Sri Lanka, March 3 -- This year, March 3, is the 190th birth anniversary of the Late Charles Henry de Soysa. In all these years, his largesse to the nation remains unsurpassed, making him our greatest philanthropist.He was born and bred in Moratuwa, but his generosity to the land of his birth and heritage reached far beyond the peripheries of his home town. His greatest gift to his hometown was the building of two schools: Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, given 150 years ago when he was just 40 years old. He wanted the youth of Moratuwa to have an education equal to those in leading schools in Colombo.

He built the De Soysa Hospital in Colombo, which has been of immense benefit to the nation and has helped millions of women through...