Celestina Dias

Patthinihennadige Warnadeepthia Kurukulasuriya Celestina Rodrigo, (known as Mrs. Jeremias Dias; 11 July 1858 – 26 March 1933) was a Ceylonese philanthropist and businesswoman. She was a pioneer in the field of Buddhist Girls' education and women entrepreneurs. She was the founding patron of the premier Buddhist School for girls in Sri Lanka; Visakha Vidyalaya, located in Bambalapitiya, Colombo. and few years later Sri Sumangala Girls College, Panadura.

Early life She was born in the coastal town of Nalluruwa, Panadura to an old aristocratic family. Her father was Pattinihennadige Warnadeepthia Kurukulasuriya Salaman Rodrigo and her mother was Mahawaduge Madalena Perera. She was the third in a family of seven girls and two boys. They were also pioneers in the rubber and the hotel industry. The family descends from Thome Rodrigo, a prince who signed the Convention of Malvana in 1597.

Philanthropic activities Mrs Dias was known for her social service and philanthropy, which was recognized with her appointment as a Member (Civil Division) of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1929 Birthday Honours for her charitable service to Ceylon.

National service In 1917, she established Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. She also built a modern laboratory for Ananda College, Colombo in 1916, which helped it to be recognized as a Grade-1 status institute of higher education and eligible for the government grant and a Sanatorium for Buddhist monks. She died on March 26, 1933.

Personal life She married Jeramias Dias of Panadura, a businessman, planter and pioneer Buddhist revivalist, who was instrumental in organizing the world-famous "Panadura Vivadaya/Debate". They had eight children; Harry, Lillian, Arthur Vincent, Edmund Wilson, Adeline, Ellen, Rosalind and Charles. After the death of her husband in 1902, she became the managing director of the business concerns of the family.

Her son Arthur V. Dias and grandson Wilmot A. Perera were also famous philanthropists and activists of the Sri Lankan independence movement. She is a grandaunt of Mahesh Rodrigo and Aravinda de Silva.