Agnes de Silva

Agnes Marion de Silva ( Nell; 1885-1961) was a Sri Lankan women's activist from a progressive society who, during the 1930s, pioneered issues related to women and in particular adult suffrage or franchise for women in Sri Lanka. She was instrumental in establishing the Women’s Franchise Union of Sri Lanka.

Biography Agnes Marion Nell was born in Colombo on 1885. She was the only daughter of Paul Nell of a Burgher Christian aristocratic family, who was an engineer in the Kandy province. She married George de Silva, a Sinhala Buddhist, a lawyer by profession who was known for his liberal approach in social and political issues and who furthered the cause of women's suffrage. He wooed Agnes in many parties of dance and music and married her in a grand celebration in 1908. She and her husband worked for Sri Lankan independence from British rule, which came into effect in 1948.