My Lord Bishop Nishantha Fernando – Bishop of Kurunegala, the Chief Guest of the Prize Giving 2024 – Justice Janak De Silva, Mrs. Neeliya De Silva, members of the Board of Governors, the Chaplain, members of the College Executive Council, members of the College Management Team, Mr. Ruwan Jayaratne – the secretary of the Prize Giving Committee, eminent members of tutorial staff, secretary of the parent-teacher association, distinguished guests, parents, old boys, and my dear students, welcome to the Prize Giving 2024.
The academic year 2024 has demonstrated the remarkable power of working together. We’ve witnessed countless examples of students supporting one another, teachers and parents forming stronger partnerships, and our entire school community uniting to overcome challenges. As we gather to celebrate excellence and recognize our prize winners, we celebrate not just individual achievement, but the collective resilience that has characterized our school community.
Looking back over the past year, I am particularly proud of how Trinity has demonstrated that true resilience comes not from facing challenges alone, but from standing together. Our students have shown remarkable adaptability and determination, while our teachers have collaborated tirelessly to ensure every student receives the support they need to thrive. Together, let us applaud the extraordinary achievements of our students and reaffirm our commitment to nurturing a culture of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity that empowers every individual to realize their fullest potential. With praise and gratitude to the most Holy Trinity, I stand before this august gathering, as the 20th custodian of Trinity College Kandy, and in my fifth year in office, to deliver the Annual Prize Giving Report 2024 of Trinity College Kandy for the year under consideration.
Today we have the honor of having Justice Janak De Silva and Mrs. Neeliya De Silva. Mr. De Silva is the youngest in a family of five of which four are lawyers and received his full education at Trinity College from 1973 – 1987. He represented the College at Hockey from Under 13 to 1st XI level and Captained the Under 13, 17 and 1st XI teams and was awarded Hockey Colours in 1985. He went on to represent the Kandy Schools in Under 19 Hockey. He was also a member of the Junior Chess team and represented Trinity in Athletics and in Cricket. He was the English Editor of the College Magazine in 1984, and represented the College at Drama and Quiz competitions. Justice De Silva was the first Valesca Reimann Scholarship winner in 1981. He was awarded the Buddhism Special Prize, Folk Lore Special Prize and Comparative Religion Essay Special Prize in 1986. Justice De Silva was a School Officer in 1985 and School Prefect in 1987.
After leaving Trinity, Justice De Silva entered the Sri Lanka Law College in 1989. He passed the Preliminary and Final Examinations for the admission of Attorneys-at-law with 1st Class Honours. He was awarded the Hector Jayewardene Gold Medal for the Address to the Jury (English) Competition and the Walter Ladduwahetty Gold Medal for Academic Excellence combined with Extra-Curricular Activities. From 1993 to 2017, Justice De Silva served as a State Counsel, Senior State Counsel, Deputy Solicitor General and Senior Deputy Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department of Sri Lanka and advised and represented the State and statutory authorities on various constitutional, commercial, international trade and international investment law litigations. He was a member of the Sri Lankan team at several bilateral negotiations on investment treaties and trade agreements with India, Pakistan, China and Singapore and before the UN Human Rights Council.
Justice De Silva holds a Bachelor of Civil Laws (BCL) from the University of Oxford and a Master of Laws (LL.M) specializing in International Business Transactions from the University College London where he was the first Sri Lankan Shell Centenary Scholar. He was a Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Michigan State University, USA on a North-South Fellowship awarded by the Fulbright Commission. Justice De Silva was the Visiting Lecturer in Constitutional Law at the Sri Lanka Law College from 2007-2017. He also served as Visiting Lecturer in International Trade Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and as Visiting Lecturer in Economic Law and International Trade Law at the Advanced Legal Studies Unit of the Sri Lanka Law College. In 2011, he was invited to present a paper on “Free Trade, the WTO and Consumer Protection: The Missing Link” at the Annual Workshop on Global Law and Economic Policy of the Institute for Global Law and Policy, Harvard Law School, USA.
Justice De Silva was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in 2017. He was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in December 2020 and continues to function in that role. Justice De Silva is one of the youngest judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court in recent times. He functioned as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate and inquire into the Easter attacks. He was appointed as an Honorary Bencher of The Honorable Society of Gray’s Inn, London in October 2021 and is only the second judge, and the only sitting judge, from Sri Lanka to have been conferred with this honour in the history of the Gray’s Inn. In August 2023, Justice De Silva was invited as a Senior Fellow (Honorary) within Law by Melbourne University. Justice De Silva was appointed as a Non-Resident Justice of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles in November 2023.
My Lord Bishop, esteemed guests, ladies, gentlemen and students, I present to you the Chief Guest of the Prize Giving 2024, Justice Janak De Silva and Madam Neeliya De Silva.
Trinity Academy consists of two qualifications: national and international. In the National Qualification GCE [Ordinary Level] Examination 2023 held in May 2024, 95% qualified to enter the Advance Level, with 26 students obtaining 9As. At the GCE [Advanced Level] Examination 2023 held in February 2024, 64% of our students reached university entrance eligibility, with 15 students obtaining the elusive 3A grading. We congratulate all the students who excelled at these intensely competitive public exams. Trinity College International Qualification achieved 81.2% success [January – June – October] at the Pearson-Edexcel examinations. We extend our congratulations to the students with the best results. During the year 2023, we witnessed significant movements in our faculty with 26 members leaving the staff. A special note of thanks to Mr. T.S.R. Ragunathan, Mr. Sanoj Srinath, Mr. D.S. Weerasekara, Mr. M.J.M. Sufiyan, Ms. Deepika Nilanthi, Mr. L.H.B.P. Jayathilake, and Mrs. Malmi Karagaswewa for their dedicated service spanning over a decade. 24 new members joined Trinity College Academic staff. I thank the academic staff for their generosity in moulding the Trinitians entrusted to them.
As educators, parents, policymakers, old boys, and community members, we bear a shared responsibility to address the manifold challenges facing national and international education and ensure that the Trinitians of today and tomorrow have every opportunity to receive a wholesome academic grounding. It is imperative that we prioritize the well-being and holistic development of our students. By investing in education, above all, in Trinity’s education, we invest in the future of our society, fostering greater opportunities for economic prosperity, social cohesion and progress.
The Religious & Value Education Domain holds a profound significance in shaping the moral compass, ethical framework, and spiritual development of the Trinitian. The annual Pirith chanting ceremony and the Sangagatha Dakshinawa by the Buddhist Student Movement, the annual Islamic Students’ Movement Day, Vaani Vizha by the Hindu Students’ Movement, Nine Lessons and Carols & Cross and Triumph of Christ by the College Choir, the Student Christian Movement Day and Trinity Monday were held in a meaningful manner. The highlight of the year was a collaborative effort of all the four religious societies to restore classrooms in an underprivileged school in Pudaluoya.
The Trinity College Co-Curricular Enrichment Initiative (TCCEI) is the key operational unit managing and guiding the co-curricular activities of the College since 2022. Currently, overseeing 31 active clubs and societies, providing students with diverse opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and specialized skills beyond the classroom, while focusing on Inculcating 21st century skills of the Trinitian. TCCEI remains committed to holistic student development, integrating academic, cultural, aesthetic, scientific and community-based engagement into the College’s co-curricular structure. Major Events Conducted Under TCCEI includes Language & Cultural days giving fitting tribute to the tapestry of our national cultures.
Scientific and Environmental Engagements included the Climate Week by Environment Pioneer Brigade – a week-long initiative featuring guest lectures, workshops, and art competitions to raise awareness about climate change, Astronomy Workshop and Star Gazing Camp – organised by the Astronomical Society, provided students with hands-on experience in stargazing, space science, and celestial observation, Young Researchers’ and Innovators’ Club – research Collaboration with the Education University of Hong Kong – A unique school-based research initiative on Indoor Air Quality Standards where students engaged in a joint research project with scholars from Hong-Kong and Sri Lanka. The same club conducted a Research Methodology Workshop Series. The Wildlife Society conducted an educational excursion to Yala and Anawilundawa. Inter House TCCEI Competitions were held for trilingual debating, David Paynter Memorial Inter-House Art Competition, Sinhala Drama, Bird photography and the much anticipated Inter House Culinary Competition were some of the highlights among the events of TCCEI.
Speaking of the TCCEI Inter-school competitions, Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Debating Championship, SLMUN – All Island Model United Nations’ Conference, and “Icebreaker” – All Island prepared speech competition were the highlights of 2024. The Social Service Week – organized for the second consecutive year, was held with the participation of the entire school community. Interact Club organized the annual Blood Donation Campaign & the Medical Camp with the assistance of the Trinity College Doctors’ Association. We continue to explore avenues to develop scouting as a school-wide activity. The National Scouts’ Jamboree was held in Trincomalee where our scouts participated in Sri Lanka’s largest scouting event, engaging in leadership training and outdoor survival skills. Scouts successfully took part in the regional scouting event, demonstrating teamwork, outdoor skills and leadership.
There were a few noteworthy achievements in 2024. The Astronomical Society quiz team excelled in multiple all-island competitions, competing against prestigious schools and universities, and continuing their winning streak. Trinity’s debating team performed exceptionally well, producing talented debaters who earned spots in the Sri Lankan national team and competed at international levels. The TCK Cycling Club organized the Senkanda mountain bike adventure competition, Bradby Road to Pallekele, Independence Day Parade, and Cycling Workshops. Culinary and Hospitality Club in collaboration with other groups organized a colourful Christmas Fiesta. The CrossFit initiative continues to enhance the psycho-somatic wellbeing of the community.
New ventures with signs of growth. 2024 marked the inauguration of two significant new ventures: Technopreneurship Team – a futuristic pioneering initiative focusing on AI, STEM, Robotics, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Within a short time, this student-managed team has secured wins in entrepreneurship and STEM competitions, developing new web applications, learning management systems and other tech-driven solutions. Their achievements highlight a promising future in technological innovation and business strategy. The Commerce Society reopened the HNB Student Savings Unit during the latter part of 2024. This initiative aims to enhance financial literacy among students while providing them with an early exposure to banking and financial management.
As it is evident, the success of the Trinity College Co-Curricular Enrichment Initiative is a testimony to the commitment of its energetic Director Mr. Wasana Dissanayaka, the sector coordinators and the tireless efforts of the MICs. In 2025, we are exploring options to introduce a robust reward framework for our dedicated TCCEI animators.
‘Arts for Life’ Aesthetic Forum explores and celebrates the transformative power of art, music, drama and dance. This forum coordinates and manages aesthetic and performing arts activities within the school. Established with the goal of fostering a vibrant artistic culture, AfLAF integrates multiple student societies under one structured framework, ensuring a collaborative and well-organized approach to music, drama, dance and visual arts. In 2024, the aesthetic forum collaborated to organize the Children’s Day musical extravaganza, Middle School Drama Production. Trinity College Drama Society was placed 4th in the All-Island Shakespeare Drama Competition with the production ‘Titus Andronicus’. Trinity emerged champions at the Annual Literature Festival organised by Gampaha Bandaranayake College, winning the R.M. Sumanapala Memorial Trophy. Our National Drum and Dance Troupe represented Sri Lanka at the Korat Folklore Festival, Thailand. The Oriental Music Society performed Vesak Bhakti Gee Programmes at the Kandy City Centre & a Christmas Carol Programme at the Pallekele Open Prison. The staging of ‘Maname’ was a landmark aesthetic experience. This event was followed by an insightful discussion on the social, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of Maname, offering a new perspective to the appreciation of art and culture within the college community.
We thank the professionalism, dedication and the tireless efforts of the coordinators of AfLAF and all MICs who continue to play a vital role in enriching the artistic landscape of Trinity College, promoting professionalism, cultural engagement and nurturing student creativity across multiple disciplines.
Spirit of Lions Sports’ Paradigm was an ambitious Post-T150 Roadmap initiative to restructure Trinity College sports management and administration in line with the global and local trends in school-based sports. Trinity College House system forms the bedrock of Trinity Sports which comprises of 17 sporting categories. The Annual Sports Meet 2024 saw the Central Boarding House winning the championship. Sahayam House won the Junior championship. Thanks to the dedicated professional efforts of the Director of Sports and the House coordinators, we completed senior and junior house matches for all sports in 2024. Considering the level of commitment and professionalism of our sports administrators, MICs, Coaches, and students, we need to mention, at least in brief, the achievements of 2024.
The Trinity Swimmers made waves at the National School Games’ Central Province Meet by becoming the Overall Champions in Under 12,14,16 & Under 20 categories. Master Senuja Samarasinghe, captain of the College’s swimming team was selected to represent Sri Lanka at the BIMSTEC Youth Aquatic Sports Championship, New Delhi. We thank the TC of the Swimming Foundation Mr. Chetiya Wijeratne and his Committee.
The 104th Hill Country Battle of the Blues and the 42nd Limited Overs Encounter against St’ Anthonys College was a successful outing for our senior cricketers. Competing in the Under 19 All Island Division 1 Tier A Tournaments, the team grabbed the One Day Championship while finishing as runners-up in the Two-Day tournament. Their incredible efforts were recognized at the U19 Schools’ Cricket Awards held in September 2024 at the BMICH. I thank Mr. Clifford Fernando and the members of the Trinity College Cricket Foundation for their assistance.
The Cadet Band and Cadet Platoon continue to show much promise. Master D.M.K.G.B Dissanayake was appointed as Warrant Officer II and the Central Province Drill Instructor, marking a significant milestone in the history of cadetting at the college.
Our efforts in establishing a comprehensive Rugby programme saw its first fruit in 2024. In 2024, we witnessed an intense schools’ rugby season. In the league tournament, Trinity played 9 games, winning 5, losing 4. To the delight of the Trinity family, we won the coveted Bradby Shield after a 10 year wait. I congratulate the U. 16 Rugby team and the other Junior Teams for their success during the 2024 season. We continue to improve our rugby prowess with the able assistance of the Old Trinitian Rugby Scrummage. I wish to recall with gratitude the role played by Mr. Nilantha Ratnayake and his committee of the Old Trinitian Rugby Scrummage.
We are excited to share the remarkable achievements of our athletes at the Provincial Athletics Meet, where Trinity College won the Overall Championship. Our teams secured championship titles in all age categories 14, 16, 18 and 20. The Senior Athletic Team of Trinity College Kandy achieved an impressive finish at the Senior Sir John Tarbet Athletic Meet, held at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. Trinity Athletics team won the 5th place at All Island Athletics Championships 2024. Our appreciation goes to Mr. Charitha Dumbarage and his team in the TC Athletics Foundation.
Trinity College Kandy excelled at the Central Province Basketball Tournament 2024, winning the championship in both the U-17 and U-20 categories. The Under 19 team became 3rd at the National Schools’ Games 2024. This was a significant performance after two decades. We won the traditional Under 19 encounter against S. Thomas for the first time since its inception.
The Provincial Sports Meet 2024, organized by the Department of Education – Central Province, saw an outstanding performance by the Trinity College Table Tennis teams at the Provincial Sports Complex at Digana. The event brought together talented players from across the province, with Trinity College emerging as a dominant force across multiple categories, and having the Under 18 team emerging – Champions.
In Weightlifting, Trinitians emerged as the Overall Champions in the All Island Inter School Weightlifting Championship, held at Pilimathalawa Central College. The team achieved the Overall Runners-Up position at the Youth, Junior, and Senior Novices’ Championship, held in February at the Galewela Sports Complex in Polonnaruwa. The Commonwealth Weightlifting Youth, Junior, and Senior Championship 2024 took place in Suva, Fiji, featuring over 300 athletes from 30+ Commonwealth nations. Master Abidh Jameel, a former Senior Prefect, Ryde Gold Medalist, and Lionsman, was selected to represent Sri Lanka in the Junior (Under 20) category, competing in the 96kg weight class.
In Gymnastics, the Senior Team achieved two trophies for their performances during the year. The Senior Team emerged as Champions in Kandy District- B Division. The Senior Team emerged as Runners Up in Sri Lanka School Games- Provincial Competitions. Three gymnasts from the Senior Team got selected to Central Province Team and represented the Central Province at Sri Lanka Sports Festival. Six gymnasts got selected to the Sri Lanka Schools’ Games. Our Under 18 Hockey team became the joint champions at the All-Island Schools’ Hockey Championships and the 1st XI team won all their traditional matches. A note of appreciation to Mr. Devapriya Ellepola and his committee of the TC Hockey Foundation.
In Karate, Trinity emerged Runners-Up at the School Games’ Provincial Meet competing against approximately 30 schools. Mast. C. K. Sinhalage represented Sri Lanka National team in Commonwealth Games 2024. 2024 also marks the inauguration of the TC Karate Foundation. Our football teams delivered impressive performances across multiple tournaments at Provincial level. The under 16 Football team became 4th at the National School Games achieving the best performance in the history of Football at Trinity.
We are also thrilled to announce the completion of the Trinity Gym Network, refurbished Gymnastic and Tennis arenas and the launch of the long-awaited Trinity College Badminton Complex at Asgiriya. We are deeply indebted to all those who support us in these vital ventures.
Trinity College Boarding is an integral part of Trinity. Though there are many factors that negatively influence the boarding culture of Trinity College, we take every effort to promote it in our admission processes, making it a ‘home away from home’ for more than 150 students comprising the Central Boarding House, Intermediate Boarding and the Junior Boarding. During the year 2024, our boarders did exceptionally well in cocurricular and sports activities. It is our wish and prayer that the Boarding will act as a catalyst to promote and preserve the unique Trinity culture. We thank Mr. Shane De Silva, the Senior Boarding House Master, the Madasekara family, Boarding House Masters, Campus Families, and Boarding Staff for their efforts.
Among the other sectors, Trinity EduCare Institute will provide much needed academic support for students with learning challenges, the Life Coaching & Well-being Domain plays a critical role in ensuring the psychological stability of the child. The English Improvement Programme will assure that every Trinitian, especially sportsmen will acquire fluency in English. Trinity College Center for Excellence has taken up the onerous task of making the Trinitian’s future ready. It also coordinates all staff professional development ventures.
Trinity Administration plays a pivotal role in ensuring the effective operations, safety, and success of all our school processes. By managing resources, facilities, finances, personnel, and student support services, these departments enable Trinity College to foster a robust school community that imparts a holistic learning experience to nurture a balanced human person. One can never undermine their committed efforts in driving Trinity College towards excellence. We thank Mr. Anuruddha Ekanayaka – IT Manager, Mrs. Rachel Dias – Head of HR, Mr. Dakshaka Cooray – Head of Student Affairs, Mr. Sanjaya Rathnayaka – the Premises Manager, Mr. Shevantha De Silva – Head of PROMWEB, Mr. Shehan Senewisinghe – Coordinator of Trinity College William Sinnathamby Farm, Mr. Chanaka Ekanayake – the Manager of the Asgiriya Stadium, Mrs. Himali Jayasekara – Coordinator of the Trinity Eco Learning Arena [TELA], Mr. Raja – the officer-in-charge of the Lion’s Den – Pallekele and all other members of the Trinity Administration Team.
T150 + 3 [2025] Trinity Education will march forward in her tripartite journey: knowledge and information, abilities and aptitudes and most importantly values and attitudes. The Trinity Community will need to focus on the rearticulated core values of Trinity – the ISER: integrity, service, excellence, and resilience. We have recognised the demands of a 21st century school:
- Digital transformation has accelerated significantly, with schools increasingly integrating technology not just as a teaching tool but as a core component of learning strategies.
- Student well-being has become a central focus, with more schools implementing comprehensive wellbeing support systems and social-emotional learning programs.
- There’s been a crucial emphasis on developing “future-ready” skills alongside traditional academic subjects. This includes critical thinking, digital literacy, and adaptability.
- Workforce preparation has evolved to emphasize flexible skill sets rather than specific career tracks, recognizing that students will likely need to adapt to multiple career changes throughout their lives.
- Equity remains a persistent challenge, with the socioeconomic background continuing to strongly influence educational outcomes.
- Environmental sustainability has become more prominent in curricula, with many schools incorporating climate change education and sustainable development principles across multiple subjects.
Our efforts in 2025 will incorporate these trends in our teaching, learning & assessment interventions. The introduction of new facilities such as the STEM & Robotics Laboratory, new and refurbished learning spaces, and sports arenas will augur well in providing a holistic education experience for our students. During this year, we will also conduct a comprehensive review of our staff appraisal schemes to provide the required professional training and guidance in forming the 21st century Trinitian. Today’s ceremony is a testament to the collective achievements of the Trinity College community and a celebration of the endless possibilities that lie ahead. As we acknowledge the curricular and cocurricular prowess of our students and commend their accomplishments, let us also reaffirm our commitment to nurturing a culture of erudition, inclusivity, and lifelong learning that empowers every student to reach their full potential.
Acknowledgements:
May God be Glorified in all things. I wish to express my appreciation to the Rt. Rev. Bishop Nishantha Fernando – the chairman of the Board of Governors and all the Board members for their commitment to Trinity and the guidance they provide in steering the destinies of our beloved alma mater. My heartfelt thanks to Justice Janak De Silva and Madam Neeliya De Silva for gracing the Prize Giving 2024.
I recall with gratitude the spiritual support of the Chaplain, in discerning God’s will for us. The efforts of my three remarkable colleagues usually go unnoticed – the Vice Principal Mr. Krishanthan Antonydas, the Co-Vice Principal Mr. Ananda Marasinghe, and the Finance Manager Mr. Rukshan Galanga. May I also express my sentiments of gratitude to the school manager Mr. A.E.M. Perera, Board-appointed sub-committees, the president Mr. Asela Narampanawa and members of the TCK OBA, Mr. Ranil Premathilaka and the members of the TCK OBA Colombo Branch, Local and Foreign OBA Branches, Batches, and Groups, Old Trinitian Sports Bodies, Members of the College Management Team, Mr. Ruwan Jayaratne – Secretary to the Prize Committee and the two able collaborators Mrs. Eshani Jayawardena and Mrs. Thilanka Niyangoda and all the members of the staff, who worked tirelessly in organizing this event. Our thanks also go to the Staff Guild, The Parent-Teacher Association, Parents, the administration and support staff, School Officers’ Guild, Prize Winners and young Trinitians.
Trinity College Kandy will continue exploring vistas of excellence in her post-T150 journey. We desire to be a community of learning, animated by the noble visionary charisma of our founders, guided by the Christian vision of education and the perennial values of our nation. Trinity is dedicated to the pursuit and sharing of excellence, remaining within the traditions set forth by her pioneers and a specific and time-tested set of core values of integrity, service, excellence, and resilience. Respice Finem!
Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB
Principal
Trinity College Kandy
14th February 2025
