History of The STC Prefects Group – by Sriyan Jayasekera
The Past Prefects of S. Thomas’ College hosted their 12th Annual Prefects’ Dinner in the premises of The Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, on 13th March, 2023. This was following a hiatus of two years on account of the intervening Covid pandemic. This year’s Chief Guest was General Srilal Weerasooriya, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. The main feature of this year’s event was that it was managed by a committee unlike in the past, when it was organized by a few. It turned out a roaring success with well over one hundred participants.
Around the year 2006 we felt impelled to felicitate our past teachers, who now spend the evening of their lives even as their numbers were fast diminishing. To organize this we formed a group consisting of about 60 past prefects from 1969 to 1973. However, we felt this group was not sufficient to achieve what we wanted for the around fifty remaining teachers. Thereafter, a group comprising Thomians who were students during the tenures of Wardens Davidson, Selvaratnam and Anandanayagam, was formed, and two grand felicitation dinners were held in 2006 and also in 2007. This cohort was ultimately, popularly referred to, as THE STC DSA ERA GROUP.
However, the idea of The Prefects Group was not shelved and a collection of details of all past Thomian Prefects living here and overseas was undertaken. By the year 2009 we had collected contact details, telephone numbers and email addresses of over 500 past Thomian Prefects. We had our first group dinner that year and continued this practice when visiting overseas Prefects or Teachers were known to be in Sri Lanka. Our group would be proud of having a felicitation dinner for the Gnanam brothers who donated a building for the College Quadrangle project.
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The first Dinner for Prefects only, was held in 2010, on the Monday of the Royal-Thomian Cricket match week. Thereafter the annual event continued without a break until 2020. From the 2nd dinner event, which was attended by 58, we hosted a Chief Guest, and that honor was bestowed on Malcolm Peiris, who was a well respected Senior Rubber Planter, and also served as the Chairman of Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation. He was also the Manager of S. Thomas’ College at one time. On the occasion of the 3rd dinner which was attended by 55 we had Wimsey Sinnathamby as Chief Guest. He was a Senior Director at Forbes & Walkers Ltd., and the person responsible for the formation of the Toronto Branch OBA in Canada and its founding President. At the 4th dinner The Chief Guest was Tissa Molligoda who was a Director at John Keells Ltd and also a past Secretary of the OBA. The 5th annual Prefects dinner in 2014 with 66 participants had as the Chief Guest, W T Ellawala who was a well respected corporate leader and the Chairman of C W Mackie & Co Ltd.
The 6th Prefects’ dinner was held on the 9th March 2015 where we welcomed the 19th Thomian Warden Rev Marc Billimoria as Chief Guest. Over 50 attended that event. The 7th Prefects’ dinner had the well respected insurance professional Chandra Schaffter, Chairman and Founder of the Janashakthi Group as the Chief Guest. The Chief Guest at the 8th Prefects dinner with 92 in attendance, was the well respected personality in the tea industry and much loved Cricket-legend Micheal Tissera, Chairman of Tea Tang Ltd and, of course renowned as Captain of the Ceylon cricket team for many years.
The 9th annual Prefects’ dinner was held on the 5th March 2018 with 70 past prefects attending, and Ronnie Reid as Chief Guest. He was an outstanding batsman holding the record for the highest score at the Royal-Thomian cricket match for many years. Mano Ponniah was the Chief Guest at the 10th annual Prefects’ dinner with 60 participants. He is a highly esteemed Architect and well known as an opening batsman.
The 11th Annual Prefects’ dinner was held on 10th March 2020 at the Galadari Hotel with 103 attending, and where Mevan Peiris was the Chief guest. He too, who is an outstanding National Cricketer, a leader of several professional institutes, teacher, artist, and now, chronicler and a writer. One of our noteworthy achievers with success both in sports and scholarship.
Over the years we have hosted our Prefects’ dinner parties at the Galle Face Hotel, The Grand Oriental Hotel, The Galadari Hotel, the SSC and at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. Unfailingly, the Annual Prefects’ dinners have been held on Monday of the Royal-Thomian Cricket match week. Our aim had been to maintain the cost of the entrance at a minimum so as to attract a large gathering, whilst serving them with a dinner of an acceptably high standard along with a winsome beverage. We also achieved recognition as a group by inviting as Chief Guests persons who have rendered a valuable service to the country, while bringing honor and credit to the school. Our primary target was to encourage past-prefects to rally round like they would have in their days in the “cop shed”, so that we may be able to jointly do something for the college. I am happy to state that we have been successful in this regard.
Here’s wishing the Prefects Group success in all of their further endeavours!
Sriyan Jayasekera
Convener-STC Prefects’ Group
1959-1972 Wood House.
