World Poverty

 email from jks weerasekara

 

 

 Take a minute to look at this video This is a great presentation of mathematical reality.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=LPjzfGChGlE&feature=player_embedded

Words and their origins.

email from jks weerasekara
Knowledge is amusing

[1] FORTNIGHT comes from 'Fourteen Nights' (Two Weeks).

[2] POP MUSIC is 'Popular Music' shortened.

[3] MOPED is the short term for 'Motorized Pedalling'.

[4] BUS is the short term for 'Omnibus' that means everybody.

[5] DRAWING ROOM was actually a 'withdrawing room' where people
withdrew after Dinner. Later the prefix 'with' was dropped...

[8] QUEUE comes from 'Queen's Quest'. Long back a long row of people
as waiting to see the Queen. Someone made the comment Queen's Quest...

[9] JOURNAL is a diary that tells about 'Journey for a day' during
each Day's business.

[10] TIPS come from 'To Insure Prompt Service'. In olden days to get
Prompt service from servants in an inn, travellers used to drop coins
in a Box on which was written 'To Insure Prompt Service'. This gave
rise to the custom of Tips.

[11] JEEP is a vehicle with unique Gear system. It was invented during
World War II (1939-1945). It was named 'General Purpose Vehicle
(GP)'.GP was changed into JEEP later.

[20] Wearing HEADPHONES for just an hour will increase the bacteria in
your ear by 700 times.

[22] The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the
toughest tongue twister in the English language.

[26] A SNAIL can sleep for three years.

[27] All POLAR BEARS are left handed.

[28] BUTTERFLIES taste with their feet.

[29] ELEPHANTS are the only animals that can't jump.

[32] The human HEART creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the
body to squirt blood 30 feet.

CHINA'S NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Read the Notes at the Bottom - after you have looked
at the Pictures.========================================
China 's New Aircraft Carrier

The following comment from an American

Observer who viewed the photos above;
“This is quantum leap above anything we have on the drawing board. Better speed, larger capacity, much more stable, etc.

It will be launched in half the time it takes the USA at just one-third the cost.

A few facts: the Chinese have completed the world's biggest dam (three gorges), the world's longest over-water bridge (65 times as much steel as in the Eiffel tower), constructed a 15,000 ft. High railroad into Tibet (all considered major engineering feats).

China is the only nation other than Russia that can launch men into outer space (our capability ended with the last space shuttle launch this month) . They have also shot down a surveillance satellite (one of their own) from the ground. Plus, they "own our ass" in the international debt
game.

China 's new carrier could be twice as fast as anything we have,
  You still want to say : " Junk made in China ? "

 

Documentary made in 1934 :Song of Ceylon.

From: Dr J B Peiris

Song of Ceylon (1934)Ever heard of "Song of Ceylon"? That's the 40 minute b/w film  made in 1934 to advertise tea.

The film was prize winning.

Lionel Wendt did the narration,

reading excerpts of Knox over the visuals.

The camera work is quite stunning.

something that is quite a unique piece of history.

http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/486

http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/486

Recall of life at St. John's College, Jaffna, Ceylon, 1930-1950s. Part 4.

by Dr. VICTOR A. BENJAMIN, FRCS, Former Consultant Surgeon, Department of Health, Ceylon/Sri Lanka.

...Silent Students Achievers. Most students at the college were silent
achievers, who went through student life without being in the limelight or
drawing attention on themselves. Such schoolboys, who successfully
accomplished more in later life than those who were stars and celebrities as
students, were in the majority during my student days. I will name a few who
were my classmates, and contemporaries who were such silent achievers.
Dharmarajah (my classmate) became the General Manager of a leading bank.
J.H. Ariyaratnam, K. Gangadheran, Pulandran Nagamuthu, K. Kunaratnam and B.
R. R. Sinniah, (all my classmates) were excellent in their studies, and
commanded a lot of respect in positions of great responsibility, though out.
their entire working life. The Ambalavanar brothers got enticed into Jaffna
College, halfway during their student life, but I do remember their days at
St. John's with pride. The elder brother, D. R. Ambalavanar (my classmate)
became a clergyman, and is a leading Tamil Scholar, and a Theologian. His
younger brother D. J. Ambalavanar (who was only nine days younger than me)
also joined the clergy, and in 1971 was consecrated as Bishop in the Jaffna
Diocese of the Church of South India.. B. A. Mills (another classmate of
mine) became a leading Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. M. C. Hunt (who was
very quiet at school) became a leading Paediatrician. J G.Asirwatham. whom I
remember as another quiet pupil at school, ended as a high Court Judge of
distinction. Sam Alfred (who was a boarder at St. John's for a few years),
also became a clergyman, and dedicated his life to service of others. He is
well known for his untiring work in Jaffna and the Batticaloa districts.
Even people who are much older than him respectfully call him "Sam Annan",

C. Amirtharajah and A. J. Jeevaratnam are two more quiet students of my
days, who rose to positions of responsibility. Alfred Durayappah (who during
student life, preferred to remain in the background) became a lawyer, and a
well-known and controversial politician on the local and the national scene.
He was the first politician to be assassinated in Jaffna.

V.Sivapragasam (my classmate) played only. volleyball, and excelled in
studies, and was content to become an Excise Inspector; K. Rajasunderam (a
classmate of mine) had only one ambition as a student. He realised this
ambition by joining the Police Department, as a Sub-Inspector. He ended as a
Superintendent of Police. Similarly, RR. Scott, K. Thirunavukarasu, and D.
J. Nathaniel, whose names had been mentioned earlier, also ended as
Superintendents of Police.

Sathasivam, (another clever classmate of mine,), and E. T. Samuel (who was a
little senior) were proud to become Post-Masters. Paul Lewis, and P. T.
Sivapragasam, (who was a Senior Prefect during my time), are outstanding
examples of' quiet students, who entered the mercantile sector, and reached
the very top in Colombo.

Enlargement of the College playground.
When I joined St. John's, the playground was too small for games like
cricket, football or athletics. A need to enlarge it to its present size was
recognized. The new science laboratory had not been built then. Land was
chosen for the Science Laboratory building. There was an old building
dividing the present playground into two unequal halves. The brave decision
to demolish that existing building served two purposes. It enabled the
playground to be enlarged to its present size, It also resulted in the
beauty of the Science Block that was built a few years latter to be seen
from the Old Park Road.

"Office Kanapathipillai".
Mr. Kanapathipillai was a very humble gentleman of sound character, short
stature, and charming personality, who chose to dress a bit differently from
others. He wore a white verti. a white shirt, and a very light brown
coloured traditional western type 'coat. He worked in the college office,
and was always smiling and polite. I do not know what his official
designation was, but on reflection, he seemed to do the work of peon,
cleaner, clerk, bookkeeper, and office assistant, all rolled into one. He
had access to all files and documents in the office. Generations of students
will remember him. Without him, work in the college office would come to a
standstill.

A notable incident of student mischief.
Innocent fun and mischief is part of student life, and my days at St. John's
were no exception. One incident merits inclusion in this article. Boarders
at St. John's were accommodated in three different Hostels. The one close to
the Principal's bungalow housed the junior students. That behind the kitchen
and the science block had the intermediate students. The boarding house
separated only by a cadjan fence from the Old Park Road was for the seniors.
The seniors were involved in the incident. Bathing facilities for them were
provided in a semi-sheltered area, on the college side of the fence along
the road. There was a very large cemented tub, which was filled with water
pumped from a well. Several buckets were provided for use. Some seniors had
no hesitation in sending buckets of water, over the fence, on senior girls
from Chundikuli, going home after games at their school. This was
appreciated by the girls, as evidence that they attracted the attention that
they wanted. One evening, the girls happened to be accompanied by a very
strict senior teacher from the girls' college. She probably had come, having
received complaints from some spoilsport. This teacher too got a good
drenching with water, that evening. She lodged an angry complaint to the
Principal of St. John's, who promised that he would see that such incidents
never happened again. During the investigations that followed, no student
seemed to have any knowledge of this incident. Every student became a
suspect. Rev. Arulanantham solved the situation by immediately transferring.
all the senior boarders to the hostel close to his resident, and the juniors
were sent to the hostel beside Old Park Road. Everybody knew who was
suspected as the ringleader in this episode. It was his strategy that
suppressed all evidence implicating any student. A couple of students who
were Monitors or Prefects and happened to be senior boarders ceased to be
Monitors or Prefects, for lack of knowledge of who the culprits were. The
ringleader became a leading lawyer in Jaffna, in later life. During student
life, being sacked from Prefectship, after this incident, was a greater
honour than being a college Prefect. (End)

Recall of life at St John's College, Jaffna, Ceylon, 1930 - 1950s.Part 3.

by Dr. VICTOR A. BENJAMIN, FRCS, Former Consultant Surgeon, Department of Health, Ceylon/Sri Lanka.

...The Science Laboratory had two full time attendants, Vellaichamy and
Chinniah. They were in charge of the entire science laboratory building with
all the equipment and material contained. They set the stage for all
practical classes, so that teachers and students could commence the
demonstrations and experiments without wasting a single minute. Vellaichamy
was a tough looking sturdy man with a majestic moustache. He looked upon the
science block as his territory. He was a terror inside the Science
Laboratory building, but became a very mild and amiable man outside. Like
most of the teachers. he had a distinct identity for himself, within the
school. Outside attending regular science classes, no student would dare to
enter the science block, without obtaining Vellaichamy's permission first.

Sportsmen among the students. In an article such as this, it is impossible
to name all the students who were great sportsmen, in cricket, soccer,
athletics and volleyball. However, it will be incomplete, if I do not
mention a few of the outstanding sportsmen. Two Van Den Driesen brothers,
Tom and Billy were great cricketers and soccer players.

Without, any risk of being disputed or contradicted, I remember R. R. Scott
as the greatest student sportsman in the whole of Jaffna, during my time at
St. John's. He had style in the way he played. He was a shy and silent man,
who was conscious that he was admired universally for his sportsmanship. His
brother E. T. Scott, too was an excellent cricketer, athlete and a soccer
player. Freddy Ratnesar played excellent cricket and tennis, and was the
chess champion, year after year. The boys who walked from Ariyalai to school
were always very fit, and would excel in all sports. But their priorities
were different, in that they gave greater . importance to studies than
games. Walking to school and then. back home, gave them enough exercise to
keep fit. They competed in sports without much training, and yet played a
winning game.

Tharmalingarn, a classmate of mine was an outstanding example of this
phenomenon.

Albert Rasiah, (another classmate of mine) who travelled daily from Usan,
Mirusuvil, was one of the finest pole-vaulters, in addition to excellence in
several other athletic events. R. S. Peter, (also a classmate of' mine), R.
R (Reggie) Jeyarajah and Lionel Thambyrajah were excellent all-round
sportsmen.

Unexpected influx of students from Colombo, due to the war. Japan brought
the war to the east, and bombed Colombo and Trincomalee. on O5 April, 1942,
and once again a few weeks later. To add to the minor (or trivial
dislocation), several school buildings in Colombo were taken over by the
British Military as barracks for their troops. School education in Colombo
was severely disrupted. This resulted in a sudden exodus of school children
from Colombo to the provinces. St. Jôhn's responded by generously opening
its doors to vast numbers of displaced students, from different Colombo
schools, despite having very meagre facilities to accommodate all of them.
These students had lived and been educated in environments, where the
values, traditions, codes of conduct, and behaviour patterns were far
removed from what prevailed in Jaffna. The students who. came from Colombo
had a false belief that they were from a superior tribe than the native
students and teachers in Jaffna. These refugees from Colombo always wore
leather shoes. and could never walk barefooted. By contrast, in those days.
all the students in Jaffna. both girls and boys, attended school without any
footwear. They got into shoes. which were often ill fitting, only on special
occasions like the Prize giving, or when they started to wear long trousers.
Generally; the students who came from Colonbo were more interested in being
idolised adored, and admired by the girls, at Chundikuli. They took games
seriously, but forgot the reality that they came to Jaffna to continue their
studies. However by the time these students completed their schooling, they
changed and accepted in later years that all their successes in life was
entirely due to the education they were privileged to receive at St. John
's. They became proud to have transformed into Johnians.

A few great sportsmen came into St. John's, with this group of displaced
students. These included the brothers J. M. Rajaratnam and J. I. ("Jimmy")
Rajaratnam (both of whom eventually settled down in Jaffna). three
Kanagasabay brothers, and a very stylish high-scoring batsman Kanaganayagam.
all of whom enhanced the strength of our various sports teams. These were
many other younger sporting stars in this group.

It is ridiculous to compare the way Colombo became. a deserted city, in
1942, after two brief air raids, and the great courage, determination, and
resilience with which the present residents of Jaffna and other parts of the
Northern Peninsula have been getting on with their life, with the the
ongoing war, over the last 14 years. Aircraft dropping loads of lethal bombs
have failed to intimidate the Jaffna man.

St .John's College continues to provide education, and celebrate the 175th
anniversary now, in 1998. The Principals and teachers who have been faithful
to their calling, and have served with great dedication anti leadership. in
these unthinkably difficult years, since the civil war started, and
escalated, will be remembered for posterity.

Composition of Students. During my time at St. John's, we had a cultural and
Ethnic diversity among the student population. a feature made impossible now
by the actions of politicians and governments that came into power. after
CeyIon won independence from British Colonial Rule in 1946. Apart from the
Tamils from different parts of Jaffna. we had Sinhala students from
Medawachiyaa to Colombo and Kandy. Many students came from the up-country
tea plantation regions, and some from the Eastern Province. We had a few
Muslim students also. When a Sinhalese student came from Colornbo or Kandy.
it usually meant that student had offended his school authorities in his
hometown and had to leave his school. St. John's offered such students "a
second chance to continue studies". Such students always proved a success in
later life, and valued their association with St. John's. Such opportunities
were available during my student days. because the medium of education was
English, throughout the country.

During my latter years at College, girls wishing to study science subjects
in the lower and upper sixth forms, preparing for the University Entrance
Examination were also admitted to St. John's.

When it was envisaged that invasion of Ceylon by the Japanese was imminent,
a big military enlistment drive was started in Ceylon. Among the large
number of citizens who responded to the call to join the army were
schoolboys, including many from St. John's. Even a few from my own class,
and who had reached the age of 18. suddenly left school and joined the army.
When they were on leave, during or after training, many would proudly return
to Jaffna in smart military uniforms. Unfortunately, as this resulted in
their dropping out of the educational stream, and being rendered unfit to
re-enter the discipline of formal studies, joining the army ruined the
future careers of many intelligent and promising contemporaries of mine at
school.

Refugees who arrived in boats, escaping front countries that Japan
conquered. Malaya and Singapore forming the F.M.S. or Federated Malay
States,, fell to the Japs. soon after Japan entered the war. The British
made a hasty evacuation of the white population there. Many Ceylonese in
these countries were able to escape in small-overcrowded boats. with minimum
stocks of food and water, not knowing what their destination would be. A
couple of boats reached the shores of Ceylon with the cargo of persons,
(mainly women and children), with terrified memories. A few of them entered
St. John's. Two of them, Percy Handy and Paul Thambar, became my classmates.
Two of Percy Handy's sisters also joined St. John's. Ranee Handy (as
teacher), and Ranji Handy (as a student, a year or two later)...Ctd.

Recall of life at St. John's College, Jaffna, Ceylon in the 1940 - 1950s.Part 2.

by Dr. VICTOR A. BENJAMIN, FRCS, Former Consultant Surgeon, Department of Health, Ceylon/Sri Lanka.

...Mr. C. H. Gunawardene was specially recruited to teach Sinhala at St.
John's. Apart from the small Sinhala School in Hospital Road, Jaffna, St.
John's was the only school in thë whole of the Northern Province to have a
Sinhala teacher. He was a very young teacher with an extremely bright future
before him. I am sure that his early years at St. John's would have helped
him in later years. He would have gone as an unofficial ambassador from
Jaffna to the Sinhala dominated parts of Ceylon.

All three teachers with the name Mathai taught me. They were better known by
their initials. T. M. Matthai was also the "Scout Master". His son Babu had
his early education at St. John's.

Mr. Balasingh arrived from Madras in 1942 or 1943 , and was the first
Zoology teacher at St. John's. He had a First Class Honours B. Sc. Degree
from Madras, and had done Botany as a subsidiary subject. He would have been
around the age of 22, and was fresh with new ideas on how teaching of these
two subjects should be done. The new Science Laboratory Block had been
dedicated and opened around the time. The task of setting up the Biology
section of the Science Laboratory was assigned to him. Prior to arrival of
Balasingh, Zoology was taught for the Johnians at Chundikuli Girls' College,
by their Principal, Dr (Miss) E. M Thilliampalam. This had been an
unsatisfactory arrangement, particularly where Zoology practicals were
concerned, and clearly even Miss. Thilliampalam wished St. John 's to find
its own full time Zoology teacher. Mr. E. M Ponnudurai who had been the
Botany teacher all these years felt happy to have Balasingh share the
responsibility of teaching Botany also. Balasingh organized the Biology
laboratory with Ponnudurai giving him all the support and help. They jointly
inaugurated the Natural Science Association for the senior Biology Students,
and I was fortunate in being a founder member of that Association. Weekly
meetings were held, soon after school hours. As an incentive for the
students to stay behind, after school, some food in the form of patties, or
vaddai and plantains with a cup of tea was provided from the tuck soap
before the commencement of the meetings. This was paid for from the annual
subscription of One Rupee (Rs. 1.00) paid by the members. Office bearers of
this association were a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer (all of whom
were students), with teachers Ponnudurai and Balsingh being Patrons. The
cost of the food was subsidized by the College. No one really knew whether
it was considered part of formal teaching of Biology, or if it was
extracurricular activity. Students were encouraged to read papers, arrange
demonstrations (or "practicals"), and even debate on controversial subjects
such as whether life started on Land, or in the sea, whether plants or
animals were more important, etc. Help in preparation in presenting a paper,
a demonstration, or a debate, was freely available from Balasingh. who was
more approachable than Ponnudurai. Early in 1945, Balasingh took up the
position of Assistant Lecturer ship at the University he graduated from,
having sponsored Mr. K. K. John to succeed him at St. John's.

Mr. E. M. Ponnudurai was an excellent teacher in Botany. He was a very
strict disciplinarian, and was generally feared by the students, because he
had powerful unofficial authority outside the classrooms, and even outside
the college compound. He was seen everywhere, walking around even after
school hours, as he lived with his family inside the school campus. He knew
every student in the school by name. He would keenly note how games were
being played, and mistakes any player made. He even seemed to know the
parents of most of the schoolboys. His punishment of students never exceeded
a verbal lashing, but the recipients of a scolding from Ponnudurai knew that
they were guilty of some misdemeanor or misbehaviour that had come to
Ponnudurai's notice. The College was everything that Mr. Ponnudurai toiled
for, and he was fond of proclaiming this fact. Nothing else mattered to him.
Botany was Ponnudurai's scientific interest. When I was the only candidate
in the whole of Ceylon to be awarded a Distinction in Botany, at the Higher
School Certificate examination held in December 1945, Mr. Ponnudurai felt
the proudest man on earth. He justifiably assumed it as proof that he was
undisputedly the best Botany Teacher in the whole of Ceylon. In later years,
he would embarrass me by consulting me on serious medical matters, even when
I was only a third year medical student.

Mr. J. R. Thambyaiah taught me Chemistry in the higher forms. He too felt
equally proud of himself, as the best Chemistry Teacher, when I obtained
Distinctions in Chemistry too, at the same H.S.C Examination. But he had to
share that honour with the Chemistry Teacher at Jaffna Central College, for
Kathiravel Reviraj of Central, and I happened to be the only two students in
the whole of Ceylon to be awarded Distinctions in Chemistry that year. It
was a very sad moment for me, about 25 years later. when I was suddenly
summoned to see him at his home. He had severe chest pain of very brief
duration. He died while describing his chest pain to me. 1 was the very last
person he spoke to.

Mr. S. Sivapragasam was a very amiable and lovable science teacher who
introduced Chemistry as a subject to students beginning to learn Science. He
taught the subject from the Chemistry laboratory (in the old block, and
before the new Science Laboratory had been built). He had the ability to
have the whole class involved in spontaneous and simultaneous bursts of
laughter,. even when teaching a dry and uninteresting subject like
Chemistry. His jokes were always new, and were strictly and appropriately
applicable to some situation or event that had taken place only moments
earlier. He was always very calm and serene. Any students or class that
tried any practical joke on Mr. Sivapragasam would instantly be made to look
fools by his instant response. Sivapragasam was a common name, and
therefore, he had to be identified by an appropriate nickname. His two sons.
D.R. Sivapragasam and P. T Sivapragasam studied at St. John's during my
tune. They were little senior to me.

MR. J. T. Solomons was the "ARTS MASTER' who taught drawing, sketching, and
painting with water colours. He was a very simple and pleasant man. He knew
that no student of his would ever equal his skills, even in later life, as
an artist. He was a contented man, having an "Arts Class Room" which he did
not have to share with any other teacher. He knew that during the days when
Ceylon was part of the British Empire, teaching of "ARTS" was held in very
low priority by the British rulers. Artistic skills never helped anyone to
secure any form of employment, and was a neglected subject. The class
timetables allowed students to choose between LATIN and ART, as their
preferred subject. The British Educational Policy for the Colonies in their
Empire placed some importance in learning a second language, and learning
the dead language. Latin was considered more important than learning the
native languages, Tamil or Sinhala. In this context, I chose to be an Art
Student than study Latin. I found that both the teacher of Latin. and the
subject, to be equally boring. .W. J. Solomons, son of Art Master Solomons.
was a few years senior to me at college. He had the same satisfied attitude
to life, as his father. He worked in the Forest Department after leaving
school.

Mr. L. W. D. Nalliah succeeded Mr. Solomons as the "Art Master"

Mr. D. H. Chinniah was a longstanding teacher in the lower forms. He was a
thin, dark. bachelor, who had the unique ability to suppress a smile, even
when inwardly, he was smiling or laughing with others, over some funny or
laugh provoking incident. He always wore white suite and white hat, and
would pedal to school on his rusty old bicycle. He taught with a seriously
monotonous loud voice. and there was no room for any fun, pranks, or jokes
during his classes. He would bring a thin stick with him, the presence of
which served as a deterrent to any student tempted to some minor mischief,
such as throwing paper rolled into a ball at him, when his face was turned
away from the students. If provoked by some fun at his expense, the next
student who failed to give a correct answer to some question from him,
earned a few strokes with the stick that Chinniah carried

Chinniah was a common name in Jaffna. and there were several students with
the name Chinniah, (which sometimes got spelled Sinniah). Students solved
the problem by giving Mr. Chinniah, an appropriate nickname, by which he was
always referred to.

Mr. K. C. Thurairatnam was the only teacher who rode to College on a
majestic motorbike. He was an excellent English teacher, and a handsome and
keen sportsman, and he played better soccer than the students did. He got
married, while working as a teacher at St. John's. He advanced his career a
few years later, by joining the staff of Jaffna College.

Mr. V. C. Canagaratnam was a teacher whom no one forgot. He taught with
great enthusiasm and with a loud voice. He looked equally smart, whether in
National dress or in a Western Lounge Suit. During my time at St. John's, a
cane about a meter in length. was kept in the college office, and was
available to any teacher who required it. Mr. Canagaratnam would send for
the cane with greater regularity than any other teacher. When teachers used
the cane, they had to make written entries on the "cane register" which
always had to be taken with the cane. The names of students who received
strokes with the cane, and other details including the offences that merited
the caning had to be entered by the teacher. Canagaratnam was fair in that
every student had an equal chance to be at the receiving end of the cane.
And every student got that chance. Strangely, the students did not take
offence at his resourcefulness in using the cane as an aid in education. He
was forgiven. and referred to. most affectionately. by the nickname
'crake-en ", (the first part of the nickname "crake" being understood in
English and the "en" which followed being borrowed from Tamil). Canagaratnam
liked the nickname by which he was known, and felt obliged to act that part.
He carried no grudges.

Mr. Param Selvarajah was both cricket coach, and a commissioned officer in
the Ceylon Cadet Battalion. St. John's had cadet platoons, both for senior
cadets and for junior cadets. Later on he joined the regular army, and rose
to the rank of a major.
Mr. E. C. A. Navaratnarajah was another keen teacher of English. and
produced several English Plays. These were so successful. and some of these
were staged in Kandy too. During the period January to June 1946, 1 remained
in
school, even though I had no class to attend as a student. It was just after
my H.S.C and University Entrance Examinations held in December 1945. I was
Senior Prefect at that time, and had a single room in the college boarding
house. I would be asked to act for any teacher who was absent. During this
period, Mr. Navaratnarajah trained students for one of the best plays that
St. John's produced. I attended the training of students, very regularly,
after school hours, not having anything else to do. I did not know that Mr.
Navaratnarajah greatly appreciated my presence as an uninvited observer.
Very soon, I knew the parts of every actor, including what they had to say,
by memory. When Mr. Navaratnarajah knew this, he would ask me to deputise
for any actor who was absent, or who turned up late. He also invited me to
sit near the stage and prompt what had to be said, when an actor got stuck,
forgetting his part. I soon became a voluntary "sub-assistant" to Mr.
Navaratnarajah. He rewarded me in the most unexpected way, by including me
in his group, when the play was staged in Kandy. It was my first visit to
the hill capital.

Mr. P. E.Rajendra, an excellent athlete, had been the Assistant Athletic
Coach at St. Patrick's College for several years, during which years, St.
Patrick's remained the unbeatable Athletic Champions. After some dispute at
St. Patrick's, he joined the staff at St. John's, vowing to train a team
from St. John's that would defeat St. Patrick's. He worked very hard towards
this goal, and transformed ordinary students who were idle in the evenings,
into top grade athletes. Within two or three years, he achieved his aim.
when St. John's became the Athletic Champions. It was a moment of great
triumph for everyone at St. John's. Soon afterwards, he entered the
University. of Ceylon as an undergraduate, and a few years later became the
Director of Physical Education at the University...ctd.