Royal College '61 Group felicitates Lalith Weeratunga

Royal '61 Group President Shanthi Pathirage at the felicitation dinner in honour of Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, said they were all gathered here to felicitate, yet another '61 Group member and friend - Lalith Weeratunga. "You all know about his recent appointment as a Secretary to His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka.

The Royal College '61 Group has proved once again to be a unique batch. In the past we have had many of our group members rising to high positions in their respective careers. We have had Diplomats, Mayors, Specialist Doctors, Consultant Engineers, Generals, Admirals and senior Officers in the Armed Forces, Professors in Universities and CEOs and Directors in the private sector etc. The list is long and varied.

This time, it is one of the highest appointments in the public sector achieved by Lalith, and we welcome him first and foremost as a member of the '61 Group, and at the same time we all take great pride in associating with his achievements.

Most of us will remember Lalith playing the Tubla in the oriental Music classes while many of us played tubla with our own academic life. He was a dedicated student of the oriental music teacher Mr. Wickramasena in the good old days of the mid '60s. He played for the school's Oriental Orchestra, at every prize giving, as well at other similar functions. He has been a bright student throughout his schools career, and who won many class prizes and scholarships.

He was a hosteller for many years and I am sure his fellow hostellers will have happy memories about their hostel life. However, it was a well known fact that the warden of the hostel Mr. Beleth, used to get pots of curd at the beginning of each term after the school holidays, and it is still a mystery as to who was the giver, Pathirage said.

We also remember Lalith assisting our Scout troop, 42nd Colombo, at their splendid drill display at the Camporee held at Longdon Park, organized by none other than Lieutenant Colonel M. K. J. Cantley, who was then a Captain in the Volunteer Force. Our friend here Feizal, supported him with the piano accordion.

Others look up to Lalith as the saviour in the chemistry practical classes of Ernest Amarasekara. His unselfish assistance not to mention the sharing of his practical results, helped many of us to get our minimum grade of a pass mark. We are immensely grateful to him for his generosity.

Having successfully completed the Secondary Education he entered the University of Ceylon, Colombo Campus-Science Faculty in 1969/70, where he obtained the BSc in Physical Science followed by an MBA.

Then he had the distinction of getting through the Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS). Lalith also became a Fellow of Pencylvania State University - USA in 1977 the month of August, he was appointed as a Director of the Youth Services Council, under messers Ranil Wickremesinghe the Minister and Charitha Ratwatte. Subsequently he served as a programme Director of the ICTA, ie. Information and Communication Technology Agency.

So Lalith has held many a top administrative positions in the public sector. He rose steadily in the Government Administrative Service, to serve as the Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

He also served as an additional Secretary in the Ministry of Education prior to becoming a senior Consultant to the Postgraduate Institute of Management in the year 2002.

Finally, he served Mahinda Rajapakse in the capacity of, "the 'ful pledged Secretary' to the Prime Minister" from April 2004.

Being a senior officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service and having completed more than 33 years in Public Service in Sri Lanka, today he has gone further with this 'supreme appointment' as the Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka.

As we have done earlier to some of our colleagues, we now fete you and take pride in honouring you as an illustrious member of the '61 Group. We are positive that you will serve in the tradition of 'Disce Aut Descede'.

We once again congratulate you on achieving this milestone in your career in the Government Service and hope you will continue to establish your efficiency in this position, and bring honour to our school and land.

To say any thing more, will be superfluous. So, I will not take any further time and urge you to enjoy this evening - to its fullest, and make it another memorable event.

Lalith, we wish you well".