A tribute to my Alma Mater St. Anthonys College Kandy

By Lt. Col. Shane Balthazaar (Retd)

 

I think by far what is most unique about St. Anthony's College, Kandy is its setting, its location, its natural scenery with Hunnasgiriya Peak in the background, St. Anthony's is set in the heart of the Kandyan Hills.

It is surrounded by all the ambiance of mountain country, the foothills washed by the waters of the Great Sandy River (the Maha Weli Ganga) flowing like a "necklace of pearls" round the once royal city of Kandy. And close by, is the historic ford of Katugastota where the blood of heroes and patriots freely flowed to keep the Kande Uda Rata free and sovereign. Where would you find a more idyllic scenario for a school?

St. Anthony's Collage O.B.A Kandy proudly celebrates 100 years of vital existence and support to the college.

 I first entered its portals in 1962, knowing little about the school expect that it was one of the premier schools in the island; established and managed by the Order of the Sylvestro Benedictines (OSB). My mother had an appointment to see the then Rector Rev. Father D.I. Robinson. My brother and I were hoping to be entered as boarders in the school in 1962. I was deeply impressed by the location, the layout and the atmosphere of the school. As for Father Robinson; he was very charming and kind and a very good priest. He made us feel welcome. He embraced my brother Kevin and me. He was willing to help us. I continue to love and respect Father Robinson who did so much for the school. I was 6 1/2 years old and my brother Kevin was 4 1/2 when he made us members of the Antonian community way back in January 1962. He was our Hero.

When his transfer came, one whom I consider the greatest of them all, Rev. Father Aidan De Silva, took over aa Principal; to me the most dynamic Reactor that any school could hope to have.They have both been called away, to a well-deserved rest in the presence of the shining light of the Eternal God. 

I cannot find words to express my appreciation and my gratitude to them for having moulded us in college to be civil-minded citizens of Sri Lanka, to use whatever talent God has given us to serve our country.

Father Aidan was our friend, our counselor, a father to us and an elder brother to parents all through more than a decade of our school lives, These Rectors I knew so well and later, after my schooling, are counted among my dearest of friends.

What about the others? Those unforgettable, kindly, erudite men who were the priests of St. Anthony's College, Kandy. Like characters in a glorious pageant, they pass before my evergreen memory. The wardens, Rev. Father Thomas de Silva (Rainbow), Father Aldred Samarakone (Villa), Rev. Father Stephen Abraham (Mansion), and Father Jerome, Father Colurnban Mackey, Brother Hugh Brother Valentine, Father Anthony, Father Bruno, Father Caspersz and above all, Father Lanc Franc Amarasinghe (Warden of Hotels). 

There were others; how can I mention them all? But they are all those fine OSB Priests who served us, the school they loved, the god they believed in and worshiped, Jesus, our Master, whom, they did their utmost to emulate. They gave us pupils much more than book learning, they did what education is primarily intended to do: they drew out the best from the children, assisting them to achieve greatness themselves.

 How can I forget the wonderful, kind, warm-hearted Matrons of the Rainbow, the Premansion, the Mansion, the Villa and Journey's End at the last lap of School life of the boarders of St. Anthony's? Those fine Matrons such as Mrs. Rachael Perera, Mrs. Byrde, Mr. & Mrs. Page, Miss. Bandaranayake, Mrs. Griffs, Mrs. Dhannaratne, Mrs. Bolonne, Mrs. Sangadasa, Miss. Peiris and the The Florence Nightingale…. Mrs. Oliver, renowned in the Sick Room which had three wards and an OPD . 

My brother Kevin who was eternally in the sick room used to play cards with this dear Matron who was a true foster mother to lots of us. The teachers of those times of the 1960s-1970s like Jean and Arasa Arasanayagam, Mr. Robert Wright, Mr. George Mackey, Mr. & Mrs. Barnabas, Mr. Cyril Brown, Mr. Tavaseelan, Mr. Kumarawel, Mr. Mahesan,   Mrs. Samarawickrema, Mrs. Bianca Motha who was so nice ; Mrs. Marikkar, Mrs. Amarasinghe Ms. Monica De Silva, Mrs. Tambiyar, Joyse teacher Chandana Sir Mr and Mrs Dias (Dias was a terror) Mr Chinnappa’ Mr. Rajendran, Mr. Mendis, Mr. B.L Fernando, Mr. Angelo Pieris, Mr. Melder,Mr Basnayake he had a charming personality and Mr Arlis Mr Galahitiyawa Mr. Willy Fernando, Mr. Lafir Saheed (Ballet), Mr Stanley Peiris Mr David;; Mr. Kaniah, Maj. Fernando, Mr. Orwil Selliah, Mrs. Rupasinghe (Music) she was so tall and pretty, Mr. Victor Silva and the Sports Coaches like Mr. Pamunuwa, Mr. Robert Wright, Mr. Jayantha Pieris, Mr. Muthalib, Mr. Hanan, Mr. T.M.A. Cooray, Mr. Ben Nawaratne, Mr. Walter Perera (All cricket) and Mr. Manoharaj (Basket nall). I remember also the excellent minor staff, in the sick rooms like Karunaratne and in the playing fields, namely Piyasena and Sevagan. And not for getting Jamis our great chef and dear Mrs. Pillai who tried hard to balance the account books of our tuck shop.Last but not least I remember two gentle giants who kept the organization ticking; they were Mr Saram and Mr Perera; and of course good old Soloman who rang the College Bell for a very long period right on the Dot. He was the best individual I have ever known who never got late. He was always on time. Silva at the College Tuck Shop had excellent Customer Service qualities.

 Who can forget the then Bishop of Kandy-His-Lord-ship Leo Nanayakkara. At one time teacher at St. Anthony's later, the first Bishop of Badulla. He played Tennis in the evening at St. Anthony's. Extraordinarily gifted, versatile, charming, a fine teacher, a veritable "Good Shepherd" like the Master he served. 

He remained till the end a dear friend of our family especially in  the years after my schooling, at Diyatalawa when my step father the late Wing Commander Mark Seneviratne was Commanding Officer at the Air Force Base there and by which time I had joined the Army as a Commissioned Officer. What a lot of emphasis was placed on Sports always at St. Anthony's College, Kandy. The school ideal was "A healthy mind in a healthy body" and it lived up to that aim achieving success after success in the sphere of Sports.The College produced many great Sportsmen. The greatest Cricketers were Jack Anderson. A C M Lafir. Mahes Gunathileke. Bernard Perera; Ruwan Kalpage Piyal Wijetunge Marlon Von Haght Muttaih Muralitharan; Sajith Fernando and Hiran Wickramaratne and the best ever Rugby players were Elmo Joechim, Gavin Stevens Priyantha and LV Ekanayake and Leroy Fonseka.The best Shuttlers were Christopher Arnold and Umesh De Alwis.

As for Studies, the College has produced many eminent men of its existence. More than anything it has produced men who are strong, courageous, honest, generous and loyal because of the values inculcated into their minds in growing, impressionable years. The 1960-1970s was the pinnacle of the Golden Age of the history of St. Anthony's Collage, Kandy. The Collage boarding at that time was the best in the island. My brother Kevin and I left College in May 1974, after 12 ½ years.

A band of Antonian colleagues a close band of brothers got together recently to celebrate the Centenary of The OBA at a beautifull Bungalow at Mossville Tea Estate Dolosbage. This team call themselves the Antonian Veterans. Basil Harley a former President of the OBA hosted the Veterans at Mossville Estate over a weekend very recently.

The Old Boys Association was formed way back in 1910 on the 26th December. The First President and the founder of The OBA of the Parent Body was Bishop Dr Bede Beekmeyer.The currenr President is Mr Timothy Paldano.

May God Bless our College and last but not least the OBA Committees of the Past and Present who helped College stand on its feet for over a hundred years. This year the Old Boys Association celebrates its Centenary. St ANTHONYS College Kandy is of course 157 years old. It was established in 1854.

(Concluded)