William de Silva


Peduru Hewage William de Silva represented the Ambalangoda-Balapitya Electorate from 1947-1960 and later the Devinuwara Electorate as a Member of Parliament. He was also Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Canada. As the Minister of Industries and Fisheries in 1956. Peduru Hewage William Ds Silva who was a friend and a comrade of the Father of Marxism in Sri Lanka. Philip Gunawardana introduced pro-people concepts into Industries and Fisheries spheres.
P. H. William de Silva was the only son of a wealthyprofessional family of Batapola, Ambalangoda. William studied at the Buddhist mixed school in Batapola, at St. John’s – Panadura, Richmond College – Galle and Ananda College Colombo from which he entered Ceylon University College. Just like Philip Gunawardana and N. M. Perera he left University College for higher studies abroad. In London, England William became a supporter of Sooriyamal Movement of the LSSP. He was elected President of Ceylon students Association in London. William graduated in Law and was called to the Bar in 1940. As Minister of Industries and Fisheries he advocated the promotion of Industries and Fisheries he advocated the promotion of private enterprise in Industry by providing infrastructure, financial credits and other incentives. He also sponsored a few basic industries under state ownership establishing a steel factory, a tire factory the second cement factory and a flour milling factory. Willam  de Silva also established the mineral sands and the National Textile Corporation. The first Industrial Estate in Sri Lanka at Ekala making available land, buildings, water, Roads and electricity was established by him, for the development of private enterprise catering to small and medium scale industries. In the fishing industry he introduced mechanized boats for deep sea fishing with the assistance of our boat builders in 1958.
He promoted Inland fisheries on a wide scale breeding “Thilapiya and Gouramis”. His tenure in office saw the beginnings of industrialization in Sri Lanka as well as the mechanization of the fishing industry. The achievement of “William the Silent” brought great pride to his native village of Batapola.
William de Silva belonged to a long line of Southerners who fought to free Sri Lanka from the path of D. M. R.ajapaksha the Lion of Ruhuna, his brother D. A. Rajapaksha and Dr. S. A. Wicramasinghe of Morwak Korale.
Finally in the words of his Excellency the president Mahinda Rajapaksha “There are only two kinds of people in this land those who love this country and those who don’t. Peduru Hewage William de Silva loved this country and would not and did not sacrifice its interest for Gold, Personal gain or Ambition however high the stakes were. His rightful place as a hero would always be enshrined in the History of Sri Lanka.

Technical Details

  • Date of Issue-----------> 15th December, 2009
  • Denominations----------> Rs. 10.00
  • Format-----------------> Vertical
  • Stamp size--------------> 30mm. * 41 mm.
  • Perforations------------->13 ½ * 14
  • Colours--------------> 4 Process Colours

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