SSCOBA is celebrating its 92nd OBA day in style!

The OBA will be donating a bus to the college, thanks to the Minister of Transport Hon. Kumara Welgama and Western Province Council Member, distinguished old boy Mr Neel Sunethralal Fernando.

An OBA Parade will start from near Rankoth Viharaya and proceed to the college through Panadura city. Once the parade reaches the college, OBA will donate the bus to the college.

All Sumangalians, Old Boys, patrons, their families and other well-wishers are welcome to join the parade in vehicles or on foot.

We hope to see you there! Wear your college t-shirt and cap, bring your vehicle (motorbike, car, van etc) along with your college flag and any other college-themed decor!

See you all at 3pm near Rankoth Viharaya on 26th Sunday.

Here is the link for the Facebook Event.

Long live mother Sumangala and Old Boys’ Association!

Our Distinguish Old Boy Eng. Tilak Rohitha de Silva, an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer was inducted as the President of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL) at the 106th Annual Sessions held on 19th October, 2012 at the BMICH for the 2012/2013 Sessions.

Mr. L.W. Somatilake, the principal, Sri Sumangala College, Mr. Sanath De Silva (President OBA), Eng. Roshan Rodrigo (Jt. Secretary – OBA), Eng. Loyd Perara (our distinguish old boy, former President -IESL), Eng Vijith Salgado (Vice President-OBA), Mr. Sarath Alwis (Vice President-OBA), Mr. A.M. Keerthiratne (Vice President-OBA) and Mr. Ravi De Mel (ex-co. member OBA) along with two prominent past teachers Mrs. Nimal de Mel & Mrs. Medis who taught Eng. Tilak De Silva attended this occasion.

Eng. Tilak De Silva, currently the Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom – Hong Kong and Advisor to the CEO, Sri Lanka Telecom on Technology Strategies. He obtained his graduate degree in Electronics & Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Engineering from the University of Moratuwa in 1983 and his MSc in Data Communications from the Brunel University, UK in 2002. Eng. Tilak De Silva joined the IESL in 1992 and became a Fellow in 1999 and has served in the IESL Council for almost 15 yrs in various capacities including 3 consecutive years as Vice President before being elected as President Elect for the 2011/2012 Sessions.

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK, Chartered Engineer of the Engineering Council, UK, Fellow and Chartered IT Professional of the British Computer Society and Member of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, USA.

Eng. Tilak Rohit de Silva has helped his Alma Mater through the OBA, Junior OBA and Colombo OBA in numerous ways. We as OBA is proud to note that whenever the OBA make a request for his assistance he has obliged positively Our OBA wishes him all success in his future en-devours.

The 90th Anniversary of the Old Boys’ Day of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura held on October 28th 2012. In order mark the OBA day the SSCOBA has arranged alms giving to inmates of the Home for the Aged Panadura, inmates of the Girls Home Morawinna Panadura and to the inmates Aruna Home for the Disables at Nalluruwa, Panadura and to the inmates of Sujatha Elderly Home.

Owing to the dedication of past and present leadership, along with the strength and co-operation of the Ex-Co, the present membership of OBA has surpassed 3500 mark. With the affiliation of the Junior OBA and Colombo, Kandy, Australian, Italy & Dubai Branches, the Sri Sumangala Old Boy’s Medical Association and other associate bodies has made SSCOBA a very powerful organization.

Further to the above following activities to be held at the College premises on November 11, 2012 by the Sri Sumangala College Old Boy’s Association along with Junior OBA, Old Sumangalian’s Medical Association to commemorate the Old Boy’s day.

1. Health Camp (From 09.00 A.M to 13.00 HRS)
   As a social service for the past & present teachers, old boys, needy people, a free medical examination by the Old Sumangalian Doctors (by Specialists in several fields) with free medicine. Old Sumangalian’s Medical Association take the leading role in organising this event with the association of the OBA & Junior OBA.
2. Service of Eye Specialists and free advice / free spectacles for the needy.
3. Blood Donation Camp
4. Awarding of certificates to the College students who excelled in “Debating” contest
5. Handing over of scholarship to students who have been selected to Universities for higher studies

All are welcome!

Please find the official letter from the Sri Sumangala College Old Boys’ Medical Association of their objective & progress.

Download it here.

The 90th AGM of the OBA was held at the College Auditorium on 9th June 2012 from 0830Hrs onwards.and the evening get-together was held at Villa Ocean View Hotel at Molligoda in the same evening, 9th June from 1900Hrs onwards. Mr. Sanath Silva was elected unanimously as the President for the year 2012 / 2013. The Chief Guest at the evening get together was our distinguish old boy, Mr. Pulasthi Kumarage, CEO – Peoples Leasing Company and the Guest of Honour will be our distinguish old boy Mr. Ajith Fernando, Deputy General Manager, CEB. Both for morning and evening events were successful & well attended. A special invitee was for this occasion was Mrs. Ramani Soysa, the President of the Old Girls Association, Sri Sumangala Girls School, our sister school.

Former College cricket coach Mr. P.P. Silva was felicitated for the yeomen service he has done for the development to the College cricket for over 30 years at the evening get-together. Also Mr. D.P.L.C Perera – former Addl GA – Kalutara and Mr. P.K. Vithana – Senior Superintendent of Survey (Western Province) were also felicitated for their services extended during the College Re-construction phase.

The evening event became more colorful due to the presence of the wives of our old boys and old girls of our sister school. Several prizes were drawn during the evening get together. Saman & the Clan enthralled the audience with their music.

The senior OBA team won the Championship trophy of the Old Sumangalian Cricket league organised by the Junior OBA in October 2011. The senior OBA team reached the final by beating several more fancied teams, among them were Past Cricketers Team, Junior OBA team and many younger teams etc. The Chief Guest at this event was distinguish Old Boy, Mr. Thilak Rohitha De Silva and the President OBA, Vijith Salagdo also graced the occasion. The senior OBA team was Managed by Ex-Co member Chanka Perera and encouraged by Ex-Co members Anuja Perera, Roshan Rodrigo, Sarath Wijendra, Nishantha Indrajith and some other senior old boys.

His Excellency the President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksha ceremonially opened the newly constructed complete school funded by the Government of Japan on 23rd April 2009 at 1630Hrs with the participation of His Excellency the Ambassador for Japan Kunio Takahashi, Minister of Education Hon. Susil Premjayantha, Deputy Minister Postal Services Hon. M. Sellasamy, Minister of Nation Building Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Former Chief Minister of Western Province Reginold Cooray, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga Secretary to HE the President, Director Media of HE the President Mr. Mahinda Illeperuma, Mr. Nimal Bandara, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremaratne and MPs, Senior Government Officials and other distinguish guests. To mark the Centenary of the school a commemorative Stamp & first day cover was also issued on the same day.

The 89th Annual General Meeting was held on 18th June 2011 at the College Auditorium from 0800Hrs onwards. The evening get-together was held at Villa Ocean View Hotel at Molligoda in the same evening, 18th June from 1900Hrs onwards. The Chief Guest at this occasion was our distinguish old boy, Mr. Janaka Kurukulasooriya, Chairman, Urban Development Authority, Sri Lanka. and the Guest of Honour was our distinguish old boy Dr. Kosala De Silva, Consultant Physician and Former Medical Director of New Phillip Hospital (Pvt) Ltd., Kalutara. Both for morning and evening events were successful & well attended. The evening event became more colorful due to the presence of the wives of our old boys. Several prizes were drawn during the evening get together. Saman & the Clan enthralled the audience with their music.

The 89th Anniversary Celebrations of the Old Boys’ Day of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura were held on the 28th & 30th October 2011.

The Sri Sumangala College Old Boy’s Association (SSCOBA) was inaugurated on October 28th 1922 by Mr. Abeyseela Ginige, a past principal of Sri Sumangala College. He was the first President of Sri Sumangala College Old Boy’s Association. Up-to-date the SSCOBA embarked on variety of activities to support the development of its Alma Mater and its student population.

Sri Sumangala College was formally established on March 3rd 1909 by founder members, Philanthropists of Panadura, late Mudliyer Thomas Rodrigo, M. Mathes Salgado, P. Lewis Dias, P. Domingo Dias, P.C.H. Dias and M. Coranelis Perera under the patronage of Chief incumbent of Rankoth Viharaya Most Ven. Walpita Gunarathanatissa Thero who suggested that the new school in the temple premises to be named of his teacher, most Ven. Sasanawansha Kavidhaja Weligama Siri Sumangala Nayaka Thero to immortalize his name of his teacher. Mr. Thomas Gunaratne was the first Principal of the College and the classes were conducted at the Dhamma sermon hall of the historical Rankoth Viharaya Panadura. Later few buildings were constructed to meet the demand of the increasing number of students to the College.

As the time went on with the increase of the student population, Sri Sumangala was in need of expansion and was required to move out its secondary classes due to limited land space at the Rankoth Vihara temple. The OBA was instrumental and took the initiative to establish Sri Sumangala College at Nalluruwa in 1942 in a land donated by the first student of the College, Mr. Walter Salgado. The College was later expanded with the donation of block of land by Mrs. Sicilyn Perera, the wife of one of the founders.

In December 2004, Tsunami destroyed most of the buildings of the College facing sea and it had a direct impact on some of the parents & students, tutorial staff and there was a unanimous request to relocate the College to a safer location. Accordingly a decision was taken by the Government with the sponsorship of Japanese Government to relocate the College to a more secure and suitable land at Wekada, Panadura. Despite resistance by a few, with the leadership of the Principal and with the able support of the SSCOBA, it was possible to overcome all these obstacles to realize the dream of a brand new school but with the same blend of the Sumangala to become the beacon of the Kalutara District. It is the desire of the SSCOBA to see that Sri Sumangala College is one of the leading pioneering educational institutions in Sri Lanka.

The SSCOBA is ever grateful to His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapaksha, President of Democratic Socilistic Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to HE the President & Mr. Mahinda Illeperuma, the Director – Media to HE the President and to the People of Japan without their support and assistance the Re-construction of the New College would have been a dream. The co-operation and assistance extended for this project by the officers of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) & Japan International Co-operation System (JICS) are commendable.

Sri Sumangala College, with over 100 years’ history, is a pioneering institute of learning in Sri Lanka which continue to produce a wide array of outstanding of Sri Lankans. Among them there are professionals of high caliber, in Engineering, Medical, Technical, IT fields, Public Administrators, Accountants, Scientists, outstanding Sportsmen, Businessmen, Entrepreneurs, Media personalities, Artists & politicians. It could be easily recognize Sri Sumangala College as an institution that has contributed directly and widely toward the well being and development of our country and it stands out as one of the leading National School in Sri Lanka.

The SSCOBA is growing day by day with many branches and associate groups are being founded. As at now there are several branches established, namely Junior OBA, Colombo Branch, Kandy Branch, Australian Branch, Italy Branch, UAE Branch etc. In addition several other associate groups have been formed for the betterment of the Alma mater, such as, Old Sumangalian Medical Association, Past Cricketer’s Association, Past Cadets Association, Past Scouts Association etc. It is the common objective to work towards a better tomorrow for the College & for students.

2009 was a memorable year for both SSCOBA and to the College since the centenary of the College was celebrated with the ceremonial opening of the re-constructed Sri Sumangala College by H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksha on April 23rd 2009 and with a series of events including All night pirith ceremony, Alms giving for 100 priests, Centenary Exhibition, Inter-school Contests in various fields etc. Simultaneously a commemorative stamp and a first day cover were presented to HE the President by Mr. M.S. Sellasamy then the Deputy Minister of Post to mark the centenary of the College. Also a distinguish old boy, Dr. Neville Fernando donated 17 brand new computers to upgrade the computer lab. A long unfulfilled need of the OBA a permanent head-quarter was opened by Mr. K.Thilak Peiris, the oldest living member of the OBA on March 15th 2009.

A much needed necessity of a swimming pool was constructed to the international standard and was presented to the Alma Mater by another distinguished old boy, a former Lion’s Governor, Deshabimannya Rohantha De Fonseka where he donated a sum of Rs. 6.4 million towards the construction of swimming pool. The balance cost of Rs. 5 million was raised from several donors of the OBA and was ceremonially opened and dedicated to the student community on June 28, 2009.

In the year 2011, the SSCOBA along with Junior OBA has embarked on several projects for the benefit & the development of Alma Mater & the student population. These include the establishment of special fund schemes which enable the donor to select the field through which the donor would help the students / College, scholarships for students who excelled in their studies, library development, sports development, development scouting and cadetting, establishment of IT resource centre, counseling & arrangement of medical aid to the needy students etc.

Owing to the dedication, unblemished service of past and present leadership, along with strength and co-operation of the members, the present membership of OBA has surpassed 3000 mark. With the affiliation of the Junior OBA and Colombo, Kandy, Australian, Italy Branches, the Sri Sumangala Old Boy’s Medical Association and other associate bodies has made SSCOBA a very powerful organization of its class to become one of the strongest OBA’s in the Island.

All the above achievements have proved that the Sri Sumangala OBA is able to face any challenge successfully to over come all the obstacles to reach the objectives.

On 28th October 2011, the SSCOBA arranged alms giving to inmates of the Home for the Aged Panadura, inmates of the Girls Home Morawinna Panadura and to the inmates Aruna Home for the Disables at Nalluruwa, Panadura.

In addition to the above activities, the following main activities were also organized on 30th October (Saturday) by the Sri Sumangala College Old Boy’s Association along with Junior OBA & Old Sri Sumangala Medical Association (OSSMO) to commemorate the Old Boy’s day with the co-operation of the Principal and the staff at the College premises and the Chief Guest for this occasion was our distinguish old boy Prof. Mangala Fonseka of University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

1. Health Camp (From 0900 HRS to 1400 HRS)
2. As a social service for the past & present teachers, old boys, needy people, a free medical examination by the Old Sumangalian Doctors (by Specialists in several fields) with free medicine. Nearly 400 were examined / treated and free medication were provided
3. Service of Eye Specialists and free advice / free spectacles for the needy.
4. Cataract Operation for 10 selected patients free of charge
5. Blood Donation Camp
6. Awarding of Medals & Certificates to the College students who excelled in “Do You Know contest” & “Oratory” contests
7. Handing over of scholarship to over 50 students who have been selected to Universities for higher studies.

The OBA expresses its sincere appreciation to the Mr. L.W. Somatilake, the Principal, Dr. Kosala de Silva (Physician – Advisor to the Old Sri Sumangala Medical Association), Dr. Mangala Dissanayake (Gynecologist – President – Old Sri Sumangala Medical Association ), Mr. Muditha Pathinayaka (President – Junior OBA), Mr. Sarath Alwis (Vice President – OBA – for organizing Blood Donation camp), all Old Sumangalian Doctors, pharmacists, nurses and all members of the OBA, JOBA & OSSMA for their excellent support and assistance extended for the successful completion of the OBA day activities.