PROJECT FOR PAINTING OF JUNIOR DORMS
a. The painting of the Junior Dormitories
was undertaken by
members of our Group in February-March, 2001 by a letter
dated March 15, 2001 addressed to the then Headmaster with
copy to the Secretary of the OBA.
b. The new Headmaster who had unearthed our
letter of March 15,2001 while going through his files wrote
to us direct, a letter dated November 16, 2001 requesting
that we initiate the project. We answered his call and promptly
responded and after discussion with him, undertook to attend
to same during the December vacation.
c. The painting commenced on December 21,
2001 having first delivered the paints and materials that
were donated to College, and obtaining proper documentation.
Additional paints that were required were purchased from
Welimada.
d. We engaged 13 professionally skilled painters
from Colombo through the good offices of a well-known Chartered
Architect. The painters were given accommodation and food
by the Head Master which avoided undue delay in the accomplishment
of the work. The workmen’s food bill was settled by
us and subsequently deducted from their labour charges.
It was possible to attend to minor repairs, eg. replacement
of glass window panes, minor carpentry and masonry work
and the painting of the ceiling, walls, windows and door
frames and sashes as well as the grills of the De Saram,
Garnier and Reid (Junior Dormitories) and their night toilets.
Necessary repairs were also effected to the asbestos roof
which was found to be leaking, in some places. Work was
hampered due to the very bad condition of the dorms and
also bad weather. It was observed that grills of windows
had been forcibly broken, removed and vandalized in general.
It was not possible to attend to the Foster Dorm (Formerly
known as Winchester), because of the very bad condition
of the ceiling as well as the walls etc. which needed special
carpentry and masonry work. This Dorm will have to be done
later, separately. Work was concluded on December 26, 2001.
The Dorms were handed over and the workmen left the College
premises that evening.
e. Young Old Boys Mr. M.N.M. Faizam, Mr.Mohamed
Asnaf, Mr. Mohamed Illiyas, Mr.Prabath Jayasundera and Mr.Chammika
Thushara made very generous contributions in cash and paints.
A few of our Members too contributed in cash and kind. The
work was supervised by two of our members who took lodging
close by.
f. Approximately 20 litres of Paint with the
used Paint Brushes were left in the Head-Master’s
custody for use in future projects. A sum of Rs. 5311/37
was left over at the completion of the painting. A sum of
Rs 3217/50 was paid out of this balance to John Keells Office
Automation (Pvt) Ltd for the repair and service of the College
Fax Machine which had not been working for several months
and which we got down to Colombo for attention. A further
sum of Rs.150/- was expended for the Fax Paper. The balance
sum of Rs.1943/87 is available for use in future projects.
The only Printer available in College for their computers,
which had also ceased to function, was also got down and
attended to by us without any charge. These 02 machines
were thereafter delivered to the Headmaster to be put back
to use.
g. A Statement of Account was made available to every Old
Boy who assisted in cash or kind (and also the Headmaster,
for his information) within one week of the completion of
the Project.
h. The originals of all invoices, receipts,
delivery orders etc. are filed separately and retained at
the Secretariat available for inspection by any of our friends
who made generous contributions.
i. The work was executed under the overall
personal supervision of Mr. Rizvi Jalill Vice President,
OBA.
j. Meanwhile our letter of March 15, 2001(
together with various other proposals made by us in writing
on the same day) has been bandied up and down at Meetings
of the Ex-Co upto November, 2001 and was to be taken up
at the Ex-Co meeting November 28, 2001 by appointing a sub-committee
to go into same. Meanwhile we are yet to be enlightened
by our OBA and its Ex-Co as to whether and when they hope
to consider and appoint a sub-committee to go ahead with
the painting of the Junior Dormitories and the several other
matters. If one requires a lesson in vacillation or dilatory
tactics the Ex-Co of our OBA is amply competent to provide
same.
Extract from 62’ Group News
Letter No. 4
