A Service of Thanksgiving to commemorate the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of Trinity College was held at the College Chapel on 17thof January 2022, the College Founders’ Day. The service commenced at 8.00 am with a Procession led by the College National Drum and Dance Troupe. The choir rendered “Holy Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!” as the Processional Hymn and this was followed by the Bidding Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. Shelton Samadanam. The Principal, Rev. Araliya Jayasundara OSB, then reflected on “The Founders and Foundations of Trinity,” recalling with gratitude the Commitment to God and Service to Man by a group of most remarkable men and women who were here before us. He noted that “Trinity was not built in a day, neither its traditions nor its buildings,” harkening back to 150 years of excellence at Trinity. The Bible Reading, Epistle and Gospel were read by the Co-Vice Principal, Vice Principal and Principal, respectively. The Presiding Bishop of the Church of Ceylon and the Bishop of Kurunagala, Rt. Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando presided over the Solemn Thanksgiving Service and the Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo delivered the sermon. In his opening words, he said that the day was exceptionally auspicious as, apart from marking the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Trinity College, it was a Poya Day, and the day also marked the consecration of the new Bishop of Kandy. Prayers of the People were delivered by several members of the Staff and the Senior Prefect, Dulara Alawattegema, following which the greeting of peace was led by the Bishop of Kurunegala, Rt. Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando. An Offertory procession representing the different activities of the College then took place. Following Holy Communion, the Hallelujah chorus, final prayers and blessings and the Recessional, the Thanksgiving Service to mark the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of Trinity College was concluded.
The inaugural Rev AG Fraser Memorial Oration was held on January 17th 2022, the Founders’ Day of Trinity College, as a key event of the College celebrating her Sesquicentennial Year. This Oration, which will be held annually, is dedicated to celebrating the Life and Work of Rev AG Fraser not only as Trinity’s Grand Principal but as arguably the finest Educationist of the day in the British Empire. It has oft been said that “If Ireland Jones founded the College, Rev. A. G. Fraser was the one who truly made it ‘The Best School of All’”, certainly one of the leading schools not just in Ceylon but indeed outside her shores as well, considering the substantial number of boys from other countries who were educated here. The proceedings commenced with the hoisting of the National, College and Sesquicentennial flags, the rendering of the National Anthem and College song by the College Cadet Band and the lighting of the traditional Oil lamp to the accompaniment of Kandyan Drums provided by the College Drum and Dance Troupe. The Principal, Rev. Araliya Jayasundara OSB welcomed those present and introduced the Keynote speakers. Present for the occasion were the Venerable Mahanayaka and Anunayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter, a Senior member of the Maha Sangha from the Malwatte Chapter, the Bishop of Colombo, the Bishop of Kurunegala, the Bishop Emeritus of Colombo, His Worship the Mayor of Kandy, and several dignitaries. A short video clip regarding the Rev Fraser was screened thereafter. The Oration was delivered by Prof. Malik Ranasinghe, a distinguished Old Boy who is a Senior Professor in Civil Engineering, and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa. Dr. Romesh Ranawana, also a distinguished Old Boy and a widely respected AI expert delivered the response. The topic of the Oration by Prof. Ranasinghe was “Towards a Lasting Trinity College Kandy.” In his speech, Prof. Ranasinghe discussed various aspects of the current educational system, Trinity’s approach, and suggested several reforms. The video of his oration can be viewed at the end of this review. Following the oration, Dr Romesh Ranawana responded. He explained how modern education can be delivered by blending AI and new adaptations of technology in our current education system to initiate a new curriculum at Trinity College Kandy and the entire country. Dr. Ranawana focused on using technology to introduce objective teaching. The students were drawn to how the new curriculum would enable the use of technology, opening opportunities to learn, innovate and execute 21st century programs while perceiving education from the student’s perspective, allowing them to progress at their own pace. After the conclusion of the response, Prof. Ranasinghe and Dr. Ranawana, were invited to lead a Question-and-Answer session. They discussed some very insightful questions raised by members of the audience. The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by the Senior Prefect Dulara Alawattegama.
I stand before you, Trinitians past and present, members of the staff, parents, and well-wishers, from this ‘brave and ancient land’ God has given us, on the threshold of the T150 or sesquicentennial anniversary of Trinity College Kandy. Welcome to this virtual launch on the day we mark the 99th anniversary of the laying of foundation of the Trinity Chapel. We are a multicultural community of learning, animated from her origins by the Christian vision of education and the dynamic values of the national cultures. Trinity is committed to the pursuit of excellence, remaining within the traditions set forth by our illustrious pioneers and a time-tested set of core values. One of the distinctive features of Trinity, inter alia is desire to create and sustain an ethos of diversity and quality of purpose. All aspects of life at Trinity strive to provide a holistic and integral education, i.e. a series of formative experiences that illumine the human, social, emotional, spiritual, and professional aptitudes of the child. The historical trajectories of Trinity spanning over one and a half centuries, portray an authentic commitment to this model of education that inspires and empowers the Trinitian to blossom in to a ‘Christ-like character’ by his authentic and wholesome pursuit of wisdom and virtue. Every Jubilee, within the Christian ethos as enumerated in the Bible is a moment of renewal. For the Trinity Family, such a renewal can only be a reinterpretation of the Respice Finem in the milieu of contemporary society. It is a duc in altum [venturing into the deep] exploring the vistas of human excellence. For us Trinitians, the Respice captures this journey. Itis a dynamic phrase, which means to look back, look at, look ahead, and look around: a 360-degree vision of the present while preserving the focus on the end. It is a caution against the tendency to be impulsive and abrupt that dilutes our potential to flourish. It is also a call to enhance our capacity to articulate the ‘big story’ or the ‘greater scheme of life’ against the pitfalls of domestic petti narratives. Amidst the cacophony of mediocrity, a culture of superficiality and sensationalism, Respice Finem beckons us to retain the divinely inspired value mix as the potent motif of our being in a niche. Our celebration, thus is an act of praise offered on the altar of renewal and rededication, which stands of four noble pillars: To Celebrate the Past – We remember the past joyfully, to be inspired by it. Map the Future – We look for stability by defining our path. Service to Humanity – We foster a spirit of service to elevate others. Care for our Common Home – We commit to protect nature and conserve it. T150 Sesquicentennial Anniversary Celebration, thus, is an opportune moment for the Trinity Family to recall and renew the pioneering vision of those erudite men and women, who ventured into new horizons, exploring new vistas of excellence. The Trinity journey begins in the mid-19th century, when in 1857, The Rev. John Ireland Jones arrived from England to open the Kandy Collegiate School with the object of reaching the sons of the Kandyan chiefs and bringing them under a Christian education. This first school was opened on 16th October 1857, which was closed due to the dearth of students. Early in 1872, the Rev Richard Collins of St John’s College, Cambridge was sent to Kandy, to reinaugurate Trinity on the 17th of January 1872 – the Birthday of Trinity College Kandy. From then on Trinity began her slow, yet steady journey, under the stewardship of many dedicated missionaries. These men of God of revered memory, instilled a vision of holistic human growth that has withstood the test of time. The turn of the 20th century marks another significant watershed in the annals of Trinity. Our current standing locally and globally owes much to the robust vision of the 20th century custodians of Trinity, among which Rev. Alexander Garden Fraser stands out. Within few years, Rev. Fraser transformed a little-known school in Kandy into one of the leading schools in the Island. His successors simply nurtured the budding plant to make it a full-grown majestic tree as it stand today. Our pioneers set forth at their task of building Trinity edifice on a sound biblical basis. Primarily, they lived by the conviction that every human being has a unique identity as God’s sublime creation. The inclusive vision of Trinity is a living testimony to their original inspiration. The values inculcated and promoted are simply co-extensive with the evangelizing mission of these holy men, the expansion of God’s reign – to bare witness to the newness of the kingdom to come. In retrospect, the pioneers of Trinity were counter-cultural in their mission. Against the backdrop of gradual ethno-religious segregation of our island nation, Trinity became an oasis of mutual co-existence. T150 History Project will gift the Trinity Family a well-documented historical narrative and an awe-inspiring timeline, which contains the ‘marvelous deeds of many’. Thus, our celebration of the past is not merely a sentimental one. It is thoroughly informed and gives us a potent capacity to remain intact in promoting an inclusive culture of respect and solidarity against growing exclusivist tribal tendencies. The inspiration of our founders will continue to drive us. In the perennial words originally attributed to the 12th century theologian John of Salisbury: “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature added to ours.” May their inspiration continue to transfigure us! What drives Trinity is her CULTURE. Trinity is about QUALITY of People, Processes and Product. Hence, we must collectively resist and revolt against everything that contaminates the wholesome Trinity ethos, especially corruption in many and varied forms that desecrates the hallowed name of Trinity. The past we celebrate on
Let me wish a Happy Founder’s Day to the Trinity Family. I share the sentiments of late Mr. Lionel Fernando [Principal: 1968 – 1977] on the divinely inspired commitment of the great men of god, who pioneered Trinity: “They were instruments of a divine imperative and therefore beyond our judgement or of posterity. We can only look back in gratitude for what they in their time, each in its own distinct style, have achieved to justify a place in the history of this school and also of the nation”. This day also marks the official commencement of our preparation for the T150 – the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of Trinity College Kandy [1872 – 2022]. As I have reiterated in many fora, it is a privileged occasion to celebrate the past and envision the future. T150 History Project comprising of “Touchstones, Stories and Connections” would undoubtedly evoke fond memories in the Trinity Family. “T150” proper or the infrastructure development initiative provides the locus of our visioning for the next half-a-century. The administrative and operational interventions currently underway preserves us within the framework of solidly establishing ‘quality in people, processes, and product’. The third aspect of the jubilee is the T150 Celebration – series of curricular, co-curricular, sports and alumni events that will resonate Trinity Quality. These events hopefully will be a stark reminder to all of us of the perennial authentic vision of Trinity – “an oasis of quality that celebrates diversity”. There are four pillars on which we will structure our year-long anniversary celebration: Celebrating the Past Envisioning the Future Service to Humanity Preserving ‘our common home’ [nature] The above signify interiority. It is to bolster the core [the soul] of our alma mater. It is a collective attempt to resist the temptations of ‘competition and comparison’ that mostly serve the ‘glamour of the wrapping’. Such trends simply dilute the Trinity legacy. The looming socio-cultural and economic challenges ahead of us and the over-riding sense of mediocrity and indecency force us to reinstate our processes and empower the human capital. Hence, I renew my call to the Trinity Family to be an integral part of this journey. We depend on your financial, material, and professional assistance in driving these projects. Stay safe and Blessings. Respice Finem Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSBPrincipal