A.P. de Zoysa

  A.P. de Zoysa

Agampodi paulus de Zoysa was born on 5 th April, 1890 inrandombe, Ambalangoda. At the age of 11, after his parents died in an epidemic, he was brought up by his maternal grandmother with financial support from his uncles.

            De Zoysa had his first lessons at the maha Samudramaya in Randombe, as well as at the local Wesleyan school. He continued his secondary education at Mahinda College, Galle and at Wesley College,Colombo.He taught at several Colombo schools before going to Britain in 1921 with help from his uncles. He did an external London degree and a PHD. In Anthropology, being called to the Bar in 1927.During this time he was active in the Buddhist movement. He married Eleanor Hutton from Durham. They had one child,Visakha Kumari.

            After retiring to Sri Lanka in 1934, he began the struggle to earn a living at the Bar and became known as a poor mans’s lawyer. He won the Colombo South election in 1936 and was in the state council until 1947 during which time he took up many issues related to education, social reform and minority rights.

            In 1936, be Zoysa bought a printing press (Dharmasamaya) and soon began work on his magnum opus, a translation of the Tripitaka, into simple Sinhala so that a larger public could read ad understand Buddhist teachings. This ambitious projet took over 20 years to complete and comprised 48 volumes. He also published several editions of Sinhala-English and English-Sinhala dictionaries, which were of immense value at a time when language policies were changing.

            Dr.A.P.deZoysa,who died on 26^th may 1968 at the age of 78, never joined any political party, but devoted his energies in support of progressive causes and spoke of Buddhism as a liberating, universal philosophy.After his death,Dr.G.P.Malalasekera wrote of be zoysa’s “simplicity in life and dedication to work” and called him:”A man with rare integrity, perseverance and powers of endurance.”

Details of the Issue

Date of Issue : 5^nd March, 2009

Denomination : Rs.5.00 and Rs.25.00

Designer : Pulasthi Ediriweera

Stamp Size :30mm. x 41mm.

Format : vertical

Printing Process; Offset Lithography

Sheet Composition : 100 stamps per sheet

Perforations : 14 ½ x 13

Printers : Department of Government Printings, Sri Lanka

Colours :  4 process Colours

Paper : 102 gsm. Security Stamp Paper

Gum :  PVA

Quantity Printed: 500000