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S. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa
OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER No.12

October 2007

Master Plan

Further to the last newsletter the Master Plan was prepared by Mr. Mahen Ranasinghe and submitted to the Board of Governors, with the approval of the Ex-Co, in May 2007. The full Master Plan is given in our website, www.stcguru.com and the contents in brief are given below. It was dedicated to Dr. R.L. Hayman for his teaching and training giving the knowledge and the courage to prepare it.

Land Survey and Encroachment

There are many encroachments into College land and the 9 acre block given on lease by the Government for pastoral purposes. Carry out a complete land survey and resolve the land issues.

Boundary fence

Provide boundary fencing in several phases, depending on urgency and availability of funds.

Police Post

Pursue the action started by the OBA in 2004 to open a police post at Boralanda.

The Farm

Develop the farm on a commercial basis with cattle, goats, chicken, vegetables, fruits and flowers, using the 9 acre block and the existing facilities. Management of the farm to be by a Committee consisting of 3 Old Boys, Headmaster, Member of staff appointed by the Headmaster and a Member of the board of Governors.

Co-operative Stores and Bakery

Develop the Co-operative Stores to cater for the public as well as the College, for a quick return, under the same Farm Committee. Refurbish the bakery to a high standard and re-commission.

Bio Gas Plant

Re-commission the biogas plant to treat the kitchen waste, to generate gas for cooking and bio fertilizer for the farm.

Water Supply and Distribution

Use the available sources of water and design and construct a distribution system for a reliable supply of water.

Water Treatment Plant

Provide a water treatment plant, as the quality of water is poor.

Swimming Pool

Replace the 50 year old swimming pool equipment with modern equipment.

College Grounds and Sports

Develop the turf wicket laid in 1998 and the grounds with the help of the Cricket Association of Sri Lanka and develop all other sports facilities.

Headmaster’s Bungalow and Staff Quarters

Refurbish Headmaster’s bungalow and all other staff quarters.

Buildings

Refurbish and/or reconstruct all buildings, on a proper architectural plan.

Architectural Plan

Work to a professional architectural plan, with well designed landscaping to beautify the place.

Sewage treatment Plant

Design and construct a sewage treatment plant to generate gas and bio fertilizer, while saving the effluent for farm use, with over 500 persons living within a small, topographically perfect area.

Rain Harvesting

Introduce rain harvesting with buildings ideally situated at high level.

Staff

Restructure the academic staff, to get the best out of them and organize minor staff for efficient maintenance of all facilities.

Discipline and English

Improve discipline of students and all staff and the standard of English.

Food

Improve the quality of food.

House System

Introduce the House system, as existed during Dr Hayman era.

Auditors

Change the auditors, as they had failed to find or ignored the obvious malpractices, corruption etc. over the years.

Security

Provide better security system with adequately trained staff.

Public Relations

Improve public relations with villages around the College.

Progamme for Implementation

Implement under immediate, short and medium term, within 4 years, with Farm Development and Co-operative Stores coming under immediate plan, along with other items which require little or no funding.

Conclusions (as in the original)

This Master Plan is a combination of facts and recommendations for development of a wide and unique range of facilities, linked to the improvement in discipline and English. Once it is implemented S. Thomas’ College Gurutalawa can boast to be the only school in the country, if not the world, to have such facilities and utilities, providing education and experience, no other school can provide. Feasibility Report on the development of the Farm and the Cooperative Stores will be prepared upon acceptance of the proposals, in principle by the Board.

End of Master Plan
 

In September the Board accepted the Master Plan submitted earlier in the year subject to the following conditions requested by the Headmaster.

1. Management of the College Farm and Co-op Shop shall be under the Headmaster and the School, with the

Committee in place to advise.

2. The proposals of the Master Plan shall be executed with the compliance of and in consultation of the

Headmaster

3. All funds required shall be raised by the OBA
 

Leasing of the 9 acre block to an outside Company, for growing strawberries is being considered by the Board and the Headmaster has prepared an Infrastructure Development Plan in 3 phases, at a cost of Rs.30 million. Headmaster’s report along with this plan and other fund requirements are attached to this Newsletter.

The Ex-Co considered that the Farm development was not feasible without the 9 acre block, as that was the heart of the farm with cattle, goats, flowers and vegetables and the Co-operative Stores was part and parcel of the same Project. Furthermore as the Headmaster’s appeal for funds is sent to the same Membership, it would create a competition for collecting funds. The development of the Farm and the Co-operative Stores was therefore shelved.

Construction of Junior Dormitory Toilets

The junior dormitory toilets are in an appalling condition and several parents have even threatened to remove the children from the school for this reason. With the shelving of the Farm Project, the Ex-Co decided to provide a facility of completely new toilets with commodes, urinals, washbasins and showers. The fittings have to be of good quality, strong and durable and unlike in the past the Headmaster has assured that special care would be taken to maintain the facility and persons damaging any items would be charged for the repairs. The estimates are now being prepared and it is the intention to complete the work during the December holidays this year. Any contribution, by way of material or cash, towards this urgent need would be much appreciated.

Bunk Beds

OBA funded the purchase of the first batch of 23 bunk beds at Rs.6,500.00 each, totaling Rs.149,500.00.

Turf Wicket

The Board of Governors had put on hold the development of the turf wicket for now.

Fellowship Dinner

Fellowship Dinner held on August 18, 2007 at Mt. Lavinia Hotel was well attended and everyone had a good time.

Membership Directory

Issue 3 of the Membership Directory, revised after 4 years was made available at the Fellowship Dinner. The special features in this Issue are that over 70 advertisements are included, along with past Headmasters of the College and past Senior Vice Presidents and Secretaries of the OBA. It is available at Rs.300 and an order form is included at the end of the Newsletter.

Induction of the Headmaster

Over 25 Members of the Ex-Co and the OBA attended the induction of the Headmaster and a full report is given in our website.

Prize Giving

Again the Ex-Co and Members showed their support with over 30 attending the Prize Giving and donating Rs. 62,200.00 to cover the cost of prizes. All were treated to a good lunch at the Headmaster’s bungalow, a first of its kind, in the recent past.

Family Outing

The family outing is now scheduled for Sunday November 18, 2007, postponed from June, mentioned in the last Newsletter, due to heavy schedule of activities at College. It is at the same venue as last year, Wadduwa Holiday Resort and a day of fun can be assured for the whole family, with swimming, cricket, volleyball, indoor games, kiddies’ corner and plenty of food and drinks. Tickets are priced at Rs.1000.00 per head, children over 5 yrs. ticket priced at Rs. 500.00 with no charge for children under 5 yrs. (no increase from last year, in spite of the massive inflation)

Contact Shervon Fernando- 0777 746221 or Mahen Ranasinghe- 077 386 5276 for tickets.

Please purchase your tickets early. (NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE)

Re-Union Celebrations and the AGM 2008

The weekend, February 15-17, 2008 for the Re-Union Celebrations, with the AGM on Saturday 16, at 6.30 p.m. given in the last Newsletter is now confirmed. With the Junior Dormitory toilets expected to be completed in December this year, those who hated squatting pans and either stayed away or elsewhere, can now reserve a bed in the Junior Dormitories for the weekend. You are assured of food to a grand scale like last year and everyone is requested to save the weekend for a memorable occasion.

All Thomian Cricket Tournament

Arrangements are being made to hold the 11 a-side cricket matches among the Old Boys of the 4 STCs on a Sunday at the beginning of January, 2008, similar to last year. We were close runners-up last year, losing to a young Mt. Lavinia team. Contact Mahen Ranasinghe – 077 386 5276, if interested in playing.

Festival of Cricket

Mr. Gerald De Alwis is organizing a Festival of Cricket at STC, Gurutalawa, on February 9, 2008, with matches, U15 team of SSC Cricket School v College U15 team and a Masters match, with Mr. Michael Tisera and other great Old Thomian cricketers taking part, Everyone is invited to attend and support.

Computers from Australia

A consignment of 147 used computers and associated equipment sent by the Rotary Club of Melbourne, by courtesy of Mr. Ed Rowlands, an Old Boy (1950- 54) is being cleared from port. Approximately 50% of these will be given to College while the rest will be distributed to schools in Welimada District, through the Rotary Club of Welimada, with specific request to cover the schools in the villages near and around Gurutalawa, to improve public relations in the area.

Membership

The following Old Boys have been enrolled as Members this year.

Mr. D. Kamal Perera, Mr. Subasinghe S A Neel, Mr. Gunasekera W A D P R, Mr. Senanayake Anura, Mr. Sheriff Mohamed Riyaz, Mr. Sheriff Mohamed Riyaz, Mr. Ranatunga Chamila Hemal, Mr. Liyanage D Wickrama, Mr. Rameshkumar Kasinathan, Mr. Nazeer Mohamed Irshaff, Mr. Rodrigo Jude Leonard, Mr. Maddage Amila Eranga, Mr. Ilanko Arunachalam, Mr. Abdul R. Mohamed Ali, Mr. Samsudeen Fashry, Mr. S A Ahamed Hananudeen, Mr. M T Mohamed Kamil, Mr. A H M Nistar.. Mr. Spencer Herft.

Membership forms are available in the website for anyone wishing to join.

Shervon Fernando

Hony. Secretary