Category: News

The annual sports meet will be held on 13th February, 2015 in college sports complex (Kumar Devapura Ground) at 13.30 Hrs. Major General  Sathyappriya Liyanage will be the chief guest
and the Director of National School Sports Mr. B A Abeyrathne will be the guest of honour

APPRECIATION

DESHAMANYA DR KUMAR DEWAPURA

It is with a deep sense of sorrow I wish to record the demise of Kumar Dewapura, the Chairman of Tri Star Apparel Exports (Pte) Ltd in the early hours of October 31st, 2014 at a relatively early age of 63 years. Tri Star under the leadership of its founder Kumar Dewapura was the chief architect in spreading the garment industries to the villages under the 200 garment factory programme initiated by the late President Premadasa in the early 1990?s.
I wish to record this testimony of Kumar not as an entrepreneur, but as a Thurstanite.
Kumar joined Thurstan in the early 1960?s from St Peters with his elder brother Lal. From his younger under 14 days, he showed his talent as a cricketer and was requested by the Master-in-Charge of 1st XI cricket to join senior practices and soon found a place in the 1st XI team under my captaincy in 1966.He was a stylish left-hand batsman and a wicket keeper. He played 5 years for Thurstan till 1970. Though he made many runs for Thurstan in his 5 year career, he was unable to shine at the ?Big match ?! His ardent fan was his Father who never missed a match when Kumar played. He was very distraught when his Father passed away in the early 70?s.’

Kumar not only was an outstanding cricketer but he was also a talented rugby player and an athlete of repute
On leaving College, Kumar played for Nomads under his Thurstan coach Upali Ahangama and then for SSC in the early 70?s, with success. To take his career further, he was looking for an employment opportunity in the Mercantile sector, as it was the trend at that time for such Schoolboy cricketers. But, since he could not succeed, he left for the UK to pursue further studies. Thus, Ceylon as known at that time lost a potential batsman who could have made the national grade.
Upon returning to Sri Lanka in the mid 70?s he started his apprenticeship in the Garment industry under Mr. Ganegoda at Mayura Garments. Soon he learnt the trade and the confidence he had  in himself was instrumental in starting his own Garment Factory ? Thushara Garments at Katubedda  Mortuwa in 1979,  with a mere 10 machines and 18 workers and made his first export consignment within a very short span of time.  Soon thereafter, he commenced operations of his second factory- Tri Star Garments at Ratmalana.

Among his many achievements were winning of the Presidential Export Award for Garment Industry in the years 1987, 1991, 1992 & 1993. He also won the Special Presidential Export Award in 1992, 93, 93 and 1994 as the highest foreign exchange earning Enterprise in the Garment sector. At one time there were 42 Tri Star units spread across Sri Lanka with a workforce of nearly 26,000
With so many successes, he never forgot his ?Alma Mater’. In 1992 he showed an interest in constructing a block of classrooms for Thurstan and by 1994, a two-storied block of classrooms was built and opened. Thurstan College, who was without a play ground from  its inception in 1950,  was allocated a 7 acre block of land in the former racecourse area by the late President J R Jayawardane in 1985, as a  sequel to a request made when His Excellency  was  Chief Guest at the Thurstan College  Prize Giving in 1982. This was at the same time when Royal was also allocated an area for their now built Sports Complex. This land was finally handed over to Thurstan in 1998. As there was a need to construct a cricket ground in the allocated land, Kumar suggested that  a fund raiser be commenced and invited the then Principal and Secretary of the OBU to England to coincide with the Annual Sri Lanka Schools? Cricket festival in July 2004,   where they could meet many Thurstanites domiciled in UK. With this initiative of Kumar, funds were collected in UK and Thurstanites living in Sri Lanka  as well as all over the world too, chipped in and thus the Cricket ground became a reality in 2006. This was all due to Kumar?s drive and initiative which spurred other old boys to lend a hand. Kumar then decided that he will build a Pavilion for the cricket ground and this too was completed in 2009
Kumar not only provided buildings for Thurstan but also provided employment to his classmates as well as other Thurstanites too. In 1991, when Thurstan won the cricket ?Big Match? for the second successive year, he enrolled many cricketers and also other outstanding sportsmen as Management Trainees and trained some of them in the UK too. It is note worthy that some still hold senior positions in his Group of Companies.
Just prior to him being seriously ill, he was keen to build a Rugby Pavilion for Thurstan. Alas, this now will only be a dream!
The many who came to pay their last respects, including His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, Hon Mahinda Rajapkasa, the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, Late President Hon. Ranasinghe Premadasa?s son Mr Sajith Premadasa M.P. and his mother the former First Lady Mrs. Hema Premadasa, as well as his numerous workers and  friends in the Garment trade  including the many Old Boys of Thurstan spanning many eras, bore ample testimony  to the high esteem by which  he was held,  by everyone.

It is not only Thurstan that has lost a Stalwart who was instrumental in building and developing much needed & varied infrastructural requirements at Thurstan and also providing employment opportunities to his classmates as well as many other Thurstanites  but  the Country too, has lost an entrepreneur who provided job opportunities to many Sri Lankans and most importantly to the rural masses.
In the funeral service Hymn sheet it says in John 11:25 ? Jesus said, I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in me will never die?. This stands true!
Surely, Kumar will live in the hearts of many who had the good fortune of having associated him.
My heartfelt sympathy is extended to his dear wife Shereen, children Shion & Shihara and their spouses as well as his sisters and brothers.

MAY HE REST IN ETERNAL PEACE!
Priya Paranavitane
General Secretary
On behalf of Thurstan OBU  

Thurstan College Old Boys’ Union felicitated Old Boy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera who was appointed as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy at a largely attended function at Mirage Hotel Colombo 6 on August 16th, 2014   He was garland by the Senior Vice President on the OBU Vasantha Kottearachchi and a bouquet was presented to Mrs Shalika Perera by Kumari Kottearachchi.   The General Secretary of the OBU Priya Paranavitane welcomed the Vice Admiral and other guests. As there was wide spectrum of Old boys from the 1950’s to 2010, hence he briefly highlighted Jayantha’s achievements as a School boy and his Career in the Navy.   Jayantha thanked the OBU for organizing this function and the thanked the large number of Old boys and their spouses for being present. He briefly reminiscence his days at Thurstan and his career in the Navy and onerous duties he will have to perform as the Commander of the Navy.   A memento was presented to the Vice Admiral on behalf of the OBU by the President / Principal Mr Daya Bandara, Senior Vice President and the General Secretary. Another two mementos were presented by Kumar Perera on behalf of his Class Group ’73 to’76 and Lishan Amarasekara / Daminda Cooray on behalf of the 1985 group.   The vote of thanks was proposed by Vasantha Kottearachchi who was classmate of Jayantha, where he thanked Old Thurstanite Prabath Fonseka for providing the hotel at a concessionary rate and the Council Members who made this function a reality.   Fellowship followed where Jayantha made it a point to interact with many old boys & their spouses as possible and followed by “sing song” and dinner. Everybody had an enjoyable evening  

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Thurstan OBU will felicitate the Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera who was appointed as the 19^th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on 1^st July 2014.

Jayantha is the first Thurstanite to head one of the Tri services of Sri Lanka.

This function will be held at MIRAGE HOTEL COLOMBO at 61 Moor Road on Marine Drive Colombo 6. on Saturday August 16^th,2014 at 7.30 PM

Thurstan College felicitated the distinguished Old Boy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera who was appointed as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy at a ceremony held at the College on July 31st,2014   Vice Admiral had a very distinguished career at Thurstan in the mid 1970 where excelled as a cadet and in Rugby. As the Senior Sergeant he was adjudged the  Best Commander at the 3rd Battalion Cadet Camp in 1975 where Thurstan became the champion battalion. In 1976 he was appointed as the Company Sergeant Major [ CSM ] of the 3rd Battalion.   He was the College Rugby and Athletic Captain in 1977 and that year he was the College Head Prefect     After leaving College he joined the Sri Lanka Navy in August 1978. He had his basic training in the Naval & Maritime Academy in Trincomalee. He was a Gunnery Specialist trained in Kochi India and has undergone many training programmes in India, Pakistan, United Kingdom & Hawaii United States. He holds a MSc in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. He has the privilege of commanding many ships of the Navy including the Flagship SLNS Sayura. He has also held many important Staff appointments in the Navy and the last being the Chief of Staff.   At the ceremony, there were a large number Old Thurstanite high ranking Officers from the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Police. There were many of his teachers, past Principals, other distinguished Old boys, Present staff members and senior students. Principal Mr Daya Bandara welcomed the Vice Admiral and others. A close classmate and a Naval Colleague Cdr [rt] S U Lanka Prasada spoke about his friend Jayantha’s achievements at Thurstan and Navy. In Conclusion, Vice Admiral reminiscence his days at Thurstan and thanked the school for organising this function. He was presented with momento by the Principal and he too presented to College a Naval plaque in remembrance of his visit

THURSTAN COLLEGE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

29th July to 1st August 2014

Tennis is a popular sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages. Thurstan Tennis has a history of going back to the mid 60’s when the then Principal late Mr M D Gunawardane & the  Vice Principal late Mr A B J L Fernado were regularly seen on the courts playing with the students. But it never caught up to be a popular sports at Thurstan. We have now 3 courts, a luxury which only a few schools in the island possess. The OBU is making a concentrated effort  to popularize tennis  so that in the near future we could produce players of Public School standard.

Thurstan College Old Boys Union organizing Inter School Tennis Championship 2014 at the college Tennis court premises from 29th July to 31st July 2014. Award ceremony will be held at the auditorium on 1st August 2014 at 2pm. With this tournament we are internally ranking our players to meet future challenges of the game.

You may contact OBU Functional Secretary – Tennis