|
|
|
Home > Induction of the new Headmaster |
|
On the 5th October 2004,
the day following the Feast of S. Francis of Assisi after whom the
College Chapel is named, the Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of
Colombo and Chairman, Board of Governors, inducted Mr Ellis Gladwin
Jebanesan Canagasabey as the Headmaster of the School. This was done in
a special Service held at 10 am within the Liturgical tradition of the
Anglican Church. Present at the Service were some members of the Board
of Governors and representatives of the OBA amongst others, the Staff
and the Christian boys of the School. The Service was followed by an Assembly in the College Hall,
attended by the Staff and present boys. The Bishop who is Chairman of
the Board of Governors, addressed the gathering in Sinhala &
English. He apologised for any remissness of the Board in not paying
sufficient attention to Gurutalawa and expressed his thanks to the Old
Boys. He promised the establishment of a new culture in a new beginning
in a unified community where there would be no place for aggressive acts
of violence, and called for the restitution of discipline as a core
value. The Headmaster in his speech
appealed for the co-operation of everyone and voiced his intention to
have a ‘hands on’ approach to every sphere in the School’s life
and activities, dedicated to the development and happiness of every
student - recognising his/her intrinsic value as an individual. Mr.W.M.Sumanapala, Senior
Supervisor, proposed the Vote of Thanks and referred to the importance
of the Old Boys and their support to the School. A.D.Sandakelum, the Head Prefect,
seconded the Vote of Thanks and expressed the wish to make the School,
the best in the Island. Earlier the Bishop in his address had wanted
Gurutalawa to be a good school.. A presentation was made to Rev.
Harold Goodchild, the Chaplain, who had acted as the Headmaster in the
interregnum. The Headmaster, Mr.Canagasabey, is
fluent in all three languages and laced his speech, which was
principally in English, with Sinhala & Tamil asides and
explanations. He comes to Gurutalawa from the University of the Eastern
Province where he was Head of the Dept. of Physical Education. A
graduate in Agriculture, he holds in addition, a Diploma in Education
& Diploma in Management. He is a keen sportsman and came second in
his day, in the Javelin Throw at the National Championships. He is 43
years old, married and has two sons, one of whom will be in Keble House
at Gurutalawa. His appointment ends an unsettled
period in the School’s recent history and augurs well for the future.
THE PROMISE IS THERE, THE FULFILMENT MUST COME. P.S.Duleep Kumar.
|
