J. Penry Lewis

John Penry Lewis CMG (17 September 1854 – 29 September 1923) was a British colonial administrator, antiquarian and archaeologist.

Early life and education Lewis was born on 17 September 1854, the second son of Rev John Lewis of Blackheath, Kent. He was educated at Mill Hill School and Queen's University, Ireland where he received his BA (1876) and MA (1882).

Career Lewis joined the Ceylon Civil Service in 1877, and then served in various revenue and judicial appointments. From 1897 to 1900, he initiated and administered the newly enacted Waste Land Ordinance.

Publications Lewis is best known for his academic work on the history of Ceylon, having been described as a man: "not greatly interested in administration. His true interests were antiquarian and archaeological". His publications included: Master and Servant Ordinance No. 11 of 1865 (1883); Manual of the Vaṇṇi Districts, Vavun̤iya and Mullaittívu, of the Northern Province, Ceylon (1895); List of inscriptions on tombstones and monuments in Ceylon (1913); The Ceylon antiquary and literary register (1915); Ceylon in early British times (1916). He also wrote many papers for journals on the archaeology and folklore of Ceylon, and was a regular contributor to the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, while also serving as vice-president of its branch in Ceylon.