Lushanthi Memorial Relay Meet
View(s):The present and past students of Holy Family Convent (HFC) Bambalapitiya performed fittingly by gaining major honours at the Lushanthi Memorial Invitational Relay Meet, held at the University of Colombo ground last week. The inaugural relay meet, organised by ten of Lushanthi Perera’s students, was greatly conducted with the assistance of former students of the legendary HFC teacher, who served as Sports Coordinator for over four decades. The meet was dedicated in memory of Lushanthi Perera, who rendered her services not only at HFC, but also at other renowned educational institutions with great pride and dignity.
“Ms. Lushanthi Perera was a legend, an institution in her own right that served for 40 years as Sports teacher at HFC. Lushanthi moulded hundreds of young women – not just into great athletes but more importantly into decent human beings – women of substance who are a shining example what a great teacher can do. This was probably one of the fitting ways show our gratitude to her,” stated a member of the organising committee.
The opening prayer of the day was conducted by Reverend Sister Euphrasia Rodrigo, that brought tears to most of those gathered as she recalled the selfless service rendered by Lushanthi Perera, when she herself was Principal at HFC. Schools Lushanthi had worked with during her career at HFC were invited to field relay teams last Saturday. Even the old girls and old boys of the school participated enthusiastically. The past athletes showed that they hadn’t forgotten what Lushanthi had imparted on them in terms of correct running technique and slick baton changes. The lapse of 20 or 30 years since these past pupils were in school didn’t seem to have eroded the memories of the drilling they got from this dedicated teacher.
“How much Miss Lushanthi had been a part of the lives of her students was evident by the fact that so many parents of these past students attended the meet. Some whose children were abroad and even those who were not involved in sports at all, attended to show their gratitude for the teaching their children the value of being humane, of being a service to society – increasingly rare personality traits in today’s context.”