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Principal’s Welcome

A quarter of a century ago, when I sat at the weekly assembly listening to the majestic voice of my Principal Lt. Col. Leonard M. de Alwis, never in my wildest dreams I thought I would receive the singular grace of steering the destinies of my alma mater as her 20th custodian.  

We should never forget that Trinity is an Anglican education mission. Guided by the holistic vision “called-connected and committed”, Christian education presents a model at once deeply Christian in its inspiration and healthily plural in its operation that is consistent with the best in our history.   Trinity needs to offer a paradigm in Christian education praxis. Hence, it goes without saying that we need to strive incessantly to establish a culture of erudition that serves life.

What drives Trinity is her CULTURE. Trinity is about QUALITY of People, Processes and Product. It is the Total Package. We must collectively resist and revolt against everything that contaminates the Trinity ethos, especially corruption in many and varied forms that desecrates the hallowed name of Trinity. It is a multipronged battle we need to fight collectively. 

am sure the Almighty has picked me for a reason, which will only be revealed as we journey on. Let us prepare for the long haul within this shared destiny. Like for the chosen people of Israel mentioned in the Bible, sometimes it can be an arid journey through the wilderness. Yet, we should never lose sight of the end - the promise land. As our motto suggests nothing can blind us to the desired destination - “No Eye has seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him” St. Paul proclaims. 

The current automated, mechanistic, and industrial model of education with its multiple obsessions - linearity, standardization, conformity and testing makes the student a victim of abject competition, in which results / success become the ultimate concern. We must shun and transcend this culture of mediocrity and embrace an organic model of education that celebrates diversity, encourages curiosity, and enhances creativity. It is a paradigm in education management that empowers the teacher and improves teaching. Let us remind ourselves regularly that the primary link in the educational process is the relationship between the teacher and the student. The rest forms the climate that nurtures the primary link. Thus, as late Sir Ken Robinson states “the school is essentially about habits and habitats 

Let us resolve to tread gently for we as the Trinity family tread on dreams of our studentsThe current student body is here at a moment of great consequence for humanity and for the world — a rare inflection point in history where the size and scope of the challenges before us require that we remake our world to renew its promise; that we align our deepest values and commitments to the demands of this epoch.  

Education, thus ought to be a celebration of life. The school is the locus of this celebration - that space where Triune God’s creative, redemptive, and sanctifying plan is routinely enacted. Hence, the school becomes an extension of God’s presence.   

Trinity needs to reoccupy the vanguard of holistic transformation of Sri Lankan education. We should resist the culture of mediocrity and superficiality that tempts us to sacrifice the Sacrosanct Trinity Quality on the altar of social expectations. It is a revolt against a beastly obsession with success and victory.  

Civilization is a race between education and catastrophe. Look around, we are already witnessing ruptures and permanent fault lines appearing consequent to the permissiveness and hedonism of society. Hencewe have a mission to be an oasis of quality, stability and a catalyst of change and culture. Let us make a solemn commitment then, to serve Trinity faithfully in thought, word, and deed. I invite Trinitians all over the world to join our efforts to restore the pride of our alma mater as we eagerly march toward the sesquicentennial anniversary [150] of the Trinity legacy. 

Respice Finem. 

Rev. Fr. Araliya Jayasundara OSB

 

RESPICE FINEM
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