Remembering Viji……..

This was an article written by Sir for the souvenir published for the “Royal Rugby Fiesta 2007″ and was posted as a comment in my previous post. Thank Kadalay for it…….

DOWN MEMORY LANE

Having been within the precincts of Royal College, in one capacity or another for a total of 73 of my 80 years, the spirit of this wonderful school of ours has found its way into my blood and penetrated my bones!

I started as a student in 1933 at the former Royal Preparatory school from where I crossed over to the Royal College in 1939 and left in 1947. For the next two years I taught at St. John’s, Nugegoda while studying for examinations and was then requested by my former principal at College Mr. J.C.A. Corea to stand in for one of my own teachers – Mr. V.O. de Alvis Gunawardana who had retired prematurely and so in January 1950 I came to teach and what started as a temporary assignment became my life’s work. In 1971 I was appointed Head Master by the then Principal Mr. D.G. Welikala and in 1978 elevated to Deputy Principal by Mr.L.D.H. Peiris. I reached the age of retirement in 1987 but two successive Principals requested me to continue on a departmentally approved contract. Ten years later in 1997 I decided to accept the old boy’s request to work in the Union Office where I have been to date.

Mine has been an eventful stay during which I took the rough with the smooth and enjoyed every minute of it. If I were given a choice to live my life all over again I would not choose differently,

I have seen many generations of Royalists come and go, many teachers and many Principals come and go and I have watched the changes that the winds of the passing years have brought – but one thing has remained constant – the Royalist student community which has not changed radically. Let us bow our heads and thank the Powers that Be that the present Royalists from the Andersons to the Zaheeds the assorted Pereras, Fernandos and Silvas, Saldins the Pillais and the Weerasinghes are no different from their counterparts of earlier vintages and that they are even now laying in their personal treasuries of rich and golden memories of forbidden fruit which they enjoyed.

Let us all pray that the spirit of Royal will remain as it is till the end of time!

Vijitha Weerasinghe

Goodbye Sir, Royal will never forget you………………….

It is with a sense of great sadness and a feeling of emptiness that I inform all those whom it may concern that, Mr. Viji Weerasinghe, an exemplary character who epitomized the true meaning of what it is to be a Royalist, passed away in hospital today.

Mr. Viji Weerasinghe was hospitalized at the Asiri Surgical Unit following a fall. He left us today with a legacy that will forever be in our heart and with memories that will forever be in our minds…….

God bless you dear Sir, for all what you have done to Royal College as a student, teacher and and administrator, and for showing us who a true Royalist is………..