He is widely regarded as the greatest philanthropist of the island for contributions which includes the De Soysa Maternity Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, the Model Farm Experimental Station and many other institutions and acts of charity,[3][4][5] establishing infant-maternal healthcare and secular education for girls in the country.

Jeronis de Soysa, an Ayurveda doctor, was one of the most successful merchants in Ceylon and established the largest native commercial enterprise of the era.

He became an apprentice under his father and uncle Susew de Soysa (1809–1881) in managing the large estates and trading network of the family, starting at Hanguranketha.

De Silva hailed from the traditional nindagam land holders of Moratuwa during the Kotte Kingdom[20][21][22][23] and was a successful wholesaler and exporter of arrack.

[24][25] A compromise was made to solemnise the marriage according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church and the wedding was held on 4 February 1863 at the Chevalier walauwa, Moratuwa [26][27] De Soysa was a pioneering tea planter which was usually the preserve of Europeans.

[31][32][33] De Soysa also cultivated citronella, coconut, cinnamon, rice, rubber, cocoa and cotton in seven of the nine provinces of the Island.

[13] His other investments included transportation, graphite mining, coffee, coir and oil mills, tea factories and the import-export trade.

[29][35][47] He introduced emerging technologies and setup incentives for his employees including pensions at a time when such a system was yet to be formally adopted by governments and institutions.

[4][12][13][34] De Soysa was accorded the unique privilege of being invited to hold a reception on behalf of the people of Ceylon for Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh who was the first member of British Royalty to visit the Island.

This he did in royal style at his palatial mansion in Colombo Bagatelle walauwa, (later renamed Alfred House) which had been specially reconstructed for the occasion in a sprawling park of 120 acres.

[48] De Soysa entertained the Prince where the crockery and cutlery of the banquet was made of gold and studded with gems and pearls.

[10][12][43] De Soysa initiated measures to reduce the infant mortality rate by creating a supply of trained Sinhalese midwives.

[6][7][15] The original buildings of the Ceylon Medical College gifted by him and his uncle Mudliyar Susew de Soysa were also declared open on the same day by the Governor Sir James Robert Longden on 9 December 1879.

[8] De Soysa's earliest contribution to education was the establishment of the Alfred Model Farm Agriculture School in 1871[11] and lavish grants to S. Thomas' College, Mutwal.

[5][73][74] He gave liberally to the National Museum of Colombo and other institutions throughout the island, including Jaffna, scholarships to individuals and also endowed several rural schools.

[10][79][80] He was also a patron of the St. Sebastians Church Moratuwa, built by his father-in-law Chevalier Jusey de Silva who was also a chief contributor to St. Lucia's Cathedral, Colombo.

De Soysa presented the Royal Institution and museums with archaeological antiquities purchased at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition including a facsimile of the Yapahuwa gate.

[83] He established a Co-operative Society for carpenters and craftsmen in Moratuwa and gave land for resettlement to over a hundred displaced families of Walapane evicted for non-payment of the grain tax and was one of the largest contributors to the Indian and Irish famine funds.

[10][13][86] On 11 November 1871, Ceylon's first mass political meeting was held on the grounds of the De Soysa walauwa in Moratuwa agitating against the discriminatory provisions of the Village Councils Ordinance 1871, to uphold the dignity of minority groups and to oppose the colonial policy of divide and rule.

De Soysa's name headed the petition signed by 1000 persons from Moratuwa and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia requesting the Governor to amendment the Ordinance and to print it in the native language.

[10][15][86] On 24 June 1881 the Ceylon Agricultural Association was formed to safeguard the interests of the native enterprises facing stiff competition from the Europeans and to limit their control of the economic activities of the country.

[5][16][9] De Soysa, the far sighted native entrepreneur and philanthropist played the role of a paternal figure in 19th century Ceylon.

The first steps towards a formation of a political process which later opened up the possibility of negotiating legislative reforms, self governance and independence were initiated with the stand taken by Mr. De Soysa and others.

De Soysa was far ahead of his times in understanding the importance of the economic, social and moral progress in the process of nation building.