The Life & Times of Sir Philip Christopher Ondaatje CBE OC-By: Upali Obeyesekere
Philanthropist, Stockbroker, Businessman, Adventurer, Writer, Olympian
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It is with profound sadness that we learn of Sir Philip Christopher Ondaatje’s death in the Bahamas. Born in Kandy, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on 22 February 1933, he died on 20 July 2026, aged 93. His father was Philip Mervyn Ondaatje, a Colombo Chetty from Kegalle, and his mother was Enid Doris Gratiaen, sister of Noel Gratiaen, placing her within a distinguished Dutch Burgher family in colonial Ceylon. Noel Gratiaen was a prominent lawyer, judge, Attorney-General, and Supreme Court Justice, remembered as one of the most influential legal figures in mid-20th-century Ceylon. Christopher Ondaatje was the eldest in the family and had two siblings – Booker Prize-winning novelist Michael Ondaatje who made Canada his home based in Toronto, and Gillian Ratnayake living in Sri Lanka.
The Life & Times of Philip Christopher Ondaatje has been a compelling journey that started in Sri Lanka, and moved to England at age 12, and to Canada at age 23. He was educated at S. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa and Blundell’s School, a historic independent boarding school in Tiverton, Devon, in England. He emigrated to Canada from England with less than £20 GBP, rebuilding his life in Toronto, becoming a successful stockbroker and publisher. He co-founded Loewen Ondaatje McCutcheon, a major investment firm, and founded Pagurian Press, later sold to the wealthy Bronfman family. Known in Toronto’s financial world as one of its “most aggressive and predatory businessmen”, he left the world of finance in 1995. At the personal request of Sri Lankan President R. Premadasa (1989-1993), Chris Ondaatje led an initiative to form the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council (CSLBC) in October 1990, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Canada, Walter E. Rupesinghe and a few Canadian businessmen. Yours truly (this writer) was a Charter Member and elected as Director, Publicity & Public Relations in the inaugural board of directors led by its President Christopher Ondaatje.
In a fascinating part of Sir Christopher Ondaatje’s life story, a Sri Lankan-born immigrant arriving in 1956 with almost nothing, then becoming an Olympian, a financial powerhouse, and later a leading stockbroker, celebrated writer, explorer and patron of the arts, was a Canadian dream come true. This truly exemplifies the extraordinary journey that included his role in Canada’s bobsledding team that competed in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. This was during the period when Ondaatje was still early in his Canadian career, before becoming a major figure in finance, publishing, exploration, and philanthropy. His expeditions, especially retracing Richard Burton’s journeys and exploring the Nile – earned him global recognition. During this time, he authored books including The Man-Eater of Punanai (1992), a well-known Sri Lankan travel memoir blending adventure, personal history, and Sri Lankan jungle lore. It has become one of his signature efforts, especially for readers interested in Sri Lankan history, wildlife, and Ondaatje’s own family story.
In 1995, Ondaatje sold his house in the affluent Bayview/York Mills area of Toronto, and returned to England, settling in North Devon and devoting himself to exploration and writing. His books — included Sindh Revisited (1996), Journey to the Source of the Nile (1998), and Hemingway in Africa (2003). In 2000–2001, he made headlines by donating £2 million to the UK Labor Party, switching from long-time Conservative support — a move that drew national attention. During this time, he became deeply involved in local cultural and sporting philanthropy. His philanthropy was not sporadic — it was a defining feature of his life after leaving finance, shaping institutions in arts, education, exploration, and sport. He aligned with Somerset County Cricket Club where he donated £200,000 toward the Ondaatje Pavilion and the Centre of Excellence, opened in 1995. He also served as Patron of the club in the early 2000s. He funded the Ondaatje Wing at the National Portrait Gallery in London, a major expansion that transformed the gallery’s public space and visitor experience. He financed the Ondaatje Theatre at the Royal Geographical Society in London, a central venue for lectures, expeditions, and geographic scholarship. His other philanthropic initiatives included establishing The Ondaatje Prize, awarded annually for a work that best evokes “the spirt of a place”. His former alma mater Blundell’s School in Devon too received funding for the Ondaatje Hall, and support for cricket scholarship.
In Canada, Sir Christopher Ondaatje funded The Ondaatje South Asian Gallery at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto. The gallery is a permanent exhibition space within the ROM that showcases South Asian art and cultural heritage, spanning thousands of years. It is named in recognition of philanthropic support from Sir Christopher Ondaatje, whose contributions helped establish and expand ROM’s South Asian collections. Beneficiaries of his other philanthropic efforts include the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Lakefield College School (Ontario), and Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
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In the early nineties, Christopher Ondaatje was quite interested in helping his motherland, Sri Lanka. He met with former Presidents J.R. Jayawardene and President R. Premadasa and had discussion with them and others. In the early-mid 1990s, The Ondaatje Corporation purchased Forbes Ceylon Ltd., which included Forbes & Walker, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest tea and commodity houses. However, he sold it in the mid-nineties and wound up his investment projects, leaving the corporate world of finance and settling down in England. He funded The Ondaatje Bungalow, a simple, government-run wildlife bungalow located inside Yala National Park, managed by Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife Conservation. A basic, rustic wildlife bungalow used by visitors who want to stay inside Yala National Park rather than in the hotels outside. It offers a quiet, immersive jungle experience with frequent wildlife sightings — elephants, wild boar, deer, crocodiles, and birds. His interest in Sri Lanka ended with the above-named projects as he was visibly disturbed with the assassination of President Premadasa, and escalating ethnic situation in the country.
In 1993, Christopher Ondaatje was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC). In the year 2000, he was honored by the British government with the title, Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE). Sir Christopher Ondaatje was later appointed a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2003 New Year Honours for his services to philanthropy, literature, and exploration. He was also a recipient of Multiple honorary degrees (Dalhousie, Buckingham, Exeter). In 2000-2001, Ondaatje made headlines by donating £2 million to the UK Labor Party and another £100,000 in 2001, switching from long-time Conservative support — a move that drew national attention.
Immediate Family
Sir Christopher Ondaatje was deeply devoted to his family, sharing a marriage of over 67 years and raising three children. He married Valda Bulins, who is of Latvian descent, in 1959. He often spoke of her as his anchor, noting that she accompanied him on several of his exhausting expeditions and that they were entirely devoted to each other. Children: The couple had three children: David Ondaatje, A Hollywood screenwriter and film director, known for directing the 2009 film “The Lodger”, Sarah Ondaatje, His eldest daughter, Jans Ondaatje, His youngest daughter, who is an author. His two siblings, brother Michael Ondaatje, lives in Toronto and his sister, Gillian Ondaatje-Ratnayake, lives in Sri Lanka. Michael Ondaatje is a Canadian novelist, poet, and essayist, widely regarded as one of Canada’s most influential contemporary writers. He is best known for The English Patient, which won the 1992 Booker Prize and later the Golden Man Booker Prize as the best novel of the award’s first 50 years.
My personal reflection on Sir Christopher Ondaatje is that he was a self-made man who achieved greatness through his commanding personality, sharp intelligence, and profound wisdom. We first met in 1990 as part of the core group that formed the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council in Toronto. As Charter Members, we served on the inaugural board of directors—he as President and I as the Director of Publicity and Public Relations. He soon became my mentor, and I deeply valued the guidance he provided, which helped me navigate life with pride and purpose. His ability to resolve any challenge, no matter what the scale, was truly fascinating. He enriched my life in ways for which I am eternally grateful. Having never met another international figure quite like him, I can attest that when Sir Christopher spoke, people listened. He was truly a remarkable man.
My personal reflection on Sir Christopher Ondaatje is that he was a self-made man who achieved greatness through his commanding personality, sharp intelligence, and profound wisdom. We first met in 1990 as part of the core group that formed the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council in Toronto. As Charter Members, we served on the inaugural board of directors—he as President and I as the Director of Publicity and Public Relations. He soon became my mentor, and I deeply valued the guidance he provided, which helped me navigate life with pride and purpose. His ability to resolve any challenge, no matter what the scale, was truly fascinating. He enriched my life in ways for which I am eternally grateful. Having never met another international figure quite like him, I can attest that when Sir Christopher spoke, people listened. He was truly a remarkable man.
In 1990, I launched the second Sri Lankan focused English tabloid in Canada, The Times of Sri Lanka, with veteran journalist Kirthie Abeysekara serving as editor. Chris Ondaatje was a source of great encouragement and a valued contributor to the publication. He taught me the finer points of the industry and provided invaluable guidance during those formative years. I fondly recall the personal and educational impact of his early morning calls, where he would offer advice and mentorship. The honour of publishing the first Sri Lankan tabloid in Canada belongs to brothers Percy and Anil Seneviratne, who launched Lanka News in the mid-eighties. Reflecting on this history, it is remarkable to see how far the community and our media presence have evolved since those early days in Toronto. It was a time of immense learning and building bridges through journalism.
Key Attributes of Sir Christopher Ondaatje’s Legacy:
- Visionary Leadership: His instrumental role in founding the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council demonstrated his commitment to fostering international professional
- Mentorship: Beyond his public achievements, he provided invaluable guidance that shaped the professional and personal trajectories of those around him.
- Resilience and Problem Solving: He possessed a rare ability to dissect and resolve complex challenges with poise and efficiency.
- Commanding Presence: His intellectual gravitas and reputation as a global figure ensured that his insights were always met with respect and attention.
- Enduring Influence: His impact on his peers and the business community in Toronto remains a testament to his character and the high standard of excellence he maintained throughout his
Sir Christopher Ondaatje passed away on 20 July 2026, aged 93. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy defined by his intellectual curiosity, deep generosity and lifelong commitment to exploration and the arts. He lived his life fully and on his own terms. Farewell, Chris. May your soul rest in eternal peace!
