Mallory Evan Wijesinghe
Encyclopedia
Mallory Evan Wijesinghe, KStJ
(June 25, 1918 - December 27, 2002) was an eminent Sri Lanka
n engineer and entrepreneur. He had served as the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
, the Bartleet Group and was the founding Chairman of the state owned Ceylon Hotels Corporation.
Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
, Wijesinghe obtained his B.Sc.(Eng) degree from the University of London, King's College London
, and joined the Public Works Department in 1941 as a civil engineer. In 1956, he decided to leave his career in the public sector and join a privately held company involved in the tea trade.
In November 1958 Wijesinghe was appointed the first Ceylonese Director of Bartleet and Co. Ltd., and in the 1960s he became the company's first Ceylonese Managing Director. In 1972, he led a trade delegation from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In 1973, Wijesinghe was appointed the Honorary Consul-General of the Netherlands
to the Republic of Sri Lanka and of the Maldives
and was later honoured by her Majesty Queen Beatrix
by being made an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau in 1985.
Wijesinghe was the founder chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange
, Chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (1960–71), Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
(1964–70) and Chairman of the Colombo Brokers' Association (1960, 1965, 1970 and 1984). He was the founding President of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (1970–77), the founding Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation (1967–70) and the President of the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka, which he was involed in establishing. Wijesinghe was popularly called 'Mr Private Sector' as a result of his extensive involvement in a multitude of positions and assignments involving the 'mercantile' sector of Ceylon, and later Sri Lanka.
A devoted Anglican, he was President of the Colombo
YMCA
, chairman of the Salvation Army
Advisory Board and chairman of the National St. John Council for Sri Lanka. In 1978, he was made Knight
of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
by Queen Elizabeth II, the Sovereign Head of the Order. He also served as the Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Church of England in Ceylon
and a Trustee of the Royal College Union Trust even during his latter period of retirement.
Mallory was married to Joyce Wijesinghe and had three children. His son Eraj is currently the Chairman of the Bartleet Group, younger son Sunil is the Deputy Chairman of the Bartleet Group and his only daughter Dr. (Mrs) Hiranthi Wijemanne, a qualified specialist in public health serving in various capacities in both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(June 25, 1918 - December 27, 2002) was an eminent Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n engineer and entrepreneur. He had served as the Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and one of leading business chambers in Sri Lanka.-History:The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was established on March 25, 1839, when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon under British rule.Rt. Hon...
, the Bartleet Group and was the founding Chairman of the state owned Ceylon Hotels Corporation.
Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, Wijesinghe obtained his B.Sc.(Eng) degree from the University of London, King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, and joined the Public Works Department in 1941 as a civil engineer. In 1956, he decided to leave his career in the public sector and join a privately held company involved in the tea trade.
In November 1958 Wijesinghe was appointed the first Ceylonese Director of Bartleet and Co. Ltd., and in the 1960s he became the company's first Ceylonese Managing Director. In 1972, he led a trade delegation from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
In 1973, Wijesinghe was appointed the Honorary Consul-General of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to the Republic of Sri Lanka and of the Maldives
Maldives
The Maldives , , officially Republic of Maldives , also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep islands, between Minicoy Island and...
and was later honoured by her Majesty Queen Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
by being made an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau in 1985.
Wijesinghe was the founder chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange
Colombo Stock Exchange
The Colombo Stock Exchange is the main stock exchange in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most modern exchanges in South Asia, providing a fully automated trading platform...
, Chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon (1960–71), Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is the oldest and one of leading business chambers in Sri Lanka.-History:The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was established on March 25, 1839, when Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon under British rule.Rt. Hon...
(1964–70) and Chairman of the Colombo Brokers' Association (1960, 1965, 1970 and 1984). He was the founding President of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (1970–77), the founding Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation (1967–70) and the President of the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka, which he was involed in establishing. Wijesinghe was popularly called 'Mr Private Sector' as a result of his extensive involvement in a multitude of positions and assignments involving the 'mercantile' sector of Ceylon, and later Sri Lanka.
A devoted Anglican, he was President of the Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, chairman of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Advisory Board and chairman of the National St. John Council for Sri Lanka. In 1978, he was made Knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
by Queen Elizabeth II, the Sovereign Head of the Order. He also served as the Chairman of the Incorporated Trustees of the Church of England in Ceylon
Church of Ceylon
The Church of Ceylon, which is the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka, was established with the appointment of its first Bishop, Rt Rev James Chapman in 1845 as the Bishop of Colombo.-The Dioceses of Colombo and Kurunegala:...
and a Trustee of the Royal College Union Trust even during his latter period of retirement.
Mallory was married to Joyce Wijesinghe and had three children. His son Eraj is currently the Chairman of the Bartleet Group, younger son Sunil is the Deputy Chairman of the Bartleet Group and his only daughter Dr. (Mrs) Hiranthi Wijemanne, a qualified specialist in public health serving in various capacities in both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
Honours
- KnightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of JerusalemVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and... - Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau