Donald Bastiampillai. Photograph courtesy of the St. Benedict’s College Alumni Association (Canada).
The St. Benedict’s College Alumni Association in Canada has honoured the memory and enduring contribution of Donald Bastiampillai by introducing the Donald Bastiampillai Memorial Trophy at the annual Bens-Wesley Football Encounter, held on 6 September 2026 in Toronto, Canada.
The memorial trophy provides a lasting tribute to an Old Ben whose life remained closely connected with St. Benedict’s College, football and the wider Bens community. It recognises not only his ability as a schoolboy footballer, but also the generosity, loyalty and sense of service through which he continued to support his alma mater throughout his life.
A talented footballer at St. Benedict’s College
Donald Bastiampillai was a talented footballer during his school years at St. Benedict’s College, where his enthusiasm for the sport became an important part of his identity. His involvement with football did not conclude when his school career ended; instead, a lifelong connection with the game and with Bens football was maintained through the years that followed.
For Donald, football represented more than competition. It provided a means of building friendship, discipline and belonging, while also forming part of the shared traditions associated with St. Benedict’s College. His continuing support demonstrated the lasting influence that school sport can have, particularly when former students remain committed to ensuring that younger players are given the opportunity to develop.
Throughout his life, Donald remained a strong supporter of football at St. Benedict’s College and contributed to the development and strengthening of the Bens football programme in Sri Lanka. His support was expressed through time, experience and financial assistance, reflecting a practical commitment to the progress of the sport at his former school.
Supporting the Bens Soccer Wing
A significant part of Donald’s contribution was directed towards the Bens Soccer Wing. Through his generosity, young players and the football programme at St. Benedict’s College received support that assisted the continued development of the game.
The contribution was distinguished by its consistency and purpose. Donald was not merely a supporter in name; he was a benefactor who recognised the importance of creating opportunities for future generations of Bens footballers. His involvement reflected a belief that former students could play an instrumental role in strengthening the institutions and activities that had helped shape their own lives.
Such support carries particular significance in school sport, where the progress of a programme depends not only on the commitment of players and coaches, but also on the encouragement of the wider community. The Bens Soccer Wing benefited from Donald’s willingness to give back, and his example illustrated how loyalty to an alma mater can be translated into constructive and lasting assistance.
His contribution also reflected the broader values associated with the Old Ben spirit: fellowship, responsibility, generosity and an enduring interest in the welfare of the college. Those values have now been formally associated with the memorial trophy established in his name.
A founding member of the alumni association in Canada
Donald was also a founding member of the St. Benedict’s College Alumni Association in Canada. His involvement contributed to the establishment and growth of the Bens community in Canada, where former students could maintain their connections with one another and continue supporting the traditions of their school.
The formation of an alumni association provides an important link between past and present, allowing former students to preserve shared memories while creating new opportunities for fellowship and service. Donald’s participation in the association was therefore consistent with the commitment he had demonstrated throughout his life: remaining connected with St. Benedict’s College and helping to strengthen the bonds among Old Bens.
His support extended to Bens activities in Canada, including the development of Bens football in the country. Through that involvement, his passion for the sport continued to be expressed in a new setting, connecting the football traditions of St. Benedict’s College with the community established by its former students in Canada.
The respect and affection he earned among generations of Old Bens were attributed to his generosity, friendship and unwavering dedication. His life offered a clear example of how an alumnus can continue serving an alma mater long after leaving its classrooms and playing fields.
A fitting tribute through the Bens-Wesley encounter
The decision to introduce the Donald Bastiampillai Memorial Trophy at the annual Bens-Wesley Football Encounter was a fitting acknowledgement of his association with football and with the traditions of St. Benedict’s College.
The Bens-Wesley encounter brings together the sporting traditions, friendship and rivalry connected with two historic schools. By placing Donald’s name alongside this football fixture, the St. Benedict’s College Alumni Association in Canada has created a memorial that reflects the qualities for which he was remembered: passion for the game, commitment to his school and a generous concern for the next generation.
A trophy carries a significance that extends beyond the presentation ceremony. It becomes part of the history of the contest in which it is awarded, preserving the name of the person whom it commemorates while encouraging future participants to learn about that individual’s contribution. The Donald Bastiampillai Memorial Trophy is therefore expected to serve as both a sporting honour and a reminder of the values that he represented.
The tribute is especially appropriate because Donald’s relationship with football was sustained across different stages of life and across two countries. His early ability as a St. Benedict’s College footballer was followed by decades of support for Bens football, the Bens Soccer Wing and the alumni community in Canada. The trophy brings those elements together in a single, enduring symbol.
Continuing the Old Ben spirit
Donald Bastiampillai’s story reflects a central aspect of the Old Ben tradition: the belief that membership of a school community carries responsibilities that continue beyond the years of formal education.
His example demonstrates that service to an alma mater may take many forms. It may involve supporting young athletes, contributing to a sporting programme, offering experience, assisting an alumni organisation or simply remaining present and dependable when the community requires support. In Donald’s case, these forms of service were combined through a sustained commitment to St. Benedict’s College and its football tradition.
The memorial trophy will allow that contribution to be remembered in a setting that was particularly meaningful to him. Each Bens-Wesley Football Encounter associated with the trophy can reaffirm the importance of sporting friendship, alumni fellowship and community participation.
The St. Benedict’s College Alumni Association in Canada has consequently honoured more than a former footballer. It has commemorated a benefactor, an association founder, a committed supporter and a true Bens gentleman whose generosity helped strengthen the sporting and community life of his alma mater.
The Donald Bastiampillai Memorial Trophy now stands as a lasting tribute to his life and service. It also offers future generations of Old Bens an example of how the spirit of a school can be carried forward through loyalty, generosity and a willingness to give back.
This article was written based on the source https://www.sundaytimes.lk/260906/sports/st-benedicts-college-alumni-association-in-canada-to-honour-distinguished-old-ben-donald-bastiampillai-655501.html, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
Alumni Association reference: https://bensalumnicanada.ca/2023/07/11/obituary-notice-donald-bastiampillai/
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