A tribute to a pioneer who united Sri Lanka

People are born into the world and draw the breaths of human life. But not often are there people who depart leaving an impression that receives deep gratitude and honour from others. There are only a handful of souls who remain in the hearts and minds of the people in spite of their perishing bodies. One such individual is Sir Cyril de Zoysa, whose birth anniversary we celebrate on 26th of October.

A gentleman who possessed the qualities of leadership and management, Sir Cyril de Zoysa was the pacemaker in the corporate world. His superiority was as prominent as was rare at the time in Sri Lanka. He emanated a sense of generosity akin to that of Anathapindika, and his stature as a politician is one to be observed and followed even by the most powerful politicians of this era.

He was a philanthropist dedicated to elevating the Buddhist monastic order; a visionary who envisaged and encouraged peaceful coexistence. He was a remarkable scholar who revolutionised education and paved the way for social change in Sri Lanka. He was a beloved humanitarian with a vision to bring economic relief to those who suffered.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa was born on the 26th of October 1896 at the Kankanam home in Balapitiya. Born to notary Solomon de Zoysa and Harriet de Zoysa, he was the second among five children. While he was first enrolled into St. Thoma’s College for primary education due to his father’s stationing in Matara, he was soon enrolled to Richmond College in Galle.

As an adult, having displayed great depths of avidity and aptitude in divisional politics, in 1941, he progressed in his political journey to serve in the capacity of the Urban Coucil Chairman of Kalutara. His contribution towards national politics and governance began to gain wide attention when he was elected to the Senate of Ceylon, the higher chamber of Parliament, where he served as Vice President for six years and then held the eminent position of President for eight years.

During his illustrious political career, he perceived that a static social pattern was a hindrance towards progression and that only a dynamic social pattern supported by social mobility held the potential to change this. He was also consistently vocal about why it was essential to centre this change on education. As the initial step towards this, he established a new school in Kalutara on his private property. Soon, a second school was set up on the same property under the direction of Sir Cyril de Zoysa, today known as Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya. His determination to raise the standards of education of these schools yielded success as their pupils reached the highest standings in society.

Sir Cyril de Zoysa

For Sir Cyril de Zoysa, education lacking values did not bear the true purpose of education. With this in mind, he paid attention to the role of Sunday Dhamma School education in Sri Lanka in producing younger generations whose characters are influenced by the virtue of Buddhism. Serving as the President of the Colombo Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) for seventeen years to bring life to his visions, he constructed a building for the YMBA in Borella in remembrance of his parents. Construction of a six-storey building in Fort for YMBA during his presidency was a remarkable achievement and truly signifies his courage.

The establishment of the Kalutara Bodhi Trust is hailed as a milestone in the life of Sir Cyril de Zoysa. To this day, in its persistent journey of preserving the essence of Buddhism, the Trust continues to initiate multiple projects across the country – from providing scholarships to monks pursuing oriental languages in the Kalutara District, to donating textbooks and stationery under the project carried out for novice monks, among many other successful efforts. Though he acquired the Governor’s bungalow, the Kachcheri building, and Municipality building for the extension of the network of sacred sites, he did not think twice to retain the nearby Christian Church. He was a personality that valued peaceful coexistence between all races and religions, believing in the Buddhist teachings to respect the beliefs of other faiths, thus setting an example to all faiths even today.

A pioneer in the evolution of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Sir Cyril de Zoysa took up a number of initiatives, including the renovation of Temples, reviving foreign Buddhist missions, and donating his personal wealth to serve the needs of forest monks. He observed and promptly attended to the shortcomings of monasteries. Among the numerous well-known temples that gained his special interest for developments are Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, Jayasekararamaya Temple in Kuppiyawatta, Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Sri Vajiraramaya Temple in Bambalapitiya, and Gothama Thapowanaya in Rajagiriya. Apart from these, even now, extensive renovation projects are continued to fulfil the necessities of all temples in the Kalutara District.

Witnessing the presence of Sir Cyril de Zoysa at the Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya during my days as a very young novice monk is etched in my memory–a time when the Temple had no electricity. One day, having observed this during his visit to the Temple, he pledged to take charge of all arrangements to provide electricity to the Temple and to bear half of the cost for the initiative. He went a step ahead to assure his willingness to become a guarantor, should a need for a loan arise. He kept his word and continued to offer his time, contributions, and intellect to sponsor the renovations of a number of other monasteries and temples in the country, including those built in resemblance to Jetawanaramaya.

In the 1950s, the rebellions that transpired in the country brough great concern within Ven. Somarathna Thera, the then Chief Prelate of Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya, over the annual procession. Disturbed by this, Sir Cyril de Zoysa took immediate action to make arrangements for the annual procession with his personal wealth, under the guidance and blessings of the prelates, and the procession adorned the streets as well as the hearts of devotees just as any other year.

During the time of the Second World War, the foreign Buddhist mission in Europe and the London Vihara initiated by Buddhist missionary Anagarika Dharmapala reached a point of being defunct. Sir Cyril de Zoysa, who was then elected as President of the Maha Bodhi Society, took it upon himself to relocate the ruined London Vihara and appoint the brilliant Ven. Prof. Hamlawa Saddhathissa Thera. Today, his relentless efforts are acknowledged as a key factor behind the expansion of Buddhism all over Europe.

Setting an example of the Buddhist teachings of leaving everything behind as a noble human being, Sir Cyril de Zoysa took his last breath on the 02nd of January 1978.

May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!

Chief Sangha Nayaka of Singapore,

Head of the Paramitha International Buddhist Meditation Centre – Kadugannawa,

Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya,

Ven. Dr. Bellanwila Dhammarathana Thera.