Gala Banquet to celebrate S. Thomas’ College 175th Anniversary
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A Gala Banquet was hosted at the Hilton Colombo Ballroom, on February 28th, 2026, in honour of S. Thomas’ College. It could well be termed a ‘glittering’ event, however, that adjective would not accurately reflect the depth, range and stature of the occasion being celebrated with such grandeur and finesse. This is the flagship event that marked the 175th Anniversary of the school, which milestone has been the focus of the Warden’s Special Events Team through much of 2025, and will continue until the end of 2026. S. Thomas’ was actually founded on February 3rd, 1851, in north Colombo at Mutwal, by the then Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. James Chapman, and then moved to its present campus at Mount Lavinia in 1918. The de facto anniversary was observed at a special celebration in these premises on February 3rd, which was attended by a sizeable assembly of many generations of “old boys” of the school.
The evening Gala at the Hilton provided the opportunity to recognize several people who have made a difference to some aspect of the school and its progress. For those organizing, it has been a privilege to serve their alma mater. The same team has consistently, over a period of time, been engaged with the multiple projects that celebrate the Thomian community near and far. The team that is responsible for this Gala Banquet have received the unstinted support and guidance, of the 20th Warden appointed to the position Mr. Asanka Perera, joined by the Sub Warden Dr. Radeeka Mendis. Mr. Senaka de Fonseka, served as the Chairman, 175th Anniversary Celebrations Committee. The banquet also had a dedicated group of volunteers, committed old boys led by Dayan Ranasinghe of the Special Events team, which in turn is led by Bertal Pinto-Jayawardena another stalwart among loyal old boys. The members of this and other special events committees are hand-picked, and they have done their all towards bringing things to fruition. These arrangements do take a lot of time and effort, and accomplishing all on a voluntary basis is quite amazing. Matters were thought about deeply when planning the varied aspects of things that have significance. The master of ceremonies engaged for the Gala event, was Arun Dias Bandaranaike, himself a Thomian; and after his opening remarks to the ‘house’, invited the incumbent head of the school to the lectern.
Warden Asanka Perera addressed the 400 or so in attendance at the Gala, which number comprised many Old Boys, their spouses and also some guests. While referring to the Founder’s vision and purpose, and with obvious allusion to traditions and values that have defined the nurture and discipline and the commitment of the many stalwart teachers who profoundly touched generations of Thomians, the Warden also focused on the need of adjustment to evident realities and of the need to encompass modernity in a way that would ensure the institution remains relevant in the context of rapid change in all spheres of endeavour, be it in the acquisition of skills and knowledge, and in adapting to the shifts in societal mores and trends. Withal, he stressed that S. Thomas’ is not looking to be superbly efficient and to function at the optimum in the mastery of technology as its aim, rather, schoolboys need to be able to enjoy and relish their times in the classroom and in the players’ arena. Developing life -skills in an atmosphere of camaraderie with equity are important and relevant in dealing with the challenges in the real world of the future.
A toast to the school was proposed by an outstanding old Thomian who presently serves as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, the Hon Justice Arjuna Sanjaya Obeyesekere. In his preamble he described the particular influences and opportunities that were available to him in his days at Mount Lavinia. He touched on foibles and idiosyncrasies that are part and parcel of growing up in a community, and also mentioned how mental regulating and guiding principles played their part in forming the complete character.
The Gala banquet was all of Five Courses, served with flair and panache by the hotel, and clearly, the Executive chef and his team had taken upon themselves the pursuit of excellence as would match a prestigious State Banquet anywhere! Notably, all of the items of entertainment and the winsome ambience for the evening’s repast was provided by Thomians, young and old. Saxophonist and singer Dr Gananath Dasanayake the leader of his quartet ‘En Route’ graced the stage to provide an elegant ‘constant’ during the supper service, and there were also individual performers, singers who really appealed to the audience of varying age groups, a ‘young’ old Boy Shevaan Dayaratne, Eksath de Alwis, the well-known duo The de Lanerolle brothers Rohan and Ishan, Joy de Alwis, and also a veteran in entertainment in Lanka, Sohan Weerasinghe.
At a point in between and prior to the serving of the ‘Main Course’ was a very special and significant event. A towering moment among the many events celebrating S. Thomas’ College’s 175th year. Presented by S. Thomas’ College this is the S. Thomas’ College Lifetime Achievement Award. The 4th such awards conducted over the past series of milestone events. The general criteria requires that the recipients be 70 years of age or older. They need to have consistently served over a long period of time in support of S. Thomas College and its welfare. In other words, there has to be clear evidence of a lifetime of service. This service includes what was done for their alma mater, to the nation and also service with some impact in the global community too, where relevant. It is a joyous thing for S. Thomas College to honour and recognize these outstanding Thomians.
They were selected in a completely honest and rigorous process by a distinguished panel of very senior Thomians who vetted every viable candidate and nominee, and the panel finally settled on the final list which were awarded that evening.
The presenters were the Warden of S. Thomas College, Asanka Perera, The Bishop of Colombo Rt Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo, and The Chairman of the 175th Anniversary Celebrations, Mr Senaka de Fonseka.
The recipients are:
1 Vidyajothi, Desamanya Cecil Ashley de Vos- architect and academic, responsible for the new and impressive building projects such as the new Commerce block, and the emerging 176- Centenary building project, including the landscaping designs, all part of a vision for a future-relevant campus at S. Thomas’.
2. Deshabandu Anura Punchi Banda Tennekoon, the School and National Cricket ‘star’, who, in fact, was a coloursman at Hockey and Badminton as well. Even after his years as a national player, he continued to support the Board of Control for cricket in various presitigous positions. Through all the years he has always been ever willing, ready and able to serve S. Thomas’ cricket to give expert advice to College Cricket Coaches on players and game plans.
3. Rajkumar Renganathan, hails from Trincomalee. performed with distinction as Captain of Basketball and Captain of Badminton. And shone on the field as a first fifteen coloursman at Rugby, and played for Combined schools in 1972 and 73. His commitment and fondness for STC has been manifest over a very long period, such as when he served for many years as Manager of the School and its Treasurer. He also served a term as a Member of the Board of Governors. All of this while remaining at the top of his profession as Deputy Chairman of Seylan Bank, and Deputy Chairman of Ceylinco Holdings PLC, Executive Chairman of Ceylinco Life PLC and also chairman of the splendid Retirement Facility, known as Serene Resorts. In his role as Chairman of Ceylinco Healthcare Services, he initiated the first ever private sector Cancer Treatment Facility in the country. He also is a director at Kings Hospital Ltd.
4. Major General Lohan Clement Rodrigo Goonewardene. RSP VSV USP. At sports, he performed with distinction and was able to earn colours in Rugby, playing with the First fifteen, and, was awarded the Clive D’Silva Challenge trophy for the Best Performance in Track events in the year 1967. He enrolled in the armed services in 1969, and was appointed as Commanding officer 7th Light Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery, proceeding with appointments as Commandant Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa, followed by serving as Brigade Commander Batticaloa, Deputy Commander Wanni, Commander Security Foirces, Jaffna, and then finally peaking at the top of his career as Chief of Staff. Withal, he has served the interests of his school over a long period of time, with being Vice President of the Old Boys Association, Serving in the fund raising for school projects. Later served on the Board of Governors of STC, and counted it a privilege to serve with the Warden’s Special Events team for more than 20 years. His commitment to the larger community of Lanka is evident in his being Chairman Unity Mission Trust – A volunteer organization engaged in Youth Leadership Development, Fostering Unity, Integration and building bridges of friendship across Sri Lanka.
5. Kumar Boralessa, known for his prowess as cricketer and also in the game of Golf. He represented his school in the First XI in the early 1960s, and afterwards in Club tournaments. But Thomian cricket was still very much in his being and blood and he assisted 6 Wardens of STC, being integral in the S. Thomas’ Cricket Advisory Committee. With his energetic contribution toward holistic development of the sport, his focus was on refining batting skills, providing mentorship, offering administrative guidance, and ensuring financial support for underprivileged talent. Developing the opportunities for empowerment crossed into his professional life in the plantation sector. He set up an Agro Management Consultancy that would focus on the needs of Small holder plantations.
6. Dr. Sarath de Alwis-Seneviratne is a multi-talent, having excelled in school at Cricket, and then also Rugby, Football, Hockey, Athletics and Swimming. The passion for sports continued even after leaving STC, playing cricket at the University, then being a leader of Combined University teams, and also premier Cricket playing Clubs in Colombo. In more recent times his professional calling as a doctor of medicine has eclipsed some of his achievements on the playing field. His has been an enviable record as one of the most qualified Gynecologists in the world, with 3 special clinical procedures identified under his own name. Dr. Seneviratne has been bestowed with some of the highest civilian honours for his contribution in the development of Health Services in a Caribbean country and was awarded the Most Humanitarian Doctor at an international event in New York in 2016. He has consistently funded and supported S. Thomas’ both at Mount Lavinia and also at Gurutalawa, and many other charities that involve uplifting village schools, assistance programs for patients with cancer and leukemia.
7. Mr Daniel Edirisinghe. An alumnus of Maliyadeva College Kurunegala, and following with a degree in Economics from Vidyodaya University, [known as Univ of Sri Jayawardhanapura at this time] he joined STC as a teacher. His affinity with the Thomian spirit was manifest during his 5 years as head master of the Middle School, as prefect of Games for 10 years, and he was the Group Scout leader for 35 years and served as master in charge of College Scouts for some of that time. He also was leader for the Lankan Scouts at national and international jamborees. He also distinguished himself as the master in Charge of Hockey for 35 years, and master in charge of Badminton as well as Table Tennis, for 30 years. He was instrumental in setting up the Old Thomians’ Hockey Union. By virtue of his long service on the tutorial staff, he was admitted as an honorary member of the OBA of STC.
8. There was also a Special Service Award by S. Thomas College, in recognition of exceptional and outstanding service rendered the college by a non-Thomian, Engineer Muthukuda Nahil Wijesooriya. His philanthropy has been, in a sense, legendary in present day Lanka, in amongst a society that manifests more the acquisitive traits among entrepreneurs and business leaders. His generosity has been expressed in outstanding ways towards various institutions, especially those devoted to education. There is also his generous donation of one billion rupees to the Lady Ridgeway Children’s hospital in Colombo. In confluence with 175th anniversary of S. Thomas’ College is his outstandingly generous contribution of 600 million rupees toward the building programs envisioned for the school.
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