The late Cyril de Zoysa’s name is synonymous with the revival of Buddhism. His services, however, encompassed the economic, educational, political, sports spheres as well. He was not second to anybody.
Born on October 26, 1896 to the notary public Solomon de Zoysa and Harriet de Zoysa of Welitara, Balapitiya, he had his early education at St. Thomas College, Matara and Richmond College, Galle. Passed out as a lawyer he began his practice at Kalutara. His name became immortal, as he dedicated himself for the development of Kalutara Bodhi despite many obstacles, including those of Govt. Agent, an Englishman.
With foresight he set up the Kalutara Bodhi Trust. Much of his personal wealth was expended to develop the Bodhi complex. He exchanged some of his property elsewhere to relocate the Kalutara GA residency and Kachcheri, so that additional accommodation was found to expand the Bodhi complex. The resplendent Watadageya and Chaitya is the cynosure of the Kalutara town. His services for the Buddhist renaissance cannot be explained in words.
When the renovation work to the historic Kataragama Kirivehera had come to a standstill, he took it upon himself to complete the project successfully.
The Colombo Fort YMBA building complex and the Borella YMBA headquarters are a testament to his services to the Sasana while being the President of Colombo YMBA from 1960 to 1978.
He lavished his wealth to develop Kande Vihara, Aluthgama, Saddharmakara Pirivena, Pinwatte Panadura, Gangaramaya, Hunupitiya, Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya, Kuppiyawatte Jayasekeraramaya, London Buddhist Vihara and Ananda Bodhiya, India.
He was also Patron/President of Maha Bodhi Society, YMBA and All Ceylon Buddhist Congress. Among his other services are free distribution of Dhamma school books and improvement of children’s knowledge of Buddha Dhamma.
He was also a local business tycoon – manufacturing motor car batteries, cycle tyres and tubes, tyre retreading, refrigerators and electrical cables which are some of the enterprises he had launched which provided employment to a number of people. The Swarnapali Bus Company, later converted to South Western Bus Company operated a passenger coach service between Galle and Colombo.
When the private bus companies were nationalise in 1957 he had effected repairs to buses where necessary and replaced old tyres before handing them over the buses to the government.
He also set up a hand loom factory at Balapitiya, his native place which provided employment to over 1,500 people. Kalutara Vidyalaya and Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya are his gifts to the posterity. A house for the aged was also set up in his land at Bombuwala, Kalutara.
He held positions such as Patron / President / Member of Colombo YMBA, All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, Maha Bodhi Society, Bar Association of Ceylon, National Council for the deaf and blind, Society for protection of Children, Ceylon Cancer Society, CNAPT, Kalutara Sports Club, Colombo SSC and the Scouts Association.
He was the leading Criminal lawyer of the Kalutara Bar and the President of the Bar Association, in which capacity the Lawyer’s Office Complex at Hulftsdorp was put up. Elected as a Member of the then Senate, later he became its President as well.
Sir Cyril de Zoysa, the unrivaled philanthropist breathed his last on January 2, 1978.