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Royal College Rowing

team in history making tour of Victoria

The curtain came down on a ground breaking and momentous tour of Victoria (Australia) for the Rowing
team and staff of Royal College. Arriving in Melbourne on the 1st of January 2016, they spent an
enthralling twelve days strengthening ties in their relationship with Melbourne High School (MHS). The
team comprising Hashen Hettigoda, Prathap Perera, Lasindu Gamage, Ishira Rambukwella and Avishka
Jayaweera was accompanied by Mrs. Inoka Wijendra as the Teacher In Charge and Mr. Mohammed Rifath
as Coach.

After an initial three days of gruelling training on the Yarra, under the guidance of Mr. Paul Mc Gann,
(Director of Rowing - MHS) and Mr. Chris Bush (Teacher and Rowing Coordinator - MHS), the Royalists
travelled to Lake Moodemere in Rutherglen to compete in the Rutherglen Regatta. The Rutherglen Regatta
is reputedly Australia’s oldest Rowing Regatta with a 150 Year history. It was indeed a thrilling spectacle
for the Old Royalists and friends present to see their old school’s team taking part in Royal College colours
in such a far flung location in the country side of Victoria at a truly iconic event. The combined team of 8
oarsmen, 5 from Royal College and 4 from Melbourne High School was a treat to watch. This combined
team ended up 3rd. in a thrilling finish. Being, the first combined team taking part in an event such as this
will no doubt go down in the history books of both schools. This was a true reflection of the spirit of the
partnership between Melbourne High and Royal College.

Being the one of only, two school teams competing in the open event, the hosts Melbourne High School
being the other, both teams were up against some very strong competition. The Royal College team
accredited themselves well despite the unfamiliar course and the hot and dry conditions. Royal’s single
sculler Hashen Hettigoda did exceptionally well finishing 3rd in his event.

During this tour the Royal College team was welcomed officially at the Melbourne High School Hall by
Mr Jeremy Ludowyke (Principal of MHS) after the Rowing camp on the 5th of January. Mr Jeremy
Ludowyke addressed the boys and shared the significance of the Royal College and Melbourne High
School Partnership and the historical significance particularly in light of this tour being the 2nd official tour
of a Royal College Team to Melbourne since 1936. Royal College rowing team was hosted for a dinner on
the 10th of January by the RCOBAA which was attended by the President of the Melbourne High OBA, his
wife, the Treasurer of the Old Boys Association and the five Melbourne High billeting families and their
children. The young Royalists from Colombo endeared themselves to all who came into contact with them
with their conduct on and off the water, and were worthy representatives of Royal College and great
ambassadors for our mother land.

This tour will further strengthen the links between the two schools that originated 80 years ago, with a
Royal College cricketing team visiting Melbourne in 1936 at the invitation of the then principal of MHS,
Mr. William “Bill” Woodfull (who was Captain of Australian Test Cricket team during the infamous
bodyline series). Woodfull had visited Sri Lanka on three occasions while en-route to England for the
Ashes series. Two players in that game went on to represent their respective countries. PCD McCarthy
played for a 1938 All Ceylon team whilst still a schoolboy at Royal College whilst Keith Miller was to
become one of Australia’s greatest cricket all-rounders. Both were to play each other again in Colombo in
1945 as part of the ‘Victory test’ tour undertaken to celebrate the end of the war.

This will no doubt be a good foundation for the activities planned in the leadership, sporting and academic
areas of the two schools. As for the boys they will take back some unique and wonderful memories in
addition to the knowledge gained on the finer art of Oarsmanship, which they will no doubt inculcate to
their fellow team mates as they all will play a prominent part at Rowing in Royal College for a few years
ahead.

Royal College Old Boys Association Australia (RCOBAA) took the initiative to facilitate this tour by the
Royal College Rowing team. There was a considerable amount of work put in by the RCOBAA to make
the Royal College and Melbourne High partnership to crystallise. Royal College and Melbourne High
School share a common heritage, standing and educational philosophy. Melbourne High School is the
oldest and most prestigious government high school for boys in Victoria, Australia. The standing of Royal
College is well known. Both schools count amongst their alumni prominent national leaders in every
avenue of human endeavor and are supported by strong Old Boy associations. These two schools also
warmly embrace students from every religion, culture and language. The students of Melbourne High come
from over 70 distinct cultural communities. Around 15% of current students (including the current
Principal) were born in Sri Lanka or claim Sri Lankan heritage.

The RCOBAA President Mr. Aynkaran Sivaratnam wishes to extend his appreciation on behalf of
RCOBAA to Mr Jeremy Ludowyke (Principal of MHS), Mr Paul McGann and Mr Chris Bush for hosting
and coaching the Royal College team. RCOBAA also wish to thank Mr Nihal Seneviratne of Royal
College Union in Colombo and Mr Ziyam Kamil of the Royal College Rowing Advisory committee for
facilitating and coordinating the arrangements on behalf of RCOBAA in Sri Lanka. Sincere thanks are also
extended to the old Royalists in Melbourne who billeted the Royal College team and took care of all the
needs of the tour party. This is the beginning of a mutually beneficial, long and strong relationship between
the two schools and their respective Old Boys Associations in Melbourne. Both OBAs are planning to
organize more events in the future and both schools intend to sign a memorandum of understanding to
create an enduring link and partnership between the two schools.

Aynkaran Sivaratnam



Battle of the Blues

Melbourne Encounter -Played at Melbourne High School, Cricket Ground

20th March 2016

Following on from the thrilling Battle of the Blues encounter played out to an exciting finish in Colombo,
it was Melbourne’s turn to continue the age-old tradition of friendly rivalry between the old boys of these
two great institutions.

The iconic and picturesque Melbourne High School oval in South Yarra was the setting for the annual
Royal - Thomian encounter this year. Hosted by RCOBAA, a glorious day of vintage cricket and
camaraderie was played out at this ground, located beside the Yarra river and overlooking the imposing
"Castle on the Hill" of Melbourne High School. The Royal and St Thomas’s college flags, flying tall at the
entrance of the majestic Melbourne High School building was a sight to be admired. The sounds of
trumpets coming from the Unicorn Club where both the Royal and the Thomian supporters reliving the big
match experience, was a sight that was new to our friends from the Melbourne High School fraternity.

It was great to see a large number of young and not so young Royalists and Thomians wondering into the
grounds with their families to support their old schools. Some notable Royal cricketing legends were
Lorenz Pereira, Darrel and Brian Lieversz and Fred Kreltszheim. The Sri Lankan cuisine was well
patronised between 11.30am and 3.00pm by over 150 people. Over 30 Children were surrounding the face
painter and the balloonist to have their faces painted in their parents school colours. The sight of the Royal
and St Thomas school flags around the boundary lines and flag poles, children clad in blue and gold or blue
and black was a great sight.

Both the over 40s and open games were played in the best of the Royal - Thomian spirit. The usual friendly
banter and the trumpets of the Papare band, evoking happy and nostalgic memories of days gone by back
home. Players who had represented both schools with pride in their school days, took to the field in
friendly but spirited combat, while the senior legends of yesteryear and supporters, looked on from the
sidelines.

For the record, Royal OBA won the over 40’s game while the Thomain’s outclassed a spirited Royal OBA
side in the open game in a close finish with some gutsy batting and tight bowling and fielding to end
Royal’s chances.

Former RC Captain Shanaka Perera captained Royal and Dilusha Nanayakara led the Thomians. Randev
Pathirana - the baby of the team who played for Royal in Colombo last year, was awarded the Eddie Grey
Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding Royalist on the field.

Royal - Thomian: Over 40s - Royal won by 8 wickets

STC: 4 for 60 in 20 overs

Channa Gunawardena 3 for 4 runs off 4 overs

Shyam Sideek 1 for 9 runs off 3 overs

Dhilharan Sivaratnam 2 Victims as Wicket keeper

Royal 2 for 61 off 15 overs

Dilharan Sivaratnam 26 retired

Sampath Jeevantha 14 retired

Shyam Sideek 9 not out

Awards Royal

Best Batsman Sampath Jeevantha

Best Bowler Channa Gunawardene

Man of the match Dilharan Sivaratnam

Royal - Thomian: Open game - STC won by 4 runs

STC: 8 for 170 in 25 overs

Sanjeeva Udumalagala 2 for 26 off 5 overs

Lakmal Abeysekera 2 for 26 off 5 overs

Shanaka Perera 2 for 29 off 3 overs

Channa Gunawardene 1 for 18 off 5 overs

Umesh Goonawardene 2 Victims as Wicket Keeper

Royal: 5 for 166 off 25 overs

Randev Pathirana 70 not out
Dilan Nanayakkara 45
Channa Gunawardene 27

The day ended with the customary awards ceremony. Mr Athula Ratnayake, past president of RCOBAA
introduced Mr Aynkaran Sivaratnam to the award's ceremony. Aynkaran, after his customary speech
invited Mr Vasee Nesiah, the Thomain OBA president, and Mr Jeremy Ludowyke, Principal of Melbourne
High School, to say a few words. Following the speeches, Aynkaran invited Mr Fred Kreltszheim, Vice
Patron of RCOBAA, to award the Eddie Gray Memorial award and requested Mr Jeremy Ludowyke and
Mr Vasee Nesiah to present the awards to the well-deserved recipients of both schools. The day ended with
the customary college songs sung passionately by the old boys of both Royal and St Thomas’s. We thank
the Principal of Melbourne High School for making his school's cricket oval available to us for our big
match.



Six a side Inter batch cricket
tournament

The 6 side game was played on the Insportz stadium at the Knox indoor sports stadium on the 31st of
January 2016. Over 100 young and not so young Royalists participated in this inter batch tournament. They
came dressed in various forms of Blue and Gold T shirts from the different parts of Melbourne some even
travelling over two hours to take part in this inaugural cricket tournament. There was tremendous
enthusiasm and comradeship amongst these Melbourne Royalists. The organisers Shanka Gunawardana,
Dinesh Perera, Athula Ratnayake and Aslam Assen were rallying the ten teams that took part. After the
customary talk by the match officials to the team captains the matches kicked off at 10.30am. In the true
spirit of Royal the first game was between the youngest team representing the group of 2007 (Golden 7's)
and there were two senior group who were the over 50’s who called themselves Stars of the '70s and
Golden 7'. There were some fantastic games played by the senior teams and show cased experience and
maturity against energy and youthfulness.

The teams were; STARS OF THE 70'S - Over 50's
STALIONS - Batch of 2002
MAHASONA BALAKAYA – Batch of 2001 ENRIQUE BRASS - Batch of 1998
GOLDEN 7'S - Batch of 2007 BOKKUWAS- Batch of 2005
BEIRA LAKERS - Batch of 1995 ANU HATHARAS – Batch of 1994
MUNTA LOOSE - Batch of 2000
MUSTANGS - Over 50's

The winners of the tournament were Munta Loose - Batch of 2000 after a nail biting final game played
with Mahasone Balakaya who was the defending Champions.

Royal College school song was sung with passion by all Royalist in the indoor stadium

The fun filled day ended with the winning team being presented with trophies, appreciation tokens and
slabs of beer by president of RCOBAA Aynkaran Sivaratnam followed by plenty of socialising amongst
the Royalist.



The Royal College Union Loyalty Pledge

The Loyalty Pledge was established in 2002 by the Royal College Union with the aim of helping young
Royalists in financial need to continue at the school and to meet their educational ambitions.

The Loyalty Pledge provides an avenue for individuals, groups of individuals and associations such as
RCOBAA to fund scholarships for students who academically excel but are unfortunate to be in an
environment where their parents are financially disadvantaged. The scholarship program is a structured
program which helps these children and the families meet their financial needs.

RCOBAA is a donor to this program and has currently made a pledge to support many students. Whilst
four scholarships were made possible to Royal College students as a result of RCOBAA donations last
year, we currently have ten scholarships sponsored by RCOBAA. In the true Royal spirit we will see these
boys complete their education at Royal College.

RCOBAA is fully
engaged with the Loyalty
pledge team. The photo
comprises the Loyalty
Pledge team in Colombo
who are the back born of
this program. They are a
fantastic group of people
without whom the
Loyalty Pledge Program
will not be as successful
as it is today. Our
Association has received
correspondence from the
students who were the
recipients of the
scholarships. In their letters, they express immense gratitude and appreciation of their chance to continue
receiving an education at Royal College. These boys were admitted to Royal College as a result of their
excellent entry scores. They have expressed their ambitions to do well in their education. One boy wrote
that his father is a labourer and his mother also has to sew to provide for the children. Another boy wrote
about the absence of his father and the necessity of his mother working tirelessly to maintain the family. He
said that his only ambition was to make his mother happy one day.

The dreams of these boys are strongly expressed in ways that are deeply moving to the reader of their
letters. Boys like this should be given every opportunity to continue to strive to reach their goals. The
funding of these scholarships is a very worthy cause.

We feel honored that we are able to make a small difference to these well deserving Royalists and are
proud of being a part of their journey.

“ Pasindu says when he was at R / Emb / Hashan is from Ragama and is a single Child
Presidents College, he had a dream to be a who academically excelled with 189 marks for
Royalist. Now it has become true and he is in his grade 5 scholarship examination. He says
Grade 10. This scholarship has helped me in my
studies and my family expenses. He says it is an that he is a keen table tennis player and a
opportunity for him to be successful in his member of the Sinhala Language and literature

education and his life” Association. His ambition is to be a
neurologist one day. He wants to cure his

mothers’ back pain and wants to give
scholarship’s to other students like him at

Royal college.

Malith says, when he entered Royal College on the 21st of
January 2012 he felt what a big school it was. He had not seen
such a big school! Whilst he was emotionally down because he

had to leave his mother and sister, mentally he kept himself
positive and strong. He felt that if he could control his feelings

he could attain a good education. He says that his life is his
mother and success in education and becoming the best person

he can, will make is mother very proud of him.

Duo of alumni to herald quasquicentennial of the
Royal College Union

On 17th January, the Royal College Union (RCU) is due to celebrate
the quasquicentennial, or the 125th anniversary, of their origin at a gala
event to be held at a sit-down dinner in a five-star hotel. Now it can also
be stated without much fear “and thence did RCU thrive!”. Prime
Minister, the Ranil Wickremasinghe is scheduled to propose the toast to
the RCU while yet another distinguished alumnus, Eustace Lorenz
Pereira- now resident in Melbourne – will do the honours to the
College. Of course the track record of Mr. Wickremasinghe and has a
unique record of being the country’s Prime Minister for the fourth time
needs hardly any introduction. His reputation in all these years as the impeccable Mr. Clean speaks for
itself. The other toastmaster, Eustace Lorenz Pereira – who migrated some four decades ago though he kept
in touch with Royal College and his contemporaries – should be introduced especially to the younger
generation. It is not mere rhetoric to accept the fact that Lorenz must arguably be the most outstanding
sportsman in the history of the College. Indeed, an ideal role-model for any youngster to follow.Lorenz’s
parents, the legendary Prf. E.O.E. Pereira, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and subsequently Vice
Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya and his mother Mavis would indeed have been thrilled
to know that their eldest son had reached such heights thereby not only bringing honour to their family, his
brothers Bryan and Alan, but also to Royal College and Sri Lanka.

Lorenz entered Royal College in 1950, and went on to excel in four sports, namely as an outstanding all-
rounder in cricket – a dashing left-hand batsman, wily off-spinner and a brilliant close-in fielder – who not
only went on to captain the Royal College first XI, the Combined Colleges XI but also ended up as the
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1959. After leaving school he played a few games for the Singhalese
Sports Club and rugby for the CR & FC then went to England where he joined the Cambridge University.
He played a few county cricket matches under two future England cricket captains, namely Tony Lewis
and Mike Brearley. There he successfully obtained his M. A. in Real Estate Economics. On his return to his
native land he joined the tea-brokering firm of John Keells, and continued his sporting activities becoming
the first non-white to captain the CCC and the CH & FC cricket and rugby teams, respectively.

In rugby, though not big-made in physique, his fleet-footedness in the wing and the swerving, dodging runs
he made compensated and was eventually picked to represented the national team while still in school a
rare achievement indeed in a tough and tumbling game. Tennis is still another game he still loves to
indulge in, and whilst at College he became the runner-up in the senior singles competition in the Public
Schools tennis championships. In athletics, he was a member of the senior 4×100 relay team during the
Public Schools Athletics meet when not only did Royal College become champions clinching not only the
much-coveted Tarbat Challenge Shield but also the relay team broke the existing record. Thus Lorenz won
his public school athletics ‘colours’ as well. As the modest Lorenz claimed: “We played sport not for glory,
but for the joy of mere participation. My greatest memories are the life-long friendships that evolved. Sport
in my day was a pleasurable passport to an amazingly indulgent lifestyle.” How he managed to be involved
in all these sports, and to think that he bagged the prestigious Dornhorst Memorial prize for the most
outstanding student and be appointed the Head Prefect as well, beggars one’s imagination.
“Acquire a keen interest in something which becomes a driving passion in your life and get out there and
innovate and never give up due to initial set-backs” is another bit of advice he offers to the growing
generation.

By Mahinda Wijesinghe (The Sunday Times)

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF A GOLDEN VOICE

By Manny (ECT) Candappa and published in Lanka Times, Melb, in April 2014,
(with some corrections and additions by an old boy a little after Leon’s time, D. P. Mendis).

It is no small thing to complete fifty years in any sphere of human endeavor, but to
achieve this in such a competitive field as radio and television is certainly worth
celebrating. There are very few who last the pace either professionally or in the
span of years. Such a distinction goes to one whose voice was literally a household
name in Ceylon/Sri Lanka for decades – a Royalist of the 1950s and '60s: Leon
Belleth.

As one whose boyhood years were mellowed by the sounds of Radio Ceylon, and
later enriched by the many great voices of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, I can attest to the
greatness of this radio and TV personality that we celebrate. His talents were readily discovered by some
of the radio greats of that time, tested and not found wanting.
It was that well-known radio personality Livy Wijemanne who hired Leon after a brief interview, and it
was Shirley Perera, whom Leon greatly admired from boyhood, who gave him his early monitoring. The
unforgettable Vernon Corea, of the very popular ‘Radio Journal’ fame, was the one who handed over that
baton to the young Leon. It was a great endorsement of Belleth’s abilities at such a tender age – hardly out
of his teens!

Those were the beginnings, and even glory days, of commercial radio, famously launched by an Australian,
Clifford Dodd, with a Ceylonese with the most unlikely name of Tim Horshington in tow. Then came
Leon’s big break. With Vernon Corea hosting the hugely popular Maliban Talent Quest, Leon was his co-
host. Mil Sansoni, an immortal of his time, requested Leon to do the commercials on a show called Elastos
Moving Designs and when Mil moved out, Leon hosted the show, with Nihal Bhareti (very much a Leon
sound-alike) doing the commercials.

In 1978, Leon was sent to the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting for training for five weeks to Kuala
Lumpur. From there it was all the way up for Leon who was promoted to middle management, and then to
senior management, as Controller, Commercial programmes. And thence to television, as the MC of
‘Variety Fare’ on the Independent Television Network (ITN), at the request of Thevis Guruge, Chairman of
ITN. Later Leon was a newsreader for Rupavahini.

When he had to leave in order to migrate to Australia, he was sad to leave for he had made many lasting
friendships. Looking back, Leon remembers several who had helped him along the way. First he
acknowledges a deep debt of gratitude to his father, Cecil Belleth, physics and mathematics master at
Royal College, Leon’s old school, who taught Leon in Grade 7. He also introduced the young Leon to the
Holy Bible, and taught him how to read well from that majestic literature. Later the father even guided his
dear son along his destined career path by inviting the abovenamed Radio Ceylon veteran Vernon Corea,
also an old Royalist, to his home to try out Leon for a career in broadcasting. After listening to Leon
reading and speaking, Vernon declared that he had great potential to be an announcer.
Leon also recalls the help given by one of his aunts (his father Mr C. E. Belleth’s sister), Mrs E R
Sarachchandra, no less than the wife of the famed Professor Ediriweera Sarachchandra, author of Maname,
Sinhabahu and other great works. Mrs Sarathchandra produced a half hour program of dance and drama

called Lama Pitiya on the Sinhala National Service, in which the little Leon was given the part of Rohana.
How strange that this star of English radio should have made his debut on Sinhala radio.

After he arrived in Melbourne in the early 1990s, Leon has MC’d at least one Royalist function that I can
remember, and done other miscellaneous MC jobs. A sort of Melbourne highlight of Leon’s is the long
and rather arduous compering job at the microphone just a few months ago, at a show called A Heritage of
Song. That magnificent show was produced by his schoolmate (possibly batchmate) Ishan Bahar, the
leader of the Jetliners in the 1960s and later, along with the Melbourne singer-celebrity Derrick J.

He joined Casey Radio (3SER), at the invitation of the popular host Ryle Moldrich, on a program that airs
every Wednesday night to inform and entertain the largely Sri Lankan audience. Leon is grateful to Ryle
for the opportunity he received to continue his long association with radio. Those who know Leon is on
the show can’t resist the temptation to tune in on a Wednesday evening at 7.00 to 97.7FM.

We personally derive much satisfaction from hearing him read the week’s news from Sri Lanka, as it is
done in a fashion no different to what we recall from the 1960s and '70s Radio Ceylon and CBC or SLBC.
The voice, I daresay, has not changed much from the voice Vernon Corea first heard when he interviewed
Leon for the radio job half-a-century ago – that youthful freshness and total clarity of tone is thankfully
intact. It also evokes our happier youth and halcyon days.

Leon lives a contented life in the suburb of Pakenham in the far east of Melbourne, and is a happily
married man, with a most loving and devoted wife, four children - three daughters and a son - and four
grandchildren. As inculcated by his dear father and revered master and hostel warden for decades, Cecil
Edgar Belleth, he leads a spiritually devoted life which, to his great pleasure, his children too have adopted.

Obituary – Gerald Cooray 28.10.1916 - 29.10.2015

Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of the life of Gerald Cooray
was held on10th November 2015 at W D Rose Funerals Chapel
Eulogy – Hemanth Cooray.

My father died the day after his 99th Birthday. His greatest regret in cricket
was that he never scored a century, in life also he missed out on a century.
However, it was a colourful innings, played with great style.

He was born on the 28th of October 1916. He was the eldest of 8 Children. The
age difference between the eldest and youngest was 20 years.
The family lived in pleasant surroundings. Their house, Haslemere, was
situated in Turret Road, Colombo. It was a fine residence with beautiful
gardens, courtyards, tennis courts and playgrounds. They were fortunate to
have neighbours who were relatives. The house next door, Savitri, was owned
by the Dias’ and next to their house was Gerald's grandparent’s house,
Rippleworth. Other cousins lived only a stone’s throw away.

Theirs was a fortunate life with trips to country estates, playing tennis, musical evenings and plays
organised and performed by the cousins. Many of Gerald's cousins were accomplished musicians. My
father and his cousins called themselves the ‘Lesser Lights Society’ to distinguish themselves from their

parents who they perceived as ‘brighter lights’ or ‘high lights’. However, life was not always sunshine and
blue skies for the family. The family was at the forefront in fighting for political reform and greater
autonomy for Sri Lanka during the colonial years. They had to tread a delicate path. The prospect of arrest
and loss of privileges did not stand in the way of opposing their colonial masters when it became
necessary. Gerald's grandfather, Sir James Peiris, was the leader of the first elected legislative assembly in
Sri Lanka. For many years he was successful in averting the harsh measures that different British governors
sought to impose on Sri Lanka. Gerald's grandparents were very fond of him. His grandmother paid for his
education in England. Gerald was present when his grandfather passed away at their holiday house,
Hwarden in Haputale. Following Sir James' death Gerald went to live with his grandmother at Rippleworth.

Gerald's aunt Cissy Cooray was one of the senators in Sri Lanka’s first senate, elected in 1930. She was a
tireless worker for women’s rights and the establishment of institutions to provide social services for the
poor. His mother Louise Cooray was a social worker who was instrumental in setting up the Cancer
Society in Sri Lanka.

My father was a sickly child and did not receive any schooling till he was 10. The family hired an English
lady, Mrs Rachel Hunter, to tutor him for entry to Royal College. At Royal College he played first eleven
cricket for 3 years but was not awarded colours. In his late teen years he suffered from bouts of malaria.
After leaving Royal College, the family tried to establish Gerald in business. However, with his forthright
manner, he found the ethics of the business world unpalatable. Gerald taught briefly at St Thomas’s Prep
School which helped him to decide on a teaching career. He graduated from the Ceylon University College
as s it was known then.

During this time he was also fortunate to play cricket for the Sinhalese Sports Club with some of Sri
Lanka’s cricketing legends of the pre-war era, such as FC De Saram, Sargo Jayawickreme, D S
Jayasundera, L D S Gunesekera. One of his opening partners was Dudley Senanayake. He also opened the
bowling when Jayasundera was unavailable.

Gerald proceeded to Cambridge University immediately following the end of World War 2. He was
fortunate to be admitted because the university was giving priority to war veterans and his application had
been rejected. However, when his English Lecturer at the Ceylon University, Lyn Ludowyk, heard about
this, he told my father not to despair. He said that he would write to the Master of Selwyn College, who
was a good friend of his, and that he was confident that Gerald would go to Cambridge. Ludowyk must
have been a man of great stature and standing.

At Cambridge, many of his friends were retired World War 2 veterans who had fought with colonial
subjects and were prepared to relate to coloured people as equals. I consider myself privileged to have met
some of these men. Though they were tough men, they were also men of substance while also kind and
gracious.

In later years, my father would talk about the men in his cricket team which he captained at Selwyn
College and the cricket matches that he played on the village greens in England. Some of these cricketers
came from distinguished old English families. One of them was John Ashton who volunteered to keep
wickets for the team when no one else was willing to do the job.
Although John had a pronounced limp, Gerald had no idea that he had lost both his legs in the war, and was
keeping wickets with wooden legs. He said he nearly fainted when going to his rooms one day, he saw
John with the bloodied stumps of his legs, with his wife standing anxiously by his side. He had no idea
what was happening until he saw the wooden legs in the corner of the room.

At Cambridge, dad was also the president of the Student Christian Movement. In the early 1950s he
accepted an invitation from the Australian SCM to tour Australia. He visited all states except Queensland.
This was a time the White Australia Policy was operating. Christian Groups in Australia were trying to
facilitate a change in attitudes that could ultimately lead to its abolition. Gerald's mission was to speak
about Asian culture with the aim of stimulating a greater desire to understand cultures different to their
own among the youth of Australia. After graduating from Cambridge and also attending London
University, Gerald returned to Sri Lanka and taught for a couple of years at Royal College. His memoirs
contain a chapter titled ‘Royal Memories’ which is interesting reading. Gerald was considered an eligible
catch when he returned from Cambridge. Many were the young Colombo ladies who were introduced to
him, but once he set eyes on Swenita Sarojini Perera Abeywardena, he was smitten for life. He married her
65 years ago and in his eyes she could do no wrong. He was devoted to her till the very end. They had four
children: Hemanth, Deepthi, Laxmi and Harith and four grandchildren: Charith, Avanthi, Navin and Solina.
From Royal College Gerald moved to the Maharagama Teacher Training College, where he was a lecturer
for approximately 20 years. In between he was also seconded to work for UNESCO and was sent by the
government on an exhausting 3 month lecture tour of several western countries, speaking about third world
issues. He was also seconded by the Education department to collect, edit and compile a 3 volume
publication to commemorate 150 years of education in Sri Lanka. The 3 volumes contained 100 articles
covering a huge variety of topics. He worked on this project for many years.

In 1973 my parents decided to migrate to Melbourne, Australia. It was a very big change for them, to leave
a comfortable life style and start life all over again in a new country. Gerald soon found work as a
Secondary school teacher and taught at Cheltenham Secondary College until his retirement in the early
eighties. Gerald was forthright in expressing his views and had little or no regard for the consequences.
This upset some people. The family environment he grew up in encouraged this. This was the approach
they adopted towards their colonial masters. However, it is easier to adopt such an approach in life when
you do not have to work for a living and have powerful friends who might protect you. My father had to
work for a living and at times the road was rough.

It should be emphasised however that his moral compass was pointed in the right direction. He also had the
wisdom to know that he could not hold high office given his forthrightness. When he was sounded out by
persons for a prestigious position, he had no hesitation in stating that he had no interest in the position.
Although my father suffered ill health as a child, in later years he rarely suffered illness and required no
medication. When ill however, he was a terrible patient, and hated hospitals with a passion. He was
apprehended trying to catch a cab with his hospital gown barely wrapped around his waist when he was
admitted to Monash after a fall. Even in his final hours he was physically robust.
In his 80s he wrote his memoirs in the form of 54 anecdotes for the family. Simone Melder, in a labour of
love, very kindly typed them for him. He did not seek to publish them. However, several anecdotes were
serialised in Sri Lankan newspapers.

My father did not reach great heights in his career. He started his career as a teacher and finished his career
as a teacher. He was adored by his students where ever he taught. The distinguished old Royalist, the late
Ashy Cader once called me aside and asked me if I had seen a movie called Goodbye Mr Chips. He then
told me, your father was all that and more. This was high praise coming from a great man and sportsman,
who my father had taught at Royal College.

Dad, fate has bowled you more than a fair share of googlies. You played them all with a straight bat. You
did very well. I hope you are in a safe and loving place now.

Membership List as at 22nd May 2016

1 Abdullah Mahmud 42 Dilharan Sivaratnam 83 Jayantha (Jay) Adihetty
2 Abhaya Udugama 43 Dhilshad Sideek 84 Jeremy Perera
3 Ajith Jayawardena 44 Dick Siebel 85 Jey Jeyakumar
4 Alexander Lokuge 45 Dilan Nanayakkara 86 Jimmy Billimoria*
5 Almaaz Alavi 46 Dinesh Chelvathurai 87 Jivaka Fernando
6 Anil Amunugama 47 Dinesh Perera 88 Joseph Wijendran
7 Arun Kumaresan 48 Dinesh Weerakkody 89 Judge G.C.Weeramantry
8 Asanga Perera 49 Dr. Channa Wijesinghe* 90 Jumaan Sheriff
9 Asantha Ash Weerasekera 50 Eardley Lieverz 91 Kalhara Samarasinghe
10 Aslam Assen 51 Ethan Imesh Gankanda 92 Kandiah Sivapragasam
11 Athula Ratnayaka 52 Fitzroy Crozier 93 Kapila Epasinghe
12 Aubrey VanCuylenburg* 53 Fred Kreltzheim* 94 Ken Wijendra
13 Aynkaran Sivaratnam 54 Gamini Jayasinghe 95 Kevin Martin
14 Azad Raheem 55 Ganan Nagaratnam 96 Kumaran Duraiswamy
15 Beverley Anthony Andree- 56 Gehan Perera 97 Kumares Sandrasegaran
Jansz (Tony Jansz) 57 George Fernando 98 Kushan Atukorale
16 Bevill Janz 58 Gerald Cooray 99 Lahiru De Silva
17 Brian Lieversz 59 Gishan Bamunusinghe 100 Lakindu Manawasinghe
18 Bryan Wickremeratne 60 Guy Chadrasena 101 Lal Goonewardena
19 Buddhimith Wickramasinghe 61 Haris Peiris 102 Lalin De Silva
20 Cedric Jansz 62 Harris Priya Kumarage 103 Lilith De Silva
21 Chaman Ipalawatta 63 Harsha Aluthge 104 Lindsay Ferdinands
22 Chamith Perera 64 Harsha Perera 105 Lochana Premarathna
23 Charavaran 65 Hasanga (Viraj) Wijetunge 106 Lorenz Pereira
24 Charith Jayatillake 66 Hashitha Perera 107 M B U Namal Fernando
25 Charith Lankachandra 67 Hemanth Cooray 108 Madhawa Mutukumarana
26 Chathura Liyanagama 68 Hildon Bevan* 109 Madhava Wijayaratne
27 Chethiya Dissanayake 69 Hiran Muttiah 110 Mahinda Wickramasuriya
28 Chinthana Wijeweera 70 I Hathurusinghe 111 Malindra Fernando
29 D.C. Jayasekera 71 Ikram Mohinadeen 112 Maliq Deane
30 Damitha De Lanerolle 72 Indika (Indi) Wanigasooriya 113 Mangala Jayawardene
31 Dammica Wickramaratne 73 Indika Gunathilaka 114 Manitha Palihapitiya
32 Darin Mallawarachchi 74 Indrajit Abeywardene 115 Maurice Anghie
33 Darrell Lieversz 75 Indrajith Wijegunaratne 116 Maurice Koelmeyer
34 Dasith Senanayake 76 Ishan (Saji) Bahar 117 Maurice Thomasz
35 David Kreltzheim 77 Isuru Alagiyawanna 118 Michael Kreltszheim
36 Deepal Perera 78 Jafir Dawood 119 Michael La Brooy
37 Deepal Siriwardana 79 Jahanghir Abdul Majeed 120 Mohan de Run
38 Deva Corea 80 Janaka Seneviratne 121 Mohan Perera
39 Devindra Weerasooriya 81 Janek Ratnatunga 122 Mohan Pillai
40 Devine De Silva 82 Jayawardhana Chinthana De 123 Mohan Tisseverasinge
41 Dhammika Perera Silva 124 Nadaraja Canagasabai

125 Nadun Amarasinghe 164 Malith Fernando 205 Sarath Jayasekera
126 Nalin Jayaweera 165 Manjula Navaratne 206 Sarath Mendis
127 Namal Aruna Joseph 166 Janaka Kodithuwakku 207 Saru (Sarvendran) Sivarajah
Fernando 167 Sajith Amendra 208 Seyed Hassen Murthaz
128 Nandalal Jayasinghe 168 Johann Gunasekera Mawlana
129 Nigel De Kretser 169 Prabodha Kulasingha 209 Shanaka Perera
130 Nihal Kodituwakku 170 Malitha Siriwardena 210 Shanka Gunawardana
131 Nihal. M. D. de Run 171 Thusitha Mendis 211 Shantha Arangala
132 Niroshan Hewakoparage 172 Umesh Goonawardena 212 Shehan Wijesinghe
133 Niroshan Serasinghe 173 Janaka Pandula Ediriweera 213 Shiran De Silva
134 Nisindu Mithraratne 174 Hasantha Jasinarachchi 214 Shyam Sideek
135 P.H.(Piloo) Billimoria 175 Ravinath Gunasakera 215 Soba Ranasinghe
136 Pasan B B S Gunasekara 176 Muditha Jayasinha 216 Sonny (Pradeep) De Silva
137 Pasan Manawadu 177 Jeewantha Wijesinghe 217 Spencer Foenander
138 Peminda Jayasinghe 178 Ajith Rathnaweera 218 Stuart Roland
139 Peshan Kurukulasuriya 179 Rivindu Liyanage 219 Sudath Gunatilake
140 Piloo Rustomjee 180 Pasan Nanayakkara 220 Sujeevan Panagoda
141 Piyal Gunaratne 181 Kasunwan Godagama 221 Sujith Satkunam
142 Pushpika Gamage 182 Saman Wijeratne 222 Sunil De Silva
143 Rad Rasaratnam 183 Himantha Gurusinghe 223 Sunil De Zoysa
144 Ranga Perera 184 Laksiri Jayasuriya 224 Susil Ranasinghe
145 Raj Amarasingam 185 Ravi Rajasunda 225 Sydney Perera
146 Rajkumar Yogalingam 186 Ravi Wickramasinghe 226 Tharaka Chandrasakera
147 Rajeev Peiris 187 Reggie de Silva 227 Tharin Peiris
148 Rajith Wijeratne 188 Riyad Uduman 228 Thilina Gajanayake
149 Ralph Wickremaratne(Ralph 189 Riza Muthaliph 229 Thusitha Mendis
Wicks) 190 Rohan Wimalasuriya 230 Timothy Wijesooriya
150 Ramesh Nadarajah 191 Ruchira Hewavitharana 231 Tissa Galagedera
151 Ranjan Muttiah 192 Ruchira Withana 232 Tony Anghie*
152 Ranjeev Ekanayake 193 Sahan Perera 233 Trevor Jansz
153 Ranjith Gajendra 194 Sajeewa Rathnayake 234 Trevor La Brooy
154 Ransi Fernando 195 Sajith Mendis 235 Upula Jayasingha
155 Akvan Gajanayake 196 Saman Fernando 236 Uchin Alwis
156 Chathurika Perera 197 Saman Nanda Ranasinghe 237 Varna Amerasinghe
157 Theshan De Silva 198 Saman Ranabahu 238 Venura Welegedera
158 Naveed Zanoon 199 Samath Wijeyasinghe 239 Vibodha Sampath
159 Chamath Fernando 200 Samitha De Silva 240 Wangisa Jayatilake
160 Sasanka Dharmasena 201 Sandy (Ranoir) Jesudhason 241 Yasantha Kalupahana
161 Nandun Thellamurege 202 Sanjaya Ranaweera 242 Yasiru Samarakoon
162 Tharun Delpachitthra 203 Sanjeewa Udumalagala 243 Yogendran Thevaraj
163 Upul Kularatna 204 Sarasi Herath

The above are the list of members who have proactively renewed their 2015/16 membership as at 22nd May 2016.
In the unlikely event that you have renewed your membership and your name does not appear, please contact the
membership secretary via info@rcobaa.org.au

* Honorary members

Upcoming Events

Register of Member Services

The RCOBAA committee has introduced a new initiative whereby members have the opportunity to share
with the wider Royal College community their professional and/or trade services that are being offered by
the member. These services will be published in the Floreat as well as on our website and should be in the
format below:

Nithy Chellappah Nihal de Run
Architectural and design services Specialising in IT'S A BREEZE PROPERTY PTY LTD
extensions, dual occupations, new design and Representing Heritage Grove Retirement Villas
construction services (Sri Lanka)
email: chellappah.n@gmail.com or Ph: 0419382142 (Nihal)
Ph. 0413 138 180

Professional seeking employment in IT sector

Amal Cooray
Project Manager, professional with over 15 years experience in the IT sector, is looking for any opportunity
in the IT sector in Melbourne .
Email: amal_cooray@yahoo.com.au
Mobile Ph: 0452 381 708

Want to promote your Year Group ?

RCOBAA would like invite all members and Royal College year
groups to use the RCOBAA WEBSITE , FACEBOOK

and Floreat as a medium to promote your services and inform others
about your activities and projects.

For further info contact president@rcobaa.org.au

RCOBAA Committee

Patron: Judge Christy Weeramantry
Vice Patrons: Fred Kreltszheim

Aynkaran Sivaratnam : President General Committee:

Indrajith Wijegunaratne : Vice President Nihal De Run

Riza Muthaliph : Vice President Venura Welagedara
Dinesh Perera : Secretary Ransi Fernando
Chintana Wijeweera
Dhammika Perera: Treasurer
Athula Rathnayaka : Immediate Past President Piyal Gunaratne

Charith Jayathilake: Membership Secretary Lilith De Silva
George Fernando: Editor Floreat
Shanaka Perera
Shanka Gunawardane: Web Master
Aslam Assen