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| Home > OBA > Newsletters > Newsletter 02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Old Boys Association (Estd. 1959) NEWSLETTER ISSUE O2 1. The First Issue of the Members Directory is now available, priced at Rs. 150/- with Mr. Shervon Fernando (Hony. Secretary ) of No. 386/2, Araliya Gardens, Nawala, Koswatte ( Phone 074-405858, 077 746221; Mr. Gamini Fernando, ( Hony. Treasurer) of No. 1, Gamini Place, Kawdana, Dehiwala ( Phone 739896, 071 733859); Mr. Rizvi Jalill, of No. 160, Baudhaloka Mawahta, Colombo 04 ( Phone 502291, 077-418816). In case you need same sent by Ordinary Post kindly add Rs.20/- to your cheque or Rs. 32/- if by Registered Post. 2. The First Issue of the Newsletter should by now have reached all Members by Registered Post. The next issue is due before end of August, 2002. Members are welcome to send in information of interest or comments. 3. Membership Cards have been despatched by Registered Post. Members are advised to carry same when attending OBA gatherings. 4. The new Application Form for Membership appears at the end of this Newsletter. A new Register of Members has been prepared. As at date there are 767 Members. The addresses of 182 Members are unknown. Their names and last known addresses appear at the end of this Newsletter. They will continue to appear in all future issues of the Newsletter and Members Directory until their present whereabouts are ascertained. Information relevant to current addresses of such Members is coming in. In fact since publishing their names, the addresses of 26 Members have been sent in by their friends. It has been possible to despatch their copies of the Newsletters and Membership Cards to them thereafter. Updating of the Data Base is being done as and when further information is received. The next issue of the Members Directory will carry all such amendments. 5. A limited number of College History Books ( the last few) are available with Mr. Rizvi Jalill, Please contact him if you wish to have a copy. They are priced at Rs. 500/- per copy. 6. The Ex-Co held its first meeting at Gurutalawa on June, 15,2002 since the earlier two were at Colombo. This practice is expected in the future too - that every 3rd meeting of the Ex-Co to be at Gurutalawa. The occasion was utilized to have a few innovative items. These included a Life Saving display after which Life Savings and Swimming equipment were presented; presentation of a large volume of books to the Library procured from Asia Foundation and elsewhere; donation of sports equipment for Hockey, Rugger, Basket Ball etc: Donation of individual desks and chairs for 02 class rooms in replacement of tables and benches without back support which were used since the 1950s; Landscaping of the gardens immediately below the Senior Dorms and the Swimming Pool etc;. providing a new roof for the senior dorms after a complete rehabilitation and refurbishment; providing an evening of music and dancing for children aged 5-16 by means of Disc Jockeys from Colombo etc; commencement of the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Squash, Badminton and Basket Ball Courts. Having a Health Camp with 06 Medical Practitioners including Old Boys to provide Dental, Eye and general medical attention to all students, staff ,minor staff and their families. 7. In the meantime the following changes have taken place in the composition of the Ex-Co. Mr. M.B. Ratnayake the Asst. Secretary had resigned due to pressure of his official commitments. Mr. Suresh Thiagarajah was appointed Asst. Secretary by the Ex-Co in terms of Rule 8 (2). Mr. Mahen Ranasinghe has also been co-opted to the Ex-Co in terms of Rule 8.1 ©. 8. In response to the suggestion of the Ex-Co to the Head Master that the OBA AGM and Re Union week end be utilized to have an Art and Science Exhibition and promote better inter-action between Old Boys and present students ( instead of declaring a mid-term holiday) the Headmaster informed that he and the staff are of the view that the present practice should continue at least for one more year. 9. The Draft of the Amended Rules of the OBA was circulated amongst Members of the Ex-Co. Providing for representation of the OBA in the OBA of Mt. Lavinia and on the Board of Governors are matters yet to be finalized. The latter particularly involves many intricate problems which are interwoven with the Rules of the Board of Governors themselves. It is hoped to obtain the advise of experts and also speak to His Lordship the Bishop of Colombo and try to resolve these issues. 10. The Diamond Jubilee Dinner Dance of the OBA will be on November 16, 2002 at the Sapphire Ball Room of the Ceylon Continental Hotel. Sohan & the X'periments and Zodiac will provide the music. Mr. Faizal Bongso will do the honours, as the Master of Ceremonies. Several prizes and surprises including various acts and items of an innovative nature are being planned. Sponsors have been found for various events. Tickets are being printed and should be available soon, priced at Rs. 1500/-. Monthly Bulletins as regards the progress will be sent to the entire membership. Payments in respect of Advertisements are required to be handed over within 2 weeks of the culmination of the event. Several payments have been received in advance. Those procuring advertisements will be responsible to pay in the appropriate amounts. The menu, table décor and other details are being finalized. It is hoped Members will make use of this opportunity to renew old ties and build up new ones and seriously consider ways and means of helping to rebuild College. 11. Several Members have already made contributions to the College Development Fund in the form of outright payments and through Standing Orders. Their names appear in this Newsletter for the purpose of transparency. Official receipts have been posted to them promptly. All contributions received will continue to be acknowledged and reflected in the Newsletters, and we hope more members will oblige to help us improve the College infrastructure. 12. It is intended to communicate with Branches of Old Boys of S.T.C in Melbourne, East Coast, California, Canada, UAE, NSW, and UK and apprise them of the situation at Gurutalawa and the manner in which they could assist the revival of the College. 13. Mr.P S Duleep Kumar the Senior vice President and Mr. Bandula Wanigasekera made various personal representations to the Board of Governors and have succeeded in having payment of monies due to the OBA approved. Payment should be received soon. 14. Mrs. Hayman has declined the honour to have the new Dining Hall and Administration block named after her in deference to views expressed by Dr. Hayman in his lifetime that their service should be appreciated in the modest spirit in which it was rendered. Hence a plaque may be placed at the entrance to the new building. 15. The establishment of the Hayman Museum is being pursued. An effort is being made to trace Dr.Hayman's personal effects, which were to be shipped to Sri Lanka. Dr. Hayman's Office room has been the obvious site selected. It may interest Old Boys to know that various films done by Dr. Hayman of his world tour, Scouting Camps to Yala and Wilpattu, of the ruined cities and even Old Boys Reunion from 1959 to 1962 are reported to be intact as also his Projector with which he entertained the entire school on Friday nights. The Headmaster has been requested to preserve these items which would be the nucleus of the museum. 16. Mr.Nihal Wanniarachchi and Mr. Bandula Wanigasekera of the Ex-Co were appointed as the Representatives of the OBA to attend the Ex-Co and General Meetings of the STC Mt. Lavinia OBA respectively and this has been communicated to the Secretary. 17. Arrangements have been made to resume the College Magazine. The Head Master has given instructions to the Masters in charge as regards presentation and the material is awaited, to commence printing. 18. The grave of Fr. Foster has been located by Mr.P.S Duleep Kumar who has already got the site cleared. A Memorial Service for Fr. Foster is being arranged for December 09, 2002. Details will be announced later. 19. Proposals made by Mr. Leslie Habaragoda with particular reference to sports and recreational facilities for students in Keble, namely those of Yr. 1 - Year 5 have been placed before the Ex-Co and he has been invited to participate in a discussion to enable him to expand on his ideas. 20. College are
the Uva District Champions in Basket Ball. Rukmal Wickremasinghe was
elected the School Boy Cricket Captain of Uva District. Life Saving and
Scouting had commenced once again. There are almost 50 Students
participating in Scouting. 22. Ways and means of marketing the school through the Print and Electronic media have been discussed and Old boys having the necessary clout in those areas are pursuing the strategy. The proposal of having a separate Web Site for College is also being pursued. 23. Some trees that are being felled are because they have either surpassed their life span or require to be cut due to public road widening etc. The Head Master stated that they are being replaced with new ones being planted both within the Campus and in the 9-acre block with the participation of the minor staff and students on a Sramadana basis. 24. In stream-lining accounting and book keeping procedures in the College Accounts Department the advise and expertise of foreign software experts have also been procured and they are engaged in drawing up the programmes. Experienced Book Keepers are to be sent to College to write up the Books on a regular basis. 25. Steps are being taken to improve the standard of English. Representatives of the British Council are due to visit College during the holidays. Elocution has commenced and much progress is being made in that field. 26. The Head Master stated that steps are being taken to improve discipline further and return to the way of life as prevailed in days gone by. Declaring certain areas out of bounds and certain acts being prohibited or attracting punishments also assist in improving discipline and maintaining proper decorum. 27. Apart from landscaping vital areas the provision of litter bins is being explored so that the Campus grounds will once again look good. 28. The lack of proper laundry facilities has created serious problems for the students. The headmaster is exploring ways and means of improving this facility. 29. The Ex-Co has also taken steps to assist the Headmaster with better security for the school. 30. The proposal made by Mr. Piloo Lakdawela to utilize the Club House by making it available to Old Boys and their families and charging a reasonable rental has been place before the Headmaster for his consideration. The Sub-Committee for Projects is also detailed to make investigations as regards unutilized and under utilized buildings, areas and facilities on the Campus so that they may be converted into sources of income for College. 31. The turf wicket which was done some years ago and which has been neglected since, is once again receiving attention and a lively discussion of the pros and cons of having same may materialize. 32. If a sufficient number of computers are made available to college, it will be possible to commence the teaching of IT on a regular basis and perhaps providing for same on the School Time Table. It is for inter alia these reasons that we solicit funds from Old Boys for the School Development Fund. 33. Previous attempts to have the "Subodhi Movement" of Fr. Mervyn Fernando conduct some courses at College had not materialized. This is now being pursued and a discussion is being arranged for the Headmaster with Fr. Mervyn Fernando. It is hoped that the "Life awareness Programmes" of Subodhi will benefit Senior Students. 34. Workshops on Leadership are being arranged for Prefects both within the Campus and outside. It is hoped to enlist their full participation to assist the Head Master in certain areas of life at Gurutalawa. 35. The school fence is in disarray and is an item the Headmaster wishes to have replaced. The possibility of having a survey done is being explored and copies of the plans of the land owned/leased by College are awaited to discuss matters with the Surveyor. 36. A new telephone system bringing the classrooms and the Keble section at the 02 extreme ends of the Campus within easy communication is to be installed as soon as the relevant information sought has been provided. 37. The College prize giving is fixed for July 22,2002. Dr. Mohan de Silva the Professor of Surgery of the Sri Jayawardenapura University is the Chief Guest. Old Boys are welcome to attend the Prize Giving.
Colombo MEMBERS IN
ABANDONED REGISTER - NO ADDRESSES AVAILABLE MEMBERS -NOT
AVAILABLE AT GIVEN ADDRESSES 1. Mr.Abeysinghe N
P - 16,Fredrica Road, Colombo 06 MEMBERS AS PER ABANDONED MEMBERS REGISTER WHOSE ADDRESSES ARE NOT KNOWN (RETURNED CIRCULAR LETTERS JULY/ AUGUST 2001) 1. Mr. Candappa
M.P.R. 17/4, Weeraman Road, Panadura RETURNED OBA NEWS LETTER 1 SENT ON 03.06.2002 1. Mr.C M
Wijesekera - 2, Police Park Avenue, Colombo 05 RECEIPTS & EXPENDITURE FROM 02.03.2002 TO 05.07.2002 Sale of College History Books
Life Membership Subscription Fee Date Receipt No. Name Amount 15.04.02 575 Mr.D
A Wijesinghe 500/- Sale of Members Directory Date Receipt No. Name Amount 01.07.02 623
Mr.Suresh Thiyagarajah 300/-
Date Receipt No. Name Amount 07.07.02 646 Anonymous US$ 100 College Development fund (Rs.500/- - Rs.5000/-) Date Receipt No. Name Amount 22.04.02 581 Mr.N
H M Farook Date Receipt No. Name Amount 08.05.02 601
Morning Side 2000/- Standing Orders Name Amount Mr.J O Yatawara
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