kings Garden' in Hanguranketa at the request of the Korale (Administrative Officer) of the region that had been appointed by king Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.^{[3][4][5][16]} This was an overgrown coffee estate previously used by the Kandyan kings as a country retreat. He also purchased many of the cinnamon estates that were previously owned by the Dutch administration in Moratuwa, Ratmalana, Dambuwa and Katunayake, citronella plantations in Ahangama and coconut plantatins throughout the island. The De Soysa and Peiris merchant houses established the first Ceylonese bank; the Bank of Kandy and became the largest native commercial enterprise of the era.^[2][11][14]

Philanthropy

Agriculture & Infrastructure

De Soya's agricultural properties in the up-country were mostly in the Hanguranketa, Haragama and Talatuoya areas which were then thick jungle with no roads. Jeronis took the lead and with an improvised measuring stick demarcated the areas to be cleared for road and tank buildings. He had a network of roads built and supplemented the village infrastructure by building reservoirs for irrigating paddy fields and chena cultivations.^[5][15][17]

The large scale road building projects of de Soysa include the road from Mailapitiya to Hanguranketa and the road from Haragama-Kolongaha-Maha Oya in the Central Province. He also had the Polgasowita-Mattegoda-Delgahakanda roads of Salpiti Korale constructed. In 1839 he constructed the road from Galle road to Kospalankissa and several roads in Chilaw district. The roads from Telawela to Mampe, Kuda-Kalapuwa to Angulana and another in Uyana were also constructed in the Western Province.^[5][15][17]

De Soysa was also an avid builder of tanks and reservoirs. In 1848 he rebuilt the ancient Malulla tank near Gonagama. The Gonawatte, Gonagama, Talatuoya, Naranvila and Maloluwawe tanks and dams of the Central Province and the Moratuwa tank in his home town are noteworthy. He also facilitated irrigation works at Kandevela and gifted land to the poor residents of Gonagama and Hanguranketa for cultivation.^[5][15][17]

De Soysa also built the large Tibotuwawewatte Ambalama in Haragama and the sprawling rest house and gardens at Moratuwa for public use.^[5][17] As a result of the medical and financial assistance given to the landslide victims of Kadugannawa, Jeronis de Soysa's caravans were safeguarded by Saradiel, the Robin Hood of Ceylon.^[5][15]

Religious & Educational

On his land stood the ancient temple; Pothgul Viharaya of Hanguranketa which was in a state of collapse. After rebuilding and renovating the temple he nominated the Ven. Attadassi Thero as its Chief Incumbent and gifted the surrounding lands to the Temple.^[5][15] De Soysa also built a Chaitya in Moratuwa to enshrine the ashes of his teacher Ven. Meddegama Thero.^[5]

He built and financed a free Primary school in Hanguranketa and established the Legal Aid Society in Moratuwa.^[5]

Towards the end of his life, Jeronis de Soysa embraced Christianity in appreciation of the blessings and recognition that had been bestowed on him. To commemorate this event the Mudaliyar decided to build the Holy Emmanuel Church. On 27 December. 1857, Bishop James Chapman laid the cornerstone of the Church. On 27 December 1860, the Holy Emmanuel Church was consecrated by Dr. James Chapman, the first Bishop of Colombo and the event was attended by the Governor Charles Justin MacCarthy.^[7][18] His brother Susew de Soysa (Mudalier) gifted valuable urban property opposite the Mount Lavinia Hotel for its maintenance.^[5][17][18]

Death

Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa was called to his eternal rest at the age of 65 on 28 May 1862. He was buried in the Holy Emmanuel Church.^[6][18]

Legacy

Jeronis de Soysa, often referred to as a father of private enterprise was the pioneer native entrepreneur, philanthropist and social reformer who played the role of a path-finder.^[19] He died, leaving Charles de Soysa, aged 26, entrusted with the management of an estate worth millions. His infrastructure and tank building projects were comendable, considering the fact that it came at a time after the abolition of the traditional rajakriya system of free compulsory labour. In 1852, de Soysa was appointed Gate Mudaliyar by the Governor George William Anderson. He was the first provincial headman to be appointed for public benefactions as opposed to government service.

References