By: Dinith Pathiraja, SPC Coach

St. Peter’s college, Colombo 4 had another extremely successful year in 2013 continuing their golden era in the sport of tennis which the College has been enjoying in the recent past. Since the sport recommenced at St. Peter’s College in January 1998, it has been an unparalleled success story in this sport for the Peterites.

St. Peter’s College won the All Island Inter-schools Tennis Championship’s overall trophy for the 6th time in 7 years, regaining it after they had lost it in 2012, after winning it for 5 consecutive years from 2007-11. Thus in the recent Inter-school tennis history, St. Peter’s have won it 7 times in 9 years. This is a great achievement considering the tough competition which is prevalent in the schools tennis. This domination of one sport by one school has not been seen in any sport in the recent past because of the depth of competition among the schools in sports. This year the overall trophy was decided over 3 age groups, namely the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 championships.

The main architects behind this success are Rector Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel who has always been there for the tennis team of St. Peter’s and Sports Coordinator Rev. Fr. Lakmin Silva. The quiet but effective work of their Master-in-charge Bernard Jesuthasan, supported by the assistant coaches P. Thizant and Delwar Hossain, the Peterites were fortunate to retain the schools’ tennis crown.

Their long-standing coach Dinith Pathiraja is the main architect of this success. He has been at St. Peter’s College since the inauguration of their tennis programme, in January 1998. And for the past 16 years, his vision, commitment and dedication towards improving tennis in every age category is exemplary. By producing so many National champions, winners of age categories, Sri Lanka players and performers at the international level, he has shown that he has got the right formula and system working for him. St. Peter’s College owes much to their long-serving coach for the overwhelming success of Peterite tennis. (RSS)

Algi Wijewickrema, Editor of the SPC-OBU has crafted a Newsletter that we are pleased to post on our website. A job well done. Congratulations go out to Algi and his team for the hard work and commitment to successfully produce the newsletter from St. Peter's College Old Boys Union. It is in pdf format and may be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

OBU Newsletter

JPAA CANADA is saddened with news of the sudden passing of LALITH WIRATUNGA in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Lalith was at St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya in the 40s & 50s. A brilliant student at college, Lalith entered the Law Faculty passing out as a Barrister & Solicitor. He enjoyed top legal positions in the private sector prior to emigrating to Canada over 20 years back and lived first in Montreal, Quebec before making Kitchener, Ontario his home. Lalith is a nephew of Rev. Fr.Basil Wiratunga, former Rector of St. Peter's College.

Lalith leaves behind his beloved wife Dilanee and two adoring children Shanila and Sheran and two brothers in Sri Lanka Nihal and Asoka who were both Peterites. Lalith was born on April 24, 1939 and passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2013. Lalith also had two 1st cousins at St. Peter's College – Lal Wiratunga (Pre-Seventies Group) and Lyn Wiratunga (Pre-Seventies Group).

Funeral Home:

Erb & Good Family Funeral Home                    www.erbgood.com 

171 King Street South, Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario, CANADA N2J 1P7

Obituary:

Passed away on Thursday December 12, 2013, age 74. Son of the late Alec and Vivian Wiratunga. Husband of Dilanee nee Perera. Father of Shanila and Sheran. Brother of Nihal and Asoka, wife Shirani. Morning Prayers and visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Monday December 16, 2013 from 11–12:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi RC Church, 49 Blueridge Ave, Kitchener on Monday December 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Jim Valk, CR as Celebrant. Interment to follow at Williamsburg Cemetery, Kitchener. Condolences for the family may be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519.745.8445.

A place where many a Peterite prayed to Our Lady, the Grotto at St. Peter’s College, refurbished and looking beautiful was blessed and declared open this morning (4th December 2013) by His Eminence Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi OMI, Bishop of Anuradhapura in a simple ceremony. The College premises was decked in blue and white flags and was in festive mood for the occasion.

Bishop Andradi was welcomed by the Rector, Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel and the priest community at the College. The Old Boys Union which funded the project was represented by the President and several members of the Committee of Management.
Mr. Bernard Jesudasan welcomed the staff, students and everyone present on behalf Fr. Rector and invited Rev. Fr. Crispin Leo to lead the gathering in prayer. The Gospel was read by Fr. Vincent Ashley thereafter, and Bishop Andradi then addressed the students and all present. In his homily aimed primarily at the students of the A/L classes, he highlighted the dangers faced by the younger generation and exhorted the students to always seek the protection of Our Lady and have a deep devotion to her.
He then blessed the grotto and after the recitation of a decade of the Rosary, Fr. Rector thanked the Bishop for his presence and prayers and also thanked everyone who worked hard to make this a reality. He invited the staff and students to say a prayer however short it may be as they pass the grotto.
After the gathering was blessed Bishop Andradi, Dr. Nicholas Jayasekera, the President of the OBU thanked the committee that worked hard to ensure that the project was carried out and completed in time.

Algi Wijewickrema
Hony. Editor (SPC – OBU)