S.Thomas’
College Gurutalawa
OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION - NEWSLETTER
Issue
No: 6/03
COMMENT
– Administration costs
Greetings
to all our Members,
This
is the first Newsletter of the New Committee elected at the Annual
General Meeting on February 24th.
Lakshman Jayatilaka, who compiled, produced and paid for the
Newsletters of the previous Ex-Co is taking a well deserved rest. Not only that, he spearheaded the development activities of
the past year and virtually set up camp at Guru many a time. No praise
is too much for his efforts. In the previous Newsletter, the primary
concern was to disseminate the maximum possible information
of the year’s activities with the object of unqualified
transparency and accountability to our membership.
Without losing sight of these cardinal principles, this and the
succeeding Newsletters will necessarily be restricted in scope and size,
because of the cost factor and of the constraints of time and logistical
support available presently.
The
cost factor raises the whole question of Funds. From the inception, we
have relied on the capacity of past Secretaries, Treasurers and other
office bearers of the Ex-Co to meet the burgeoning administration costs
from and out of their own pockets and by raising ‘donations’ from other Members of
the Ex-Co. The only income
of the Association is from the MEMBERSHIP FEES of new Members which at
Rs.500.00, is hopelessly inadequate.
This fee was at the inception only Rs.10.00.
It was increased to Rs.100.00 in July 1990, and formally made
Rs.500.00 at the last Annual General Meeting (2003).
We
have already sent out an Appeal for Donations to carry through a high
priority undertaking for the first part of this year. As at the time of
this Newsletter, we cannot say that the response was even barely
discernible. Our thanks to those who responded. Please consider the
possibility of response even now to assist us to meet a crying need.
Two minutes to decide, two minutes to write and sign the cheque, one
minute to stamp and post – just five minutes and you have done your
duty. Without in anyway impinging on the generosity of the Members,
we venture to suggest that as many Members as possible consider the
payment of a Voluntary Membership Renewal Fee of Rs.500.00
to relieve the pressure on the office bearers and committee members to
carry through the affairs of the Association for the year and,
hopefully, if the response is good, to build up a reserve for future
years.
In this regard we should bring to your awareness
that right throughout the year, Members of the Ex-Co turn out their
pockets to meet the needs of the School for ad hoc but urgent requests
of the Headmaster, and in relation to the projects in hand. We really
need your help and support too.
REUNION
CELEBRATIONS – February 23rd –24th, 2003
The
indefatigable Lakshman Jayatilaka led a Sub-Committee to organize the
celebrations. “A few of
us were in Guru from Thursday (21st) morning attending to
last minute details” he writes. “One of our guys is Sunda (T.
Sundararaj) who was clearing drains and even busy with an ekel broom,
sweeping the compound. He offered to come at least once in three months
to repeat the performance. Hows Zat!
[So Sunda repeated this work during April New Year holidays as
well.] Various controls were in place not merely for the sake of good
order but to serve a purpose. For instance a Note of Welcome was handed
over to each old boy by security at the main gate which kept a tab on
‘outsiders’ and also to get a count of the numbers (140) for
catering purposes, so as to eliminate wasteful and excessive
preparations. Thereby hangs a tale. We had heard that for many years
now, food leakages to the village, was the order of the day. Therefore
the Dorms had notices indicating that tickets at Rs 500.00 were to be
purchased to defray costs and that the A.G.M. was for “Members
only”, thus inducing the enrolment of 18 old boys half an hour before
the A.G.M.
For
all that, it takes “Two to Tango”. And in lighter vein -
celebrations were to take off with the cricket match. It had the makings
of a farce. The present boys had been given an enforced mid term
holiday. The school team was short of three, and the master in charge
was away sitting an examination. The matting was still being laid at
9.30 a.m. by the students half an hour after the scheduled start of
play. The bats and gear were not available at the pavilion and had to be
called for item by item from the far corners of the grounds. The bats
had no grips and placing new grips wasted more valuable playing time.
There was no umpire from the school, and a young student who was
dragooned to function, hardly knew the game.
There were only 3 good wickets (stumps) and the remaining wickets
had been cut from a tree. The original wickets had been lost after the
sports meet the previous day. There were no bails and these were brought
in after several overs had been bowled.
As for swimming, there were
no regular swimmers. Finally a ragtag collection of cricketers and
basketball players comprised the College Swimming Team Vs the Old boys.
Everything seemed scripted for a film for the Marx Bros. but in the
sixties, Boys were required to play in these matches to qualify for
Colours.
Old
boys who arrived on Friday (22nd) were entertained to a film
show of Dr. Haymans old films. Some films had been of Reunion
Celebrations (1959-1963). What a contrast of the changed times it
brought out! Then the entire school of some 300 boys, were on the
grounds cheering the cricket and hockey matches and participating in the
evening refreshments. In
recent times not a single student was there to witness/participate in
the celebrations other than those playing in matches and that too, of
teams rustled up presumably from boys who for one reason or the other
could not go for the enforced holiday.
The
pre-dinner “Fellowship Cocktails” was held in the quadrangle to the
accompaniment of light music provided by a D.J. sponsored by L.J.!
The
dinner itself attempted to recapture the dignity and decorum of better
times. Many responded to the request to maintain a fitting code of
dress and the whole company was at the tables in orderly fashion for
the dinner to commence with Grace said by the Chaplain. A sound system
was in place for the ‘after dinner’ speeches. Upali Gunaratne, a
former M.P. responded from amongst the old boys and referred mainly to
the present Headmaster (who had taught him) and his soft heartedness; on
one occasion having had to cane a whole class, he had retreated to his
quarters in tears.
The
food, served for all meals from Friday dawn to Sunday lunch, was
pre-planned by Mahen Ranasinghe. Ambul Thiyal was brought from Colombo,
chicken and beef were served with almost all meals. Unlimited eggs were provided; as also string hoppers and milk rice which had not
been served for over a decade. Every
meal had Caramel Pudding or Watalappan or Ice Cream plus pineapples and
plantains. The menus were given to the Food Matron on 7th
February, two weeks before and several meetings were held with her to
fine tune every aspect of quality and service. But the result was “the
best laid schemes of mice and men, gang aft agley” *(Scottish – go
awry) – Robert Burns. Our thanks to Mahen for the salvage operation
– which saved the reputation.
ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING – Sunday 24th FEBRUARY 2003
This
year, the Annual General Meeting was shifted back to the Sunday morning
instead of being sandwiched into the Saturday programme. The intention was to give the event its due importance, and
the change made by the Ex-Co, emphasised the OBA’s concern for the
running of the School. The most important item on the Agenda was the
adoption of the New Constitution, copies of which had been circulated to
all Members with the Notice of the Annual General Meeting. A significant
change was an addition in the Objects of the Constitution :
“To co-operate with and assist the Headmaster of the College
for better administration and management and to maintain traditions and
proper standards”. Also the introduction of clauses for the Control of
Funds, the clearly laid out Responsibilities of Office Bearers, and the
provision to change the constitution at any Special General Meeting, and
not exclusively at the Annual General Meeting, and not least also was a
clause to prevent any member of the Ex-Co from serving more than three
consecutive years as an Office Bearer.
The
Headmasters report was printed. He dealt extensively with the work that
individual Old Boys had done for the school. Of those not on the Ex-Co,
notably Messrs B.A. Mahipala, Lakshman Jayatilake, Chrishantha
Weerawardena and Jayantha Hanthi were given special meritorious mention.
Members of the Ex-Co were gratified though somewhat taken aback when he
said, “my earnest request to the Old Boys Association is to keep the
Ex-Co Members another year for them to continue the good work done so
far. But certainly we need a few more new faces in the Team”.
It
was very significant that 101 new Members were enrolled in the year, the
largest number since the inaugural meeting in 1959.
THE
NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Senior
Vice President - Mr. P. S.
Duleepkumar
Vice
Presidents - Mr. S
Watawala
Mr P.J. Fernando
Mr C. De Silva
Hony
Secretary -
Mr. M Ranasinghe
Hony Treasurer - Mr B. Wanigasekera
Hony Asst Secretary - Mr Shervon
Fernando
Hony Asst Treasurer - Mr
Gamini Fernando
Members:
Mr C. Habaragoda Mr A.A.M. Zubair
Mr S.K.Kulasingham
Mr D. Gazara
Mr.K.Bandusena
Mr N. Wanniarachchi
Mr.S.Palihawadan
Mr A. Pietersz
Mr R.Munasinghe
Mr Sumedha Perera
Mr D. Kulasekera
Mr Lasantha Perera
Mr
S. Godage
Mr R. Jalill
Mr K. Majeed
Mr M. Dissanayake
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND PLANS:
Already
three meetings have been held on March 1st, March 29th,
and April 26th. The next meeting will be at Gurutalawa on
Saturday 7th June.
In
regard to development work in progress, namely the rehabilitation of two
staff quarters, of Mr Ekanayake – Rs 66,840,00 – and of Mr
Dikkumbura – Rs.16,530,00, the said sums were approved out of the
funds collected by the outgoing Ex-Co, as well as Security Grills for 35
Nos. window panes in the Headmaster’s Office complex - Rs.30,625.00
and partitioning of HM’s Secy’s office & Main Hall at
Rs.60,548.00. The work was being personally supervised by the Secretary,
Mr Mahen Ranasinghe.
The
principal questions were “what next” ? and “what to do for
money” ?
After
mulling over the many possibilities it was finally decided to –
(1)
Develop
the Farm as the first priority, and for
which the OBA had committed half the salary of the Manager at Rs 6000/-
a month, for six months. Please
see our special appeal for which we hope more will respond favourably
and soonest. It was also decided to finance the Farm Development
project by a direct appeal for Funds from Members.
(2)
Defer the
improvement and stabilization of
the School’s water supply for want of immediate funds and,
(3)
The
refurbishment of the balance staff quarters till funds were
raised by way of another Dinner Dance which was fixed for Saturday
the 29th November 2003.
(4)
The other
significant matter which received the attention of the Ex-Co was the
urgent implementation of the recommendations of the “Operations
Report” of the school, commissioned by the Ex-Co and prepared by SJMS
Associates, Chartered Accountants and Consultants, last year
One
of the key recommendations, the appointment of a qualified Farm
Manager was already in place and it was recognized that the various
other recommendations had to await the appointment of an Administrative
Officer (also strongly recommended in the Report and approved by the
Board). Applications were
sifted by the Headmaster and those short-listed were interviewed on
April 26th, with a view to taking up duties with effect from
1st June. Lt
Col. Manamperi from Badulla has been selected and this was approved by
the Board.
The
College farm had been running at a loss of hundreds of thousands of
Rupees over the last few years and it was on the verge of being closed
down. The Ex-Co found out the malpractices, inefficiencies and the other
areas of grave concern, in the management of the farm and the Headmaster
appointed Mr.K Wimalarajah, an Old Boy of the Dr.Hayman era as the Farm
Manager in February 2003, at the recommendation of the Ex-Co.
With a small infusion of funds
initially from the OBA and addressing of the areas of concern as well as
improved methods for the growth of chicks, the farm has shown profits
in the first forty days of operation, from only 500 broiler chicks.
Now the farm produces 200 broilers every week, giving a regular supply
of chicken to the kitchen and making reasonable profits to maintain a
smooth cash flow. Arrangements are under way to buy 500 layer chicks
and to grow vegetables wherever possible along with some banana and
papaya trees. It is hoped that the Members will give lavishly to the
recent appeal for donations to develop the farm to it’s maximum
potential, to help the College recover from the present financial
crisis. Every Rs.1000 adds up.
Also
of significance was the British ‘Teachers’ taking up residence at
Gurutalawa. Their quarters were made ready hastily and furnished. Various Old Boys committed themselves to assist in this
regard. Mr.Gamini Fernando was the key performer in using his contacts
with the British Council and three of the teachers arrived on the 17th.
May. Unfortunately, one of them had to return to Colombo due to health
reasons. It is an eight week short term assignment and they will assist
the English Teachers of the College as well as in Sports. Their
interaction with the students will be useful and if successful, this
will be a regular feature.
The
spade work is being done to establish the Hayman Museum which is
a key undertaking in this year’s activities. All Members please note and help out with any memorabilia in
their possession – letters, photographs , school reports and the like.
We shall take copies and return all originals which you may wish to
keep; otherwise, if you wish to donate outright, the museum will be the
best place to preserve them for posterity. Any and all ideas in this
connection from Old Boys will be most welcome.
The
practice of encouraging and welcoming any Old Boy to be in attendance at
Ex-Co Meetings continues. The
next meeting of the Ex-Co as indicated will be on Saturday 7th
June at 10 am in Gurutalawa itself. Any Member may request from the Hony
Secretary to be present at any meeting.
WONDERFUL
NEWS:
The
new Ex-Co has one Old Boy who left College in the last decade, for the
first time in the recent past. It is a most heartening sign and augurs
well for the future of the OBA.
The following 29 Old Boys have
become Members of the OBA since the publication of Newsletter - Issue 5
of last year :
Messers
C.S.B Herath, H.S.L Gunasekera, A. Kirthi De Silva, D.L.H Vithanage,
K.M.T Pushpakumara, P.M.M Karunathilaka,
S.R Panditharatne, P.R Selvaraj, M.K.M Zameel, R Maiyappan, T
Thangavel, S.P.P Weerasekara, K
Thangamani, K Kumaravel, K Kathiravel, R Karthigeshu, S Krishnasamy,
H.S Perera, S.K M
Ameer Khan,
Rizvan Jalill, B Sasimahendran, S.H.P Silva, M.R.M Haniffa, M.A M
Haniffa, C.U.B Alawathugoda, R.K Katugaha, Dineshkumar Sivasubramaniam,
R. Shanmugam, M. Thirumurugamoorthi.
Issue
No.2 of the Member’s Directory was printed in February this
year (more upto date) and several copies are still available with the
Secretary priced at Rs.200. Keeps you in touch with colleagues.
NEWS
OF OLD BOYS:
OBITUARY:
It
is with deep regret that we have to record the recent deaths of the
following Old Boys, all from the early batches of the ‘40s. Philips Arasakumar, Irwin Dassanaike, S.S.Weerawardena, Mano Madawela, Rupert Illangantilleke and
Gamini Divitotawela.
(Members are kindly requested to inform the
Secretary of any obituaries of Member-friends, so as to offer the
sympathies of the OBA, timely and in a satisfactory manner.)
APPOINTMENTS:
Mr
Nanda Mathew, former Minister and M.P. has been appointed Governor of
the Uva Province. Our best
wishes are with him. He has been a loyal Old Boy with a regular
attendance at OBA meetings and functions.
NEWS
FROM OVERSEAS:
Vivian
L. Blaze, one of the best athletes STC produced in the post war years of
the 20th century, has established contact after more than 50
years. “I am pleased to be associated with STCG”
he writes to Lakshman Jayatilaka.
And then, Ivor Kelaart, “A
million thanks for sending me the History Book ‘STC GURUTALAWA – The
First Fifty Years’ through my daughter Jenny. I can hardly put it down
since she gave it to me last morning after my arrival from Bali…it
brought back memories of a time sixty years ago.”
So
also John De Vos – at Guru in the 50’s – and M.N.V.Murugappa, a
Guru stalwart, former Member of Ex-Co, and regular opening batsman for
the Old Boys in those early years, also visited Sri Lanka recently. All
from Down Under.
Dr.P.A.Saram
( Guru ’48-’52) Prof.Emeritus, Dept. of Sociology, University of
Alberta, Calgary writes to Treasurer: “Hope you received my donation
to OBA Funds …Thank you for the membership directory. I was able to
locate some old timers… Thalakada (SABR) is at St.Catherines,Ontario.
STC OBA in Toronto should be able to locate him. Ananda, Nalanda, Visaka,
St.Bridgets have websites…Overseas Members will find this
convenient.”
(At the moment, Mr.Muditha Dissanayake is working on this –
await launching news).
Mrs.Betty Chapman, wife of Mr.A.K.Chapman who
served College with distinction & was on the Guru staff from the
forties till 1965, was in Sri Lanka in April & has indicated that
she & their son will sponsor a scholarship or give a donation in his
memory. They are in contact with the Treasurer.
We
request Members to assist us by writing in their views and of news of
Old Boys.
FORTHCOMING
EVENTS: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
A
group of Old Boys, have arranged a Fellowship Dinner on the 19th
July, Saturday, at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, a date removed as far as
possible from the OBA Dinner Dance on the 29th
November, Saturday, for the convenience of Members who would like to
attend both functions. There will be the traditional Good Fellowship at
both occasions, while the Dinner Dance will be the main fund-raising
event of the OBA. The tickets for the Dinner in July, will be priced at
Rs.1000 and for which contact Mr.Upali Abeywickrema at
072.250900.
The
College Prize Giving will be on the 9th August, Saturday and
the Chief Guest will be Mr.B.A.Mahipala.
ESTO PERPETUA – till the next
issue.
HELP
BY CONTRIBUTING FOR A WORTHY CAUSE
GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE STC(G) FARM DEVELOPMENT
FUND
Cheques
in favour of STC Gurutalawa OBA
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