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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. ==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〔(The day the Queen came to Queen’s Road ), recalls Stephen Prins Sunday Times Plus. Retrieved 10 December 2014〕〔(The Soysa Family, Padma Edirisinghe )〕〔(100 Years of The Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind - Rathmalana ) (srilankastamps.lk) Retrieved 23 December 2014〕 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.〔Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon, by Arnold Wright, p.543 (Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company) ISBN 978-8120613355〕〔(The splendour of an Italian villa ) by Shabna Cader (Ceylon Today Features)〕〔(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〕 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.〔〔 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.〔 This Bungalow is an example of the beautiful colonial architecture of the time.〔(The People and Homes on Thurstan Road & Cambridge Place - Fifty Years ago, Fazli Sameer )〕 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.〔(Now a showcase of fabulous mansions ) by Padma Edirisinghe, Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 10 December 2014〕〔(Mansions of Kolluptiya, Colombo in the early twentieth century ) Retrieved 10 December 2014〕 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.〔 The Gates of Lakshmigiri are identical to the gates of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. It said that designer of the Egyptian Museum gates〔(Picture taken from Virtual Tourist )〕 was inspired by the design of the Gates of Lakshmigiri.〔 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).〔〔Architecture and Nationalism in Sri Lanka: The Trouser Under the Cloth By Anoma Pieris, p.65-81 & 83 (Routledge) ISBN 978-0415630023〕〔(Mary Chapman’s mission to give vision in its 100th Year ) By Nimal Bhareti The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) Retrieved 23 December 2014〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Saifee Villa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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