Rosslyn Koch Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Hon.
Theodore Hugh Rosslyn Koch
Honorific-Suffix:OBE
Constituency Mp:Burgher Community (appointed member)
Parliament:Ceylon
Term Start:April 1948
Term End:October 1959
Predecessor:Edward Frederick Noel Gratiaen
Successor:Eric Brohier
Birth Date:21 December 1886
Birth Place:Colombo, Sri Lanka
Death Place:Colombo, Sri Lanka
Spouse:Florence Lilian née Kriekenbeek

Theodore Hugh Rosslyn Koch (21 December 1886 - 24 April 1961) was a Ceylonese businessman,[1] company director and politician.[2]

Koch was born on 21 December 1886, the sixth child and fourth son of Cecil Theodore (1852-1890) and Evelyn Harriet (née Foenander) (1855-1919).[3] Koch married Florence Lilian Kriekenbeek (1891-?) on 7 April 1915; they had four children: Kathleen Frances Theodora (b.1916); Henry Templar Rosslyn (b.1918); Pamela (b.1926); and Wilhelm Louis (b.1948).

In 1938, he became a founding director of the Ceylon Insurance Company, going on to serve as its chairman from 1942 to 1960.[4] [5] In April 1948 Koch was appointed as the Burgher Member of the Ceylon House of Representatives, following the resignation of Edward Frederick Noel Gratiaen, who had been appointed as Justice of the Supreme Court.[6] [7] He was one of six members appointed by the Governor-General to represent important interests which were not represented or inadequately represented in the House.[8] Koch served in three successive parliaments until he resigned in October 1959, wbeing succeeded by Dr. Eric Brohier. During his tenure, Koch served as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee.[9] [10]

In the 1952 New Year Honours, Koch was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) for his services to the export trade.[11]

From 1952 until 1956 Koch served as the chairman of the Employers' Federation of Ceylon.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Book: People of Sri Lanka. Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages. March 2017. 189. 978-955-7537-03-0.
  2. Web site: Hon. Koch, Rosslyn, M.P.. Parliament of Sri Lanka. 7 November 2017.
  3. Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. 1918. XVII. 4. 134.
  4. Book: The Economy of Sri Lanka, 1948-1975. Wijesinghe, Mallory E.. 1976. Ranco. 29.
  5. News: Ceylinco: A story that took off with bus drivers and mill owners. Smriti. Daniel. Sunday Times. 23 September 2012. 7 November 2017.
  6. Cultural minorities of Sri Lanka: their growth, achievements, and relevance today. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. Vijayalakshmi, E. 43. 2005.
  7. Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. July 1948. XXXVIII. 111.
  8. News: 62nd Anniversary of Independence. Daily News. 4 February 2010. 24 October 2017.
  9. Parliamentary Debates. 37. xix. Ceylon House of Representatives. 1959.
  10. Web site: Committee on Public Accounts. Parliament of Sri Lanka. 7 November 2017.
  11. Ceylon list:
  12. Book: The Employers' Federation of Ceylon, 1929-1994. Amerasinghe, E. F. G.. The Employers' Federation of Ceylon. 255. 1994.