Nimalasiri Silva

Nimalasiri Silva was a Sri Lankan diplomat and civil servant, who was instrumental in establishing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. He served as Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, Director-General, Ceylon Tourist Board and was the Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of External Affairs and Defence of Ceylon.

Education

Silva was educated at the Royal College Colombo before his family relocated due to World War II, he completed his schooling at St. Joseph's College, Colombo. He then pursued higher studies at the University of Ceylon graduating with BA in History and was the President of the Student Christian Movement. Later he would postgraduate study at Keble College, Oxford in the field of international affairs.

Diplomatic career

After a brief period of teaching at St. Joseph's College, he was selected to the first batch of carders for the Ceylon Overseas Service in 1949 at its inception. His first overseas assignment was as Second Secretary to the Ceylon's Embassy in Washington, D.C. He served as Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of External Affairs until he was seconded to the newly established Ceylon Tourist Board under the then Minister of State, J.R. Jayewardene.

Tourism

Deciding to leave his diplomatic career, he began to work to develop to Tourism industry in Ceylon, he was appointed the Director-General of the Ceylon Tourist Board and played major role in its establishment. Thereafter he was offered the post of General Manager of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation going no to become its Chairman.

Apron taking an early retirement he was an active member of Sri Lanka-India Society, South Africa-Sri Lanka Friendship Society, Cultural Revival Trust, Kataragama Devotees Trust Institute of Sinhala Culture and several Buddhist Associations. He was also a visiting lecturer at the Kotelawala Defence Academy.