Wesley College Prize Giving 2019 - Vote of Thanks By The OBU President Wilhelm Van Dort

Honorable Chief Guest Dr. P.K. Ravindran, Rev. Asiri Perera - President/Bishop of the Methodist Church and Manager of Wesley College, Principal Mr. Avanka Fernando, Distinguished Old Boys, Members of the Tutorial Staff, Boys of Wesley, and Parents. It is often said that gratitude is the attitude that takes you to your altitude. On behalf of the Principal, Staff and Students of Wesley College, and the entire fraternity present here today, it is my humble privilege to propose a vote of thanks on this occasion of the Prize Giving of my Alma Mater.

I thank Our Distinguished Chief Guest - Old Boy Dr. P.K. Ravindran for his presence here this evening. But above all as the President of the OBU of Wesley College I wish to thank him for his exemplary life and humane qualities, living the Double Blue Spirit to the fullest, illuminating the society you serve, as a beacon of light with the Double Blue Flame, bringing glory and honour to the ideals and values instilled by the great missionary founders of Wesley - Rev. Daniel Henry Pereira and Rev. Samuel Rowse Wilkin who I am sure are looking down with pride.

Commencing a distinguished career in college as a brilliant student which culminated in winning the Prestigious Hill Medal in 1981, you qualified and became an eminent surgeon, and you have served in many parts of Sri Lanka, and now currently based in Akkraipattu General Hospital. Dr. Ravindran, I wish to share with this audience an incident which took place a couple of years back while you were serving in the Balapitiya Base Hospital when for some reason you were transferred pre-maturely. The Residents of the area and hospital employees staged a protest against your transfer on Galle road in front of the Balapitiya Base Hospital, together with the Maha Sangha, and medical staff who picketed in the hospital grounds. The grievance of the protestors was - that you Dr. Ravindran, were a duty-conscious medical officer who took a keen interest in helping the poor, and you had rendered an outstanding service to the hospital by fulfilling vital needs of the operating theatre, using your personal wealth and contributions from your friends, and you held seminars to educate nurses, attendants and minor staff in health and medical care which you considered essential to serve patients well.

Your exemplary ways had touched the lives of the entire hospital staff, the village and its residents who didn’t want you to leave them. Boys of Wesley, before you today stands our chief guest- Dr. Ravindran who is an inspiring example of a True Double Blue whose loyalty to College was not limited to his student days, but he has carried it with him - through the class rooms, the corridors and the portals of Wesley, out into the wide world, Holding the Double Blue Flag high in his profession. Dr. Ravindran we hope you will continue to be a role model and inspire the future generation of Wesleyites to be like you. I take this opportunity to thank our Principal Mr. Avanka Fernando for the hard work he has put in to provide the staff and students with state-of-the-art facilities in education and for his commitment in leading Wesley to great heights to make it the Premier Christian Boys School in the Country. We the Old Boys are with the Principal, Administration, Staff and Students to give our fullest support towards achieving this goal.

I would like to congratulate all prizewinners for attaining many great accomplishments. Your work and achievements are recognized and honored today by the College. As I congratulate all the Prize winners today, let me also say - The fact that you the Boys of Wesley have made it here to receive your awards - is just a testament to your perseverance and commitment to excellence. You are all destined for greatness – remember that each and every one of has the potential to change the world. You have all grown into powerful, intellectual individuals who will make a massive footprint on this earth. While the idea of material success does influence our lives heavil,y I ask that you follow your dreams and do what makes you happy. Strive to be the best version of yourself, be phenomenal.

"Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition because your heart somehow already knows what you truly want to become. Taking a risk is not just about going for a job. It’s also about knowing what you know and what you don’t know. It’s about being open to people and ideas... While it may be frightening, it will also be rewarding because the chances you take, the people you meet, the people you love, the faith that you have, that’s what’s going to define you." That’s what Education in a prestigious College like Wesley is all about. Accept each challenge, and believe in yourselves, convert your thoughts into hopes, and convert your hopes into dreams.

Expect obstacles along the way, and think of your family, teachers and those who have supported you throughout your journey. Be a Leader and inspire someone else, whilst looking forward to the Jobs and Careers you are heading towards. Make every day count, and never give up, instead put your best foot forward. Trust in yourselves, and Use your talents, Value your time, be Zealous when reaching the top, and when you do reach the top never forget your beloved Alma Mater which made you what you are. Come back to College, and give back to

Wesley generously with grateful hearts, and ensure that the traditions, culture, and heritage of this great institution lives on in the hearts and lives of those will come after you.

Education is the most profitable investment for the future and Education comes with responsibility. The responsibility is to be able to apply skills in new situations and to see things from a global perspective with a social conscience. Teachers are beacons who empower students to make the wind favorable to their journey and help them set sail to reach further - academically and culturally. The opportunity of collaboration between teachers and students creates this harmonious and efficient environment that nurtures us for the society. So I extend our sincere gratitude to the four Co- Vice Principals, and the members of the Academic Staff, who over the years have motivated, our Boys with their wealth of knowledge and experience, creating in them a thirst for knowledge, and for nurturing our students with the right attitudes and values, in order to become Men of Grit and Industry. Thank you teachers for your valuable contribution, guidance and encouragement that have given a new impetus to the students.

I take this opportunity to thank the President /Bishop of the Methodist Church and Manager of Wesley College Rev. Asiri Perera, for the constant support given to College, especially to our Principal to make Wesley the Best Christian Boys School in Sri Lanka. To the Members of the Old Boys Union –Those present today and also those who are not with us today - You are always at hand ready to answer Wesley’s Call, I say a big thank you for your passion and loyalty to our beloved Alma Mater. To all the Parents – know that your Children are Blessed and privileged to be called Sons of Wesley and to be a part of the heritage of this prestigious institution. Thank you for all the support you give the College and For your presence here today.

God Bless You All,

Ora Et Labora

Wilhelm Van Dort

President OBU