Address by Omar Kamil at the RC-'61 Group Golden Jubilee

ADDRESS BY OMAR KAMIL, VICE PRESIDENT, RC-’61-GROUP, (FORMER MAYOR OF COLOMBO; FORMER SRI LANKA AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRAN WITH ACCREDITATION TO AZERBAIJAN AND TURKMENISTAN; PRESENT SPECIAL COLOMBO MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER), REPRESENTING THE ENGLISH MEDIUM, AT THE SPECIAL ASSEMBLY HELD IN THE ROYAL COLLEGE COLOMBO HALL, CELEBRATRING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE ’61-GROUP, ON TUE., 08 MARCH, 2011, 09.00-HRS

A very good morning to all of you;
Mr Upali Gunasekera, Principal, Royal College;
Ms Lakshmi Attygalle, Deputy Principal;
Present teachers.
Teachers past: Mr WA Wickramasena, Mr RBA Jayasekera, and Mr V Sivalingam;
My colleagues Lalith, Indrajith, Kumar, Firoze, Rohan and Shanthi,
and members of the ’61-Group of Royal College.
Senior Students.

When I walked through this corridor this morning, memories of the good old days in this School flashed through my mind – of the days when we used to trudge in school – books and bat in hand, as the afternoons and evenings was cricket all the way.

I remember entering Royal College in January, 1961. Being called upon to line up outside the West Wing lobby. And there, before us stood that giant-sized master, Captain MKJ Cantlay, who called out our names in his stentorian voice, allocating us to our respective classes in Form-One. Unlike today, there were three mediums of instruction: Sinhala, Tamil and English.

We were a mixed group every morning, and moving into our respective medium of instruction except for the English language class.

The 1961-Group could consider itself as an extremely fortunate group, as its members were given an extra one year in the year 1965, on account of the Siyarate Exhibition which was held in our grounds, thereby the syllabus for the year could not be completed. In the following year, we were termed the 5-R Group. “R” meant Returners.

And due to that extra year being granted, we earned the notoriety of the masters, as most of us became semi-rioters. Very few masters were spared in nicknames being imposed on them. Looking at our Group, most of our masters, including our principal at that time, Mr Bogoda Premaratne, sympathized with us, as they thought we would end up nowhere. However, I find today that the majority of this Group is well-set, holding prestigious and acclaimed positions in society.

My two sons, Ziyam and Zakir, could claim to be third generation old Royalists as my father [MHM Kamil] too was an Old Boy. I hold in my hand a postcard dated 27.02.1933, addressed to my father by Principal LHW Sampson. The subject refers to a science deposit, and goes on to say: “Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to inform you must call here for it.” It is signed as: “I am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant. L. Sampson, Principal, Royal College.”

I am thankful to my friend, Firoze Sameer, for having unearthed this document from among documents of his father, which he found in recent weeks. I believe this document would enable my two sons to gain easy access to Royal College when the opportunity comes to them to admit their sons to this glorious institution.

Most of our Group left Royal in the latter part of 1960; some to university to purse academic studies, while some others chose professional studies, while others entered their family business, like me.

Although we left College and moved in different strides, we continued our regular meetings during the Royal-Thomian period, and today we are among the few who could boast of a fifty to fifty-six year friendship, which is a rare phenomenon in today’s context.

On this occasion, I will be failing in my duties, if I do not place on record our sincere thanks and deep appreciation to Kumar Fernando, who continued to keep the College flag flying, by ensuring that our members had a regular domain to meet, greet and eat in his home, assisted by our good friend, Shanthi Pathirage.

I, for myself, owe what I am today: thanks to what Royal has taught me; great values and discipline, which were instilled in us by our former masters and principals, some of whom are here today. Thank you, Sirs. They spared no pains in moulding us, and directing us, to what we are today.

My dear students, you are the present generation of students in this great institution, which has surpassed a hundred and seventy-five years last year. You should carry the great traditions of your forefathers.

When you leave the portals of this great institution, please bear I mind that you will carry with you the Royal tag of that great name, which has to be maintained and preserved wherever you are, at all times.

On this occasion, when the 1961 Group of Royal College celebrates its golden jubilee today, we are glad to reflect on those very happy days we used to spend in this School in which “we learnt of books and learnt of men and learnt to play the game.”

Thank you.