Browsing by Author "Dissanayake, D. M. K. G. K."

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B.P. de Silva: The legacy of Asia’s finest jewelers
(Centre for Heritage Studies, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2019) Dissanayake, D. M. K. G. K.; Windsor, R. D.; Wijayarathna, W. K. M.
B.P. de Silva is a heritage classic family of Sri Lanka. Balage Porolis de Silva, a Sinhalese Buddhist of Magalle on the South Coast of Sri Lanka, founded the company. In 1872, he landed in Singapore and rented a shop for twenty dollars for a month in High Street, and started a business of selling jewelry, carvings, and lacquerware. According to the information collected through a survey of literature and according to the pre-interviews of later generations, when Mr. Silva started his business, he had only two showcases, three tables, and three cupboards. Eventually, he became famous among European and Chinese customers for his honesty and integrity. Because of guaranteed authenticity, he got many chances to serve under several Royal patronages included King Chulalongkorn of Siam, Sultan Ibrahim of Johore, the Duke of Connaught, King Edward VII and Queen Victoria of Great Britain. Therefore, no doubt B.P. de Silva has become a legacy as one of Asia's finest jewelers. In 1930, after B.P. de Silva passed away, the business down to his daughters through their husbands and a group of trusted managers. Under the consultancy of the 5th generation, shareholders, and dedication of the staff members, the business grew more widely and become a renowned purveyor of luxury goods known as B.P. De Silva Holdings in Singapore and De Silva in Malaysia. Today, the classic techniques and craft have combined with the latest technology to create pieces. Ten Percent of the company group’s profits were deposited into a fund that used to benefit people at all levels. Therefore, the government should invite companies like this to join their hands with the motherland and it will help to attract more and more foreign exchange businesses to the country, which has a growing local presence.
Wijewardena family:Foundation of a long-lasting political family in Sri Lanka
(Centre for Heritage Studies, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2019) Dissanayake, D. M. K. G. K.; Sri Shan, G. A. A. N.; Wijayarathna, W. K. M.
Wijewardena family can trace its ancestry back, with a degree of accuracy to the 15th Century, where the Tudugala Wijewardena family has established roots as a ‘Disava’ to King Parakramabahu VI who was the last king to have reigned over the whole of Sri Lanka. At the turn of the century, Tudugalage Muhandiram Don Philip Wijewardena took the name of Wijewardene. Over time, successful entrepreneur family has grown widely through marriages that happened with noble families and it made a strong and secured entrance to for modern politics. Wijewardena family is famous for their successful entrepreneur Junius Richard Jayewardene’s mother Agnes Helen Don Philip Wijewardena who is a daughter of Tudugalage Muhandiram Don Philip Wijewardena. Therefore, when J.R. Jayewardene became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka in 1978, he used to take pride in saying that he was the last in the line of rulers of the island in an unbroken succession dating back over 2500 years. Nalini Wijewardena is a daughter of D. R. Wijewardena and mother of Ranil Wickremesinghe, current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Nephew of J.R. Jayewardene and a cousin of Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ruwan Wijewardena representing current Parliament from Gampaha district and fulfilling the duties as an active Cabinet Minister. As female political figure of the family, Vimala Wijewardenecan can be recognized as the country's first female cabinet minister. When analyzing the collected data through library survey, along with many members who have been successful politicians across generations, this family includes two Prime Ministers and a President of Sri Lanka who represented UNP.