It is 16 years since Hubert Austin de Silva passed away, on October 21, 1992. Mr. de Silva was an unforgettable character, endowed with a good brain and a splendid sense of humour. He showed steadfast loyalty to his principles and friends.
In 1951, under the Colombo Plan, he was chosen to undergo six months of training at the Administrative Staff College, Henley-On Thames, England. In 1958, he was appointed chief executive and chairman of the Port Cargo Corporation. He served several other government organisations, besides being acting chairman of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation.
After more than 27 years as a civil servant, Mr. de Silva joined the private sector as director of McLarens Ltd, one of the leading foreign-owned shipping agencies. In 1973, he was made chairman of McLarens.
In 1975, he launched his own tourism project, building the Hotel Topaz and later the Hotel Tourmaline. He also built two container yards at Welisara and Hendala.
Claude de Silva |
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