Article by KLF Wijedasa** During this Olympic year it is pertinent to remember one of our country’s greatest athletes Major Duncan White on his 23rd death anniversary (July 3). On his way to success, he had to glide over 10 barriers and not break them! 14th August 1948: Duncan White of Ceylon fixes his starting blocks to the track at the 1948 London Olympics. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4582 – Fastest Men On Earth – pub. 1948 (Photo by Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Duncan White was born on the 1st of March 1918 at Lathpandura a rural village 2km from Baduraliya in the Kalutara District. His early education was at Trinity College Kandy. He was the captain of athletics in 1936 when Trinity College won the John Tarbat Challenge Cup and the Jefferson Cup for the Relays. White won the 220yds establishing a new record, 120yds Hurdles and the Long Jump. He was awarded the Trinity Lion for Athletics. On leaving Trinity College, he joined the Medical Department as a Physical Training Instructor and represented the Department at the Government Services Meet. In 1937 he participated in the National Championships representing Ace Athletic Club he returned a time of 52.0 secs in September and further improved it to 50.4secs the same year. Running in the 440 yds Hurdles event he clocked 56.4 secs. In 1940 he returned a time of 56.0 secs in the 440yds Hurdle event at the National Championships. It took 20 long years to improve the record till Nimal Fernando of the CT & FC returned a time of 55.7 secs. In 1944 running for the Ceylon Army Duncan clocked 22.2 secs for the 200m, which was equalled by W. Wimaladasa of the Army in 1964. D.K Podimahathmaya had the privilege of erasing Duncan’s record of 22.2 by .1 of a second after 24 years. In 1938 he represented Ceylon at the British Empire Games held in Sydney in 1938. He was the only schoolboy in the team. He represented Ceylon at the first Indo-Ceylon dual meet held in Colombo in 1940 and at the second Indo-Ceylon Meet held in Bangalore. At the first Indo-Ceylon Meet, he won gold medals in the 400m and 400m Hurdles events and helped win the two relays. In Bangalore, he won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles and won a silver in the 110m hurdles. Ceylon’s Olympic Squad in 1948 After breaking records in the National arena he turned to the wider International arena. He was a member of the first Ceylon team to an Olympic Games. That was the 1948 London Olympic Games. There was a special significance for Ceylon as it was in the year 1948 that we gained Independence from the British Empire. Duncan White won the silver medal beaten by Roy Cochran of the USA by only 7/10th of a second. While Cochran established an Olympic Games Record, Duncan White too bettered the previous record. On the strength of his performance at the Olympic Games, he was awarded a Government Scholarship to follow a course in Physical Education at the prestigious Loughborough College of Physical Education. At Loughborough, he Captained the College for three consecutive years. During his period the College won the British University Athletics Championships. At the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand Duncan White won the gold medal in the 440yds hurdles event with a new British Empire Games Record which was only 3/5th of a second outside the World record. On completing his studies at Loughborough College he returned to Ceylon in 1951, took up the post of a lecturer at the Training College Maharagama. In 1960 he took up the post of Athletic coach for the schools of the Department of Education with the approval of the then Minister of Education E.A. Nugawela. He did yeoman’s service to the young athletes of the schools, especially the Central Schools. R.A.C. Hubert of Piliyandala Madya Maha Vidyalaya was one such athlete who did well in the 400m. I am personally aware that he had gone to Gamini Vidyalaya Benthota on three occasions. He also had helped Harris Manikkam at the Christian College Kotte athletic camps. There he had screened his final run in the 400m Hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics. C.W. Pitigala, as a sharp student at that time, had asked Duncan why he had looked back while fixing the blocks. He had commented on his observant nature and answered. “when I was nailing my starting blocks someone had shouted “Hey Ceylon you are late” So he had turn back and said “shut up” and nailed his blocks. While nailing the blocks he injured his finger. He ignored the injury and concentrated on the event. And the rest was history. It is a good lesson for our young athletes not to get ruffled for the slightest thing at the start of an event. In 1964, he left for Nigeria to take up the post of Senior Lecturer in Athletics at the University of Ibadu. Later he settled down in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Duncan White was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1949 and the Helms World Trophy as the Most Outstanding Athlete in Asia. Duncan White married Angela Siebel and they had six children Nita, Marilene, Fiona, Daniel, Maxine and Christopher. His teammates to the British Empire Games held in Auckland New Zealand said that when Duncan White ran the last lap for Sri Lanka in the 4x400m Relay the whole stadium stood up and cheered him because it was a fantastic run. He had overtaken several runners and came fourth. Several officials had asked him why he had not entered for the 400m event. The late Cyril Gardiner, the then chairman of the prestigious Galle Face Hotel, as a mark of respect to Duncan White adorned his name on a plaque at the entrance to the Galle Face Hotel as a distinguished guest of the Hotel. It was at this Hotel that I had
The annual schools One-Day cricket encounter the Kandyan community waits in anticipation, the battle between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College will take place on the 29th of April, 2023 at the Asgiriya grounds. The 41st game of the series for the Sir Richard Aluvihare trophy, will be played under the distinguished patronage of Trinity’s 1st XI captain of 1990/91, Sujeewa Goonetilleke. Trinitians will be led by Rahal Amarasinghe and Antonians by Lahiru Abeysinghe. These two teams have faced each other in 40 one day matches, out of which, Trinity has won 19 (13 at Asgiriya and 6 at Katugastota) whereas St. Anthony’s have come out victorious on 17 occasions (11 at Katugasota and 6 at Asgiriya). One game ended in a tie with both teams making the same total and three games ended without a result due to wet weather (1993, 2003 and 2008). The series that commenced in 1980 at Asgiriya, under the captaincy of Angelo Liyanage (SACK) and former national star Ravi Ratnayake (TCK), has been a regular fixture over the last four decades except for 2001, 2020 and 2021. The Antonians kicked off the series in great style by winning the first nine of the eleven games, but Trinity has fought back since to take the lead, starting with consecutive wins in 1991 and 1992 by the narrowest of margins against formidable Antonian sides, and registering the latest win just last year. Trinity tipped to be the favourites to win this encounter, with their first innings win at the big match last weekend, has been dominating the series over the past seven games without being beaten since 2013 (with seven wins and a tie) with the last Antonian win coming only in 2012 under Kanishka Ranaraja. On that occasion, the Saints turned the tables on the much-colourful Trinity outfit led by Niroshan Dickwella to win by 10 runs. The only tie in the 40 games played to-date came in 2014 at Katugastota, when Trinity’s last batsman was run-out off the second ball of the last over. Apart from the tied game, there were many other close encounters, but none closer than the one-wicket wins registered by SACK in 1989 at Katugastota, and by TCK, just two years later, in 1991. In terms of victories by runs, TCK’s 2-run win in 2011 and their 3-run win in 1992, both at Asgiriya, are the narrowest of them all. The fixtures are played for the coveted Sri Richard Aluvihare Trophy, which was initiated to commemorate Sri Lanka’s first local Inspector General of Police, and a Trinity Cricket lion, who was also the Senior Prefect in his time. Incidentally Sir Richard fought at the Battle of the Somme under service no. 9289 in the 1st World War with 04 other Trinitians. After the war, Richard Aluwihare returned to Ceylon and joined the Ceylon Civil Service, reaching the rank of Officer Class One. He was Government Agent for the North Central Province and the first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police. Knighted in 1948 to become Sir Richard KCMG, CEB, he also served as Ceylon’s High Commissioner to India from 1957 to 1963. Sir Richard passed away on December 22, 1976, just 4 years before the annual cricketing encounter was initiated. Review by Lalanthi Rajapakse
Ever since 1914, the “Hill Country Battle of the Blues” has been a spectacle of epic proportions that has enamored sports fans nationwide. The formidable Trinitians displayed tenacity and mettle, dominating the event until the 1950s and cementing a legacy that has persisted for well over a century. As we conclude the 104th iteration of this exhilarating showdown, it’s noteworthy that Trinity secured an impressive lead with 24 wins with their win this year, compared to Anthony’s 11 – a testament to the intense competition and rivalry characteristic of this momentous encounter. The ”Hill Country Battle of the Blues” trophy is named after one of Trinity’s most pronounced cricketers at the turn of the 20th century, John Halangoda, who was an exceptional athlete, However he not only brought glory to Trinity but also to its formidable and friendly rivals St. Anthony’s College, St. Anthony’s College provided some exceptional battles when John Halangoda was coaching them, Later the winners of this encounter were gifted with the “John Halangoda Memorial Trophy” In memory of one of the greatest cricketers in this eminent battle. Both Trinity and St. Anthony’s College are illustrious schools in Kandy with a long history of academic prowess, good sportsmanship, and cultural refinement. Playing cricket for a trophy for 104 years is a demonstration of the healthy inter-personal relationship the sport has inculcated among the two school communities. The “Hill Country Battle of the Blues” means much more to the students of the schools than simply a sporting competition; it is a tangible representation of a friendly rivalry between Trinity College and St. Anthony’s College. It is the main platform for young and budding cricketers to perform and to reach the final goal of the international cricket. If one were to give a definition to the “Hill Country Battle of the Blues” it is an athletic contest that goes above and beyond simple gamesmanship. It is a contest of passion, tenacity, and glory. It is a sonata that conjures up old memories, a poem in action, a tribute to tradition and cultural history, a symphony of talent and strategy, and it inspires both young sportsmen and cricket fans. This cricket game is a miniature representation of the school’s whole experience, a shared journey that resonates throughout the halls and corridors of these historic institutions and goes beyond the confines of the cricket pitch. Many excellent and renowned cricketers and personalities have played in the “Hill Country Battle of the Blues” which include Kumar Sangakkara, Ravi Ratnayake, Kaushalya Weerarathne, Lakshman Kadiragamar, Lakshman Jayakody, Richard Aluvihare and Niroshan Dickwell from Trinity College, With Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahesh Goonathilake, Piyal Wijethunge, Ruwan Kalpage, Damien Nadarajah, Marlon Vong Hagt, A.H Sheriffdeen, A.C.M Lafir and Sajith Fernando from St. Anthony’s College. There have also been 29 centuries scored in this encounter to date, with 17 belonging to St’ Anthony’s College and 12 to Trinity College. Trinity College last won an outright win against Anthonys in 2012 under the leadership of Niroshan Dickwella, who now plays for the national team as a wicketkeeper and batsman where the Trinitians were able to shower the cricket pitch with their resilience. St. Anthony’s College were the holders of the John Halangoda trophy after the 1st innings win by St. Anthony’s in 2019. The Trinitians showcased exceptional performance this year which steered the team only closer to an outright victory if not for the interruption by the rain on both the days. With only a 1st innings victory The Trinitians managed to bring back the trophy to where it belongs. Review by Nimuthu Pathiraja, Chaniru Senhas & Rehan AnandaKumar
“A magnificent work of engineering” would be the most appropriate way to describe the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium, where some unprecedented milestones have been achieved for Sri Lanka Cricket, considering the hilly nature of Kandy. The ground had to be carved straight out of the hill behind the pavilion before being levelled by ten feet, so that the end result would be one of the most alluring venues for sports in Sri Lanka. A special feature of this famous ground is the fact that it supports pace bowlers who are more commonly known as fast bowlers. During the period of Trinity’s legendary Principal Rev. A. G. Fraser in 1915 the stadium was opened by the Governor, Sir Robert Chalmers. however, the conversion of the stadium to an international one was done under the guidance of Hon. Gamini Dissanayake, a prominent past pupil of Trinity College, in 1982. The then President of the country Hon. J R Jayawardane opened the stadium as the 2nd international cricket playing venue in Sri Lanka Along with the forthcoming 41st limited overs encounter with St. Anthony’s College Kandy, this picturesque stadium will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of its first international test match which was played against Australia on the 22nd of April, 1983. Despite complete domination by the mighty Aussies in the above-said match, several promising cricketers such as Duleep Mendis, Arjuna Ranatunga and Sidath Weththamuny whom would later be named as Sri Lankan cricket legends scored several gritty innings. Asgiriya also hosted a fixture in the 1996 ODI World Cup where Sri Lanka scored the highest-ever score in an innings at that time, 398 runs against Kenya. However Arguably the most remarkable match which was ever hosted here would be the record-breaking test match against England in 2007, where several milestones were achieved. The most prominent being Muttiah Muralitharan becoming the bowler with the most wickets in test match history with the dismissal of Paul Collingwood. Although Muralitharan is an Antonian, he would be sure to have delightful memories at Asgiriya. This significant test match also was the 100th test match of Chaminda Vaas, one of Sri Lanka’s greatest pace bowlers. Another highlight was the magnificent retirement to Sanath Jayasooriya’s test career where he smashed James Anderson for 6 boundaries in one over. Trinity’s own stalwart Kumar Sangakkara was the player of the match with a magnificent century, Sri Lanka won the game by 88 runs which was significant and well deserved for the last match to be played at this historic stadium. Many Trinitians have represented Sri Lanka at the international level such as Ravi Ratnayake, Nilantha Rathnayake, Kumar Sangakkara, Ranjan Madugalle who incidentally is the only match referee in the world to officiate in 500+ matches and more recently Niroshan Dickwella and Matheesa Pathirana, Hasitha Boyagoda all of whom have been groomed and coached at this historic stadium. The 41st one day encounter which is scheduled to be held on the 29th of April for Sir Richard Aluvihare trophy, will also be played at this historic venue where the lions will be looking forward to grabbing their final victory of their winning streak, which includes the all-island schools one day championship, all island schools two-day championship and the John Halangoda Trophy. An Article by Chaniru Senhas, Nimuthu Pathiraja and Rehan Anandakumar
මහනුවර ත්රිත්ව විද්යාලය පදනම් වී ඇත්තේ ක්රිස්තියානි සාරධර්ම සංස්කෘතිය මත වන අතර එය සිසුන්ට පෙළපොත් පදනම් කරගත් අධ්යාපනයට වඩා සිසුන් මිනිසුන් ලෙස හැඩගස්වන වටිනාකම් මනස් තුළ රෝපණය කරයි. සිසුන් ඉක්මනින් එහි ව්යුහයන් සමඟ පමණක් නොව, එහි පොහොසත් ඉතිහාසය සහ සහෝදරත්වය සහ "පවුල" පිළිබඳ ගැඹුරු සංකල්පය සමඟ බැඳේ. මෙම පවුලේ වැදගත් කොටසක් වන්නේ අනධ්යන කාර්ය මණ්ඩලයයි.
“The land of youth and dream…” Time does fly by. Fourteen years ago, I walked in through the gates of Trinity for the first time, confused; the same as any other six-year-old on their first day of school. Needless to say, I was completely oblivious to the enormity of where I had walked into. Surprisingly though, it took me nearly a decade to realize this in its entirety. In the meantime, however, unbeknownst to me, I was being transformed. “The men that tanned the hide of us,Our daily foes and friends,” The beauty of a Trinitian classroom is how static it stays at the core, through the years. Although the cheery waves of hands have now turned into firm handshakes, although the pointless chatter has now turned into deep conversation, the warmth and inclusivity of walking into the classroom has remained unchanged, fourteen years on. The fact that it persists, even after many iterations of classmates, shows that it isn’t coincidental. Fundamentally, the classroom at Trinity has always been more than just a place of learning. We’ve always been taught to mature mentally and socially, just as much as we’ve been taught to mature intellectually. Differences were put aside, and a sense of harmony and brotherhood was instilled. Such is how I met who I already know to be some of the most amazing people I would ever meet. We have gone through so much together. We’ve played together, fought together, fooled around together, learnt together, laughed and cried together, but most importantly, we’ve grown together. We walked in as complete strangers to one another, and we leave as anything but. We were, (and certain teachers can vouch for this) unbearable at times, but meeting teachers from years back, and seeing them hold back tears, must mean we had done something right. If we meant anything to them, they meant the same, and more, to us. “And where’s the wealth, I’m wondering,Could buy the cheers that roll,” If there was one place where this togetherness was on full display, it was at school matches. The sights and sounds of the Trinitians in white were spectacular, least said. In chants, everyone joined in. The presence that Trinity had on the field was, and still is, gargantuan. In every score and every concession, in every victory and every defeat, we were never silent. I, regrettably, have never been a sportsman at Trinity, but if it feels as surreal as it does on the sidelines, I can only imagine how it must feel on the pitch. What’s even more astonishing yet, is the decorum maintained throughout it all. In times when hooliganism is synonymous with schools’ sporting culture, it is refreshing to see Trinity having its sportsmanship extend to the crowds as well. Never did I think that I would be missing the sheer joy of being a part of a brilliant Trinity crowd, as much as I do now. “Yet here shall beat the heart of us,The school we handed on.” For the last time, I walked out the very gates I walked in on day one, metamorphosed. Fourteen years is no short time, but then again, time does fly when you’re having fun. I was pleasantly surprised, and touched, to hear that some of my teachers from over a decade ago, still remembered my name. It shows, firstly, how profound of a connection our teachers had with us, but also secondly, how fourteen years just breezed through. Some of the fonder memories of Junior school, I still remember flawlessly to this day. It is heartwarming on one hand but worrying on the other. In light of what Trinity has done for me, what I’ve done back is microscopic. It is a weight I’ve carried for a while now, ever since the realization of how extraordinary Trinity is. Even among my colleagues, there are several who have brought massive glory to the name of the school in their own specialties. They’ve added to the legacy of Trinity. I haven’t. But it is the very same cohesion and brotherhood that I have imparted in me, that makes me think, “We did great, together”. I hope, sincerely, that the endeavors of my peers are enough to overshadow the lack of them in me. However, an entire society waits outside the gates for us. I would be content with myself, knowing I would be doing Trinity justice, if I put my learnings and experiences at school to good use, in bettering myself, and people around me. It, then, is only a ceremonial goodbye. The individuals I’ve met on the way, and the camaraderie we’ve formed amongst one another, is bound to be long-lasting. But more importantly, the teachings of Trinity, both academic and extra-academic, will surely be a pat-on-the-back of reassurance, wherever life takes me. “They were great days and jolly days,At the best school of all.” I will miss playing in the quadrangle. I will miss the walks past the Chapel, as we talk about everything under the sun. I will miss being punished by my teachers, with my colleagues by my side. I will miss all the banter in the classroom, even when it turned against me. I will miss chanting at the top of my lungs at every match, and I will miss singing the school song at every assembly. I will long for my schooling days back; better days, great days and jolly days. But I will not miss Trinity, because I will never lose it in me. I take my school tie off my uniform, for the last time, yearning for the next time I will end up wearing it. A tribute by Sadesh Rajapakse (Class of 2021) Extracts quoted from ‘The Best School of All’ by Sir Henry Newbolt available at https://trinitycollege.lk/thecollegesong/
An article by Chaniru Senhas (Grade 8) Boxing at Trinity Boxing has traditionally been one of Trinity’s most exciting sports, both among alumni and students. The beginnings of Boxing dates to 1907 when only younger students were allowed to be a part of the sport. Since 1913, Boxing became a main-stream sport in college and many inter-house tournaments were held. Consequently, in 1914 Trinity won its first battle for the Stubbs Shield. Trinity boxing became defunct in 1962, but, it sprang back to life in 1975 with the trainers being Bobby Jayaweera, S. B. Kiridena, Leslie Handunge and Sarath Jayasinghe and culminated with winning the Stubbs in 1983. Sadly, the second death-knell was dealt to Trinity boxing in 1984 and was again revived in 2005 and continues to this day. Joe Louis of Ceylon Leslie Donovan Perera Handunge, better known as Leslie Handunge, who has been a colleague of Duncan White, was the only Olympic boxer produced by Trinity. He was born on the 18th of June, 1921 and he lived to an age of 100 years. He was one of the finest sportsmen produced by Trinity College. After joining Trinity, he was guided by many coaches. He lived in Matale at the time. Leslie represented Garret House in four major sports: cricket, boxing, rugby, and athletics. His siblings too were well-known sportsmen and sportswomen in their respective fields. Leslie became captain of the College Boxing Team in 1939 while keeping the family tradition as his father too was the captain of the College Boxing team. He was a multitalented athlete who also achieved a place in the National Boxing team. Immediately after leaving Trinity in 1940, Leslie joined the College staff from 1942 to 1944. He enrolled in Peradeniya University’s Agriculture Faculty in 1947 to pursue a degree in agriculture, and subsequently won the Manning Cup for Best Boxer at the National Boxing Championship Meet the following year as an undergraduate. Leslie was also the Director of Physical Education at the University of Peradeniya. Leslie obtained a Diploma in Physical Education from the University of Loughborough UK and a Masters Degree in Physical Education from the University of Springfield USA. He gained his pride and respect by representing Sri Lanka at the 1948 London Olympics where he participated in the men’s flyweight event. In round one of this event he gained victory by defeating Guillermo Porteiro who was an Uruguayan boxer. Round 2 is where he was defeated by Spartaco Bandinelli, an Italian boxer. Not only at the London Olympics, but Leslie also participated in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He was awarded Gold medal in round 1 by defeating Walter Tello, a Panamanian boxer in the men’s flyweight event. In round 2 which was a redraw, handunge was defeated by Dai Dower, a boxer from Britain. Following his Olympic performance, Leslie enrolled in Loughborough College to pursue a Diploma in Physical Education, becoming the first Ceylonese to do so. At the age of 31, Lesie, who was also famously known as ‘Joe Louis of Ceylon,’ announced his retirement from the sport. Gaining the essence from many past sportsmen produced by Trinity, Boxing continues to be a key sport in College upholding the values of leadership and teamwork. In Leslie’s own words: “So Trinity –Play hard, play clean,Do nothing dirty, nothing meanDo your best, you can’t do more,Play the game and forget the scoreRespect your opponents treat them withchivalryAbove all, maintain the traditions of Trinity.“ Leslie Handunge
Ceylon & the Church Missionary Society The period immediately following the fall of the Kandyan monarchy was one of rapid changes in Ceylon in general and Kandy in particular. A new community was emerging along the island’s beaches, nourished by the British monarchy and the Christian faith. However, as freedom conflicts raged in the newly conquered hill country, this new era took its time to permeate across the entire island. Following the upcountry subjugation of Kandyan Chiefs in 1815, the British took control of the Kandyan kingdom, and one of the measures of this new government was to create new Christian roots within the center of the island. This task was to be handled by the many missionary societies which arrived at Ceylon such as the London mission and the Baptist mission which were among the major societies who were keen on spreading their teachings in Ceylon. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) was well established in India by 1814, with interests in new lands such as Ceylon. The new opportunity in Ceylon piqued their interest, and the first two CMS missionaries were sent here but were later reassigned to the India mission. CMS again assigned four missionaries to Ceylon in 1817. These four missionaries were tasked with staying and carrying on the work of the previous missionaries who had been restated. Names of many famous and well-loved missionaries came to be recorded over the years, but in the Central Province, evangelistic agencies were only able to be properly established in the year 1853. However, prior to this, the CMS occupied Kandy as a mission station in 1819. The Kandy mission and Rev. William Oakley Sir Robert Brownrigg was the then Governor of Ceylon, and he was well-known for his efforts to keep the Central Province under control during this period. However, thanks to him and the initiative of a few missionaries, a mission station in Kandy was established to carry out the society’s work. Although a few missionaries who circulated among other mission stations took care of the Kandy mission in the coming years, the most connected name to Kandy is the Rev. William Oakley. Establishing the Reverend’s lineage is an impossible task because there have been a staggering number of William Oakleys in recent years, and misinformation is unavoidable. The Reverend William Oakley, husband of Frances Mary Oakley, is the William Oakley in discussion. The Reverend Oakley arrived in Galle with his wife Mary on September 21, 1839, to begin his work as a missionary in Ceylon. Few sources claim that he was tasked to serve in a few missions before moving to the Central Province, but the clearest records show that the Reverend was immediately tasked to the Kandy mission, where he and his wife were well-loved by the local congregation for their work and commitment to their mission. The CMS’s vision has always been to bring the Christian faith to the local community in a practical yet precise manner. Recognizing this, Rev. Oakley turned to the local language and conducted worship services in Sinhala and English languages. This drew a sizable crowd of Kandyans to his congregation. The Oakley’s Church Rev. Oakley was a devout Christian who never considered returning to England during his 32-year tenure in the Kandyan mission. In 1855, he worked in the Kandy mission, taking the initiative and laying the groundwork for one of the town’s most well-known churches, the Holy Trinity Church. However, because Rev Oakley was the founding father of the church and his devotion to the church, it became known as “Oakley’s Church.” Following the formation of a well-nurtured Christian community, the Rev. William Oakley was transferred to other missions such as Nuwara-Eliya after his loving wife Mary Oakley died in 1859, and he continued his work as the secretary and counselor of the Ceylon CMS for another twenty years. His work in Kandy was later delegated to a number of clerics, including native priests such as Rev Cornelius Jayasinha. Birth of the Kandy Collegiate School As Oakley’s Church served its purpose over the years, the Rev. John Ireland -Jones arrived with the idea of establishing a Christian-centered school of education in Kandy. Rev. Ireland -Jones opened the Kandy Collegiate School on the same grounds as the Holy Trinity Church because the atmosphere was conducive to such an endeavor and because of Rev. Oakley’s assistance. This new institution existed for a few years with the support of the local Trinity Church congregation and was attended by the sons of local chiefs, but it was forced to close in 1871. Trinity College Kandy, the school we know today was founded when the Kandy Collegiate School was reopened by the Rev. Richard Collins, and it would not have been possible without the assistance of Oakley’s church and its congregation. Despite the formation of a new school, Oakley’s church was the front face of the compound, and the College sought a place of worship in the Church. In certain cases, the College was even referred to as Oakley’s College. Many generations of Trinitians and local Christians have spent time in the Oakley’s church. The church was home to everything from weekly Holy Communion services to daily morning prayers and evensongs! However, with the expanding Kandyan Christian community and the ever-improving Trinity College, Oakley’s Church needed to expand to fulfill rising demands. In the early 1920s, the church was nearing the end of its life as a historic structure. Many people expressed dissatisfaction with its restricted capacity and unmaintainable interior. It was Rev. A.G. Fraser, Trinity’s Golden Era Principal, who chose to build a new place of worship for Trinity College. The Oakley’s Church was demolished in 1939. Reminiscing the Past and Looking to the End There is no definite record of what happened to Reverend Oakley after he served as the CMS counselor. While some sources claim that he returned to England at the end of his term, other sources say that he passed away and was buried in Nuwara Eliya Mrs.
The year was 1966, and a day scholar who sang treble in the Choir and had arrived early for the 6.30 pm practice was standing by the main entrance to the Trinity College Chapel when a man who could not have been more than 15 years his senior, climbed up the steps to the Chapel, bade him good evening, and exchanged a few pleasantries. Once practice began, Mr. Brown who at the time was the Choir Master, invited this young man to the Choir stalls. The choristers, out of curiosity, watched as he walked in with a slight limp. Mr. Brown introduced him as the soon-to-be Choirmaster of Trinity College Kandy. His name was Ronald Thangiah. Ronnie, as he was fondly known, was an affable and charismatic young character who had joined Trinity College merely to take up a job but he soon fell in love with the Chapel and the homely welcoming environment of the school. As an Old Boy of S. Thomas’ his consistent teasing of the school was soon gotten accustomed to. Mr. Ronnie Thangiah, who was a passionate, versatile musician, was suitable to be the Choirmaster to resume Maj. Gordon Burrows’ work at Trinity College. Besides training the Choir, as an outstanding hockey player at S. Thomas’ College, he was invited to be coach and acting Master-in-charge of Hockey for the under- 13 and under 15 teams of Trinity shortly after his arrival. Mr. Thangiah’s post as MIC was temporary. But even through the course of his old age, his love for the sport of hockey remained unchanged. In addition, Mr. Thangiah was also House-Master of Alison and a drama fanatic, producing plays for the Choir to perform including cast members like Lt. Col. Leonard de Alwis who was a chorister at the time. His enthusiasm for drama played a vital role in Trinity’s Centenary Celebrations when the Choir performed a 3-night show of the famous West Side Story. He was also in charge of the TCLA at one point. This combination of roles committed him to the life of Trinity—one that could never be forgotten. In addition to the Choir and hockey, his contribution to the forming of the Glee club was also an important part of his life at Trinity which then led to the beginning of Middle School singing groups. Mr. Thangiah also worked closely with the Principal Mr. C. J. Oorloff as the Principal’s Secretary and continued most of his work after Principal Oorloff left in 1967. Mr. Thangiah was remembered fondly specially during Choir trips when he would strum his guitar and sing many classical and popular tunes in his gravelly voice. His ability to play by ear came in handy and the boys would sing their hearts out with cheek-to-cheek smiles. Though the room was filled with the unbearable deafening tones of hoarse voices from all over from singing for hours, it brought out the little children in them and livened up the room with ecstatic energy and fun. His deep love for Trinity brought a new sense of passion and excitement into the Choir, and the bond he shared with his fellow choristers did not stop at the end of Choir Practice but also in the bus rides with some of his choristers in the initial years. Next to S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, he considered Trinity as his second home especially after he was appointed Alison House Master and lived in the quarters attached to the dorm with his family. Mr. Thangiah loved the community life that living on the premises provided, and he became especially attached to the Chapel as Choirmaster. The brotherhood in the boarding drew him to spend his time with the boarders. Mr. Thangiah’s life at Trinity was a complete and full one, experiencing every part of college. His love for Trinity grew so deep, that he composed the “The School on the Hill” to express it, as it so wonderfully does, all-encompassing “Trinity” in one scene. The Choir performed it at the farewell of another icon of Trinity, Mr. G.Y. Sahayam. The Choir continues to sing it at the end of its last practice of a Term. As many might remember him, Mr. Thangiah was faithful to where he was called to serve. He never hesitated to speak up for what was right, so much so, he was known to walk up to the principal’s bungalow to make his point if participation at Chapel events was neglected. This he did not forget to teach the Choristers. He was one of the rare stalwarts who upheld good traditions and passed them on to the next generation. He taught not only singing and music to the boys, he taught them life! Joining School in 1966 and leaving in 1973 and rejoining later in 1986 to serve 27 years, Mr. Ronnie Thangiah had his last practice at the Chapel, at the end of September 2006. As a chorister recalls: “It was his last day of practice, I’m not sure what we would have practiced, but afterward we went to our usual spot by the pond, had chocolate cake and sang “Stand by me”. Then he said goodbye and walked out to his car and left. And we cried.” Mr. Thangiah had a special place in his heart for the Choir and the choristers; they held each other in a mutual respect. He is well remembered as a person who cared for and helped the choristers in every way he could. In the later years, he would go out of his way to drop choristers who had no transport after Choir Practice. His home was always a welcoming place where many a chorister would go to seek his counsel. Naturally, bringing the Choir to a high standard with an enjoyable array of music was his mission, but he considered the time he spent with these young boys as the highlight and the most beloved moments for him. He was a fascinating musician, mentor, and a friend to
On the 3rd of December 2007, Sri Lanka hosted England at Asgiriya for the 1st Test Match. This test match was remarkable since the Sri Lankan bowling spearhead Muttiah Muralitharan was able to achieve the world record of being the highest Test Wicket Taker (covered in the 1st Edition). Apart from that, the game was remembered by many due to numerous reasons. Following are few key highlights of the game. Sri Lanka’s tireless workhorse Chaminda Vaas’s 100th Test Match The match at Kandy also turned out to be Sri Lanka’s tireless workhorse, Chaminda Vaas‘s 100th Test Match. Vass was the third Sri Lankan to cross the 100th Test Match mark after Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya. At the other end of the spectrum, Vaas slipped under the radar in his 100th Test. The tireless workhorse though, made his presence felt by clinching five pivotal wickets in the game. Sanath Jayasuriya bidding farewell to Test Cricket in his own style The dashing Sri Lankan all-rounder announced his retirement from the national duties after serving the nation for 110 Test Matches, where he scored 8000 runs and clinched 98 wickets. Jayasuriya came out all-guns-blazing in the second innings of his last Test to essay an astonishing knock of 78. It included him smashing James Anderson all around the ground for six boundaries in a single over. With Anderson pitching the ball up every time, on a wicket that was flat, shots rumbled through the willow of Jayasuriya. The ball kept rushing to the boundary ropes with lightning speed. Which eventually made Jayasuriya only the 3rd batsman to reach this milestone in Test Match cricket after the batting sensations from West Indies, Chris Gayle, and Ramesh Sarwan. Sri Lanka Winning the Test Match by 88 Runs The Test Match turned out to be a thriller contest. Matt Prior and Ian Bell played with determination, which seemed to have taken England to safe waters on the last day of the match. Suddenly, England harboured hopes of escaping from the defeat like they did in 2003 at Asgiriya. Unfortunately for England, and fortunately for Sri Lanka a clatter of wickets right at the end of the day’s play saw them drowning towards a defeat. The Sri Lankan bowling spearhead, Muralitharan, yet again provided the crucial breakthrough by taking the key wickets of both Bell and Prior. The Doosra he bowled to dismiss Prior would be remembered for years by cricket fans. Lasith Malinga had the last laugh when he dismissed Mathew Hogard with his trademark Yorker. England was all out for 261 and Sri Lanka won the match by 88 Runs. Kumar Sangakkara’s Match winning performance with the bat Kumar Sangakkara‘s 92 anchored the Sri Lankan first inning, and in the 2 innings Sangakkara scored his 16th test match 100, with that century he was able to score centuries against all Test-playing Nations, he was only the 9th batsman in Test Match Cricket history of 130 years (by 2007) to reach this milestone. Kumar Sangakkara went to on to score 152, which also made him the first batsman in the World to score 150 plus scores in every 4 consecutive Tests. These stellar performances guided him to be awarded as the Man of the Match. The Last International Match at Asgiriya Above all it was the last International Encounter at Asgiriya, Sri Lanka’s 2nd International Test Ground. The scenic and serene ground at Kandy had hosted 27 International Encounters since 1983. In fact, it eventually turned out to be the farewell game not only for Jayasuriya but also for Asgiriya as well. Even though the match was jam-packed with records, history, joy, and victory there were two unfavourable incidents to blight the game. One, the play was stopped due to a swarm of bees invading the pitch in Sri Lanka’s 2 innings, which forced the players to the floor until the bees got away from the ground. Two, the collapse of the iron roof on the Singer Stand on the last day, which ended up injuring four spectators. Sanath Jayasuriya smashing James Anderson all around the ground for six boundaries in a single over. Sri Lanka vs England Match Highlights, at Asgiriya International Cricket Stadium, 2007. Bibliography: Anon, 2007. Murali rallies Sri Lanka to win over England. Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-30839520071205 [Accessed September 4, 2021]. Anon, Asgiriya stadium. Cricinfo. Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/ground/59329.html [Accessed September 5, 2021].