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by R. I. T. Alles

It was the vision of the then Minister of Education I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle to 'clone' a second Royal College in order to ease the pressure of admission on the existing one. To initiate his game-plan Iriyagolle requested the then Principal of Royal College Bogoda Premaratne to select a young teacher from his staff who could fit the bill, and make his vision a reality.

Bogoda Premaratne who realized that Iriyagolle's need was greater than his, acquiesced to the request, and having hand-picked his choice, addressed him thus - "You have so far worked for my fame, now go forth and work for your own fame." And during his Principalship at Royal, Bogoda Premaratne was ever ready and willing to give a helping hand to the nascent Royal "baby".

D.S. was conceived sans everything but an over grown, serpent infested god-forsaken stretch of land aptly named Kumbikelle, and hemmed in on all sides by a slew of "unneighbourly" neighbours. To clear this "snake pit" was indeed a daunting task even to the toughest who dared! D.S. should ever remember with gratitude the Royal College cadets who rallied to the clarion call of their departing Platoon Commander, and the Maths students of Royal who were ready to square the circle for their departing Maths teacher! Not only did the Royal boys convert the most forbidding Kumbikelle into a prime building site for a top-grade city school, but they also, by their superb public relations, were able by sharing their boiled "bathala" feed with the most recalcitrant of the squatter neighbours, Ovinis Hettiarachchi, win him over, to the extent that he left of his own accord to his home town, Weligama. D.S. provided the transport and a right royal send-off, with garlands to boot!

As the saying goes that an army marches on its stomach, so do Sramadana workers engaged in a task of such magnitude as clearing the Kumbikelle need to quench their thirst. But waterwise this place was a virtual desert except for a welcome little oasis in the guise of Dr. Laddie Fernando and Mrs. Iris Fernando, who had their beautiful home opposite the school. They not only readily supplied the vast quantity of drinks needed, but also kept an open house for the tireless workers. "Take, take whatever you want" was their rallying slogans and even their family silver were left at their disposal. Dr. Laddie Fernando and Mrs. Iris Fernando, your names will go into the annals of DS in letters of gold!

In 1971 when our founder and first benefactor I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle passed away in oblivion, under the new rival dispensation, D.S. was well represented at his funeral away at Kuliyapitiya. Also a special assembly of the school was summoned to pass a vote of condolence at the demise of its founder. And true to the evolving D.S. cultural inheritance of showing respect where respect is due, it had been the practice at every D.S. anniversary celebration to garland the portrait of I. M. R. A. Iriyagolle together with that of Rt.Hon. D. S. Senanayake.

To the right of the "Kumbikelle" land, was even a bigger block - 2 1/2 acres in extent - set apart for a housing scheme for officers of the services. This land was tailor-made for D.S. Both in extent and location. The lion had to be bearded. An appointment was arranged with the then Army Commander, Brig. B. R. Heyn. He gave the delegation a patient hearing and pronounced that "a school was more important than a housing plan for officers," D. S. should ever be grateful to this officer and gentleman.

Where the tennis courts are today, was a rather uneven ground where cricket of a sort was played - tennis ball cricket to be more exact. This was the era of the up and coming Aravinda, Hashan, Pubudu Dassanayake with Sisiparam as their mentor. Adjoining this 'turf' were premises Nos. 58 & 60 belonging to the British Admiralty. Once, the ball happened to penetrate the Admiralty defence and the Principal himself wanting to retrieve the ball, knocked at the gate.

With a parade square voice, the inmate barked, "Who are you?". "I am the Principal", came the reply." Principal, get out of my premises," thundered the voice, to the utter humiliation of the "bhoomi-putra". Doing nothing, is never an answer to a problem. A letter was dispatched post-haste through the Secretary-General of Education to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Within three months on her orders the premises were vacated by the British Admiralty. Today the premises house the Principal's residence and the office, thanks to this great and gracious lady.

An eyesore which marred an otherwise presentable land-scape, was a 2 1/2 acre block of shanties, 44 in all, knows as the Uniport houses, with a foul smelling open drain running its length. In these matters time is of essence. This was brought to the notice of the then Prime Minister, Mr. R. Premadasa, when he graced a D. S. Senanayake Prize-giving. The following day he sent for Mr. Paskaralingam, the then Additional Secretary of Education together with the Principal of D. S. to search for a piece of land that could house the Uniport residents. The land thus released to D. S., is where all the school laboratories now stand, and where the college swimming pool is gradually taking shape.

At that point of time that D. S. direly needed was a playground. Who else could possibly help us in this matter, but Mr. Premadasa. Putting the ball in the "appellants" court, he requested the college delegation to look for a suitable land and let him know. In close proximity to the college was the SSC helipad site on the outskirts of the prestigious grounds - an ideal location indeed. Mr. Premadasa was contacted, and he advised the delegation to immediately get in touch with the then President of the SSC Sir John Kotelawala.

The Principal and Mr. Sam Silva (Aravinda's father) promptly called at Kandawela, and its Laird requested them to be present at the next SSC committee meeting. In the face of stiff opposition from the cricket maestro F. C. de Saram, a livewire of the SSC, Mr. Kotelawala promised DS the much sough after land. Even though Mr. F. C. de Saram appealed against this move to the Patron of the SSC Mr. J. R. Jayewardene, Sir John's decision was upheld by His Excellency and D. S. could boast of a 4 1/2 - acre grounds, conveniently located.

One more, rather obnoxious site, stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a block of land in front of the school, which housed the State Distillery! Vitiating the surrounding atmosphere with its toxic fumes. Once again D.S's godfather, Mr. Premadasa was intimated when His Excellency graced D.S's 25th Anniversary celebrations. He requested Mr. Dayaratne, the present Minister of Health to get that piece of land for DS. It is in this land that the college Gym now stands.

All these spectacular successes would not have been possible without the ready and willing co-operation of the parents, who ceaselessly and indefatigably worked behind the scenes. They indeed deserve a place of honour in DS's success story!

The parents, together with the teachers and pupils form the solid tripod on which DS has been raised. They are very closely knit and interaction is frequent and positive. In the DS ethos where the school and its precincts are held sacred, the children are expected to pay obeisance to their parents before leaving home for school. Addressing schoolchildren with the endearing and effectively positive term "putha" started at DS at its very inception in 1967. This no doubt contributed in no small measure to the ethos that is singularly DS. It is indeed encouraging to note that this form of address has now long been accepted in all schools island-wide.

Additionally, let us remember and salute the 29 war hero sons of DS who stood by the school motto "Country before self".

Today with a fast-growing body of loyal old boys, I visualize and welcome an added dimension to the DS trinity of pupil, parent and teacher, bringing about an even stronger and more stabilized configuration. But a word of caution. It is now the trend to measure a school in terms of the physical and material facilities it possesses - its buildings, playgrounds, equipment etc. But DS values its child irrespective of his material contributions. The DS father who put up a shrine room at a personal cost of Rs. 450,000.00 and the Rs. 3.50 given by a DS mother who eked out an existence baking and selling hoppers are equal in the eyes of their Alma Mater.

This sums up a DS Old Boy's greatest inheritance, and it is the duty of every loyal DS boy to pass on this unique inheritance to the younger DS brothers. For as is said of man, "What is man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul." So is it with a school. DS is nothing without its very own ethos.

The Writer is Founder , Principal of D. S. Senanayake College

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