Arethusa College celebrates 80 years

By M. Marshad Barry

“A liberal education, frees a man from the prison-house of his class, race, time, place, background, family and even his nation.” - Robert Maynard Hutchins. No matter what, one cannot forget his or her Alma Mater which has given the foundation of Education and uplifted their lives.
Eighty years of uninterrupted service, this great institution has made a milestone in its history, in the service to the community and country in the field of education, especially in a multi racial, religious and lingual society like ours.
Arethusa College was first known as Arethusa English Boy’s School and was founded on July 18, 1929 with 18 boys on roll under the supervision of the general consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church of Ceylon. The beginning of Arethusa College as mentioned in Mr. D. R.Thomas’s (Principal 1944-1965) Prize-Day report is “On July 18, 1929, 18 boys marched along an unaccustomed route to their new school-Arethusa. The years as they have passed have seen their columns swell. 1932 saw an average attendance of 61; 1933, 82; 1934, 85; 1935, 96; In April 1936, Arethusa was registered as a grant-in-aid school. In March 1936 number on roll was 118, average attendance 96; March 1938 number on roll was 149 with an average attendance of 127. In 1938 out of a total roll of 160 pupils, 115 were Burgher and 80 Presbyterians. Of the 80 Presbyterians 27 were on special concessions and 22 were given free education. With commendable foresight and initiative G.A. Wille, (Scriba, General consistory),has launched a Ter-Centenary Plan, which if it meets with the support it deserves. Wille, beside other objects, achieved the building of a Presbyterian Boys’ College at Wellawatte. Arethusa is serving a class of children who without its aid are foredoomed to failure in the struggle facing young men, even with an education, and are destined otherwise to create a problem, the solution of which will be a constant strain on the resources of social workers .It is the duty and responsibility of every member of the community to see that the young are given a chance to breast the floods of life with courage.” (Extracts from Prize-Day reports of D. R. Thomas )

The name Arethusa means “The fountain of light” and its motto “Nondieum Erit Finis” or the English translation “Not yet shall be the end” signifies that there is no end to knowledge. When an Arethusian recalls his good old days at school he will be able to remember the first few lines of the College song “ Non Dum Erit Finis ,Not yet shall be the end, Though the clouds are black, And the Skies are overcast ,We’ll turn not back ,Struggling onwards to the last”
At a time, when the college proudly celebrates its 80th anniversary no one cannot forget the services rendered by the past principals. The Principals of Arethusa College include M/s. E.C.M. Anthonisz (1932-43), D. R. Thomas (1944-65), C.A. Halpe (1965-68), K.C. Weerasinghe (1968-74), G.V.Perera (1974-79), D.B.N. Karawita (1979-85), R.A. Premaratne(1985-94), A.V.S.P. Wijesinghe (1994-2000), Mrs. V.E.Jayaweera (2000-04), U.B. Thilakaratne (2004-08) and Mrs. P.D.Bimla Vidvanthi (2008 to up to date)
Arethusa College has produced fine boxers and other sportsmen in the past years. In the college magazine published in October 1950 there is a poem about the College football team, by T.Ondatje who was studying at the J.S.C class at that time. It reads as “GLIMPSES OF OUR FOOT BALL TEAM”
Our team consists of a jolly good crew, with forwards, backs, and the goalie too. First, comes are skipper, Edwin K, who suffers from nerves on the important day. Next comes the forward Samara the lean, who on the grounds could hardly be seen.
Then comes the back, Dharma the tall, who always runs away from the ball .And now comes the wing Georgie the leech.
On the ground he likes to make us screech.
Then comes pillai, though last but not least ,
Is always there when we are having a feast
Also when writing about boxing at Arethusa College it will indeed be wrong not to mention the great legend of boxing, Mr. Donald Munasingha, Former Deputy Principal and Boxing Coach of Arethusa College. (Currently serving as the Principal of the Belvoir International School) I quote this word from his article in Arethusa College’s 75th Anniversary magazine.
“Arethusa had commenced boxing in nineteen forties and the game thrived in the fifties. The sports master Subramaniam had been the initiator of boxing. Among reputed boxers at the beginning were the 3 Raymond bothers; Derick, Gene and Ronney; Brian Koch and O.M.D.V. Perera -Subsequently all of them became national champions. While studying at school Bryan Koch won his weight at Stubbs Shield Championships and won and became the best boxer at ABA junior championships. Derick Raymond later started coaching St. Sylvesters’ Colleges Kandy team and also became the Ceylon Schools Boxing Coach for the annual Indo-Ceylon Schools dual contests. Gene Raymond went to work for Indian Railways and boxed for the famous Bombay Rangers. O.M.D.V.Perera boxed for central YMCA; the game dwindled and faded out in late fifties.”
In 1966, C.A.Halpe, the Principal at that time, gave tremendous support to Donald Munasinghe to improve boxing and bought honour to the Alma Mater by winning the Stubbs Shield Championship apart from winning the Junior Championship. The 1966 Stubbs team consisted of Ranjan De Silva, Frank Passe De Silva, Roger Young, Scheumacher, Keller brothers Errol and Ellis (Sandy), Patric Bulner and Patrick De Silva.
Another important achievement that is noteworthy is the fact that the first School Boy from Sri Lanka to participate in the Olympic Games was produced from Arethusa College. He is none other than cyclist Morris Kumarawell .After wining the National Championships for cycling three consecutive years he was selected to participate in 26th Olympics in 1960 held in Rome.
Arethusa College is proud to have produced men of Eminence; lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, architects and businessmen. Many of the old boys have shone in their respective vocations in Sri Lanka and abroad. They have not only been an asset to the College, but also to the country. A few of them are C.R.Koch, Ivor de Silva, Hilmy Mohideen (All three Graduated from the University of Ceylon), Saleem Marsoof (Judge Of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka), Hudson Samarasinghe (the present Chairman of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation), C.W. Makalande, T.L.C.Pieris, D.Wesumperuma (Director-Helpage), Sunil Sarath Perera (Currently saving in the capacity of Sri Lanken Ambassador to Kuwait), Rinaz Mohamed (Media personality ), Moisz Rajabaly, M. Thurabaly, Sandy Keller (Ruggerite) and Harris Jurampathy. One can also not forget the yeomen service rendered to the college by old boys such as Ashley Henricus (First President of the Old Boys Association), Rumy Marzook (Former Commissioner General of Prison and Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority), Patrick Bulner, Goerge Leitch, Ronnie Leitch, Spencer Leitch, Mark Leitch, Ellis (Hardy) Keller, Hilal Fuad (Director Project Global Integrated Systems Pty Ltd.-Melbourne ,Australia), M.F.Ansar, M.Ghouse, Sunil Gomez (former member of the Provincial Council), T.W.Jayawardana (Charted Architect), Nimal Dayaratna (Boxing Coach), Sando Harris (Actor), M. Feroz (Cricket Umpire) Fazeer Barie, and George White.
At present with the help of A.I.M. Zarook Khan (Divisional Director of Education) and Marshad Barry (former cricketer of the College and Author of History of World Cup Cricket) a programme is scheduled to Reawaken Cricket in the College. A.I.M. Zarook Khan has promised to find a suitable School in his division to have an annual encounter and few former test cricketers and leading coaches to extend their support to promote and improve Cricket in the College.
A College website is also in the pipeline with the support of two young old boys, A.M. Arshad and Irshad Nadheem, and is expected to be launched very soon.
The College held a religious ceremony from all religions to invocate blessings to the college as a part of the 80th anniversary celebration. In addition an ‘Arethusian Walk’ was held on July 1, 2009 to commemorate the anniversary.
Finally at this moment, I hope everyone’s prayer would secure and keep strong this great institution for our future generations. I like to conclude this note with the last verse of the College Song “Best School of all, Fountain of truth and light, Who dost lead us to be, Ever faithful and free, ARETHUSA we turn to thee ,Still-may thy call, TURN men to truth and right, God Bless Our School”.