Evelyn de Soysa

Lady Evelyn Johanna Publina de Soysa OBE (née Fernando) (23 April 1893 – 28 July 1973) was the third female member of the Senate of Ceylon.

[2] On 23 November 1907 she married Ceylonese entrepreneur and philanthropist Wilfred de Soysa.

[3][4][5] They had eight children: their first son Harold de Soysa was the first Ceylonese Anglican Bishop of Colombo[6] and their second son Cecil de Soysa was the founding Chairman of the Ceylon Tourist Board[7][8] and the Chairman of Ceylon Shipping Lines.

[9][10][11] The couple's third son Terence de Soysa was appointed as the first Sri Lankan Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce[12][13][14][15] Their fourth son Ryle de Soysa was the opening batsman for the All-Ceylon (national team) from 1938–45 and represented Oxford University and the Sinhalese Sports Club and captained the Royal College, Colombo first XI team to Australia in 1936.

[20] In 1950 she was awarded an MBE[21] and in 1956 an OBE,[22] for her work in social services and charities.