Viji Weerasinghe fund - RCU

29thOctober 2007

Attention Old Boys, Parents & Well Wishers of Royal.

Our beloved teacher, former Deputy Principal and present adviser to
the Royal College Union and Mentor for all those who came in contact
with him is seriously ill being warded at ICU Asiri Surgical Unit.

It is our bounden duty to do the best in saving his precious life and
presently the medical care is being given.

He had a fall on the 26th at the RCU office and was rushed to the
Colombo General Hospital.

The latest CT scan reveals internal haemorrhage and the prescribed
injection at the cost of Rs. 400,000 was administered.

Need not be given further details as we all feel the need to help his
dear family at the best possible manner while he is still with us.

Viji, as we all fondly call, is wanting to come back to Royal.

Let us realize his wish and not regret later.

Therefore, please rally round Viji and support his medical care by
giving your best possible contribution as a special account is now
opened at the Hatton National Bank (HNB) Head Office Branch – Account
Name – Viji Weerasinghe Fund A/C No 003 081 3267.

Whatever remaining funds will be used for the welfare of his dear
family as there are two other serious sick family members already.

For further details please contact:

Athula Munasinghe e mail – taiyo@slt.lk – Mobile 0712 746334

Lalith Cooray e mail – lalithc@zesta.lk - Mobile 0777 256081

Prasanna Lenaduwa e mail – prasanna.lenaduwa@amwltd.com - Mobile 07777 93852

Udul Chandrasena e mail – udulc@hnb.lk - Mobile 0777 562037

Please inform them the amount deposited, cheque no, name and the date
so that they can send you a receipt.

Rizan Nazeer

Hony Secretary

Royal College Union.

Viji's article FYI - so touching, indeed

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 sprit 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.

Viji Weerasinghe - 80 and going strong