GRATITUDE IS A NOBLE TRAIT IN HUMAN BEINGS

The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated Teachers, who are in dire straits, receive their attention very often The year-end lunch is an event which is eagerly awaited by them

The group of students in the years between the 60s and 70s of Sri Sumangala College Panadura has gratitude in abundance. The bond between those students and their teachers is unique.

Teachers, who are in dire straits, receive their attention very often. One such student is Dr Dharmasiri Silva who is helping three of his former teachers financially.

The year-end lunch for the retired teachers is an event which is eagerly awaited by them. It is an occasion to recall the past memories when the teachers were together. However, this event depends on generous financial contributions by our past students towards this event.

Dr Dharmasiri credits Rs 5,000 every month to the account of the retired teachers association.

Majority of the teachers are in their twilight years. They need medical assistance and are in medication due to ageing. Dr Kosala de Silva, the consultant physician, due to his initiative along with other doctors who were all Sumangaliyans, had organized several health camps for the retired teachers.

The arrangement to purchase drugs, at a special discount of 6% from a private pharmacy is a big relief, as a big slice of the pensions of the teachers is being spent on drugs. Dr Kosala can be consulted at any time of the day for medical advice. He hardly charges a fee from the retired teachers. This is a rare quality as the majority of medical practitioners are equated with rupees and cents.

The retired teachers had the privilege of participating in two outings.

The first tour was sponsored and organized by Mr Anuruth Abeyratne, a successful entrepreneur who started on a small scale and graduated to be on par with other leading entrepreneurs in the country.

It was a three-day trip started on 3rd February 2011 and ended on 6th February 2011. The destination was Polonnaruwa. It was very comfortable travelling in a luxury bus.

However, the journey was not tiring as teachers were enjoying with a sing-song some recalling the good old days when were together.

However, heavy rain hampered the sight seeing. The teachers were very comfortable staying in a luxury resort. On the 5th night, the teachers organized a reception in honour of Mr Anuruth Abeyratne in appreciating for funding this trip and also working tirelessly to make the outing a memorable one.

The second outing was also organized by Ms Anuruth Aberatbe, Tissa Illeperuma and D. A. Perera. The latter two are also business magnates like Anuruth who have spread their business wings to the Asian region.

It has been a two-day trip started on 3rd February 2018 and ending on 5th February 2018. The final destination was Pasikuda after visiting Maduru Oya on the first leg. Those were two bright spots among many tourist attractions of the country.

At Maduru Oya the teachers had the opportunity of sighting the wild elephants in their natural habitat and for some teachers they were exciting moments.

Anuruth also took teachers to show a hydroelectric project started due to his initiative. The power that is generated is linked to the national grid.

There were three super resorts that were reserved for the teachers namely, Hotel Ananda, Jaya Ways, Passi Bay.

From the hotel rooms, we were able to get a good ambience of the surrounding areas. .

Teachers also organized a special meeting to thank the sponsors and also presented them with a plaque. On the 4th night, a concert was followed by a musical show while being in their high spirits despite their ages showing that they were still young at heart.

As one of the participants summed up ‘caring is a rare quality in an era where the goal is always rupees and cents.

Another group of students organized a felicitation ceremony on 27th December 2015 for eleven of their former teachers at Lava Beach Hotel Wadduwa. The amazing thing was that this group was from Australia.

It was a momentous occasion. We as teachers are happy to note that we are blessed with grateful pupils. Although they are thousands of miles away their hearts and minds are still with the teachers. What matters is the thought. We had the privilege of enjoying a sumptuous lunch while listening to amazing music. The grand finale of this event was the gift of Rs. 50,000 to each of the eleven teachers who were invited to grace the occasion. This became quite handy for the low pensioners. Majority of the teachers are not in the best of health.

The second felicitation was held on 29th December 2017 by the same group of students who organized a similar event in 2015. The venue was the White Heaven Hotel, Talpitiya. Jayantha Silva who had come from Australia in advance worked tirelessly to make this event a success. He was aided by Dharmasiri Silva who generously gave one of his vehicles to visit elderly teachers and ensuring their participation for this event by providing transport facilities to them.

We also had the privilege of meeting our past students who had come from New Zealand, France, England, USA and Australia.

Teachers were thrilled to see them. The teachers were entertained to a sumptuous lunch. Each teacher was given a gift of some utility value.

What was noteworthy were two felicitations were organized by a group of students from Australia and the Old Boys Association of Colombo.

We as teachers will treasure all this. In the words of William James, ‘the deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated’.

We wish to thank all past students and especially the following- Dr Dharmasiri Silva, Upali Wijesiri Jayantha Silva, Ajith Silva Ranjith Ananda and also the members of Colombo branch of Old Students Association. Jayantha Dias, Retired Teacher, Sri Sumangala College, Panadura