Jeronis de Soysa Dissanayake | |
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Born | 19 April 1797 |
Died | May 28, 1862 | (aged 65)
Resting place | Holy Emmanuel Church |
Nationality | Ceylonese |
Education | Palliyagodella Buddhist Temple |
Occupation(s) | Coffee Planter, Industrialist and Ayurvedic Physician |
Known for | Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy |
Title | Wasala Mudaliyar |
Spouse | Francesca de Soysa Lamaethani |
Children | Charles Henry de Soysa |
Parent | Warusahennedige Joseph Soysa (1764-1839) Kurukulasuriya Senadige Francisca Peiris |
Gate Mudaliyar Jeronis de Soysa (19 April 1797 – 28 May 1862) was a pioneering Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a pioneer coffee 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 in British Ceylon. He was the first Mudaliyar to be elevated in recognition of his philanthropy.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]