Soma Edirisinghe
Born(1939-07-05)5 July 1939
Meegoda, Sri Lanka
Died5 November 2015(2015-11-05) (aged 76)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Known forChairperson of EAP Holdings[1]
TitleDeshabandu, Deshashakthi , Lion
SpouseE.A.P Edirisinghe
Websitejanasarana.org

Soma Edirisinghe (Sinhala: සෝමා එදිරිසිංහ; 5 July 1939 – 5 November 2015) was a Sri Lankan corporate executive, film producer, philanthropist and social worker.[2] She was born in Meegoda, Sri Lanka on 5 July 1939 to a family of nine daughters,[3] and died on 5 November 2015 at a private hospital in Colombo.[4] She was married to EAP Edirisinghe and they had four children: three sons, Jeewaka, Nalaka and Asanka, and a daughter, Deepa.

Early life

Edirisnghe was the daughter of Charles Perera, a farmer; her mother was a housewife. She attended Meegoda Government School, Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitaya and Samudradevi School in Nugegoda (St.john's College), a suburb of Colombo.

EAP Edirisinghe initially proposed marriage to one of her sisters, however the offer was declined.[5]

Business career

Her career began in 1974 with the sudden death of her husband, EAP Edirisinghe, the founder of EAP Holdings. Friends and family expected her to sell the business due to her lack of knowledge and experience in the commercial world. Instead, however, she became the company's chairperson and expanded into a number of new fields.[5] The organization now consists of 25 subsidiaries and is one of the largest business conglomerates in Sri Lanka.[6] It deals in broadcasting and telecasting,[7][8] financial services,[9] insurance,[10] production and exhibition of films,[11] retailing gold jewellery,[12] pawning services, housing, land sales, hotels,[13] and importing and retailing of vehicles.[14]

EAP's media arm is considered a leader in the Sri Lankan industry, owning two television stations and three radio stations including Swarnawahini, Shree FM, RanOne and E FM.[3]

Filmography

Edirisinghe expanded the family business into film-making[7] and produced 20 movies in Sinhala cinema[15][16]

Philanthropy

Edirisinghe began her philanthropic work in 1961, during a devastating flood in the provinces of Sri Lanka. She joined a group of celebrities and personalities to bring relief supplies to those affected.[5] She later stated that she became increasingly involved in charity work as a way of dealing with the loneliness of losing her husband.[19]

Lions Club

Edirisinghe joined the Lions Club of Thimbirigasyaya on its inception in 1974. She became the first lady to be elected to the position of District Governor in 2003–04.[20] Also, she was elected to serve as the District Governor of International Association of Lions Club District 306 C2 at its Annual Convention held in Colombo on 18 March 2003.

Janasarana Foundation

Edirisinghe was the founder and the chairperson of the Janasarana Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation that revolves round helping the underprivileged sectors of society.[21] Some of the projects she initiated include Chuo Maithree Pre-school, the Suwanetha Mobile Eye Care Clinic,[22] the Punarjeewa Fund for assisting the poor to undergo heart surgery, upgrading underdeveloped hospitals, scholarships and assistance to under privileged school children and underdeveloped schools,[23] helping destitute families and those displaced by war to recover, building houses for those affected by natural disasters such as floods, drought and the tsunami and most recently setting up the Suwanetha Lions Eye Hospital.[24]

The foundation has also donated 300,000 pairs of spectacles to needy people, and mentored new entrepreneurs into their first businesses.[7]

Honours and awards

  • Deshabandu National Award & Gold Medal for outstanding humanitarian services to the nation in January 2004
  • Deshashakthi National award for outstanding humanitarian services to the nation presented by the then Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse in 2005.
  • Excellency Award 2006 presented by the Society of Sri Lanka Justices of Peace and Human Rights Organization and Sulabh International Academy of Environmental Sanitation, New Delhi, India. Sanitation New Delhi and the Society of the Sri Lanka Justices of the Peace for humanitarian services.[25]
  • Conferred Honorary Doctorate for Entrepreneurship and Social Service from the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2005[23]
  • Unparalleled feat of being awarded 'Lion of the Year' on four occasions. (1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 1999/2000)[26]
  • Special Award of Appreciation – Presented by the SAARC Women's Chamber of Commerce for Building Bridges of Friendship in 2001
  • The People's Award 2007 – "People's Social Worker of the Year" – presented by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing in recognition of outstanding services rendered to the community[27]
  • Sarasaviya Award for the Best Film 1995 "Seylama"[28]
  • Sarasaviya Award for the Best Film 1996 "Re Deniyal Daval Migel 2”
  • Sarasaviya Award for the Most Popular Film 2001 "Rosa Wasanthaya"[17]
  • Sarasaviya Award for the Best Film 2005 "Ira Madiyama"[6]
  • Award for "Excellent Social Worker by Empowering Women in the Society”, 2011[6]

Autobiography

In 2011, Edirisinghe published her autobiography, Memoirs of a Glorious Life.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Soma Edirisinghe (31 January 2012). "Soma Edirisinghe: Executive Profile & Biography – Businessweek". Investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Sri Lankan Iron Lady". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. 1 2 "In Remembrance of Mrs. Soma Edirisinghe - Ceylon Business Reporter". Ceylon Business Reporter. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Soma Edirisinghe passes away at age 76". Adaderana. 5 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Sandum W (19 December 2011). "The Success Story of Soma Edirisinghe". Lanka Help Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "JANASARANA FOUNDATION". janasarana.org. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "...::: Sri Lanka Leaders :::..." www.google-webhosting.com. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Swarnavahini". www.Swarnavahini.lk.
  9. ↑ "Edirisinghe Trust Investment Limited". Eti.lk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Sri Lanka's EAP group enters insurance broking with Omani firm". Lanka Business Online. 24 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Next Prev Sammy 02 3D. "EAP Films and Theaters Private Limited – Home". Eapmovies.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Swarna Mahal Jewelers – For All Life's Golden Moments. Swarna Mahal Wedding Jewellery". Swarnamahal.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Eap Group Ventures into Niche Tourism With Boutique Hotels | The Sunday Leader". Thesundayleader.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Online edition of Daily News – Business". Dailynews.lk. 14 May 2002. Archived from the original on 27 December 2004. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Sinhala Cinema Database – Soma Edirisinghe". Films.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Soma Edirisinghe". IMDb.
  17. 1 2 "Online edition of Sunday Observer – Business". Sundayobserver.lk. 29 September 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  18. ↑ 'Heart FM' for EAP's golden jubilee in cinema Sunday Times, Retrieved on 31 December 2006.
  19. ↑ "Portrait of a woman who took up the challenges of the biz world". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  20. ↑ "District Governor | Lions Clubs of District 306 C1 | Sri Lanka". 306c1.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Features | Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers". Dailynews.lk. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "About Us". Suwanethalionseyehospital.com. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  23. 1 2 "Portrait of a woman who took up the challenges of the biz world". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "Opening of Suwanetha Lions Eye Hospital | The Sunday Leader". Thesundayleader.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  25. ↑ "New Delhi News : Sri Lankan Minister thanks India". The Hindu. 30 July 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  26. ↑ "Dr. Soma Edirisinghe | Global Women's Summits". Globalwomenssummits.com. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  27. ↑ "The Island- Features". Island.lk. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  28. ↑ "Sinhala Cinema Database – Seilama". Films.lk. 10 March 1995. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  29. ↑ Memoirs of a glorious life: Dr. Soma Edirisinghe : translation of Asirimath Jeewithayak by Dayawansa Karunamuni. 1 January 2011. OL 25276817M.
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