Saifee Villa

Saifee Villa (previously known as Lakshmigiri) is a mansion at 102, Thurstan Road in Colombo, Sri Lanka, located between Thunmulla Junction and College House, Colombo.

Coordinates: 6°53′57.05″N 79°51′33.00″E / 6.8991806°N 79.8591667°E / 6.8991806; 79.8591667

History and Alfred Joseph Richard de Soysa

Lakshmigiri (built in 1910) was the stately home of Hon. A. J. R. de Soysa, Member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon, planter and musician[1][2][3] He was the second son of Sir Charles Henry de Soysa. Born in 1869 at Brodie House (later gifted to Ceylon University College) he was educated at S. Thomas' College, Prince of Wales' College and Royal College. He completed his education at Highbury House School St Leonards-on-Sea, where he excelled as a sprinter and pursued a degree in music at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[4][5][6] In 1911 he became the second member to be appointed to the Low Country Sinhalese seat of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.

The Alfred House Estate of the De Soysa family covered a large area of about 125 acres stretching from what is now Duplication road to Cinnamon Gardens; and Thunmulla Junction to Charles Circus.[1][2] It is said that Sir Charles de Soysa owned a total of 48 houses in the city of Colombo. Over the years, the 125 acre Alfred House Estate underwent several sub divisions, some major changes being precipitated by the master plan for Colombo which foresaw many new roads across the estate. The earlier sub divisions were however made by the De Soysa family itself, which constructed several stately mansions within the property.[5]

This Bungalow is an example of the beautiful colonial architecture of the time.[7] In the book India House, Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha, Lakshmigiri is described as an extravagant mix of Baroque and Italianate architecture reminiscent of a retreat of Queen Victoria with gates inspired by those of Buckingham Palace.[8][9] It is in this house that Mr de Soysa entertained the Duke of Edinburgh to a banquet where the cutlery of the banquet was gold, silver; studded with rubies, emeralds and pearls.[2] The Gates of Lakshmigiri are identical to the gates of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. It said that designer of the Egyptian Museum gates[10] was inspired by the design of the Gates of Lakshmigiri.[5]

A. J. R. de Soysa had a keen interest in horse racing. It is said that he built the western and eastern towers of Lakshimigiri, to be able to observe the races taking part at the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip, situated just down the road. In 1893 he built the Chevaliar Jusey de Silva ward at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children and in 1913 inaugurated the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. The land in front of Lakshmigiri was gifted to Royal College, Colombo, now the University grounds (playing fields).[3][11][12] The De Soysa Trophy (formerly for shooting) is awarded for the best cadet platoon from a girl's school by the National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka) in his memory.[13]

Ownership from the Soysa Family to the Adamjee Lukmanjee Family

According to 'Colombo Heritage' as time ran on De Soysa ran into financial difficulties and various properties were sold off, the house was mortgaged, and later foreclosed. It was then bought by the Muslim "Adamjee Lukmanjee" family,[14] and has remained in their ownership to date under the name "Saifee Villa".[5][7]

During World War II, the Royal Air Force was temporarily shifted to the Colombo Racecourse Airstrip. Lakshmigiri is located adjoining the airstrip, therefore it was transformed into one of the RAF headquarters in Colombo. Unfortunately, it was during this time that many ornaments, antiques, chandeliers & valuable furniture was ransacked by these British troops prior to their exodus from Sri Lanka.

In 1972 under the Land Reform act, a large portion of the land surrounding Lakshmigiri was seized, and the tenants were given ownership rights. What remains today is a portion of the land that once was.

Transformation from "Lakshmigiri" to Saifee Villa

The Adamjee Lukmanjee Family are members of the Muslim Dawoodi Bohra community. They were honoured to house the Head of the Community; His Holiness Syenda Taher Saifuddin on all of his five visits to Sri Lanka. Lakshmigiri housed the Syedna and his royal family. It was considered a center for the community in Sri Lanka, as it was the venue for numerous religious and cultural gatherings.

In 1978, after the death of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, his heir Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, in the memory of his fathers' visits, changed the name from "Lakshmigiri" to "Saifee Villa" (where the word "Saifee" is derived from the name Saifuddin). The crown of the gates of Lakshmigiri adorns a beautiful "S" that once stood for "Soysa" family, after the name-change to "Saifee Villa", the "S" is still appropriate.

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has stayed at Saifee Villa on one occasion. Nevertheless, Saifee Villa still hosts numerous functions, and religious gatherings. During the era of Syenda Taher Saifuddin, as a child, Mufaddal Saifuddin, began the recitation of the Quran in Saifee Villa.

In the year 2008 and 2009, His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin held the auspicious 9 sermons of Ashara Mubaraka in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On both occasions, Saifee Villa[15] was chosen as the venue for his arrival reception.[16] Dignitaries such as Mr A. H. M. Fowzie were present at this event to welcome His Holiness.

In 2008, in the first sermon of Ashara Mubaraka, His Holiness stated that Saifee Villa is a "Historical House" (tareekhi makaan).

Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Karachi on Monday 17 September 2012[17] and his arrival reception was held in Saifee Villa at 10pm. A large gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community of Colombo was present at this function. On Saturday 9 June 2013 Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Sri Lanka from Chennai. His arrival reception was held at Saifee Villa where a crowd of about 3,000 people were present. He also solemnized 7 wedding Nikahs on that day.

In Popular Culture

The house was featured in the 1981 film Kaliyugaya by Dr. Lester James Peries.
The mansion is also described in the books; Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth by Anoma Pieris and India House Colombo by Sarvodaya Vishvalekha.

References

  1. 1 2 The day the Queen came to Queen’s Road, recalls Stephen Prins Sunday Times Plus. Retrieved 10 December 2014
  2. 1 2 3 The Soysa Family, Padma Edirisinghe
  3. 1 2 100 Years of The Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind - Rathmalana (srilankastamps.lk) Retrieved 23 December 2014
  4. ↑ Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, p.543 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ISBN 978-8120613355
  5. 1 2 3 4 The splendour of an Italian villa by Shabna Cader (Ceylon Today Features)
  6. ↑ A Tribute to my Father : DR. KINGSLEY DE SILVA DEVA ADITYA on his 100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY, By Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya (MEP) The Island (Sri Lanka)Retrieved 15 December 2014
  7. 1 2 The People and Homes on Thurstan Road & Cambridge Place - Fifty Years ago, Fazli Sameer
  8. ↑ Now a showcase of fabulous mansions by Padma Edirisinghe, Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 10 December 2014
  9. ↑ Mansions of Kolluptiya, Colombo in the early twentieth century Retrieved 10 December 2014
  10. ↑ Picture taken from Virtual Tourist
  11. ↑ Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth By Anoma Pieris, p.65-81 & 83 (Routledge) ISBN 978-0415630023
  12. ↑ Mary Chapman’s mission to give vision in its 100th Year By Nimal Bhareti The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) Retrieved 23 December 2014
  13. ↑ History: Sports (Cadeting), Royal College Website, Retrieved 8 January 2016
  14. ↑ Adamjee Lukmanjee
  15. ↑ Malumaat
  16. ↑ International Bohra leader arrives in Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune
  17. ↑

External links

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