NEWS FROM
Swimming Pool Project
The major project for this year would be the
construction of a Swimming Pool for Wesley.
Like a true old Wesleyite Hon M. H. Mohamed, Minister of Western
Province Development took immediate action to send officials of the Urban Development
Authority. The officials having
inspected a number of sites have now selected the Western side of the
Patron Mr M A P
Fernando
Vice Patrons
Rev
Shehan Fernando, Hon M H Mohamed, Prof Mahroof Ismail, Dr Lou Adihetty, M/s Denzil Perera, Halim Ishak, P B Herath, Shelton Peiris, Jehan Cassim, Kingsley T Wickremaratne, Dunstan Fernando,
Raja Sinnathurai, Mervyn Peiris,
Edmund Dissanayake, Tyronne Maye.
President Mr Rienzie Wijetilleke
Vice Presidents
M/s,
Upali Samararatne, Lasantha
Fernando, L V Jayaweera, Alfred K David, BMN Jurangpathy. NS Weerasekera, S Renganathan, Timothy Sela, Sam Soundravel, Hilary De Alwis, Ranjan Abeydeera, Navin De Silva,
Parakrama Wijemanne, L R Goonetilleke, Deepthi Perera, M A
Razak and Shimal Thaha.
VP Designate Mr
K Dwight
General Secretary Mr Lalith Peiris
Treasurer Mr Aswan Bangsajayah
Assistant Secretary Mr
Ivor Mahroof
Assistant Treasurer Mr
K Udayakumar
General Committee
M/s Ramzeen Razik, Riza Azoor, Riaz Ousmand, Isthiaq Rasiq, Rohan Amerasinghe,
Ranjith Dassanayake, Senaka Amarakoon, P Gajendiran, Brian Weeraperumal, Wazeer Hassim, Thilanga Fernando, Rohimal Senanayake, M Balakrishnan, Imran Ghouse, Fazly
Faleel, Sazleen Saleem, T Muralidaran, D Bandaratilake, Kadir Ishak and Shahul Hameed Mohamed.
Old
Wesleyites Sports Club 2002/2003
President Mr Tyronne Maye
Vice Presidents Messrs Ivor
Mahroof, Parakrama Wijemanne, Rohan Perera,
Secretary M Imthisham
Asst Secretary Ramzy Razick
Treasurer Sudath Kannangara
Asst Treasurer A
Ranasinghe
In addition, a committee of
14 members was also elected to assist the above office bearers.
A decade's partnerships between OWSC and CCS
by
- Richard Dwight
Ten years is a fair slice in
the life of any institution, all this and more annually, was given unstintingly
by Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) as sole sponsors of the Old Wesleyites Sports Clubs
(OWSC) Schools Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament.
The 62 year old OWSC with the
generous assistance of CCS, has done well to maintain this tournament without
interruptions since its inception in 1993. Viewed in the context of Clubs
managed by old boys of other schools, this sustained partnership between the
OWSC and CCS, to score in the name and cause of school Cricket is, whilst being
exemplary also a rare achievement indeed.
Since it is a landmark event in
the annals of the Club, it does merit a brief narrative here. Right at the
outset, without any reservation it must be said, that this tournament was the
brainchild of former Wesley Cricketer, Eric Gauder,
who is also a sports promoter, a radio and TV Commentator.
The thinking at that time, was
that there should be a tournament with a difference. Unlike the league and
limited over games conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association - it
was to be a competition that will bring about 25 to 30 schools teams from
different parts of the island, to converge on the Wesley College grounds for a
duration of two days.
The main aim of this farsighted
exercise was, whilst promoting healthy rivalry to also foster a spirit of
camaraderie, bonhomie and afford opportunities for fellowship - especially with
the young in mind from lesser known schools in the different district. For the
OWSC held the view, that no longer is sports confined to the Urban areas only,
but as well to the rural and village of our country. It is with this uppermost
in mind that the Club sought to provide exposure for young cricketers, who will
be the future stars of Sri Lanka.
Seen in all its entirety, it
did not take long for the President of the OWSC, Prof. Mahroof
Ismail and the Committee, with the all important
financial assistance from Ceylon Cold Stores as sponsors, to appoint Gauder as the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the
inaugural OWSC's Schools Six-a-Side Cricket
tournament that was held on the College grounds on the 25th and 26th of
September 1993. Daunting as the challenge was, members of the Committee
spearheaded by Gauder and motivated by President Ismail rose to the occasion to relentlessly work in pursuit
of success, which the tournament achieved in great measure to the satisfaction
of all.
The salient features of this
first ever tournament, was that it was meticulously planned and well executed.
There were the billboards, buntings and banners that gave it a festive air,
with the decorative school tents, which proved attractive enough. From the
point of co-ordination, things were worked off in slick precision in keeping
with a tight schedule, which was very salutary. The College prefects and the
marshals looking ever so impressive, liaised with the teams and yet other
officials
on their walkie - talkies.
There was no shortage for food and drink, with Elephant House chipping in, not
forgetting the toilet facilities for the many who flocked on to the grounds.
And to cap it all on the final day there was the colourful awards ceremony that
witnessed the entire committee smartly dressed for the occasion.
There was undoubtedly much
finesse and style in the way in which this major undertaking was executed.
Needless to say that it lifted
the stature of both the Club, as well as the tournament, with Radio and TV
coverage too. So much so that through the years, it has become a much looked
forward to, increasingly popular event for many.
Heartening it was, that in the
year 1994 a team from Maldives in Majeediya School
came down to take part. It was touching as well, in keeping with the them
'Peace for all' that in 1998 with the help of the Army and Lion Air, three
teams from the North/East in, a combined schools team from Jaffna,
Methodist Central College from Batticaloa and R. K.
M. Hindu College from Trincomalee were here to
participate.
Two Principals of the College,
viz. Dunstan Fernando and N A B Fernando, in accord
with their respective periods of office, lent patronage to the tournament. The
present principal M A P Fernando who is a keen promoter of Sports at Wesley, is
a source of encouragement to the OWSC and is very supportive of the Six-a-Side
Cricket competition. The Presidents of the OWSC, who were associated with the
tournament during their tenure in office were Prof. Mahroof
Ismail, Denzil Perera,
Lucky Gunetilleke and Capt. Navin de Silva. The
current President Tyronne Maye
has been involved with this tournament from last year, in his official
capacity. The Chairman of the Organising Committee from the inception of
tournament in 1993 to the year 2000 was Eric Gauder.
The present Chairman of the Organising Committee, is former Wesley Cricket
Captain Sunil Fernando, who also steered last year's tournament as Chairman.
Sunil also played cricket for the Colts Cricket Club and a Mercantile firm. He
has sufficient experience in organizing Six-a-Side tournaments, having done so
for the Tea Shippers tournament for quite some time.
Those who have assisted the
tournament at different intervals from the Ceylon Cold Stores, the sponsors are
M. D. Sumithra Gunasekera,
Directors Billy Walpola, and Laksiri
Wickremage Managers Nalin Jayasuriya, Ashan Wanduragala, Neil Samarasinghe, National Sales Manager.
Billy Walpola
and Ashan Wanduragala, have
been very keen followers of the progress made by the OWSC in relation to the
tournament. The adjudicators at these competitions have been past Sri Lankan
Cricketers, while the umpires doing duty have been picked from the panel of Sri
Lankan Umpires.
The Champions at this year's
tournament will receive the Lemonade trophy, with individual awards for eight
members, while the runner-ups will be presented with individual awards for
eight members. There will in addition be special awards for the Best Batsman,
Best Bowler, Best Fielder and Man of the Tournament.
The past champions of this
tournament winning the Lemonade Trophy were 1993 Royal, 1994 Kalutara MV, 1995 Thurstan, 1996 Nalanda, 1997 Prince of Wales, 1998 Nalanda,
1999 St. Josephs, 2000 Nalanda, 2001 Royal.
May this partnership between
OWSC and CCS in the next ten years, be even more brighter than the past ten
years.
Improving discipline in Lanka's schools
by Karunasena Kodithuwakku,
Minister of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural Affairs
Address made as chief
guest at the annual prize giving of
We all are aware that Sri
Lankan education system has benefited immensely from the Christian influence.
Wesley College manifests one of the many contributions of the Methodist Church
in this respect in Sri Lanka. Wesley College was in fact established by the
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1874, that is, 128 years ago. It
continues to-date, as a prestigious private non-fee levying school serving
students now numbering 2250 with equal opportunities to develop their skills.
The national curriculum is delivered in both Tamil and Sinhala
media up to the university entrance from the kindergarten.
The school which continues to be
managed by the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka apart from providing a holistic
education preserving the multi-racial, multi-religious harmony within the
school culture has made a profound contribution with a conscious effort and
through a deliberate process to the formation of its students to be disciplined
and responsible citizens. This is what makes
With this distinguished
gathering I would like to now share some of my thoughts concerning an
unfortunate development in the education system. That is the apparent breakdown
of discipline in the schools. Even today the print media carry news items on
some incidents. It seems that clashes between schools or different factions
within schools, the mobilisation and the use of students to achieve ulterior
political ends or the inciting and grouping of teachers to resort to protest
campaigns happening far more frequently. This trend undoubtedly is not only
disturbing and is very unfortunate. It is through serious warnings and to some
extent mobilizing the police that the government was able to prevent an attempt
as recently as August/September this year by some political groups under the
guise of 'Maubima Surakeema'
to bring to the roads the children of schools in the Western and Southern
provinces. These developments cannot be condoned with under any circumstances.
And it shall not be. Party politics should be kept out of schools. It needs
quick remedial action without compromising in any way the aims and principle of
good education. I can assure to you as the Cabinet Minister in-charge of the
portfolio of education that the Government is unreservedly committed to do so.
In my view the deterioration in
discipline is only a tip of the iceberg. It would be very naive on our part to
think otherwise. It is only a part of the overall crisis in governance that has
been shaking the whole edifice of this society. Let me place before you briefly
some factors, which have caused this deterioration.
* The introduction of "Swabasha Only" policies in the latter part of 50's
dividing the younger generations in terms of their ethnicity creating a fertile
environment to breed hostility to each other and later a "warring
mentality" in the North as well as in the South.
Nationalisation of schools in
1960 debasing the value based education initiated and sustained by the then
non-government schools namely, leading Buddhist Schools - Ananda,
Nalanda, Dharmaraja, Vishaka, Anula and other schools such as Wesley College of
different denominations.
* So called socialistic
educational reforms introduced in early 70's in the schools under the guise of
educational reforms removing the subjects which aimed at imparting principle of
morality and values of courtesy, honesty, obedience, responsibility, tolerance,
patriotism and compassion and further teaching in the curricula the leadership
qualities in the so-called ideologists in place of our own national heroes.
* The overt politicisation of
the administration of education is another factor. It had sapped the entirety
of the administration of the education system. The unqualified and the
inexperienced had been appointed to the key administrative positions in the
Education Departments not only at Zonal and
Provincial levels but also at the Ministry level. So are the appointments made
to the grades of Principals and their Deputies. In granting appointments,
transfers and other awards to the teachers, the political affiliation had been
given priority over merit and seniority.
We have already initiated
action with some success to rectify these serious deficiencies. Yet the
response from some of the Provincial Council administrations has been obstructive
and discouraging.
* The declining trends in
discipline has a lot to do also with the nature of the support extended to the
schools by the administrative departments of the Zones, provinces and from the
Centre, the leadership qualities of the Principals of schools and the degree of
involvement of the parents in the school activities. The administrative support
to the school at present is lethargic, impersonal, intrusive, unchanging and
unresponsive to the legitimate demands made on them. Some holding these
positions are spent forces and are incapable of contributing any further to the
development of the system. They hang on to their positions, as they cannot find
employment anywhere else.
The parents' lack of
involvement and apathy is resulting primarily by their not having any control
over the affairs of school governance. The overwhelming influence of the
administrative system seem to render the parents apathetic. The absence of
reasonably effective mechanism to inculcate leadership qualities to the
teachers and also those becoming principals appear to have also substantially
contributed to the decline of discipline in the schools.
The lack of comprehensive
mastery over the affairs of the school by the Principals, the overcrowding of
classrooms, declining teacher-pupil relationship leading to alienation of
pupils within the school itself (in view of the inability of teachers to have
an effective dialogue with all of them) and partly as a result of the teachers
being involved in running tuition houses, are also some casual factors.
The multiplicity of the causes
leading to this unfortunate developments and their deep-rootedness
makes the resolution of the problem very complex.
Nevertheless it is our duty to
resolve it and within a reasonable timeframe. In order to contain the situation
I believe that any breach of discipline or mischief leading to the breakdown of
discipline should be seriously dealt with and not be tolerated by any measure.
Containing action at times, surgical in nature may have to be initiated and
performed. The political interference should not play a part in it. And no one
should be cheap and lowly and attempt to make political capital out of it. This
is not a thing that affects the ruling party or the opposition but the whole system.
It involves the future of our generation. The fuller resolution of this problem
would ultimately depend upon a careful study of the emergent situation and it
would take some time given the complexity of the casual factors and their
ramifications.
I wish to reiterate that the
Government is fully sensitive to the current developments and is unreservedly
committed to take appropriate action as necessary to counteract these
unfortunate developments and to equip our younger generation with value
profiles in harmony with our culture and functional abilities to keep abreast
with and to benefit from the ongoing globalisation and regionalisation trends.
Finally I take this opportunity
to congratulate all those who received awards, prizes and certificates today and
also the other students. I also thank the Principal, Mr. Fernando, the staff of
I also wish that
Order of
Mr Randoph Ranjit Alwis - an old Wesleyite
who lives in
His appointment is
in recognition of Service to the Development of Multiculturalism in
Ranjith is a past national
chairman of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, the
first from a non European background to be elected to that position. He has devoted nearly 30 years of his life
working with businesses, governments and a range of community groups to make
fully participate in our
society.
Ranjith has studied at
Wesley in the 50s and 60s. He
distinguished himself academically at school winning the P H Nonis Mathematics prize for University entrance students
and the Lydia Senaratne memorial prize for the best
all rounder in the hostel as well as other prizes and awards in lower
classes. Ranjith
entered
In his adopted
country
The entire community
of Old Wesleyites Congratulates Ranjith on this achievement.
THE NIGHT THE PHANTOM DANCED
Some said it was the best Dance of
all.
The Annual Wesley College O.B.U.
Ball last October was an event that broke with tradition and proved once and
for all that the Old Boys can put on a show that ranks with the best.
Held again at the Cretan Village
Receptions, the theme for the evening was inspired by the Masquerade sequence
from the brilliant musical production the The Phantom of the Opera.
Following pre-dinner drinks and
hors-doeuvres, the curtain rose on the Ballroom when guests were shown to
their tables by ushers whose identity was hidden under a mask.
The room was illuminated by
candlelight. On each table was a stand
from which the flickering flames of candles lit up the hollows in two silver
masks where the eyes should be. The
masks were draped in fabric and completed the dιcor around the candlestands,
contributing an air of mystery. Matching
drapes hung from the ceiling, and the flashes of light from two rotating
mirror-balls cast abstract patterns overhead, adding elegance to the
atmosphere.
Without a doubt all this
contributed to the festivities and Le Masquerade was greatly enjoyed by all.
President, Reg Bartholomeusz, welcomed
everyone present, including special guests, from interstate and overseas.
Fred Cheah and his group, including
two saxophones, trumpet, guitars, piano, bass and drums belted out everything
from ballads to rock and what has now become a main feature at every gathering
of past Wesleyites was the rousing rendition of the College Song which prompted
much interest among the uninitiated.
An excellent four course meal
complemented the evening. The committee
and all who worked to make the occasion such a success can take a bow for a
great effort. The last guests departed
in the wee hours of the morning, tired but happy, promising to do it again.
By the way who was that masked
man
.?????
George
Robertson
