“Hands That Serve Are Holier Than The Lips That Pray” One of STC’s Finest All-Round Sportsman & Even Greater Humanitarian MOHAN RUDRA SAMARASINHE 83* – (compiled by Ravi Rudra)
A Star is Born: 08.08.1943, 2:30 AM
“I am driven by my deep desire to help as many helpless, underprivileged and marginalised fellow human beings ….I dedicate my work to my father (Sepala) & my mother (Bianca) with whose genes my entire body is “infested” – Mohan
(compiled by Ravi Rudra)
Mohan Samarasinhe was born to Mr. Sepala and Mrs. Bianca Samarasinhe and was one of eleven children in a remarkable family of five boys and six girls. He entered S. Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia in Form 1A in 1951, having come up from STC Prep School, Kollupitiya.
From his earliest years at College, Mohan distinguished himself in sports as he went on to become one of the finest multi-talented sportsman produced by S. Thomas’ College, earning admiration for his skill, discipline, leadership and sportsmanship across numerous sports.
Mohan left STC from College A Form in 1963 when he accepted a planting position with Whittall Boustead, beginning a new chapter in his professional life while carrying forward the values and spirit of his alma mater.
Brief highlights from Mohan’s inspiring career:
- STC Captain: Athletics, 1st XV Rugby & Rifle
- STC Vice-Captain: 1st XI Hockey & Eton Fives.
- STC College Colours: Awarded and re-awarded College Colours in 1st XV Rugby, 1st XI Hockey,
Athletics, Rifle Shooting, Basketball & Eton Fives.
- Public Schools Colours: Awarded and re-awarded in Athletics & Hockey.
- Represented the Sri Lanka winning Hockey team against Mysore State while at College.
- Also represented the College in Swimming, Water Polo & U16 Cricket.
- College Prefect & Head Prefect of the Boarding
House (Copleston Claughton).
- At just 15 years of age, Mohan served as a member of the College Security
Force established by Canon R. S. de Saram to guard the College following the threat to attack it after his efforts to save a Tamil gentleman who was set on fire during the 1958 communal riots.
- Founder member and former President of
- Revived Boxing at College and instrumental in getting a gift of the Boxing ring from his friend Dian Gomes.
- Established the Mohan Samarasinhe Scholarship Trust with a personal donation of Rs.2 million.
(*His Scholarship Trust was established to honour Mohan’s deeply held commitment to reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Its purpose is to support two
students—one Tamil boy from the North or East and one Sinhalese boy from the South—who are completing their A-Levels and demonstrate some sporting ability. The scholarship is built on a Buddy System, encouraging the two boys to learn from one another, build friendship, and embody the spirit of unity that the Trust seeks to promote.
- Has been an ardent supporter of the College and the ‘Retired Staff Club’ financially and in many other ways since moving to the UK in 1974.
- As a devout Christian and staunch Thomian, he has been actively engaged since 1995 in the pursuit of his charitable and humanitarian work throughout Sri Lanka, much of it in the hostile eastern and northern war zones.
- Founder / Chairman of his Charity “S.P.I.C.E.”, a charitable English Teaching
- Founder Chairman of ‘Ruhuna Children Development Trust’ & ‘We Are One Sri Lanka’.
- Mohan Samarasinhe fully deservedly had been commended by King Charles and Queen Camilla for his numerous selfless service to the poor, the needy and victims of war and natural disasters in Sri
Illustrious Samarasinhe Brothers
* Four Samarasinhe brothers attended STC: Mohan’s older brother Nihal—
affectionately known as Baila—and his younger brothers Rajpal and Ranil. Like Mohan, both Nihal and Ranil were gifted sportsmen, excelling in Athletics and Rugby and earning a reputation for their skill and spirit on and off the field.
*Rugby Colours (1960-63)
1960 – STC 1st XV Rugby Team
Standing (L-R): Mohan R. Samarasinhe, G. Weerakoon, R.N.H. Gunaratne, R.T. Asirwatham, R. Wanigasekera, M.A. Cader, C.L. Perera,
J.M. Wanigasekera, B.W.R. Thomas, B.C. Molligoda, R.L. Stork, H. Selva Kanagasabai & M.G. Koch.
Seated (L-R): Mr. Percy Perera (Coach), D.L.R. Kumarasinghe, Tony L. Sirimanne, Nihal Samarasinhe (Capt.), The Warden – Mr. C.H. Davidson,
N.V. Algama (Vice Capt.), A. Ellawala, Mr. Lassie Abeywardene (Master-in-charge)
