The Centenary Group

The following information with regard to the inception of the Centenary Group is given in keeping with available records and memory.

The year 1951 was the centenary year of the College, thus completing, to put it simply, 100 years of all round achievement.

The possibility of forming a group by those who were at College in 1951, was kindled over the years whenever friends of that era who had passed through College met occasionally for a chat and drinks.

At one of these meetings it was conceived to form a group pf old boys to foster fellowship among members and render whatever assistance to their Alma Mater. It was decided to open membership of the group to all who were students at STC Mount Lavinia in the Centenary Year 1951 irrespective of the grade they were schooling in that year and therefore it was decided to name the group as the ‘Centenary Group’. Since the membership was open to all old boys of 1951 vintage it was expected to be a larger group than the Class Groups as S.T.C. then has approximately 950 students on the roll.

With this in view an informal organizing committee comprising of Dr Kingsley Goonesekera, Lionel Gunewardene, Lakshman Siriwardene, Nalin S. Perera, Edward W Kulasooriya and the writer was formed.

At the initial stages, this committee, with the assistance of Nimal Jayawardene of the same era who was a staff member of S.T.C. attended to the matters of obtaining the names and addresses of the eligible members.

The Centenary Group was also considered to be unique unlike a class group because to form a group with a similar title will not take place as the centenary year occurs only once.

I wish to recall that journalists Amitha Abeyasekera and Ian Jayasinghe, two old boys were of immense help with the publicity given about the proposed Centenary Group from time to time and after formation of the Group about the fellowship meetings in their respective newspapers (The Island and Sunday Observer)

We are most grateful to them though they are no more, however pleasant memories will remain.

The first formal meeting of the group was held on 21st June 1986 at the Mount Royal Beach hotel and this the Centenary Group was born. This birth also coincided with the Centenary year celebrations of the ‘S.T.C. Mount Lavinia old Boys Association’ in the year 1986 and therefore it was a unique event. At this formal meeting as organizing committee was officially nominated and the same committee members who functioned at the initial stages were re-appointed.

The Second General Meeting of the Group was held in the same year 1986 on 12th December at the Police Park, Bambalapitiya and the following officers were elected.

President: Dr Kinsley Goonasekera
Secretary: Ranjith Seneviratne
Treasurer: Jayasena Ellawela

Executive Committee:

• Lionel Gunewardene
• Nalin S. Perera
• Edward W. Kulasooriya
• Lucky Siriwardene

The above office bearers continued to function up to March 1991 with several memorable and jubilant fellowship meetings annually, and also the Group contributed financially to grant a scholarship. A further Rs 74,000 whichwas collected through donations from members and running a food stall at the 1991 College Fair was handed over to the then Warden neville De Alwis towards the Sports Complex Fund.

We remember with gratitude the invaluable services rendered to the Group by those who were on the committee and since then have passed away.