Peterite Honours Night – 2016
Colombo, Sri Lanka – The Old Boys' Union of St. Peter's College had its Honours Night on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the College Hall for the 6th time with a distinguished Old Peterite, Prof. Rohan Jayasekera as the Chief Guest. The OBU has been honouring members who have reached eminence in their chosen professions and in the field of sports thereby brining honour to their Alma Mater and the first time the Peterite OBU organised an Honours night was way back in 1984 during the presidency of Mr. Mano Chanmugam and 72 Old Peterites were honoured on that occasion. Since then four such Honours nights have been held in 1988, 1997, 2002 and 2006 at which 284 eminent Old Boys have been honoured.
The Chief Guest for the occasion, himself a proud product of St. Peter’s College, Prof. Rohan Jayasekara (MBBS; PhD (N’Cle. UK); C.Biol; FRSB (Lond); Hon. FCSSL) is the Emeritus Professor of Anatomy, Medical Geneticist, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. He is a Fellow of the Galton Institute, London, aChartered Biologist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, London, an Honorary Fellow of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Ceylon, a Commonwealth Research Scholar, has a PhD in Cytogenetics from the Department of Human Genetics, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. UK. and much more.
At the conclusion of the opening ceremony that included the lighting of the traditional oil lamp, speeches by the President of the OBU, Mr. Romeish de Mel, the Rector of St. Peter’s College, Rev. Fr. Trevor Martin and the Chief Guest Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Peterite Honours were awarded to 73 eminent Old Boys at this glittering night under 11 categories namely Medicine, Law, Higher Education, Armed Forces, Public Administration, Banking, Entrepreneurship, Trade & Commerce, Art, Horticulture, Sports. There were also 3 special awards presented to Emeritus Rector, Rev. Father Travis Gabriel and two others who had rendered long and loyal service (over 40 years) to St. Peter’s.
Among these recipients were 3 who were honoured posthumously while there were several who had come from Australia, Canada, England, USA and Oman. Upali Obeyesekere of Toronto was also one of the recipient in the "Trade & Commerce" Category.
The Honours award ceremony came to a close with the vote of thanks delivered by the Hony. General Secretary of the OBU and this was followed singing of the National Anthem and cocktails and fellowship for all present.
