Prize Day

The Annual Prize Day for the year 2005 was held on 2nd June 2005 at St.Patricks' College premises. This was to recognize students for their achievements and contributiuons to the college in and out of the classroom. The Chief Guest for this occasion was Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya along with Very Revd Fr J B Devarajah, Episcopal Vicar, Mannar and President of SPC Alumni Association -Mannar Branch, as Guest of Honour.

Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, Our Chief Guest

It is a great honour for us to have our Prize Day graced by you. Your academic achievements and the high position you hold as Director/Chief Executive of MTN Networks (Pvt)Ltd. which operates Sri Lanka’s leading mobile phone network – Dialog GSM, will undoubtedly be a source of inspiration and stimulus to our students.

You had your educational foundation laid in a leading Christian school, St.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, where you excelled in studies from the very beginning. Having completed your Secondary education you proceeded to another prestigious seat of learning, the University of Cambridge, UK, where you obtained your degree in 1989. Subsequently you obtained your Doctorate in Digital Mobile Communications in 1994 from the University of Bristol, UK. As a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers,(IEE) UK, you hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration as well from the University of Warwick, UK.

Your vast knowledge and experience on the subject of digital mobile communications is evident in the research papers you had presented at several International Conferences and in the publications of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) UK. As a past Chairman of GSM Asia Pacific – the regional group of GSM Association representing 22 Asia Pacific member countries –your contribution to the expansion of the network had been huge. You were also the recipient of the CIMA – Janashakthi Business Leader of the Year award for 2003. We are, indeed, grateful for the privilege of having you as our Chief Guest. Our students are looking forward to your speech and also to receive their prizes at your hands. We extend a very warm welcome to you.

Very Revd.Fr.J.B Devarajah, our Guest of Honour

You are the first priest from the Vanni to be called to the Priesthood. You had your early education at St.Joseph’s College, Anuradhapura and, guided by the then Rector, Fr.B.Deogupillai, you joined St. Henry’s College, Ilavalai and then St.Patrick’s College, Jaffna. You had your scholastic studies at St.Bernard’s and at the National Seminary, Ampitiya and were ordained on the 4th of February 1957. Among your many early assignments you also served here on the staff of St.Patrick’s as the Middle School Principal for a short period. I had the privilege of receiving your loving care in this school and, later on, as an assistant of yours in Kilinochchi & Valaipadu missions.

You were sent by Bishop Deogupillai to St.Xavier’s University, Antigonish, in Nova Scotia, Canada, for a special course of studies on social development and, on your return, you founded HUDEC in Jaffna, as the official branch of SEDEC of Colombo. You continued the same work in the newly erected Diocese of Mannar. Recognizing your talents the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Sri Lanka appointed you as the Director of SEDEC for a period of 6 years. Presently you are serving as the Episcopal Vicar of Mannar Diocese. We appreciate your work as President of the SPC Alumni Association Mannar Branch and are happy to honour you today for your commitment to the priesthood and loyalty to your Alma Mater. We extend a very warm welcome to you, dear Father Devarajah.