Sunday Times 2
The ‘Prince of Batticaloa’ 90th Birthday tribute
View(s):I consider it a great honour to write this tribute to my dear friend Prince Casinader on his 90th birthday which falls on July 21.
Prince was born on July 21,1926 in Batticaloa. His parents had five sons and Prince was the second son. He started schooling at Vincent Girls’ High School and later moved on to St. Cecilia’s Convent. He started his schooling among girls but later entered the boys’ school – Methodist Central College, Batticaloa. His ambition was to be lawyer but the Vice Principal of Methodist Central College, invited him to join the staff temporarily, and that is how he ended up as a teacher.
He joined the Government Training College, Maharagama during 1950-1951 and joined the Methodist Central College, Batticaloa in 1952. During his career he devoted 35 years at the Methodist Central College as a teacher, Deputy Principal and retired as its Principal. During his tenure as Principal, his alma mater rose to great heights.
He was a great social worker and he loved to serve the community. He was the President of the Battiocaloa Citizens’ Committee and the Batticaloa Vigilance Committee. He was one of the delegates who represented Sri Lanka at the World Conference of Amnesty International held in Amsterdam. He has visited several countries – Russia, China, Japan, Holland, UK. Australia, Austria, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Germany. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
He reached the pinnacle of his public career when he was elected as a member of Parliament for Batticaloa. He was a member of the Consultative Committee on Education.
In lighter vein, Prince is well-known as an eloquent orator and his command of the English language is impeccable. His speeches on any occasion are interspersed with witty jokes that keep the audience in stitches. He is a master of jokes and yarns.
He was a founder member of the GTC Fifties and Vice President of the Secondary Trained Teachers Union.
It was a great blow to him when he lost his beloved wife a few years ago. His two daughters Praemini and Sharmini who are married, live abroad and visit him regularly.
Prince was my second year mate at GTC and we still keep in close contact with each other. On his 90th birthday we wish the ‘Prince of Batticaloa’ all the best and may he blessed with good health, peace and contentment in the years to come!
-Cecil Withana