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ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE DURING WORLD WAR II – PART I-By Avishka Mario Senewiratne Source:Tillthemountainsdisappearams Background  Though this part of the world was at relative peace, by early 1942 over 20 million souls had lost their lives during the terrifying battles in countless locations in Europe. The United States had remained neutral. That was until December 1941, when the Imperial Japanese, allies of the Axis, attacked Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. As a result of this surprise attack, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared war against the Axis, entering World War II, and thus, the tides of the war were changed. The Imperial Japanese, who emerged victorious in their naval as well as air pursuits, were highly interested in attacking the British garrisoned in the East Indies, which included Ceylon, a British colony since King Sri Wickrema Rājasinghe’s surrender in 1815.  The next tragedy was the fall of Singapore. This too was carried out ...