Two Scouters shaped the lives of thousands of Scouts at Royal College, Colombo – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
Inspired by an article written about late Mr Viji Weerasinghe by our former Deputy Principal at Royal College, Mrs Lakshmi Arygalle, I decided to write this piece on two Scout Masters late Lieutenant Colonel MKJ Cantly and Mr Rohan Wirasekara.
Royal College history says that Scouting started in year 1918 during the time of Principal Hartley, much details not available until Scouting re-started in 1944. As school Cadetting started in 1881 under Principal John B Cull and contributing School Cadets over 16 years of age for both Great Wars for victory for King and British Empire, Cadetting took prominence at College and Principal and teachers at that time must have thought no requirement of a Scout Troop to Royal College.
Brevet Captain Mac Kusseen James Cantly started his first Scout troop in 1934 at his home town school, St Joseph’s College, Gampola and then in 1938 in St Mary’s College, Nawalapitiya. He was considered as a brilliant teacher and came on transfer to Royal College, Colombo
7 on 13th September 1943. Major Cantly urged and convinced then Royal College Principal Mr EL Bradby to re-start the College Scout Troop. Being an officer of Ceylon Cadet Corps in addition to his teaching skills, he must have able to explain Mr Bradby different skills developed among young students in Scouting and Cadetting.
On 16th June 1944 (Friday), Royal College Scout Troop restarted. As per available records, 23 students enrolled that day to follow Scout Oath. Under enthusiastic, dedicated and hardworking Major Cantly, who was known as Group Scout Master (GSM) of Royal College Scout Troop had two responsibilities in extra curricula activities of Royal College; both Scouting and Cadetting. Major Cantly; popular as “Canto” among students groomed thousands of students to be responsible, patriotic and respectful Citizens of Mother Lanka by the time he retired on 31st March 1969 to look after his ailing mother in Gampola. He retired as Brevet Lieutenant Colonel M K J Cantly ED, JP and Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion of Ceylon Cadet Corps after 25 years of service to Royal College, Colombo 7. By that time Royal College Scout Troop produced its first Queen’s Scout K D W Rathnayake, followed by 23 more Queen’s Scouts by the time Canto retired.
Mr R K W Rathnayake is beloved father of Kavan Rathnayake and Sagala Rathnayake (head prefect and Athletics Captain) and grand father of former head prefect K D W (Kavisha) Rathnayake (son of Kavan) Mr R K W Rathnayake’s Queen’s Scout certificate now displayed at Royal College Archives. My interaction with this great teacher was in 1977. Yet another Scouter, distinguished old boy of Royal College, Mr Rohan Wirasekara was our Scout master. Even though he was not a teacher in Royal College, he was voluntarily helping College Scout troop. He was the first President’s Scout Royal College has produced in 1972, when Sri Lanka became a Republic and name changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.
We were on a “Patrol Camp” at Warwick Estate, Nawalapitiya Director Bungalow. Rohan Wirasekara (Rohan Sir) decided we should visit Lt Colonel Cantly, the pioneer Scouter of Royal College. We took train trip from Nawalapitiya to Gampola and walked up to beautiful home of “ Canto” , where he was looking after his mother at that time.
Canto was delighted with seeing us Scouts with our Scouter Rohan Sir. He makes it a point to write down in all our log books, which we cherished throughout our Scouting days. Rohan Sir from the time I was a scout in 1977, to date run the Royal College Scout troop. He ran Scouting on Saturday mornings, until he retired from his Private Sector job. As soon as he retired from his job twelve years ago, he started to divide Scout troop to two due to sheer numbers and teaching scouts on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. His life is Scouring. He groom young scouts to become effective leaders and discipline and patriotic citizens of Mother Lanka.
His 72nd birthday was celebrated in a very small way by senior instructors of Scout troop arranging a Birthday Cake and all Scouts singing “Happy Birthday’’. Today strength of Royal College scout troop (not counting Gold troop members who assemble on Wednesdays) is more than 400 scouts. Just imagine how many young children Rohan Sir has guided from 1977 to date !
We wish Rohan Sir to continue his good work and best of health and happiness.
Once Former South African President Nelson Mandela said “There is no greater gift than that giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return’’ We all Scouts of Royal College groomed by you who live not only in Sri Lanka, but throughout the World wish you good health and happiness.
Written by, Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne ( Retired)
