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GALLERY OF EVENTS - Development work at Guru - 2002 / 2003
As regards the various Projects the position is as follows:- (b) There has been an inquiry with regard to providing Uniform Beds, mattresses and lockers for the Dorms. This is being pursued. If it materializes, the Dorms will once again have the same appearance as in the Hayman era. The present students will be free to take back home their mattresses, almyrahs, cupboards, clothes racks etc of various shapes, sizes and hues. (c) Mr.Ruwan Munasinghe has indicated that it would be possible to supply bunk beds with 2 Ceyesta mattresses at Rs.3,000/- per unit. This is being pursued. (d) Foster Dorm : Mr. Kaleel Majeed a Young Old
Boy has undertaken to rehabilitate the Foster Dorm which needed
extensive repairs and was left out of the December, 2001 Painting
and Refurbishing Programme. 1.Keble Complex If the Administration and Accounts Sections including the Head
Masters Office is re-located in the new complex, then the above
arrangement needs adjustment. We have asked the Head Master for
his observations. Laboratory and Library: Mr.Don Gazara has already
made arrangements for the supply of a huge volume of books. Supply
of Laboratory equipment will be no problem to him. The response
of the Head Master with regard to the actual requirement and specifications
of the microscope and the books etc has been received. A large consignment
of books gathered by Don was delivered to the Head Master. Brig.
B Munasinghe too has arranged regular consignments of books from
Asia Foundation and the first of these was delivered to the Head
Master at the Ex-Co Meeting on May 17,2002. Don has visited College
and looked in to various matters and reported back his observations. At a preliminary discussion immediately after the AGM and even before the First Meeting of the Ex-Co, several Members came forward and personally undertook various tasks. One Old Boy undertook a complete rehabilitation of the Senior Dorms consisting of De Saram, Garnier, Read and Hayman. This work was completed by early June and the Senior students moved into occupation into a much better environment. Winchester Dorm (situated between the Co-op stores and the old chummery) and which is also considered a Senior Dorm had been evacuated as its condition had deteriorated to such an extent. This Dorm is presently being refurbished with the assistance of an Old Boy. Another Old Boy undertook the complete rehabilitation of the Squash Court. Work is now going on and is expected to be completed before the end of this month. Yet another Old Boy undertook the complete rehabilitation of the Badminton and Basket Ball Courts. This work has been partially completed. Another Old Boy undertook the rehabilitation of the water supply system. A part of the work is due to be completed before the end of September. Two Old Boys undertook to supply and install a new Telephone System connecting all areas of College. Whilst the equipment and wiring is available details of citing extensions the relocation of the Administration Section and the Headmasters office etc are awaited to commence installation. Two other Old Boys undertook to examine the situation on the farm and give necessary advice. Following this advice it has been possible to find a ready market for all the farm produce. Another Old Boy provided individual desks and chairs for 02 class rooms of the Upper 6th. Two Old Boys undertook to replenish the Library with modern and current books. Already over three consignments of books have been delivered and a proper inventory system has been introduced to minimize pilferage etc. Equipment for the Swimming Pool together with equipment required for swimming and life saving were donated by another Old Boy. Equipment for Basket Ball too was donated by another Old Boy. Some may consider this insufficient or insignificant, but it is “better to light a small candle”. OBA News Letter No.3 Sports equipment. The lack of equipment for sports has been highlighted strongly by the masters in charge of the various sports activities. Although we did supply equipment for swimming and basket ball, much more is required. An Old Boy is prepared to make available the sports equipment required by the College provided there is a Sports Club which could be approved through the Provincial Council. We have prepared the Rules of the proposed S.Thomas’ College Gurutawala Sports Club and handed over same to the Head Master with necessary advise to have same in place and inform us thereafter so that the Old Boy concerned could make all necessary arrangements to commence supplies. Refurbishment of junior dorms. We will always accept any assistance as well as advice, suggestions or constructive criticism to College or the OBA. An offer made through the Ex-Co in March 2001 by some old boys to refurbish the Junior Dorms was ignored until the Head Master on his own wrote direct to the Old Boys concerned in December 2001 accepting the offer. The work was promptly carried out during the December holidays and the Headmaster’s report testifies to the quality of the work done. Presently Old Boys who take an active interest in the affairs of College as well as the OBA have communicated their views suggestions and proposals. These have been welcome. Such Old Boys have been written to, to express the appreciation of the Association apart from initiating action and inviting the Members concerned to attend the Meetings of the Ex-Co to enable them to explain their proposals in details. Old boys have on their visits to College gone in to the dorms to see for themselves the cleanliness and orderliness as prevailing now. As the state of the dorms was unsatisfactory they have demonstrated personally to the students occupying the dorms how to maintain the dorms in a better state particularly now that they have been renovated at great expense. Replacement of Old Tables and Benches in the class rooms with individual desks and chairs; replacement of existing beds, bunk beds, mattresses and lockers; providing new study tables for the dorms; lab equipment; books for the library; equipment and facilities for sports (Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Basket Ball, Squash, Swimming, etc) complete overhaul of the water supply system; improvement of all roads within the campus; erecting a fence around the campus; providing equipment for the pantry and kitchen; partitioning of the Administration Block to enable the Headmaster and others to relocate in the new Building repair of the roof of the old class room block; purchase of a large van for college for movement of teams for sports activities; purchase of a small van for college for routine marketing and banking etc, and repairs to all staff quarters are some of the areas which require attention. The funds collected are to be applied towards some of these projects. The Dr.R L Hayman and Fr.A J Foster Scholarship Funds need replenishment and they have been inactive for the past few years.
A Telephone System which was gifted is now with the Headmaster awaiting installation in his new office as soon as he relocates. In order that he may do so the new Administration Block has been partitioned and a ceiling provided for the Headmaster’s Room. Winchester Dormitory and its toilets have been completely repaired. New beds for this dormitory have been turned out. It is ready for occupation by the new intake in January 2003. Several consignments of books have been donated to the Library both Sinhala and English. The Headmaster, the Chaplain and the Teachers in charge of various subjects were very pleased with the quality of the books supplied. They are being inventorised so that from January, 2003 they will be available to the students. Equipment for the Laboratory which had been necessary for quite some time were supplied including a Microscope. The Master in charge of Science was happy that all the items required had been made available. The Treatment Plant of the Swimming Pool has been attended to. Repairs to the roof of the Treatment Plant have also been carried out. The Warden of S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia had offered the old plant which was put away at the time their new swimming pool was inaugurated. The equipment was subsequently inspected by some members of the Ex-Co and found that the Filter Unit, the Pumps etc were still in the installed condition and the Pumps and Valves jammed due to severe corrosion. The removal of the Filter Unit would require removal of the Roof, crane facilities for lifting and loading and it was considered an expensive exercise and did not serve much purpose in taking it to Gurutalawa. The Filter should however be useful in the future, if the Swimming Pool is to be modernised with new systems. Boards and Baskets for the Basket Ball Court have been installed.
We have been informed that it is necessary to enlarge the Court
in both directions to arrive at the standard size and this is a
project that is being considered. A new telephone system bringing the classrooms and the Keble section at the 02 extreme ends of the Campus within easy communication is to be installed as soon as the relevant information sought has been provided. OBA Newsletter No.2 A further Leadership Workshop is to be arranged at Gurutalawa itself when more senior students will be able to participate. Several Old Boys have expressed their willingness to assist in this matter. There has been a marked improvement of the manner in which the dormitories are being kept. However, several Old Boys who visit College regularly are of the view that there is considerable room for improvement. It is hoped to help the Headmaster in regard to this matter by means of these workshops and regular visits. OBA Newsletter No.4
OBA Newsletter No.4 At the request of the teachers of Social Studies Maps, Brochures, Publications etc were obtained from the United Nations Office, the Tourist Board, the Survey Department, and donated for use in the Class Rooms for Social Studies. We have after obtaining a letter from the Headmaster, interviewed the officers concerned at the United Nations Office and placed the College on their Mailing List to enable all Literature, News Bulletins etc, that are being handed out by the United Nations and all it’s allied agencies transmitted to Gurutalawa for their Library as well as for their Social Studies. Newsletter No.4 While every endeavour was made by the OBA in the past four years,
within the confines and limitations of the Rules of the OBA to staunch
the deterioration in standards and help in many ways, the financial
crisis which has deepened, needs being addressed immediately. Newsletter No.9
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