Nationality Ceylonese Died September 29, 1985 Name Esmond Wickremesinghe | Spouse(s) Nalini Wickremesinghe Religion Theravada Buddhism Children Ranil Wickremesinghe | |
Full Name Cyril Esmond Lucien Wickremesinghe Born 29 May 1920 ( 1920-05-29 ) Ceylon Occupation Nobleman, businessman, entrepreneur Known for Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited | ||
Cyril Esmond Lucien Wickremesinghe (29 May 1920 – 29 September 1985) was a Ceylonese press baron, lawyer, and a successful entrepreneur also played key role in defeating Sirimavo Bandaranaike that bought United National Party's Dudley Senanayake to power in 1965's Parliamentary Election. He is also father of United National Party leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Contents
Family
Wickremesinghe was born to Cyril Leonard Wickremesinghe and Esmie Moonemalle Wickremesinghe (née Goonewardene), he married Nalini Wickremesinghe (née Wijewardena) daughter of D. R. Wijewardena with whom he had five children they are Shan, Ranil, Niraj, Channa and Kshanika. One of Wickremesinghe's brothers was the former Bishop of Kurunegala, Lakshman Wickremasinghe.
Career
Wickremesinghe was a lawyer before becoming the editorial managing director of the largest and most prominent newspaper group, The Lake House which is the home of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon. He received the first provocation as a director which was to enhance the professional structure of the newspaper group that were founded by his father-in-law D. R. Wijewardene who was the fighter for freedom from the British Empire.
Wickremesinghe also played in revamping the group that comprised with five dailies and three Sunday newspapers in English, Sinhalese and Tamil and he also enlisted talented journalists, nurtured journalistic excellence and used them to develop a strong regional and international relations.