Floreat - 2012 Issue

Back to 70’s

RCOBAA Dinner Dance 2011

The Annual Dinner Dance organised by the Royal College Old Boys Association in Australia was
held on Saturday 21st July at the Box Hill Town Hall. The sell- out event was attended by Royalists
young and old and was a right Royal success.
The evening kicked off with a speech by the President of RCOBAA, Lilith De Silva who welcomed
the guests. This was followed by a stirring address by our Chief Guest, Admiral Thisara Samaras-
inghe, His Excellency the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia who spoke passionately
about the National Reconstruction and Reconciliation process in the North and East of Sri Lanka
and urged everyone present to contribute towards progress in the country. Nihal De Run once again
did an excellent job as the MC for the night and may well give up his day job to take on “emceeing”
as a full time profession!.
Music for the night was by the popular band MP5 and DJ Ash who kept everyone on the dance floor
with 70s music which brought back nostalgic memories, especially for those of us who grew up in
that era. Cha’s Cabin was the caterer for the night and the guests were treated to a sumptuous
smorgasbord of Eastern and Western cuisine.
The event was a great night of fellowship and was thoroughly enjoyed by the 320 guests who at-
tended. One of the highlights of the night was the rousing rendition of the College anthem by the
Old Boys.
Finally, a big thank you and congratulations to Athula Ratnayake and his committee comprising Lilith
De Silva, Tissa Galagedera, Ikram Mohinadeen and Dimi Kahaduwarachi for organising a very suc-
cessful dance.

His Excellency Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe & RCOBAA President Lilith De Silva

President’s Speech

His Excellency Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe -Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia,

Mr.Bandu Dissanayake- Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul for Victoria, Past Presidents of the Royal
College Old Boys Association and representing their respective school associations- the Presi-
dents of St Thomas College Mt. Lavania , Trinity College Kandy , St Bridget’s Convent Colombo
and Methodist College Colombo- Ladies and Gentlemen,

Firstly on behalf of the Royal College Old Boys in Australia Association in Victoria I am de-
lighted to welcome all of you to our Annual Dinner dance 2012- themed this year as “Back to the
70s”.It has been our privilege to host this very successful and popular annual event for the past
so many years and this year is no exception.

Gentlemen,the time has come, for us to be, together again. On this occasion, let us take the
opportunity to look back and renew the special bond that we shared during our school years. We
all carry happy memories of our old school and will no doubt do our best to keep these great tra-
ditions alive and communicate them to those around us. Occasions such as this make all those
memories come alive. Although we have already ceased being students, the teachings and prin-
ciples of our school will forever be instilled in our hearts and minds, and they will always be our
source of inspiration. As loyal past pupils of Royal College, it is our duty to protect and preserve
all that is so special about this great institution. An institution that has groomed excellent men
and countless professional leaders in the political, social and economic fields since 1835. 177
years have passed since the school, which is now known as Royal College from its genesis as
the Hill Street Academy, was established. The journey has not yet seen its conclusion.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the proceeds of the various events our association hold during the
year are earmarked to fund projects initiated by our school in Colombo. Two such projects initi-
ated two years ago- a program run by the Royal College Hosteller’s Association (RCOHA) that
provide scholarships to needy students from rural areas to pay for their hostel accommodation
and the other run by the Royal College Loyalty Pledge Management committee which has simi-
lar objectives are running according to plan. Our goal is, to help make life at the school better
and more productive- for the current and future generations of students.

Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight’s function would not have been possible without diligent plan-
ning and untiring efforts of my Dance subcommittee headed by Athula Ratnayake and his team
Tissa, Ikram and Dimi. Athula and Tissa thank-you for the extra hard work both of you put in to
get this year’s souvenir out on time. I like to take this opportunity to thank their spouses as well
as mine, for their support and assistance during the lead up to this year’s event, also-the adver-
tisers in our dance souvenir, the service providers to night and our major sponsor of this year’s
dance Sri Lankan Airlines, who have in numerous ways contributed to the success of this event.
My heartfelt gratitude and appreciation goes out to you.

Last but not least Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to thank you our guests- who support and
encourage our efforts every year. The Royal College Old Boys in Australia Association deeply
appreciates your presence here tonight. Without your participation these events will not happen.

Let me conclude by wishing each and every one of you a memorable evening.

Thank you.

A Tribute to Dr Trevor Anghie Neurosurgical Unit in Colombo he set up practice in
Bandarawela. His caring and compassionate nature
It is with a deep sense of loss that the RCOBAA soon made him an extremely popular doctor. Trevor
mourns the passing away of one of its much was a boon to the poor villagers who received the
loved Past Presidents, Dr Trevor Anghie. Our same degree of devotion from him as the rich. Mon-
thoughts are with his wife Ruth and his family. etary gains were not a priority.

In 1971 Trevor migrated to Australia and set up in
general practice in Melbourne. Once again he lived
up to his high standards and ethics. He was popular
and much loved by his patients. He continued his
good work until he retired in 2006.

In spite of his achievements, Trevor was humble
and unassuming. In the words of Rudyard Kipling,
he was a ‘true man who could walk with Kings and
still not lose the common touch’.

Trevor was a noble person. He was a role model
for us all. Personally, my own life has been
enriched by knowing Trevor.

May I extend my sympathies to his beloved wife,
Ruth, and the rest of his family.

Dr Gamini Jayasinghe

A Tribute To A Dear Friend and our Past
President

Sadly, we have lost a sincere friend and a unique Dr. Trevelyn St. Clair Anghie, known to all of
human being. Trevor had a burly exterior but this us as Trevor, was my friend for about 70 years.
concealed a heart of gold. His kindness, warmth and We were both true Royalists, except that he
friendliness were all-pervading. His sense of humour belonged to Hartley Hose and I was in Boake
was infectious. House. We shared many activities together while
in school. He was a keen scout, a live wire at all
I first met Trevor when I attended the Royal College our camps with his songs and his jokes. He was
Hostel in Colombo. He lived in the adjoining building a keen cadet and participated in almost every
with his parents, his two brothers, Tony and Mau- sport in College. He captained the Rugby team,
rice, and his sister, Maureen. Mr Anghie Snr was the boxed for the school in the Stubbs Shield, was
warden at the hostel and his strict discipline helped a superb athlete and played cricket Tennis and
to mould our characters. Table-tennis, a sport he played at a competitive
level after coming to Australia. He was a prefect
and sailed through his studies at school.

Trevor had a most remarkable career in school. He Trevor and I joined Medical College together in
was a legendary sportsman having won school co- 1952, and his passage through the course was
lours in Boxing, Athletics and Rugby Union. He won effortless. While at the University he continued
the boxing championship in his grade at the Stubbs his Rugby career, playing for the CR&FC club
Shield. He was a natural athlete, representing the and later for the Havelocks. He represented his
school in the 400yd relay. However, his forte was country in Rugby against many touring teams
Rugby Union. Trevor played as full back and argu- with distinction. To see Trevor in full flight with
ably was the best place-kicker at the time. Much of the ball tucked under his arm, and then finishing
Royal’s success in the Bradby Shield resulted from off the effort with a goal was a treat. I feel his
Trevor’s excellent kicking. After leaving school he goal kicking ability has never been equalled in
continued his brilliant rugby career playing for the Sri Lanka.
CR&FC, Havelocks and the University. Finally, he
had the unique honour of representing Sri Lanka in In 1953, one spotted a twinkle in Trevor’s eyes,
the sport.Trevor studied medicine and graduated and we soon realised it was in the shape of a
as a doctor in 1958. After working for 2 years in the

young medico, Ruth De Silva. This was the last I am sure he rests peacefully in the arms of his
goal he was to kick. The romance thrived, and Lord.
I can well remember him enduring a ride from
Colombo to Diyatalawa on the back of my small Dr Piloo Rustomjee
Francis Barnett Mobike, without a pillion seat, to
see Ruth who was on holiday. Dr. Trevor Anghie and his Torpedo Kicks

Having qualified, Ruth and Trevor wed in Au- It’s a penalty awarded some fifty yards out, far left
gust 1959 and served at the General Hospital and near the touch line. It’s a defining moment as
in various capacities for a couple of years. They the fate of the game hangs in the balance. The crowd
then moved to the hill country, first to Welima- hushes into a stony silence at Havelock Park as the
da and then to Bandarawela, where both Ruth kicker, the handsome full back, digs his heel into the
and Trevor established large medical practices. ground in a calculated manner. He then places the
They were very respected by their patients and ball with what seems as quadratic precision, working
friends, to whom they were demi-gods. The fam- out the relationship between angle and velocity and
ily grew with the arrival of Sabrina, Jeremy, Mi- distance. He steps back purposefully and confidently,
chelle and Tamara. Many were the happy holi- eyes the distant goal posts, which seem miles away.
days we shared with them at “Greystones” their He takes a deep breath and moves in swiftly and
residence in Diyatalawa. strongly. And kicks. It’s a Torpedo kick with the
toe of his boot. There is poetry in motion as the
Trevor and Ruth migrated to Australia in 1971, ball defies the forces of gravity and sails, it seems,
and spent a couple of years with the Beechworth forever and then over the upright. The linesmens’
Mental Authority, where they were loved by all flags go up and there is burst of cheers and joy and
their patients and the townsfolk. They then came lumps in throats. If he has done this once, he has
to Melbourne where Trevor joined me in prac- performed this act many times before. Wonderment
tise, while Ruth worked at the Kew Aged Care is enacted each time. The magic boot and toe, that
Hospital. fashioned that bullet-torpedo kick, was that of
Trevor St. C. Anghie. Little wonder that he had such
Both Ruth and Trevor were proud parents, seeing a double barreled name.
their children growing and doing well at school
and in later life. Trevor was especially proud to With the passing away in Australia last week of
see his son Jeremy play Rugby for his school Dr. Trevor Anghie at the age of 81, memories of
and club. his colourful rugby as the ace full back in the Sri
Lankan scene in the 1950s, flood the mind. He
Trevor had a large medical practice, his patients captained Royal in 1950 and played thereafter for
travelling from near and far to consult him. His CR & FC. He then crossed the divide in what was a
Caring, Kindness and Concern for each one of controversial move and played for rivals Havelocks.
them endeared them to him. It was so apparent More about this in a bit.
when the patients left his room fully satisfied.
His Royal team in the ‘first leg’ of the Bradby
Humour and Laughter were his trademark. It left included H.E. Wijesinghe, Alan Henricus, W.
all with him in the same mood. There would be Unamboowe, F.S.N. Perera, D.A. Vantwest and D.
only a few days in the thirty years we spent to- Bartholomeusz. The forwards were G.C. Weinman,
gether in practise, that the day would not start D. Raymond, S.D. Gooneratene, A.B. Vantwest,
without “ Machan, have you heard this one.” His A.H.A. de Silva, R. Modder and Devaka Rodrigo. T.
laughter and love of life was infectious to us all. Vairawanathan and Norman Goonewardene and C.
Balachandran played as replacements in the second
He served the RCOBBA as President with pride leg.
and led us to bigger and better things.
Stylish kicker
In Australia his main love of sport was golf, and
many a trophy did he win at his course at Yarra Kavan Rambukwelle would recall in later years that
Yarra, and elsewhere. Trevor’s prowess as a stylish kicker was well known,
but in one game he was off form. He had just
He was deeply religious and believed firmly in missed two fifty yard penalties. One striking the left
his Catholic faith. His love for his Lord and his upright and the other the right upright. The third kick
church was paramount.

awarded could be described as a sitter, in front of while most of the other leading rugby playing school
the posts and while he went back to his mark after boys would migrate to the Havelocks,
placing the ball, the large crowd was hushed in the
pressure cooker atmosphere. while the CH & FC was more or less a rugby club
for expatriates. The Havelocks had their share of
At that moment a raucous voice, much the worse shining stars in their galaxy: Nimal Maralande,
for Bacchus, pierced the silence “Stop showing off, Frankie David, Maurice de Silva, Max Flamer-
plant the bloody ball between the posts!” Trevor duly Caldera, Maurice Fairweather and many more.
obliged and, as Kavan recalled, bowed graciously
towards where the call came from! Trevor reveled in Soon a host of Royalists and Trinitians would be
theatrics. attracted to the Havelocks such as Y.C. Chang,
Gamini Fernando, Noel Brohier; and later the likes
Trevor played for CR & FC for many years, until a of Shafi Jainudeen, Mark Sunderalingam, Glen Van
controversy arose and he and Ranjit Sri Nissanka Langenberg and Gogi Tillekeratne would play for the
decided, on a matter of principle, to cross over Havelocks. And so Dr. Trevor Anghie as a star full
to Havelocks who then formed a crack team in back and place kicker, blazed a trail and etched his
1959: Trevor Anghie, Arendtsz, Franklyn Jacob, name in the history of Sri Lankan Rugby. He was a
Sumanasekera, Maurice de Silva, Nimal Maralande delightful person too.
and Bertie Dias. As forwards they had Ranjit Sri
Nissanka, Alan Drieberg, Cramer, Hubert Aloysius, One more story from Kavan’s reminiscences: Trevor
E. Bartholomeusz, Conrad Ephraims (Captain) and was of a friendly and gregarious type and didn’t
D. Ephraims. One name regrettably is missing from leave even his opponents to themselves.
the record that we have. In that year, Havelocks lost
to CR & FC in their first inter club encounter (3-8), At Bogambara he peeped into the Trinity dressing
but won the return match (11-8) which was a major room and shouted at “Gul” Herbert Fernando who
upset for the dominant CR & FC Team. was tying his boot laces before going on to the
field. ‘I hope we will have a good match Herbert’.
At the time Trevor played for CR& FC he did so in Herbert’s response was “ just try lying on the ball,
the company of such renowned players as Malcolm boyo, and I will break every bloody rib in your body.”
Wright, Summa Navaratnam, A Gunawardene, U. Trevor who could take a tackle as much as he would
Amerasinghe, Ago Paiva and Mahes Rodrigo who kick, walked away with a gracious smile.
was the captain of the team.
Tribute from Norman Gunawardene
Then there were those forwards as well, Lionel
Fernando, R. Christoffelsz, A. Doray, V.R. Norman Gunawardene, the famous All Ceylon
Schockman, Eardley McHeyzer, H. Numan, Norman cap, who played under Trevor at Royal, reminisced
Gunawardene and the inimitable Ashy Cader. What about the golden years of rugby and recalled Trevor
is so significant of the Anghie- Sri Nissanka the Anghie as “that full back, powerfully built and
cross over is that it took place when The CR & FC mobile, the best conventional place kicker, probably
was at a peak of its repute. It took a lot of spunk ever”!
to make the move. But Trevor and Ranjit were
endowed with a surfeit of courage. The grass that he tended so carefully as he took aim
at his goal will surely lie lightly over Trevor as he is
The move brought about a new beginning to the delivered to his eternal rest
Havelocks. Until that time, the CR & FC seemed the
preserve largely of Royalists and Trinitians; M V Muhsin

Snap shots from the Dinner Dance

‘Old’ Royalists, a bit of History looked old enough to be his father (in fact it was Dr. Di-
reckze, his father), Scott came to call upon Aiyyanayake
by Gamini Seneviratne to sort out un-seasonal weather. How that worked out is
anybody’s guess, but he achieved distinction as the Govi
I first presented myself along with others of my batch at a Raja in Anuradhapura district in the late 1960s. He kept
gathering of ‘Royal Over- Seventies’ a few years ago, but an eye on his gifted, genial, and other-worldly cousin,
have missed some thereafter. I made it this time round Herbert Keuneman, who had settled down in Ehetuweva;
and found that time has passed, visibly for most of us, but they were both dry-zone people, each one of its kind.
not quite so for supermen like C G Weeramantry; he had Among other exotic ‘oldies’ present was one I could not
entered Royal a year before any of our ‘group’ was born. I place. I was told he was ‘the one and only Thangarajah’
shall return to him.

It was, as expected, nice seeing old faces, however whom I would not have recognised in street clothes; he
wrinkled now. Reports on medical matters were ex- was in formal dress in what I thought was ceremonial
changed without needless accentuation: these old boys attire. Percy Wickremasekera who ran under the ‘Key’
were aware of the passage of time and where it leads. symbol, not the ‘Betel’ banners, said that 25 Kotte voters
Saliya Atapattu, 81, recounted his brush with some kind had cast their preference vote for him. 50 years ago,
of sub-dural ‘episode’ and how he had stopped smoking at Peradeniya, his ‘campaign slogan’ had been ‘Let the
to the delight of his grandchildren, (leaving me, and per- better man win!’ He had not canvassed for votes this time
haps Jayantha Gunasekera as the sole ‘smoker/s’ among too. Arun Tampoe had decided that the sylvan landscape
them). Our senior most neurologist J B Peiris, who had in Kotugoda needs a change and moved back to Co-
been among those who had attended on Saliya, came lombo 7. He and other relatives had been prohibited from
up with his assessment of the choice before us. It may getting in touch with Bala, first cousin, now some 91 and
be construed as his answer to the problems associated active in his all-encompassing field of work, who was
with smoking and related or non-related ‘life-threatening’ regarded by them as maybe ‘a rabid red’.
diurnal practices that perhaps include boredom.
Young Amerasinghe gave me a technical account of how
He said that ‘heart’ or cardiac failure is the quickest, the the stock market works. He conceded that some mea-
best way to go, so why bother? Harsha Samarajeewa, my sure of regulation is required but not as much as there
physician, (he opened bowling for three years in the late has been. I did not check with him whether its operations
‘fifties, has just made it to 70) had told me a few years have tended to take the form of gambling, including,
ago that one dies of either ‘heart’ or a ‘stroke’ or cancer. say,  ‘spot-fixing’. Now that we are all set to set up casino-
An apoplectic reaction to pillage and mis-governance resorts right in the heart of Colombo, money-laundering
would, I suppose come under the heading of a ’stroke’. could be done here, thanks be to god and his ministering
A hundred years ago, ‘governance’, was regarded as ‘an angels. It’s no longer news that our development model is
incipient anachronism’. Thought you’d like to know that it being trans-located from Singapore to Macao.
has since been rendered a total anachronism by ‘govern-
ment’ and ‘control’. Some 90 oldies had responded to the notice and most
of them had turned up. Tony Anghie told me that Weera-
As time passes, some elements of loss of memory too mantry, 85, was the oldest among those present. That
call on us. One is no longer certain about names or faces was news to the man himself. He had joined Royal in
that go with them. What of that? I have had that ‘problem’ 1937, a full year before we were born. I came across
from years ago when I could not remember the unusual the College Magazine of 1943 among my wife’s papers.
names my sisters had imposed on their daughters. I am Weeramantry had been the Co-Editor (as I was, um, privi-
yet to be forgiven for that: what compounded my guilt leged to be 13 years later). It is a very interesting issue.
was that I did remember the names of their sons. Vijaya Among the things I learnt from it were the following:
Vidyasagara, ‘Uncle Science Ocean’ to our children,
remembered names but not the histories associated with - that J C A Corea had joined as Vice Principal. He was
them. Principal when our lot got there; at our going-down dinner
his portrait was unveiled in the Hall and in seconding the
Scott Direckze and Saliya, one time in the top echelons vote of thanks, I referred to the times he had steered the
of Mackwoods, had been joined there by ‘Bambare’ school through. Some years later I called on him at our
Samarasinghe, who in time matured, if that’s the word, to High Commission in London where he was Education
head that firm. He distinguished himself in school as the
serial winner of the slow-cycle / cycling race (the winner
crossed the line last). He could keep going without push-
ing on till everybody else had rushed to the finish line and
collapsed en route one way or another. Despite moving
over to George Stuarts which diversified its operations
under his watch into travel, the manufacture of jewellery
for Cartier and, briefly, into manufacturing via Walker
Industries, I believe that Scott was most comfortable as
a paddy farmer in the dry zone.  Farming at Kannettiya
Kelewatta, managed on a day to day basis by a man who

Officer. He was facing a problem; he was due to retire RCOBAA Bids Farewell to Dilip Somaratne
and in the normal course the Ministry would meet the cost
of shipping his baggage, furniture and all, home. He had The RCOBAA Committee bade farewell at a
asked that the shipping be deferred by a year which he dinner to honour Past President DilipSomaratne
had planned to spend loafing around the Mediterranean. who will be moving to Sri Lanka to take up
Sorry, it had to be now or never. I took the matter up with an assignment as Director of Cricket for
‘the Treasury boys’, some oldies were truly juvenile in Royal College. Dilip was one of the pioneers
exercising such prerogatives as they had. They would involved in founding the RCOBAA in 1981 and
‘consider’ it, they said, but I could not follow the matter subsequently served as its President in 2009/10.
through as not long after I was being sloshed around in Dilip served as the Cricket Coach for Royal from
some ‘Pool’ myself. 1988 to 1991.During which period Royal beat
St Thomas’ on two occasions. In his capacity
- that MMPD Kulatilleke, whose name adorns more pan- as Director of Cricket, Dilip will have overall
els in the school hall than any others’, had drowned. His responsibility for Cricket at Royall College
cousin, Hubert’s property was on one side of our quarters and will have all the coaches reporting to him.
in Brown’s Hill, Matara and MMPD’s on the other. Hubert Dilip will be sorely missed but will continue to
remained a close friend.
serve the RCOBAA by being theliaison
- that the Farm Club had land off Turret road and over 3 between Melbourne and Colombo. We wish Dilip
acres in Narahenpita. The latter had survived and was all the very best as he takes on his new role and
the site of our training in agriculture the 1950s. The fruit we can rest assured that the future of Cricket at
trees and beds of vegetables remained, but as I recall no Royal College is in safe hands.
paddy. At harvest time the produce was sold to us for a
pittance (say, in current terms, ‘a kilo’, of spinach for -/02 RCOBAA 2012 Committee at Farewell Dinner
cents) that we carried home and let our mothers believe
that they were ‘my’ products, only to be told, ‘’How nice!
Now you can grow them here’.

Formally, by 1943 the time was past when the Principal
of Royal College functioned also as an, or maybe the,
Assistant Director of Education with a voice in matters of
policy. But he could speak his mind on such matters, vir-
tually ‘talking down’ to the Governor at the school prize-
giving, as is recorded in this issue of the Magazine.

As for C G Weeramantry, let those of his generation
speak:

Best speaker he is, and a scholar of fame,

A mite of a lad, but he’s earned quite a name.

At two in the morning he won’t be in bed,

Instead he’d be reading with hat on his head.

Not much has changed there, except may be his hat – he
has worn many but always on that one head.

The Palmyrah Professor ganic paper of Chemistry to get lower marks, unbeknown
to his father. He entered the University of Ceylon to do
Honoured recently with the Doctor of Science (hono- Biology. “In the first year I qualified to do all three special
ris causa) from the Sri Jayewardenepura University degrees – Chemistry, Botany and Zoology,” he says but
Errol Radcliffe Jansz talks of his work and life it was Chemistry that won the day. He then moved to
Peradeniya to do his finals, where his wife-to-be, Oranee,
had preceded him to specialize in Chemistry.

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The towering young Errol at 6’1”, however, was no nerd,
taking up weight training and also taking part in putt-shot
The discussion at the events. As opening bat for Arunachalam Hall, his team
Biochemistry Depart- had won the match, while a week before the final exams
ment on the top-most he had bagged the Gold Cup as Weightlifting Champion
floor of the Sri Jayewar- in 1966.
denepura University’s
Library Building is on Completing his degree as a Chemistry Special graduate,
food and their link he says he was the “first choice” when it came to select-
with diseases such as ing an Assistant Lecturer for the Colombo campus to be
diabetes. A name which in charge of the practicals for the General Science Quali-
keeps cropping up, fying Examination. That he was “doing a good job” was
however, is of someone apparent when among the three batches of 120 students
who no longer works he taught, 70 secured As whereas the norm had been
there, but has been only about five to 10 in a batch.
awarded Emeritus Pro-
fessor status in 2008.

It is that of Emeritus
Professor Errol Rad-
cliffe Jansz, 70, and it
was in recognition of his invaluable service that he was
honoured recently with the highest award from the univer-
sity – the Doctor of Science (honoris causa), probably the
first from among the minorities to be showered with this
accolade by Sri Jayewardenepura.

In a sense, it is ironic that though he is a Burgher (he Young Jansz conducting one of his first projects at
calls himself a “black” Burgher), he focused on the CISIR in 1968
palmyrah, going against the tide of the times. For at that
time eyebrows were raised why it was palmyrah, and not When the university was in the throes of a strike, Prof.
coconut. Jansz had decided to call it quits and follow his dream of
becoming a research scientist. Acting on the spur of the
Heading the only team of scientists in the south to work moment he had called the then Director of the CISIR, Dr.
on palmyrah research, Prof. Jansz had also been sur- George Ponnamperuma who simply said, “Come join us”,
prised to find that even a northerner was reluctant to sans advertisements to fill the post.
be part of it. Although it boiled down to caste, with only
people from low castes at that time engaging in palmy- Placed in the microbiology section of the CISIR under ex-
rah work, there had been no hesitation on the part of pert, Edwin JeyaRaj who was also a trade union leader,
the Jaffna University to award Prof. Jansz the Prof. K. there had been much suspicion that his appointment was
Balasubramaniam gold medal while the Palmyrah Board through influence because at that time, Prof. Jansz’s
honoured him with the ‘Ponnade’ (golden shawl) and the father, S.E.P Jansz was the Exchange Controller. “Inci-
Palmyrah Shield in 2003. dentally, my father would go on to become Senior Deputy
Governor of the Central Bank and write the Act setting
Before those tumultuous years, however, Prof. Jansz up the National Savings Bank (NSB) in 1971,” says Prof.
goes down memory lane to his boyhood at Royal Col- Jansz, referring to the current controversy the NSB is em-
lege. He was a victim of bad health, being laid up fre- broiled in. In just three months, however, he had proven
quently and once so very ill that a priest had been called his mettle and he and JeyaRaj had become the best of
to perform the last rites. With nephritis keeping him away friends until his death in 1988.
from school, it was only later that his academic abilities
surfaced. Illness was not his only foe – although born Emotion overwhelms him even so many years later when
a left-hander, his teachers’ insistence that he follow the Prof. Jansz recalls the day Jeya, as he fondly called
herd and write with his right hand made the boy develop him, recovering from a prostate operation at the General
a stammer. “I spoke little and that too softly,” says Prof. Hospital told him, “My son, I knew you would reach the
Jansz, adding that he still does the same. top but not so fast.” By that time Prof. Jansz was Director
of the CISIR. “Jeya who taught me microbiology and gave
Gradually, chemistry became his passion and although
his father’s desired path for him was medicine, he mis-
chievously says that to avoid it he simply skipped the or-

me all the books I needed, died that night,” he sighs. Take off the toxins before eating manioc, we advised.” All
Prof. Jansz’s contributions are too numerous to mention
Another weapon in his armoury that enabled him to reach and would require reams but political reasons saw him
the Director’s chair was the Commonwealth Scholarship being moved out as the Director of the CISIR, now known
for Biochemistry awarded by Dalhousie University in Can- as the ITI (Industrial Technology Institute), leading to the
ada. This saw him being mentored not only by academics gain of the Sri Jayewardenepura University.
at the well-known Charles Tupper Medical School but
also Prof. Ian MacClean whom he calls the best human With more than 130 papers in prestigious journals, 15
being he has ever met which resulted in him naming his monographs and more than 150 scientific communica-
second daughter Ianthi. tions, he has also been bestowed recognition in many
international biographies such as the ‘Marquis Who’s
“Those were the days when biochemistry in Sri Lanka Who of the World’ from 1997 to 2012. The International
was atrocious. But around the world, the late 1960s was Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, has namedhim
the golden era of biochemistry with metabolic pathways one of the top 10 scientists globally in 2011 and selected
being worked out and DNA being unravelled,” he says. him as one of the recipients of the Iconic Einstein Award
With his doctoral thesis “with very few corrections” being in 2011 for a life-time contribution to science. He has also
a model in 1972, it was while at the CISIR that he “man- been nominated as the International Scientist of the Year
aged to save Sri Lankans going the African way”. for 2012.

“The Africans were eating manioc as a staple and it was Now living in retirement down Pietersz Place at Kohu-
Dr. Brighty de Mel and I who were bold enough to point wela, not only growing his own coffee but also process-
out that eating manioc daily would result in goitre and ing it, steaming cups of which we had just sipped, it is,
ataxic neuropathy. therefore, not surprising that when Sri Jayewardenepura
University honoured him recently there was no mild ap-
plause – but a standing ovation.

Bradby Night in Queensland

The Old Royalists Group in Queensland, in a joint venture with the Old Trinitians Association of Queensland, held a
Bradby Night, to coincide with the second leg of the Bradby Shield encounter in Kandy on the 30th of June 2012. The
event was held at the Morris Hall, Church of England Grammar School in Brisbane and was attended by about 175
people. The welcome address was delivered by Athula Unantenna, Trinity rugby captain 1972. Messages from the two
captains of fifty years ago, Noel Brohier and U.L. Kaluarachchi were read out by Mohan Sahayam and Baba Sourjah,
respectively. This was followed by a joint toast to the two schools and the school songs, sung with gusto by the large
number of old boys present. A sumptuous Sri Lankan buffet dinner was provided. A good time was had by all, with
music for dancing provided by ‘The Lockbreakers’ and DJ Niru Mendis.

Rohan Jayaratne

Sanath Weeratne

Coordinators – Old Royalists Group in Queensland

The vibrant past of Royal College comes to life in the pages of “History of Royal College”

The launch of “History of Royal College – 1985-2010”

History repeated itself at Royal College, with the launch of its second History Book, capturing many
milestones and facets of the College for the present generation and also the future generation of
Royalists to cherish their school. 177 years have passed since this august establishment which is
now known as Royal College journey has not yet seen its conclusion.

The History of Royal College from 1835-1985 was previously chronicled by S. S. Perera and in the
recent past Mr M.L Fernando has set out to complete the legend from 1985-2010. Mr S.S Perera’s
research and dedication of 4 years resulted in the 603 page history book which was launched in
1986 with the Royal College Union (RCU) initiating this chronicled recording of 150 years of price-
less history.

The sequel to the legacy is a culmination of a 2 year research done by Mr M.L Fernando and records
all College academic, sports, notable events and numerous other activities worth recording for pos-
terity by the College during the period of August 1985 to December 2010. It has by no means been
an easy task and his efforts were praised and appreciated by all who understood the amount of effort
to complete such a task with dedication and pride.

The event at Navarangahala was graced by Mr Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to His Excellency
President Mahinda Rajapaksha, Mr Manik De Silva, Chief Editor of the Sunday Island, Mr Dinesh
Weerawansa, Editor-in-Chief Sunday Observer, Mr Malinda Senavirathne the Editor in Chief of
The Nation, Principal of Royal College Mr Upali Gunasekara and the Secretary of RCU Mr Manju
Ariyaratne. The senior deputy principal, deputy principals, past principals, vice presidents, trustees
and past secretaries of the RCU along with the faculty members and students attended the historic
launch.

The occasion itself was a rare moment of history in the making when four outstanding royalists who
have created history for Royal by reaching the highest echelons of the rofession they all belong to,
were in attendance on one platform. Specifically, the Senior most officer in the Sri Lankan Admin-
istrative Services and three distinguished gentlemen holding the highest office in print media rep-
resenting three national English newspapers unveiling the history that all Royalists treasure. “This
is the only time in the county’s history that we have four old Royalists simultaneously heading their
respective newspapers” stated Mr Ariyaratne, Secretary of the RCU.

Speaking at the event, the Principal of Royal College Mr Upali Gunasekara expressed his absolute
pleasure in being in the presence of this extraordinary event.

“History has to be rewritten in every generation, because although the past does not change the
present does; each generation asks new questions of the past, and finds new areas of sympathy
as it re-lives different aspects of the experiences of its predecessors.” He further stated that Royal
College was an exceptional institution that had witnessed a long journey of ups and downs, adding
to its character, resilience and longevity. He thanked the editor for undertaking a task of great mag-
nitude and stated that history serves to enhance one’s self-consciousness whilst offering a new way
to look at things.

A Golden leaf in the annals of history has been turned, with the launch of “The History of Royal Col-
lege”, which has been tinged in memories of ‘Blue and Gold’, which will be of value for the Royal
fraternity at large, as they recall the moments that have created milestones and have made history
come alive for the present and future Royalists to uphold their rich culture and traditions with pride.

Maradana ................... the Pillaiyar kovil between Captain’s Garden and
Maradana. The kade has been interpreted to also
Some Observations by Kishanie S. Fernando. mean an enclave or a meeting place or caravanse-
rai or resting place while on a pilgrimage. As such
It is said that Maradana got its name from Maran- Mariyakade could have been a shrine or a resting
stan which is Tamil for “place of trees” which with place where the devotees congregated.
time turned into Maran-dhan or Maradana. During
the Dutch period the first cinnamon cultivation was
in Maradana. It is recorded that in 1789 the Disave
of Colombo, Cornelis de Cock, was responsible for
laying out the first cinnamon garden in Maradana
in Colombo on the orders of Governor Iman Wilem
Falck. This garden belonging to Disave Cock totaled
116 amunas, equivalent to about 232 acres. He em-
ployed 150 natives and also put up a wooden fence
around it to keep out the cattle and other animal`s
that could destroy the plantation. Accordingly in
1786 the garden stretched up to the Beira Lake on
the west, down to Bambalapitiya in the south and
its inland border extended up to the boundary of the
former kingdom of Kotte.

It is not known when Maradana acquired its ill fame Maradana, Colombo
for crime and its association with gangs and thugs
clashing with each other in the small towns of Ma- The story of Kuppia
ligawatte, Maligakande, and Panchikawatte. Some
may remember the name “Maradana” itself being The story is related to one Chief Mudliyar Arnold
mentioned in conversation sending chills up one’s de Abrew Rajapakse Wijayasekera, who owned
spine in the old days. The language of Maradhana a large extent of property around the area, which
was also reputed to be that of the unrefined. This was referred to as Rajapakse Walauwa. Milk was
dubious reputation or notoriety has been likened to supplied to the Walauwa by one “Kuppia’, a Mus-
that of London’s fish market which contributed to the lim man. To deliver the milk, ‘Kuppia’ had to travel
English vocabulary the word “Billingsgate” meaning daily from quite a distance from where his cattle
foul and abusive language. It is now questioned if were kept. Consequently he was regularly late. One
Maradana has similarly enriched the Sinhala vo- day the Mudliyar’s wife inquired as to why he was
cabulary with the unique adjective ‘mariyakaday delayed. Kuppia, moaned that it was because he
language’. had to travel a long distance to get to the Waluwa
and pointed out that had he got a property close by,
Who was Mariya of Mariyakadey he would deliver the milk on time. As a solution to
this problem, the Mudliyar gave one of his properties
Many a long and tedious debate has taken place to Kuppia to operate his business so that the milk
without conclusion regarding the origin of the word would be delivered to the Walauwa on time. Once
Mariyakadey. The simple understanding was that Kuppia established himself in the area, the village
one Mme Mariya ran a shop or kade here. Mme became known as Kuppiawatte. Kuppiawatte is
Mariya has been understood to have been possi- today more famous as the Muslim burial ground.
bly a local, somewhat garrulous, if not a vociferous
vendor who was known for her coarse language.  
Another view is that it was a shop owned by a Moor
(Marrikkar) where goods were acquired by barter
and the unruly haggling that ensued for the highest
price in goods, was the reason for the conjunction of
the word. A scholastic view expressed takes us back
three centuries to a time when the Colombo city was
a vast water-logged area. To a time when a Mariam-
man Hindu shrine is thought to have been located
here and visited by pilgrims on their way to and from

BLUE n GOLD RHAPSODY

For the second consecutive year the RCOBAA had a popular Sri Lankan artist perform at one of our
functions. The versatile and highly talented singer Rajiv Sebastian provided pulsating and enthralling
musical entertainment at the BLUE n GOLD RHAPSODY, which was held in May 2012 at the Glen Eira
Town Hall. Following the trend set last year, the Committee once again aimed to encourage and attract the
younger Old Boys at a RCOBAA function by having a low cost yet appealing, enjoyable and thoroughly
entertaining evening. Similar to last year’s performance by artist Desmond De Silva, Rajiv Sebastian too
captivated the gathering by providing musical entertainment in all three mediums - Sinhala, Tamil and
English, which emphasised the unique values of unity, bonding and camaraderie that Royal College has
upheld for generations.   

It is the belief of the committee, presided by Lilith De Silva, that events of this nature, albeit different to the
style & tradition of the main Dance, will induce the interest and participation of the Younger Old-Boys to
the RCOBAA – which has been hitherto ‘untapped’. It was encouraging to see groups of younger ROYAL-
ISTS participate, mingle, build friendships and cement that unique Royal bonding with senior Old Royalists
at these events. We sincerely hope they will join and participate in bigger numbers in the future, thereby
causing the RCOBAA membership to flourish and to ensure continuity of our organization for years and
years to come!

ROYAL COLLEGE OLD BOYS IN AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

In accordance with the Rule 16 of the Constitution of the Royal College Old Boys in
Australia Association, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association will be

held, commencing at 7:30pm, on Friday 21st September 2012 at Mount Waverly
Community Centre, 47 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley 3149 (Melway 70 E1).

RCOBAA

Office Bearers Several nominations for office bearer and committee member positions for

President 2012/2013 have been received and are listed accordingly in the Annual Membership
Renewal/AGM Reunion Dinner RegistrationForm.

Lilith de Silva

Vice Presidents Please use the form to renew your membership, cast your vote and notify your inten-
Athula Ratnayake
Tissa Galagedera tion to attend the AGM Reunion dinner. Please return the completed form by return
Treasurer mail to RCOBAA, P.O Box 796, Mt Waverley, Vic 3149 no later than 18th September
2012.

Sunil De Silva AGENDA
Secretary

Tissa Galagedera

Immediate Past President - Declare meeting open
Dilip Somaratne - Receive apologies
Membership Secretary - Remembrances
Sajith Mendis - Address by President
- Secretary’s Report
General Committee

Nihal De Run

Dimi Kahaduwarachchi - Receive and adopt audited accounts presented by the Treasurer for the
Ikram Mohinadeen - year ended 30th June 2012
Riza Muthaliph - Appoint pro-tem Chairman
Venura Welagedara - Election of Officer Bearers for 2012/2013
Dhammika Perera - Appointment of Honorary Auditor
Thilanga Gunaratne

Piyal Gunaratne - Appointment of Public Officer
Nethru Kulatunge - Nomination of Life Memberships
- Any other business for which written notice has been received by the
Editor of Floreat - Secretary on or before 18th September 2012
Dinesh Chelvathurai

- Close the meeting

Dear Member, ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
AGM REUNION DINNER REGISTRATION

Royal College Old Boys in Australia Association

“Fostering fellowship among old Royalists in Australia”

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

Your annual membership fee for 2012/2013 falls due First Name
and payable on 01 July 2012

You can pay the renewal fee (plus any donation you Surname
may wish to make) to the RCOBAA by any of the Street No/Name
methods in the payment section.

Please pass this form to any Royalists not already Suburb Postcode
members of RCOBAA and encourage them to become State
members and attend the AGM.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND REUNION Email Year Group
DINNER DETAILS Comments
Home Phone
The Annual General Meeting of the RCOBAA will be held Mobile Phone
onFriday 21st September 2012, at 7:30pm at the Mount
Waverly Community Centre, 47 Miller Crescent,
Mt Waverly 3149. (Melway 70 E1)

The meeting will be followed by dinner.The Edward Gray Work Phone
Memorial Oration will be delivered by Channa Wijesinghe and
a toast to Teachers of Royal will be proposed by Sujith
Satkunam.

$30 pp Smorgasbord dinner, drinks provided. ☐ ☐Receive the quarterly newsletter FLOREATby Email Post

AGM AND REUNION DINNER REGISTRATION The Constitution of the RCOBAA provides members the opportunity to nominate
their spouse/partner to be a social member of the RCOBAA. If you wish to do so,
☐I will NOT be attending the AGM/Reunion dinner, Please please insert her name and signature below.

note my apology. SOCIAL MEMBER NOMINATION

☐I will be attending the AGM/Reunion dinner

NOMINATIONS RECEIVED Spouse/partner’s Name

Spouse/partner’s Signature

President ☐Athula Ratnayake PAYMENT SECTION
Vice President ☐Venura Welagedara
Vice President ☐Riza Muthaliph ☐By CHEQUE/MONEY ORDER – drawn in favour of RCOBAA
Secretary ☐Piyal Gunaratne
Treasurer ☐Dhammika Perera ☐By DIRECT DEBITBank BSB Account
Immediate Past President ☐Lilith De Silva
General Committee CBA 063010 1001 0447
☐ Dinesh Chelvathurai
Use this space to nominate ☐ Nihal de Run Please enter AGM [Your name] Your Reference
up to two (2) other members ☐ Dimi Kahaduwarachi into the text area when processing
to serve on the RCOBAA ☐ Sajith Mendis a Direct Debit transaction. Provide Transaction Reference generated
Committee with their consent ☐Sunil De Silva by the Direct Debit transaction for our
☐Aynkaran Sivaratnam ☐By CREDIT CARD reconciliation purposes
☐Charith Jayathilake
☐Harsha Maligaspe Card ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐
☐Chatura Liyanage
☐Sithira Amaradasa Number
☐Indrajith Wijegunaratne
☐ ☐☐ ☐☐ ☐Expiry Date mm yy Credit ☐

Card Account Name: ……………………………………………………………

Name Signature: ………………………………………………………………………….

Proposed by
Seconded by

☐ Subs + ☐ Dinner + ☐ Donation= $☐Ordinary Member $ 35/-
$30$☐Retired Member $ 25/-

☐Country Member $ 15/-
☐ Paid up member (over 60yrs of Age) $ 350/- (one off fee)
☐Student Member (Full time student less than 35 yrs) $10/-

IMPORTANT:* Nominations for Office Bearers and General Committee Members MUST be made on this form ONLY. No other form of correspondence will be
accepted.* Voting rights for financial members only.Please confirm your attendance at the AGM & submit nominations by 18th September 2012 - Post this form to
RCOBAA, P.O Box 796. Mt Waverley, Vic 3149