The admired captain who navigated Loyola College to greatness-by Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke

Source:Dailymirror

No matter the seas, it is the skill and efforts of the captain that would ensure the safe sail towards the harbour’.  That is exactly what Loyola College, Daluwakotuwa experienced under its beloved current Rector Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke who is to bid farewell to the college he loved so dearly, in the very near future. 

Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke is an empathetic priest who always thinks about his students and teachers.  He never thinks twice to go many extra miles to do good for the students, for students and their betterment are his utmost priority.  This made the students of all the schools Fr. Gunetileke served, excel in studies, sports, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.  He has an open mind thus he listens to others’ views.  He is a silent role model for all under him and thus loved by all without any exception.

Loyola College has been lucky to have had Fr. Sudath Gunetileke as their Rector for the past six years because it hasn’t been some easy years.  The rain the wind and the seas were mercilessly rough when the Easter Sunday bomb attack and the Covid 19 pandemic forced the closure of the schools.  The students were helpless and doubtful and it was up to Fr. Gunetileke to shoulder the responsibility to think outside the box and to give hope to his much-loved student body and the worrying teachers. Fr. Gunetileke daringly navigated the college into unchartered waters and proved for the zillionth time the mastery of his captaincy. 

The successful and the in-time implementation and execution of the online teaching-leaning in the ‘new normal school’ was massively successful and applauded by students, teachers and parents alike and the success was evident in the GCE O/L and A/L results obtained by the college. Also Rev. Fr. Gunetileke took the college to a very high standard both in education and the college infrastructure. The college now has a newly refurbished auditorium, canteen, medical unit, office, S.V. Fonseka Hall, library, science labs and newly established smart class rooms thanks to Fr. Sudath Gunetileke. In everything he did, Almighty God has been his guiding light and the rector never looked anywhere else from Him for guidance.

Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke is an empathetic priest who always thinks about his students and teachers. He never thinks twice to go many extra miles to do good for the students, for students and their betterment are his utmost priority  

Born on May 21, 1961 at Kalaeliya, Ja-Ela to parents Walter Gunetileke and Elizabeth Peiris, Sudath Gunetileke was the 6th child in the family. Little by little, the time came for the happy child who grew up with three brothers and three sisters to start his education.  The boy Sudath gained his pre-school education at Kalaeliya Roman Catholic nursery and entered De Mazenod College, Kandana for his primary education. God had great plans for Sudath Gunetileke and humbly answering God’s divine call, teenage Sudath entered St. Aloysius Seminary in Borella, and St. Peter’s College, Colombo was where he completed his A/Ls.  

He entered into priesthood when he was ordained as a priest in 1987.  Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetilike started his selfless service immediately after that accepting responsibility after responsibility with both hands entirely depending on the strength of God.  He was assigned as the Assistant Parish Priest to Pannipitiya Parish in 1988 and in the following year he was appointed into the education sector. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke accepted his duty as the Primary Principal and the Bursar at St. Joseph’s College, Maradana.  Understanding his ability and skill he was entrusted with the position of the Priest-in-charge of St. Joseph’s Branch School, Enderamulla in 1996.  He went to the USA for his higher studies in the year 2000 and in 2004 he recommenced his duties at the St. Joseph’s Branch School, Enderamulla.  

In 2005, Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke became the Vice Rector of St. Joseph’s College, Colombo.  Then he was entrusted with the massive duty of opening up the branch school of St. Joseph’s College, Maradana in Negombo.  All he was given was a bare land but never taking a step back he built the well acclaimed St. Joseph’s College’s branch school in Kadolkele, Negombo which now proudly provides quality education to thousands of happy students.  Loyola College, Negombo rejoiced and celebrated when this experienced great personality, he was appointed as their Rector in the year 2015.  To this date he has been the respected and adored Rector of the college.  

Academically well acclaimed with Bachelor of Philosophy, Bachelor of Theology, BA (Peradeniya) and MA (USA), he knows the depth, breadth and the utter prominence of the education.  Well understanding the importance, skill, intellect and the ability of Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke, he is appointed as the Rector of St. Thomas’s College, Seeduwa to continue in his unstinted service for the student community.  With a heavy heart but with uttergratefulness, we at Loyola College, bid you, our dear Father Rector, Rev. Fr. Sudath Gunetileke, God’s abundant blessings in the new episode of your life and service.
Nishanthi Fernando