A. E. de Silva Snr.

A. E. de Silva, Snr. was a prominent businessman during the late 19th century in Sri Lanka.

Business ventures

He founded and was the sole proprieter of the A.E. de Silva and Co. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=eUF_rS8FEoIC&pg=PA482&lpg=PA482&dq=ae+de+silva&source=web&ots=IglHkPeYig&sig=Vm1v_6xcvJgSg---YulLYIys2yQ "A. E. De Silva & Co.", "20th century Impressions of Ceylon," on line.] ] in the late 19th century, which dealt in every description of Ceylonese produce: principally Plumbago (Graphite), Desiccated Coconut, Fibre, Cacao, Cinnamon and Tea. The main export business was done with the United Kingdom and the continent, through the firm's agents in London, Hamburg and other European ports.

Wealth

Mr. de Silva was the owner of large estates and town properties. He owned over 6000 acres (720,000 perches) comprising of convert|1700|acre|km2 in coconuts, convert|400|acre|km2 in cinnamon, over convert|2000|acre|km2 in rubber and convert|200|acre|km2 in cacao. He owned much property in the Colombo and resided in his mansion 'Stephanotis' on Flower Road, which was later renamed after his son Sir Ernest de Silva. He was one the richest Sri Lankans of the late 19th century and arguably the richest in the early 20th century.

Family life

He married the daughter of S.D.S. Gunasekera who was an extremely successful businessman engaged in exporting. He was the father of the philanthropist Sir Ernest de Silva and therefore the Grandfather-in-law of Construction Magnate Mr. U.N.Gunasekera, making the lineage one of the oldest traditionally wealthy families in the country. [ [http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070520/Plus/pls13.html Shanika Ratnayake, "He owned much but gave away even more: Remembering Sir Ernest de Silva (1887 - 1957)", "The Sunday Times Online," v. 41 no. 51 (May 20, 2007).] ]

References

For further reading

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=eUF_rS8FEoIC&pg=PA482&lpg=PA482&dq=ae+de+silva&source=web&ots=IglHkPeYig&sig=Vm1v_6xcvJgSg---YulLYIys2yQ 20th century Impressions of Ceylon]
* [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=je8BAAAAMAAJ&dq=a.e.+de+silva&q=eon&pgis=1#search H R H Wijeyesinghe, "Ceylon in Coronation Year"]