S. Thomas’ College Gurutalawa
OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION - NEWSLETTER

Issue No: 10/05

June  2005

Dear Members,

In our last newsletter we gave a very realistic but hopeful picture of the future of Gurutalawa. Our faith was not misplaced as we have now gone further on the road to improvement of the School of which you are the proud bearers of traditions – We shall succeed with Thomian Grit. We must.

In our last letter we outlined some action contemplated to be taken by the Board and the Committee appointed has completed most of its mandate. The urgent needs were identified and the Board of Governors gave a start by immediate personal contributions from the Board Members themselves while some Old Boys, the OBA and the OBA of Melbourne Australia have pitched in. The list /donations are attached.

Interviews for new student entrants for 2006 are in August and we must impress parents with the facilities and the ambience of the place, by that time. STC Mt. Lavinia has placed their notice for admissions in the newspapers with a reference to Gurutalawa applicants, so as to impress new applicants of the closeness of both Schools, and offer any rejects to opt for Guru.

To make an impression and attract students, we must draw to the maximum on what Guru can offer. While English & IT are ‘musts’, the Swimming Pool and Sports must be emphasized on, as unique to Gurutalawa. Its setting is special but the appearance has to be improved. While the Pool is a great draw, few schools in the area have a playground so readily available for field sports like athletics, cricket, football, hockey & rugby, with further land for badminton, basket ball & volleyball courts. We must build on these assets. An Indoor Court for badminton and other sports, will in addition to School use, be a source of revenue. The space is there but we must raise the Funds.

Already the U-15 Rugby team has won the Plate Prize this month and any members can see the newspaper report on our website.

In the field of IT, seven computers are in place and an Old Boy from Sweden, Dulip De Silva has already despatched 15 computers expected here by the first week of June. That void is also now filled.

The list of other needs is only a start. Much more needs be done. But now the Board of Governors, the new Headmaster, the Manager, Old Boys, the OBA have all risen to the challenge together and individual members are requested for their support before we lose the momentum, the moment of impetus. We cannot do it in fits and starts – the time is now.

As we advised you, two important decisions were taken by the Board – to raise a debenture issue for Rs.3.5 million to set off the current overdraft, and to hold a Thomian Fair jointly with Mt. Lavinia, currently scheduled for 8^th., 9^th., & 10^th. September 2005.

The first one of the debenture issue, is over and already fully subscribed by only two parties – we cannot simply express our gratitude to them by mere words. But that is all we can say for now. It is an auspicious start. However we can, each one of us, donate our share and vindicate the act of faith of these benefactors.

The second has already kicked off – we are deeply gratified at the ready support extended to us by the OBA of Mt. Lavinia which has assumed 90% of the responsibility and allocated to  us of Guru, only the specific task of bringing out the Souvenir. We must show we can shoulder our responsibility to ensure the success of the Thomian Fair by collecting the targeted Rs. 1.5 million through the Souvenir. Please get us some advertisements.

At its last Ex-Co Meeting early this month, while fully endorsing the need to help out Gurutalawa, the Mt. Lavinia OBA further agreed on sharing the proceeds with greater advantage to us. Again only our words of ‘THANK YOU VERY MUCH’ but they are deeply felt words with sincere appreciation.

Mr. B.R.L.Fernando, Chairman, CIC Ltd., will chair the Main Organising Committee and we have to give him our unstinted support. If expectations are met, and certainly they will be, the Fair will give Gurutalawa the much needed funds to effect improvements. The forecast is for the Fair to nett Rs.12 million of which we will get more than half. This is indeed the time when our members can all assist us further.

Our OBA has been given the special task of bringing out the Souvenir for the Thomian Fair and a small steering committee has been placed in charge. We request all members to extend their support as we cannot contact them individually, by sending us an advertisement or two, collected by them in the form we are enclosing herewith, from any advertisers they know. Since Mt. Lavinia is doing so much, we must rise to the occasion by raising Rs.1.5 million on the Souvenir, and which is our main responsibility. With the proceeds of our share of the Fair, the improvements in the desired fields will be undertaken to make Gurutalawa a school that children will want to enter. This can be done. We have done all we could – now the individual members must rise to the occasion and open their purse strings without hesitation to send in their donation without delay. We thank those who have done this already. To make this easy, a donation form is enclosed for you to fill & return.