Bishop of Kurunegala, Members of the Board of Governors, Principal, Vice Principals, Academic Heads, Tutorial Staff, Distinguished Invitees, Parents and Dear Students,
Today, we gather to celebrate academic excellence, marking a significant moment for all the award recipients. You are being honored for your outstanding achievements, which have been the result of a perfect blend of intellect, dedication, and hard work. My wife and I extend our heartfelt congratulations on your success. We applaud each of you for your commitment, and I am confident that this same dedication will continue to guide you as you embark on the next chapters of your lives. Your proud parents are here to share in the joy of seeing the results of their years of love, investment, sacrifice, and support. We also commend them for their unwavering commitment, which has been instrumental in providing a solid foundation of guidance and encouragement for their children’s success.
It is an honor to be here to celebrate your success and joy. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Father Araliya Jayasundera and the Members of the Board of Governors for inviting me to serve as the Chief Guest. Being recognized by your alma mater is one of life’s greatest rewards, often making other accomplishments seem less significant.
The prize-giving ceremony brings back cherished memories for me. As a student, I was deeply involved in organizing the prizes for distribution for two years, under the excellent leadership of Mr. Paul Jeyaraj and late Mr. S. Ariasingham, who were my revered mentors at Trinity. We would spend days in the two rooms behind the stage, carefully arranging the prizes.
Both Mr. Jeyaraj and late Mr. Ariasingham were embodiments of discipline, which is why it’s no surprise that they continued to serve Trinity for many years, as discipline is one of the core foundations of this esteemed institution. However, this wasn’t always the case. After Mr. Napier-Clavering retired as Principal in 1900, Trinity was on the brink of disaster. In May 1903, Rev. MacLulich, who was then Vice-Principal, sent a cry de profundis to Mr. Napier-Clavering, asking him to return to Trinity. The letter described several troubling issues among the students, including refusal to attend detention, frequent visits to public houses in town on Saturdays, boarders skipping classes for weeks, and students attending drunken parties around Kandy Lake.
This marked the advent of Rev. A.G. Fraser to Trinity. One of his lasting legacies was the restoration of discipline. Coincidently, the first public speech I gave on this very stage more than four decades ago was titled “Discipline is essential for the development of a Nation”. Frankly, I cannot recall the reason for selecting the topic.
But there are several reasons why I feel it’s important to share a crucial message about Discipline with you, the future leaders of our cherished nation. You may be familiar with the well-known quote attributed to Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Excellence is not something that happens overnight, nor is it a gift you’re born with. It is developed through a series of disciplined actions—whether it’s waking up early to study, mastering self-control, attending class with commitment, persevering through failure, or treating others with dignity and kindness. When these habits are nurtured over time, they lay the groundwork for remarkable accomplishments.
Discipline is not just a personal quality; it is a collective objective that a nation must work towards. When we look at the history of prosperous nations, we can often trace their success to the discipline embedded in their people and leaders. Discipline is the force that unites the individual efforts of citizens, transforming them into collective accomplishments that benefit the whole country. Without discipline, potential remains unrealized, and progress slows to a halt.
Trinity has always been a multicultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious institution. We were raised to focus on the dignity of others, treating everyone with respect and kindness. Sri Lanka is made up of a diverse population, each with their own backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives. Unfortunately, the country has yet to unite as one nation. What should bind us together is the recognition that we must work in harmony, guided by shared values and mutual respect. Discipline, in this sense, involves respecting our laws, fulfilling our responsibilities, and prioritizing the common good over personal desires. It is the discipline to honor commitments, make decisions that benefit all, and ensure the nation’s well-being which should be central to our actions. This is what will ultimately shape the future of our country.
Discipline is one of the important qualities this hallowed institution has instilled in my life. It has greatly assisted me in my chosen path. I call upon all young Trinitians to start cultivating discipline in all its manifestations from a very young age. It will be the bedrock on which you can build a successful and fulfilling future. You will never fail in life if you make discipline your eternal companion.
Trinity instilled in me another vital quality: Determination, which has enabled me to overcome adversity and stay true to my principles during difficult times. As we all know, Trinity’s motto is Respice Finem, meaning “look to the end.” It serves as a reminder to consider the ultimate consequences of our actions, decisions, and life paths. However, I believe it means more than just that. It also signifies that once we make an informed and correct choice, we must have the determination to follow through and see it to completion.
You must have the determination to do what is right. You must be determined to standing up for justice. You must be determined in staying true to your conscience, no matter the consequences. For in the end, it is your conscience with which you must find peace as you reflect on your journey through life.
In March, 2023, I, along with two of my brother judges of the Supreme Court were called upon to decide an issue which arose in relation to the Local Authorities Elections which was due to be held in 2023. Several persons came before the Supreme Court and pleaded that the Government was not releasing the funds already allocated by Parliament for the conduct of these elections. After hearing all parties, we issued an interim order preventing the Secretary to the Treasury from withholding any funds already allocated for the elections. Soon thereafter a Member of Parliament raised a matter of privilege before Parliament. The threat of been summoned before Parliament was hanging over all three of us for some time. However, we had acted strictly in accordance with the law. We were determined not to be intimidated and continued to dispense justice based on the law. In August 2024, five other Supreme Court judges, excluding the three of us, ruled that the Executive Branch of the State represented by Honourable Attorney General is liable for infringement of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 12(1) and 14(1)(a) of the Constitution for not holding Local Government Election 2023. Our unwavering commitment to the law and refusal to succumb to intimidation was ultimately vindicated.
Determination is an important quality you must cultivate in life. It helps you to achieve goals, build resilience, overcome challenges and cultivate self-confidence. You must remember that life is not a bed of roses. There will be many disappointments and failures. But the true test of character is to have determination to carry on with life and achieve your goals. Failures are the pillars of success. Determination is the road to success. If you carefully cultivate this road and walk its course, success in life is assured.
Discipline and Determination should always accompany you in life, but it’s equally important to remain Dutiful. Being dutiful means honoring your commitments, taking responsibility, and contributing positively to the world around you. Too often, we focus on our rights, but every right comes with a corresponding duty. Our Constitution specifically states that the exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms are inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations. It goes on to state that it is the duty of every person in Sri Lanka to uphold and defend the Constitution and the law, to further the national interest and to foster national unity, to work conscientiously in his chosen occupation, to preserve and protect public property and to combat misuse and waste of public property, to respect the rights and freedom of others and to protect nature and conserve its riches.
This balance between rights and responsibilities influences all of our relationships. The law recognizes that parents have an obligation to care for their children until they reach adulthood and are capable of taking care of themselves. Once this happens, the responsibility shifts, and our law recognizes that children are expected to care for their parents. Unfortunately, there are instances where parents, despite having children who are able to support them, experience neglect. The true challenges of parenting can only be fully understood when you become a parent yourself. Therefore, always remember to fulfill your duties in life, particularly toward your cherished parents.
Dear Students,
You are blessed. You are blessed because you are going through your formative years at the best school of all. It is the best as it seeks to produce an all-round student. Academic work has never been the only focus at Trinity. Of course, academic work is and must remain an important part of the training a student gets at Trinity. But the true spirit of Trinity is to produce all-round students who have a happy combination of academic work with extra-curricular activities and important qualities of a true gentleman.
You have before you a choice. You can be a Trinitian by name or you can be a Trinitian by make. You are already a Trinitian by name. Should you wish to choose that option, all that I have said is irrelevant. But if you want to be a Trinitian by make, you must understand and appreciate the high traditions and values on which this great institution was built. You must learn, appreciate and cultivate these traditions and values. They will undoubtedly fortify you for the many challenges in life. Should you do so, success in life is assured.
I have sought to share with you three simple qualities, which I refer to as the three D’s, that I learnt at Trinity which has stood me well in life. Discipline and Determination must be your eternal companions in life. Being Dutiful is an important quality of a Trinitian by make.
In conclusion, I wish all of you every success in life. May you blossom into Trinitians by make. May you serve our motherland with distinction in the future in whatever chosen profession and make Trinity proud.
Respice Finem.
Justice Janak De Silva
14th February 2025
