D. R. Wijewardena
| Don Richard Wijewardana | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Don Richard Wijewardana 23 February 1886 Ceylon |
| Died | 13 June 1950 (aged 64) |
| Nationality | Ceylonese |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Meedeniya |
| Children | Two sons and Three daughters |
| Parents | Don Philip Wijewardana (Father) Helena Weerasinghe (Mother) |
| Alma mater |
S. Thomas' College, Mutwal University of Cambridge |
| Occupation | Press Baron |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Known for | Lake House |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ceylon |
| Service/branch | Ceylon Defence Force |
| Years of service | 1915-1917 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Ceylon Light Infantry |
Don Richard Wijewardena (Sinhala:දොන් රිච්ඩ් විජෙවර්ධන) (23 February 1886 – 13 June 1950) was a Sri Lankan press baron who was a leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. A successful entrepreneur, he established Lake House newspapers and played a major role in the independence movement.
D. R. Wijewardena was born as the third male child of seven sons and two daughters Muhandiram Tudugalage Don Philip Wijewardene, a timber merchant of Sedavatta and Helena Weerasinghe. He lost his father at a very young age and was raised by his mother. His brothers were Don Philip Alexander, Don Lewis, Don Charles, Don Edmund, Don Albert and Don Walter and his sisters were Harriot who married Dr Arthur Seneviratne and Agnes Helen who married Justice Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene.
Wijewardena received his primary education at the Sedavatta school after which like all his brothers, completed his secondary education at St.Thomas College Mutwal.
He then went on to study at Peterhouse, Cambridge. There he developed his interest in politics and met famous personalities such as future leaders of India like Lala Lajpat Rai, Bepin Chandra Pal, Surendranath Banerji and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. After graduating he became a Barrister at the Inner Temple.
Returning to Ceylon in 1912, he took oaths as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon and started his practice at Hulftsdorp. He did not practice law for long, turning towards business activities instead. During World War I, he briefly served as a Lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry resigning in 1917 on grounds of principle.
...
Wikipedia