VACD Australia & Sri Lanka June 2024 Newsletter “Their Future in Our Hands” “When we give alms with our hearts, we give well” Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners, Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD. Observing Vesak at our VACD Badulla centre: Vesak is the most important festival observed by Buddhists as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha. Staff, parents, and children at our Dora Jeanne Centre in Badulla celebrated this event on Sunday, 26th May by attending a sermon delivered by the clergy followed by an alms giving. This VACD centre is being sponsored by Australia Deputy Chairman Greg Fendler, his wife Jenny and rest of the Fendler family. Wonderful Initiative at VACD Bandarawela: Parents, Staff and children from our Bandarawela centre organised an outdoor market on Wednesday, 29th May displaying and selling their home garden produce and handmade crafts ...
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Godfrey Gunatilleke: A Gentleman for All Seasons-by Leelananda De Silva Leelananda De Silva, in Island, 28 April 2020, and 11 August 2018, where the title is “Godfrey Gunatilleke – A Life of Quiet Achievement” Godfrey Gunatilleke is one of the leading intellectuals in the latter half of the 20th century in Sri Lanka. Never a man to be confined by disciplinary compartments, he straddled across many academic and administrative fields in his long career. An English scholar to start with, he was one of the finest products of the University of Ceylon which lasted in its pristine form (as envisioned by its founding fathers) for 20 years from 1943 to the early 1960s. A= Godfrey Gunatillake (c) and Gen. Anton Muttukumaru, Ceylon’s High Commissioner in Canberra, at a 1965 ECAFE meeting in Wellington …. B = Godfrey clarifying a point Godfrey did not go for higher academic degrees, but he taught himself to be ...
VALE -Dr. Nagalingam Ediweerasingham Source:TIMES OF SRI LANKA INTERNATIONAL 365 Dr. Nagalingam Ediweerasingham, one of the greatest sportsmen born in Sri Lanka and who won Sri Lanka’s first gold medal in the Asian Games, passed away in the United States of America. Dr. Edirweerasingham, who was 90 years old, held the Sri Lankan high jump record for nearly four decades since 1953. He won the gold medal at the 3rd Asian Games held in Tokyo, Japan in 1958 by setting a new Asian Games record of 2.03 meters and won the silver medal in the same event in 1962. Later, he made a great contribution to the development of athletics in this country and launched a number of programs for the development of athletics, especially in the North and Eastern Provinces. He contributed immensely to the international achievements of Manjula Kumara, who was another high jumping champion born in this ...
{PeteriteNET:567} OBUH LOUNGE (ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP) NOW OPEN TO HFC AND SJC (COMMITTEE MEMBERS) OBUH rolled out the red carpet, for our esteemed guests from Holy Family Convent and St. Joseph’s College! as we launched Associate Membership. The Peterite Lounge transformed into a hub of camaraderie and laughter as we welcomed our sister and brother schools for an evening of pure fun. What sparked this rendezvous, you ask? Well, it was the brainchild of the OBU, an initiative aimed at fostering strong bonds and creating a network that goes beyond school walls. We wanted to unveil our Lounge and facilities in style, and what better way than to share them with our cherished counterparts! In a gesture of warmth and openness, we’ve offered to the committees of these prestigious schools. This is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey together. Here’s to the good times that lie ahead—new ...
St. Joseph’s College Colombo turns 128 – By Maruthai Ravindhiran The purpose for which St. Joseph’s was founded was to give Christian students the best education as per the Motto, “In Scientia et Virtute” Source : dailymirror St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, was founded on March 2, 1896 College day is celebrated on March 19 Today March 19, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10 one of Sri Lanka’s leading schools celebrates its 128th anniversary. Founded on March 2, 1896, the College Day is celebrated on March 19 which is also the feast of the patron saint, St. Joseph. The architect of the renowned institution was Dr. Christophe- Etienne Bonjean, the first Archbishop of Colombo who was also instrumental in fulfilling the need for a Catholic college. He did not live to see his dream realized. However, he had appointed for the project, men who knew his mind and his plan and were capable ...
Battle of the Saints” – Recap of Josephian-Peterite Encounters Source:-jpaacanada Joe-Pete – victories and interesting finishes image Source:-jpaacanada Earliest memories begin with the 1963 game where Maurice Deckker and David Heyn trash the Josephian bowlers to all parts of the field during a hurricane unbroken partnership of 73. Several sixes landed on the galvanized sheets of the students’ tent. One of them dislodged a sheet which came tumbling down. I also have vivid memories of Deckker splitting a bail in the process of clean bowling a Josephian batsman. St. Joseph’s pursuing a victory target of 208 were struggling to avoid defeat at 118/7 at the close and survived thanks to a battling 50 by stumper Placidus Liyanage. The ’65 game was the last to be played at the SPC ground. Both teams were packed with outstanding players. I missed this match but closely followed the radio commentaries. The Peterite captain ...
Obituary for Dudley Plunkett Dudley Clive Plunkett passed peacefully in his sleep on 31/01/2024 at the age of 83. Son of George and Dolly. Loving Husband of Christine and Father of his son James. Brother of Sheila Hewawissa (Dec) , Lorna Kreltszheim, Bubbles Forbes (dec) , Maxine Sela , and Russell. Alumni of St. Joseph’s College Colombo class of 1958. ...
A visionary Rector and treasure trove to the Josephians-by Maruthai Ravindhiran Source:Dailymirror Reverend Father Ranjith Andradi, the Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, celebrated his 30th ordination anniversary on July 31. Born on November 6, 1968, in Payagala, Father Andradi comes from a family of eight. His father, Mr. D. M. J. Andradi, was a devout Catholic, and his mother, Mrs. Lucy Suwaris, was known for her kindheartedness. He has six brothers and two sisters. His elder brother, Rev. Fr. Kamal Andradi, is also a priest. Father Andradi entered St. Aloysius Seminary and was ordained a priest on July 31, 1993. He was appointed as an assistant priest in Grand Street, Negombo, and then as assistant parish priest of St. Mary’s Church, Dehiwala, in 1994. In 1996, he was appointed as the Primary Principal, Middle School Principal, and Prefect of Games at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10. Under his ...
Raising a hearty cuppa to gentle giant behind famed brew-by Yomal Senerath-Yapa Source:Sundaytimes For decades he has not only been the face of Dilmah but the mascot of 100% pure Ceylon tea as well. As Merrill J. Fernando, with his new autobiography, looks back on 93 years of blessed, serendipitous living, it is occasion to raise a hearty cup of Irish Breakfast or Moroccan Mint to the doyen. The practice of having Merrill’s face on the tea packaging of Dilmah was made necessary because of fake products in the market but it also ensured that generations cherished his genial visage across the globe for the personal or ‘family’ touch of his farmer-grown tea. For Merrill, it all began 93 years ago, in 1930, when he was born in the balmy village of Pallansena, Negombo, where he bathed in the Maha Oya and was an altar boy at the church of ...
BOOK LAUNCH IN MELBOURNE Source:Island FRUITS OF VIRTUE. An early history of St Joseph’s College, Colombo. Joint Authors: Dr Srilal Fernando and Avishka Mario Senewiratne, Colombo 2022.Printed and published by Aitken Spence Printing and Packaging(Pvt Ltd). Dec 2022. Limited Edition of 400 copies. A cold wintry afternoon did not deter the many members of The Ceylon Society of Australia, old boys of St Josephs College, Colombo, and other aficionados of educational history of Sri Lanka from attending a very interesting presentation by the joint authors. While Dr Srilal Fernando was there in person to provide the audience with some interesting aspects of the early history of the school, Avishka unable to be present, made ample amends by participating through a zoom projection of his comments from Colombo. Dr Srilal Fernando dealt with some detail the motivation and the creative links of the original “Principal Benefactors of the College” some 34 ...
